Printable Vacuformable backlit

[rfulford]

A client of mine does vacuforming an wants me to produce a some adhesive vinyl to apply second surface to his material before he forms it. The end result is something like a gas globe. Does anyone have any experience with this? I have a few ideas but they are all based on conjecture. We produce all of our outdoor backlits on our flatbed but I have doubts about UV curable ink vacuforming.

 

[rubo]

two suggestions - maybe three - 1 - print on his material, let him form it after the fact. 2 - 3d sublimation - he'll do the whole thing on the vacuum forming machine. 3- water transfer printing. one of these should work - or maybe all of them. Good luck

 

[ForgeInc]

We've tried it a few times on our flatbed and it's possible, but very tricky. Your inks need to be really flexible and the art needs to be forgiving. I think they make inks specifically for vacuforming, might wanna look into it. I seem to remember some threads about it, try a few searches.

 

[rfulford]

Update. We reversed printed the graphic to 3M 8518. We then applied 3M 7125 over the laminate reversing the normal process so to speak. Our client removed the release liner from the lam and applied it to clear CAB and formed it to shape. They seem to be happy with the process.

 

[JWesthead]

Who did the forming for you?

 

[JWesthead]

Anyone have any reccomendations on who to use .... or not to use from past experience?

 

[Moze]

I'm not sure where you're located, but Sign Systems in Arkansas can form pretty large faces and Sign Faces has a pretty huge facility as well. If you call Sign Systems, ask for Jeremy. If you call Sign Faces, there are two Brian's...they can both give you quotes or ask for Bill Uline. I used to work with Jeremy and I also used to get quotes frequently from Sign Faces. They're good people to deal with.

 

[rfulford]

Who did the forming for you?

It was not for me. I did the printing for them. My client is NW signs.