Laminating Digital Printed Signs

Anytime we HP Flatbed print on aluminum composite we run at Max DPI. Slow as molasses but works.

We also switched to Triangle inks which is a much cheaper ink at better color resolution. It also offers better scratch resistance than the HP inks

 

there is a coating you need to put on the board before printing that bonds the ink to stay on.

 

DP max metal i believe is pre treated for uv imaging. ive never had great luck with our 700/750 with DP on any aluminum, even the direct print stuff. also i dont want to take out 12000 worth of heads on the off chance you have an edge lift. i have heard horror stories from a few techs. we did it for one job and then went back to vinyl applied. it will almost always last longer than direct print uv.

i would reccomend adhesion promoters if you want to keep running on the aluminum. some people have had better luck than i have apparently. i just never loved how they came out and how easily they scratched.


Edit: Also Welcome from a fellow ct printer!

 

Try wiping it down with alcohol before printing. Don’t know if it will work for HP inks, but it’s an easy test. You should test other ACM brands.

Pressure sensitive laminates can seal the ink if there is a lot of of unprinted area, especially on the edge. If the ink runs to the edge then laminate will tend to pull the entire print area off the sign.

 

We have had good luck printing on Dibond, Glantz brand Bebond, and just regular old .040 and .063 aluminum with our 700. I agree with flyplain, it is always a risk running it through with a bad corner or a warped piece getting head strikes and head damage, just need to be careful. We typically suggest to our customer that if long lasting is what they are looking for then vinyl is a better option but if they want to keep it cheap, temporary, or it's going indoors, it has worked well for us. We use Nazdar 705 inks.

 

A Big Squeegee would work very well for laminating instead of the roll laminator.

 

We have had an FB500 and FB700 for years and have had no trouble having ink adhere to aluminum and different brands of ACM, although it does scratch easy. That being said, I don't recommend it for long term outdoor signs. A good cast vinyl/cast lam mounted will last years longer outdoors than a direct UV print.

 

Larry B is all over the solution. Triangle Inks for HP 500/550 and 700/750. Triangle is reputable. Been in the industry for years. Does not do any more damage to printheads than OEM ink. Check it out!

Bob

 

I use Kommerling’s KOMAALU® iron clad sheets. Never any issue with flaking. Never laminate it either.

 

We use Alumanate brand, it has been the most durable for the HP inks but the HP ink would occasionally chip or scratch. We have switched to Vanguard and all the test panels we have done are light-years ahead of HP in quality, color, and durability.