Handheld Squeegee

[olkipukki]

I am after a new squeegee and wondering if this is worth to spend over hundred +plus on a single squeegee (such as Permalex etc.)

What handheld squeegee do you use?

P.S.
What is a blade material on auto professional stencil printers?

[SMTech]

I get my blades (cut to size) from my stencil manufacturer (Tecan), its basically the same stainless steel used to make a stencil but the bottom edge has a step in it making it slightly more flexible. They also do a nickel version that costs a bit more, this glides across the stencil much more smoothly but if also a bit more delicate, probably works really well in  a machine but they are more delicate and more expensive making them less suited to hand use. The squeegee handle/grip is I think something from the printing industry that normally grips something a bit chunkier like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/271700935350?chn=ps&var=570542577810.  I have a range of blade and holder sizes to match the board being pasted (overhang is bad). Blades are ~£40 or so - quite a bit less than Permalex

Oh and the service I am using is intended to cut blades for automated printers.

[olkipukki]

I get my blades (cut to size) from my stencil manufacturer (Tecan), ...

Many thanks for the details
Tecan - Do you mean https://www.vecoprecision.com/precision-products/squeegee-blades-stencil-accessories?

[SMTech]

I do, although I don't think my holders came from there.. too long ago.
The stencils are good too, but obvs nowhere near as cheap as China - we have their self tensioning Genesis frame system which saves an awful lot of space when you have 100s of stencil foils.

[olkipukki]

OK, let's see that these guys will reply, their website almost useless.

How Genesis frame system works?

[jmelson]

I am after a new squeegee and wondering if this is worth to spend over hundred +plus on a single squeegee (such as Permalex etc.)

What handheld squeegee do you use?

P.S.
What is a blade material on auto professional stencil printers?

I use pieces of .025" (~.64mm) brass shim stock with one edge carefully cut straight.

Jon

[mrpackethead]

These work quite well.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10CM-15CM-20CM-25CM-30CM-Steel-Paste-Squeegee-Scraping-Board-SMT-Stencil-Scraper-Tin-Solder-Paste/32857848008.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.2.25304385NnZmmk&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10065_10068_204_318_10547_319_10059_5727220_10884_10548_10887_10696_100031_320_10084_10083_10103_10618_452_10307_532_5727320,searchweb201603_60,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=2421b94e-984e-42ab-92c8-93c37c75a960-0&algo_pvid=2421b94e-984e-42ab-92c8-93c37c75a960&priceBeautifyAB=0

[D3f1ant]

Any old flat metal works fine for hand use, as long as it's flexible enough. Old stencils cut down (ie 0.1mm stainless) and a universal holder from an art supply store work fine.
For small boards the flexible filler/bog blades from hardware stores work well.

[mrpackethead]

Any old flat metal works fine for hand use, as long as it's flexible enough. Old stencils cut down (ie 0.1mm stainless) and a universal holder from an art supply store work fine.
For small boards the flexible filler/bog blades from hardware stores work well.

The blades i use are really stiff, theres very ( perhaps none ) flexibility in them at all.

[SMTech]

Old stencil blades do work fairly well, however you can hear them scraping across then stencil as the edge finish is not as good as a proper blade. I wouldn't want to use them on a stencil I was planning to use a lot. The Aliexpress holders look pretty convincing (the same as some of mine), I'm sure the blades are alright too, I'm equally sure mine are better at 10x the price;).

The Genesis frame is a mechanical system the foil is loosely held into place with retaining bars on top of semi circular rods, on all four sides, then you flip 2 levers in the frame which rotates the rods 90degrees pushing the stencil outwards and pulling it tight. All around the edge of the stencil are lots of holes or slits. The frame is not cheap (£1k+), it is very much a system for when you have a lot of stencils all of which you want to use quite heavily. There are several rival system, some open, some closed but if you are a mechanically minded person with a CNC/box of bits it wouldn't be hard to replicate their basic function. Some systems use air which introduces all sorts of failure types from leaking valves to blown bladders. Alpha have a system where the foil comes in a very light frame which you then clip into a bigger frame, I bet you can't get them from anyone else once you buy into that system.

[mrpackethead]

Old stencil blades do work fairly well, however you can hear them scraping across then stencil as the edge finish is not as good as a proper blade. I wouldn't want to use them on a stencil I was planning to use a lot. The Aliexpress holders look pretty convincing (the same as some of mine), I'm sure the blades are alright too, I'm equally sure mine are better at 10x the price;).

The holders are fine.  I have been using a small one for several years, and its never fallen apart.   The blades seem to be ok, and dont' seem to damage the stencils. ( proivided you are not being stupid.  They are sharp ).  I'm wondering what makes them better.  A brand name? or ist here something actually better.       I'm really looking forward to moving to a better printing system, i've just pushed go on chinese semi-auto printer today!

The Genesis frame is a mechanical system the foil is loosely held into place with retaining bars on top of semi circular rods, on all four sides, then you flip 2 levers in the frame which rotates the rods 90degrees pushing the stencil outwards and pulling it tight. All around the edge of the stencil are lots of holes or slits. The frame is not cheap (£1k+), it is very much a system for when you have a lot of stencils all of which you want to use quite heavily. There are several rival system, some open, some closed but if you are a mechanically minded person with a CNC/box of bits it wouldn't be hard to replicate their basic function. Some systems use air which introduces all sorts of failure types from leaking valves to blown bladders. Alpha have a system where the foil comes in a very light frame which you then clip into a bigger frame, I bet you can't get them from anyone else once you buy into that system.

QuikFrame make a system, that is quite low cost in comparison. ( ~$US350 ) http://www.quickstencil.com/proframe1217.aspx   I've seen this in operation and its quite good, but it only clamps the stencil at both ends.    ZelFlex from LPKF uses Air.    Being LPKF it will bee moonbeams.

At the price of framed stencils and their simplicity i've just stuck with them for the time.  But you do end up paying for airfreight and storage.   For boards that i make a lot of, i've got spare stencils for just in case.

[olkipukki]

These work quite well.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10CM-15CM-20CM-25CM-30CM-Steel-Paste-Squeegee-Scraping-Board-SMT-Stencil-Scraper-Tin-Solder-Paste/32857848008.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.2.25304385NnZmmk&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10065_10068_204_318_10547_319_10059_5727220_10884_10548_10887_10696_100031_320_10084_10083_10103_10618_452_10307_532_5727320,searchweb201603_60,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=2421b94e-984e-42ab-92c8-93c37c75a960-0&algo_pvid=2421b94e-984e-42ab-92c8-93c37c75a960&priceBeautifyAB=0

Cool, thanks, I will try these