Pad printing
- Curved, domed, and recessed surfaces
- Fine detail on small print areas
- Multiple colors printed in sequence
Secondary operation
Pad Printing on Injection Molded Parts: Process, Design, and Quote Inputs
Pad printing picks ink off an etched plate with a soft silicone pad and presses it onto the part. It reaches curved, textured, and recessed faces a screen cannot.
How it works
An indirect print that follows the shape of the part
Pad printing is the usual route for logos, legends, and scales on molded parts.
Pad printing puts ink on curved or recessed injection molded parts. Hot stamping uses foil. Laser etching makes a permanent mark in the surface. Lettering and engraving covers marks molded into the part. Name the resin on the RFQ. Adhesion is confirmed in DFM review, not from a published chart. Pad printing is a secondary operation scoped with the molding quote.
Artwork is etched into a flat plate, called a cliche. Ink fills the etch, the excess is wiped away, and a silicone pad lifts the image and rolls it onto the part. Because the pad deforms, it can print on domes, curved walls, and surfaces set below a rim.
Roles
Not sure which marking method
Pad printing is ink on curved faces. Hot stamping is foil. Laser etching is a permanent mark. Molded-in color needs no print.
| Page | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Pad printing (this page) | Logos and markings on curved or recessed faces |
| Hot stamping | Foil instead of ink |
| Laser etching | A permanent mark in the surface |
| Lettering and engraving | Marks molded into the part |
| Plastic colors | Color in the resin instead of a print |
| Secondary operations | Print scoped with the molding RFQ |
Fit check
When pad printing is the right mark
Qualitative guidance. Artwork and resin decide the final method.
| Situation | Pad printing tends to fit | Consider instead |
|---|---|---|
| Curved or recessed face | Pad conforms to the shape | Molded-in text if the mark never changes |
| Large flat panel | Possible, but slower | Silk screening on flat areas |
| Mark that must never wear off | Add a protective layer or choose a durable ink | Laser etching |
| Several colors | One pass per color in register | Molded-in color for solid areas |
Design notes
Make the print area easy to hit
Small layout choices reduce print defects and rework.
Keep the print area clear of parting lines, gate vestiges, and ejector marks
Give the pad a smooth landing zone rather than a heavy texture
Flag low surface energy resins such as polypropylene early, since they may need surface treatment
Show print location and orientation on the drawing, not only in the artwork file
Side by side
Pad printing versus silk screening
Both are ink processes. Geometry usually decides.
Silk screening
- Flatter surfaces and larger areas
- Thicker ink deposit for bold solid graphics
- Less suited to strongly curved faces
Continue exploring
Related guides
Sibling processes and supporting references.
All processes
All specialty processes and secondary operations.
All processesHot stamping
Heated die and foil for metallic or solid color marks.
Hot stampingUltrasonic welding
Vibration welded joints between molded plastic parts.
Ultrasonic weldingSecondary operations
Common operations done after molding.
Secondary operationsLettering and engraving
Molded-in text as an alternative to printing.
Lettering and engravingPlastic colors
Color matching for the molded part itself.
Plastic colorsFAQ
Common questions
What is the difference between silk screening and pad printing?
Silk screening works best on flatter surfaces, while pad printing is better for curved or irregular geometries.
What should a pad printing RFQ include?
The CAD, the artwork as a vector file, ink colors, and a drawing that marks print locations. Naming the print areas early keeps gates and parting lines away from them.
Can the print be added after the parts are molded?
Yes. Pad printing is a post mold operation, so it runs on finished parts from the production tool.
Is pad printing a permanent mark?
It is a thin ink film on the surface. A mark that has to remain after ink would wear belongs on laser etching. State any wipe or wear need on the RFQ.
Does pad printing work on every resin?
Not equally. Name the resin on the RFQ. Adhesion is confirmed in DFM review. Ink and resin pairing is confirmed per part before printing.
When should the mark be laser etching instead?
When the mark must sit in the plastic rather than on it, and one color is enough. Multi-color logos on a curve stay with pad printing.
Next step
Get DFM feedback on your design
This step can be scoped with the molding RFQ. Upload CAD for an instant quote.