Getting small bubbles under laminate

[bayviewsignworks]

I have a Seal and a GBC1040WF cold laminators. I get these odd, usually small but sometimes an inch or more in length, bubbles; usually near the trailing edge of color. I will say that maybe it hadn't dried, or off gassed enough but it doesn't happen on other full color things I do - right off the printer. On the GBC I have one more click of pressure to increase the pressure but I've always had it in that position. The Seal has a predetermined amount of roller pressure.

Using Avery 1105/Oraguard 209 gloss lam

 

[bdw99]

Are they in the same spot and equal length apart? Wondering if the rollers aren't level or if you have a dead spot.

 

[bayviewsignworks]

Are they in the same spot and equal length apart? Wondering if the rollers aren't level or if you have a dead spot.

It's never in the same spot, like it doesn't repeat as I'm putting material through.

 

[MarkSnelling]

show a picture. What type of printer are you using? bubbles that 'trail' ink are usually from some of the older UV printers where you can really feel the ink's thickness....and when you go from a solid to no ink coverage, it steps down and leaves a bubble behind.

You would benefit from a higher adhesive coat weight on your laminate or from adding some heat to your laminator to help the adhesive 'wet out' and be more flexible as it travels over the hills and valleys of the ink surface.

More pressure is usually not the answer.

 

[bayviewsignworks]

show a picture. What type of printer are you using? bubbles that 'trail' ink are usually from some of the older UV printers where you can really feel the ink's thickness....and when you go from a solid to no ink coverage, it steps down and leaves a bubble behind.

You would benefit from a higher adhesive coat weight on your laminate or from adding some heat to your laminator to help the adhesive 'wet out' and be more flexible as it travels over the hills and valleys of the ink surface.

More pressure is usually not the answer.

Roland VG2-540. Sometimes the ink does go down heavy depending on the profile/color (custom red, I just noticed this file is RGB, I usually use CMYK, and VW BK10)

 

[MarkSnelling]

Roland VG2-540. Sometimes the ink does go down heavy depending on the profile/color (custom red, I just noticed this file is RGB, I usually use CMYK, and VW BK10)

wow....I've never really seen the trail bubbles off of solvent, but if you are laying down that much ink maybe it could happen. If you can add 120 degrees of heat to your rollers I'm pretty confident it will go away. If not I've got a higher coat weight laminate that would likely do the trick. If you want to try it, email me your UPS or Fedex number and I'll send you a small test roll on your shipping account.