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Flatbed Laminator or modify my existing setup, advice needed?
I have been investing in new gear recently and have had a CNC Router (Yeti Smart Bench) which is exceeded my expectations. Looking at the design from this and then seeing the FlatBed Laminators (Mounter Mate – Rolls Rollers etc) I thought this has got to be the next purchase. A few posts on a USA forum discussed do you need both a roll to roll laminator and a table, one person said well if a Flatbed can do Roll to Roll, why can a Roll to Roll not work like a flatbed. The obvious reply was if you mount an 8ft board on a flatbed you need 8ft to give or take and on a Roll to roll you would need at least 20ft. So I thought about this for a while and realised that in my situation space isn’t a problem, it’s moving benches around or setting up trestles to catch and send through the machine. After drawing a few designs for some fold-out benches I came across an idea. Basically what I need are two table tennis tables! fold out to use fold away and roll off when I have a vehicle in. I have found this link which actually is a table tennis system that the two sides are separate and then can be used together or individually. I have ordered this to try it out but thought if others have the same issues I do this might avoid custom building something or struggling as I have or spending a small fortune. As always interesting to hear all your ideas/solutions.
sportsdirect.com
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2 Replies
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I think I understand what you are trying to do. But I don’t think it will be as practical to use as a vinyl mounting table.
I think there are a couple of things that will need tweaks to make it workable.
The height of the table will need to be exactly the same height as the flat areas feeding the vinyl through the laminator rollers. I can see the tables you are buying have adjustment feet but I don’t see them in the middle where it will need to be accurate, but I don’t see that being difficult to make right.
an 8×4 or 10×5 will hold a bit of grip on the table with its own weight and then the rollers of the laminator have to drag through and push through once it’s over halfway if you see what I mean? if you made the table bed you could embed a few small rollers or similar to allow the sheet to glide easily across the table into and exit the laminator.
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Yes you had the same idea as me with the rollers, plan to put the top boards through the Cnc and I set rollers then set the height to the requirements of our Easymount. Was more at a couple of hundred quid, they look tidy and with a little modification I think they will be quite useful. Technically if they are used width to width you have a 10ft easel. I will upload some photos once I have destroyed them!
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