CALCULATION OF BEARER THICKNESS

Bearers are strips of accurately ground steel approximately two inches longer than the press platen. The bearers act as "stops" for the press platens, to maintain a fixed distance when curing a printing plate. A complete set of bearers should be available to the molder.

Standard thicknesses:

Shim Steel	Ground steel
0.002"	0.062"
0.003	0.125
0.005	0.188
0.010	0.250
0.015
0.020

The selection of the proper thickness of bearers is essential in obtaining the desired final thickness of the finished plate. The following formula is used (values are typical and used only for example) :

Floor of the Matrix		0.080" (as measured -see drawing)
Desired plate thickness		0.110"
Release paper thickness	+	0.005" (as measured)
Bearers to be used		0.195"

Add bearers together to total this number, and add to each side of the cure press.