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tips how to get laminate to align with the film
I’ve got some 3m IJ180 and over laminate for a job I am planning to do at the end of this week.
I usually print at 1600mm wide, and laminate at 1520 to allow for any run off.
Trouble is the 3M film is 1370, with 1370 laminate, and with it not being particularly cheap I don’t want to mess it up.
Any tips on how to get the laminate and film to align perfectly?
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11 Replies
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David
Rob did a demo a while back i hope this helps
Martin
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We’ve done this on our laminator and it works pretty good.
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I will try this I think.
The Easymount has a rule and guides its just not much use with paper/vinyl.
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We mark a centre point on the laminate roll and centre it on the rear mandrel. We take a measurement from one of the sides of the machine to the centre point on the roll – mark a centre point on the vinyl and line this up with the same measurement from the same side of the machine.
Hope this makes sense. I do find that the machine will cope with some overrun, up to say 3mm.
Andy
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Just tried the vinyl strips, but I have guides on the feed, which kind of got in the way.
They guides are useless when using vinyl though.
I will try and modify it tomorrow, see if I can get something to work.
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Preload the laminate using a board, I use 3mm foamboard and once loaded line up the print to the laminate pushing it under the board, board should only be sticking out the front of the rollers by about 20mm just enough for you to slip the graphic under, as you press foot pedal the rollers will grab the graphic, run slowly and as the roller "drops" off the board increase tension on to graphic and the run as normal.
Just make sure you get the board as straight as possible otherwise it can skew the graphic when it "drops" off it.
I think I did a longer explanation on a previous thread but maybe I should make a little film as I find this method very good and accurate.
Also just to add that as long as you have enough clear area on either side of the vinyl I’ve had my laminate run off by up to maybe 70mm before without too many issues, main issue is the laminate sticking to itself on the roll of print once out the back of the machine but one of the best things I got for my easy mount is to get a take up roller for it.
Good luck.
Cheers
Warren
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if you’re scared you will run off then some backing paper works a treat. its easy enough you might run off 1 or 2mm but if you start well it will end lol
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Just come to laminate the job in question.
Turns out the laminate is 4mm wider than the vinyl, got one of the logos done ok, the second started to crease towards the end. I could see the creases forming in the laminate as it was going over the top roller. I didn’t want to stop the machine, or over do the tension and stretch the laminate. Using 3M cast laminate so it’s like cling film.
Just re-printing and then laminate next week with some backing paper under neath the print stop it sticking to the rollers.
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Use your hand to hold the roll when you see it forming a crease works for me. You can get away with stoping and lifting the roll a bit and replacing it some time if you are carefull.
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Just a word of warning be careful with the backing paper under neath, I have tried it before and it creased everywhere badly, there is nothing holding it rigid like the vinyl does when stuck to it so if your tension is out at all you may have disaster on your hands. You should have any issues if the laminate is a few mm’s over, if the rollers keep turning and it doesn’t stick and pull it down the back then it will just keep going through, it might make a funny sound as the laminate squeaks over the painted metal but as long as it keeps running it’s fine, I have even sat behind the laminator pulling it through so it didn’t stick and catch.
I’ll definitely try do a video soon as this gets asked a lot and my system seems to work nicely for me.
Warren
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I normally stand at the side of the laminator rolling up the print as it comes through and unrolling the vinyl on the core before it gets to the rollers if it starts to run out. Its also worth leaving a gap between your prints every few metres on long runs so if it is running out too much you can stop, trim and start again.
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