Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021 - 17

INDUSTRIAL FINISHING: MASKING AND PLUGS
Daemar's standard product line of masking die cuts is
available for a range of applications with materials that include
aluminum foil, electroplaters' vinyl, glass cloth, polyimide,
polyester, lead foil, and Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene).
" When it comes to tape, you want to choose a material that
can survive the coating process, and be cleanly removed after
the coating process, " Daemar says. " Tapes can be quickly diecut
to speed up their application, eliminating the need for
razors. Proper tape selection will ensure the best coverage and
can reduce unnecessary cost. "
There is a cost factor, obviously, in having masking customdesigned.
However, most suppliers in the field will say that the
resultant accuracy and repeatability keeps such costs in line, as
well as all types of digital processes having become faster and
less expensive in recent years. Further, use of custom masking
for a complex or unusually shaped part can bring the masking
time of a product down from multiple minutes to seconds.
Inspection times can be reduced, as confidence has been
introduced into the process. Reworks, which often include
costly stripping processes and risk of damaging the component,
can be eliminated. Production planning can be easier and more
precise.
Diecuts in particular have made market inroads in recent
years. These are pre-cut pieces of masking tape made to the
exact size and shape of the surface areas to be masked.
Various suppliers recommend diecut kits because they
can be custom-made to mask components that have multiple
surfaces of different sizes and shapes, like an engine block.
These kits reduce the amount of time spent looking for the right
die cut piece, and also ensure that no surface in need of masking
is forgotten as each kit can be made to the exact amount of die
cut pieces per component to be coated.
Another trick, employing plugs, is to order them in multiple
color variations, for sizing identification purposes. Using
multiple colors helps speed up the masking process, as the user
can quickly associate which cap or plug goes to its designated
spot rather than wasting time sorting through a variety of
different caps or plugs.
As the company name implies, MOCAP for decades has
produced caps from dip-molded vinyl, injection-molded
plastics and injection molded rubber caps. It has expanded these
product lines by adding additional families of polyethylene
plastic caps and plugs, including tapered caps and plugs, centerpull
taper plugs, flanged caps, straight caps, sheet metal plugs,
and tubing end caps and plugs. Other vinyl dip-molded items
include square caps, hex caps, corner covers, hanger caps and
collar guard bend restrictors.
" MOCAP's extensive line of protective caps and plugs are
stocked for immediate shipment, " the company says. " And if we
don't stock exactly what you are looking for, we offer customers
the ability to buy a customized plastic part directly from our
online store. "
November/December 2021
17
Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021

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