ISSUE WITH LAMINATING UV PRINTED MATERIALS

[enes sonmez]

Hello,
We started printing on UV without printing White ink. Recently we started laminating with Arlon and 3m overlaminates. But we got one issue. Since we dnt print the white ( it gets the white from white material ), we get bubbles when we laminating the substrate . For example if the print has red color on SIG and white on N, you will see bubbles where the red ink ends. since the ink is thick, there is a level difference between the ink and the substrate. What do you recommend ?

 

[Solventinkjet]

You will need a laminator with heat assist to allow the laminate to conform with the edge of the ink. I have heard of some people using certain laminates that work better without the heat assist as well so hopefully they will comment.

 

[enes sonmez]

Yes we used with the heat as well. i have a heat laminator.

 

[FireSprint.com]

Heat seems to be a requirement for laminating UV prints. We generally have experienced the same thing as others. Even with very soft/conformable laminates.

 

[InkHead]

There are laminates designed specifically for UV curable inks. They have thicker adhesive so when you run it with a heat assist laminator, it's supposed to have better wet out flow to fill the gaps between the media and ink. It's more expensive and I have never tried it.

We have pretty good success running the print through a heat assist laminator at a pretty slow speed. When finished, we crank up the heat a bit more with even more pressure and re-run it through the laminator.

 

[brdesign]

Maybe try a wrap laminate like 3m 8518 / 8519 with heat and very slow speed on the laminator.

 

[Kemik]

Yes we used with the heat as well. i have a heat laminator.

You need to buy heat assist lamination as well, cold lam will not work as well, adding a bit more down pressure on the rollers will also help fill in the gaps.

 

[InkHead]

Mimaki makes a laminate that is supposed to help with silvering. I believe they said the film is less stiff and the adhesive is thicker and softer so that adhesive can flow between the inks. It's called Mimaki Vision 310

Orafol 215DU is another laminate for UV inks.

Mactac also makes a UV ink specific laminate. Mactac PERMACOLOR ColorGard LUV

All need heat assist obviously

 

[White Haus]

Mimaki makes a laminate that is supposed to help with silvering. I believe they said the film is less stiff and the adhesive is thicker and softer so that adhesive can flow between the inks. It's called Mimaki Vision 310

Orafol 215DU is another laminate for UV inks.

Mactac also makes a UV ink specific laminate. Mactac PERMACOLOR ColorGard LUV

All need heat assist obviously

Good to know, thanks! I remember hearing about the 215DU when they came out with it but I don't personally use/trust Oraguard calendared laminates.

I'll check that Mactac one out though.