Printer Components

The Tektronix® Phaser® 350 color printer presents numerous material demands. Two primary requirements are high heat resistance and structural integrity. However, critical color matching, conductivity and flame retardance are equally important for certain components.

RTP Company worked closely with Tektronix and key custom molders to formulate materials meeting all specifications, while retaining processing ease. Cycle times were kept to a minimum through collaborative tool and part design.

The Phaser 350 is a high-speed, cross-platform color printer for use in demanding workgroup environments. The printer is held in high regard by office users, graphic designers, architects and other professionals requiring fast, top-quality color output for charts, graphs, proposals, presentations, proofs and technical renderings.

The printer’s proprietary colored inks allow for uniform printing on various paper and transparency stocks. The printer handle and block mounts are made of an RTP 1300 Series (PPS) glass-reinforced specialty compound. The material meets strict structural and high temperature requirements, exhibiting a tensile strength of 17,500 psi and a heat deflection temperature of 500 degrees F at 264 psi. Both parts are molded by Vision Plastics of Wilsonville, OR.

The pick roller cleaning tray and nose guides for the Phaser 350 are made of an RTP 2500 Series (PC/ABS Alloy) flame retardant (UL94 V-0 at 1/16 in) compound. This material achieves an unnotched impact strength of 40 ft lbs/in at 1/8 in. These parts are molded by TriQuest Precision Plastics of Vancouver, WA.

Moving paper generates static electricty. The upper and lower paper guides for the Phaser 350 dissipate the charge, protecting internal components from potential damage. The guides are made of an RTP 600 Series (ABS) material which is flame retardant (UL94 V-0 at 1/16 in) and static dissipative with a maximum volume resistivity of 10E10 ohm-cm. The removal of the static electricity allows for easier handling of documents once they are printed. The paper guides are molded by TriQuest.

The flags for the Phaser 350 sense passing paper. The application requires flashless molding and dimensional stability. The parts, less than 1 cu. cm., are made of an RTP 2300 Series (TPUR) glass-reinforced specialty compound. The material achieves a molding shrinkage of only 0.0035 in/in at 1/8 in. The flags are molded by Vision Plastics.

The preheater assembly for the printer heats the paper before printing. The part demands heat and chemical resistance. The assembly is made of an RTP 1300 Series (PPS) specialty compound, exhibiting a heat deflection temperature of 500 degrees F at 264 psi and tensile strength of 20,000 psi. The assembly is molded by MIE of Temecula, CA.