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Balance of roll pressure across the rollers is more important than the actual PSI
for most applications. Low-tack products such as transfer tape (also called pre-
mask or application tape) do not require high pressure as much as they require a
certain amount of time between the laminating rollers (also called dwell time).
Many transfer tapes will not stick well if applied at top speed. Your tape suppliers
can provide high-tack transfer tapes that are much more suitable for use in the
laminators. The common transfer tapes are very low-tack so that they will be
forgiving enough to allow application by hand with a squeegee.
High-tack films, vinyl and tapes can be applied at higher speeds because they do
not require as much dwell time.
2 . A P P L IC A T IO N O F T R A N S F E R T A P E S IG N A G E T O A S U B S T R A T E :
The SIGNMASTER 44 will accept rigid substrates up to 1/2 inch thick. This
allows the versatility that you need to accomplish various mounting applications
where use of a thicker substrate is required, such as applying vinyl to sign
blanks.
The vinyl signage should be placed on the substrate (signboard), release liner
side down and aligned the way it is to appear on the substrate. Create a “hinge”
by taping the leading edge of your transfer-taped signage to the substrate. Peel
back two inches of your release liner and slide the positioned end of the board
into the laminator, holding the taped graphic up with one hand. Using your free
hand, gently pull away the release liner as the machine pulls the substrate
through.
With the vinyl adhesive exposed it is imperative that the operator keep the vinyl
suspended above the substrate until the point of application (nip rollers). If the
graphic were to touch before being laminated, there is a greater risk of trapping
air bubbles or wrinkles.
Slowly start the laminator and pull the release liner off the signage as the
machine pulls the substrate through. Remove the liner slowly. The release liner
will come off easiest if it is pulled away at a 90 degree or greater angle from the
signage. Slowly remove the separated release liner from the graphic, keeping
the vinyl suspended until the point of application. Hold up the taped signage with
one hand and be ready to pull away the release liner with the other. Slowly start
the laminator and pull the release liner off the signage as the machine pulls the
substrate through.
If the signage is held straight up (90-degree angle to the feed tray) from the point
where it curls under the safety shield, the release liner can easily be separated
from the signage at this point. The safety shield serves as a kind of guide for
removing the release liner in this application. Holding the signage straight up
against the bottom of the safety shield as the machine pulls the material into the