Silvering Patches

[FT Dude]

Hello all,

Recently got a Mimaki LA-160W. Everything was going decent until recently. We're getting a "silvering" problem that shows about every rotation of the roll. Please see the attachment. I did as much research as I could but am hoping someone has solved this same issue before. The oval shape is about 1" x 6". It's only a month old, so I'm hoping I can rule out a flat spot on the roller.

Could this be a pressure problem?
Could this be a heating problem?
Could this be a feeding problem?
Do I need to just clean the rollers?

This was printed on a wrap vinyl and the laminate is Arlon series 3220.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[MarkSnelling]

Unless you left an object between the rollers and the rollers down, it can't really be a flat spot. Flat spots would be visible from end-to-end and would be maybe 1/3" wide.

Even if it was a flat spot, heat the rollers and let them run together for a few hours and they usually go away.

It could be the rubber on the roller is delaminating if it is very systematic....like every X" it repeats the exact same way. If you feel any soft spots on the top or bottom roller, that would explain things.


You might want to take a few feet of lam and pull it off the liner and see if you see it in the film. It wouldn't be the first time the face film had an issue.

In the end, if the error is very systematic and consistent, then it is likely something with the laminator. But if it isn't, you should look at the film itself.

 

[somcalmetim]

Hard to see, if that wasnt visible in the print I would try another roll of laminate...check the roll, something like that should be visible in the laminate before applying...
Those spots look different, if it was from the roller they would look the same and happen every turn of the roller.

I get dull spots near the end of every roll of 3M 8518 Glossy laminate...looks like they start to roll the material while still soft.
Its a pain in the ass but we can usually get rid of it with a heat gun

 

[Vassago]

Cut a few feet off.. Flip it around and run it through the laminator.. See if the silvering switches place. If it doesnt it's the laminator

 

[FT Dude]

Thank you all for the responses! Super appreciated. I never would have thought to look at the laminate strictly by itself as this has luckily never happened. Just checked it out, and yes the product has patterned defects. Thank you all so much!

 

[Vassago]

Just be careful when buying the same laminate.. Check the batch numbers.. Somethings wrong with their equipment.