Stencil cutting coating rollers:Across and Around the roller stencil cutting of coating rollers, hitherto, has been very labour intensive, involving guesswork, diameter tapes and marking pens. Compensation for roller expansion and compression during use, has been a very hit and miss affair, until Now! Martin Cairncross Engineering, has developed a system which retro-fits to any grinding machine or lathe, the system is totally unique, and incorporates the latest technology in measuring equipment.

Essentially, no marking out required, a simple calculation including allowances for roller expansion and compression under use is programmed into a digital readout. At last, stencil repeatability and accuracy is obtainable in-house. The system has a very quick payback time, mainly because stencils can be cut in a fraction of the previous time, and production down time in re-cutting stencils is also eliminated. Equally important is the savings made from eliminating contract stencil cutting.

Measurements can be made around the circumference by use of an encoder which is uniquely housed in the rotating centre located in the tail stock of the lathe or grinding machine. The required dimension is obtained by rotating the roller until the target reading is displayed on the DRO, at this point the brake is applied to secure the roller for stencil cutting. Precise measurements to 0.001” (one thousanth of an Inch) can be realised.


The introduction of a V-shaped stencil groove greatly enhances stencil roller performance. Under compression, the geometry of the V-shape groove imparts support, which in-turn prints clean margins more consistantly than conventional square shaped stencils.We quote a statement from one of our satisfied customers who have recently installed our system – Project Improvement Engineer Mr A. Hands from Crown Cork & Seal at Perrywood – “Cairncross have successfully designed and installed a stencil cutting attachment to our grinding machine, the facility has made us very flexible and efficient, we no longer lose production time waiting for new stencils rollers to be cut, or old stencils re-cut”.

The unit shown above may be re-designed at our discretion.