Vacuum formed graphics?

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

I do not know what you got going Slow but Terry said there was no special tools every thing is in the ink with transfer paper 400*f. Every resource I read so far never talks about a vacuum chamber.


So in your project how many microns you pulling. Are you using UV light to gain 400*f. What would be your cycle time?

Alot of the pictures you posted (such as the tins) are from Paradise powder coating which is licensed by kolorfusion for this process.....here is a link to the process http://www.ptonline.com/articles/200509cu1.html ....if you are going to use this process to do any objects that are anything but almost flat you cannot use the paper carrier you have to use the film carrier

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

you don t need a vaccum if you work on a flat part but if you want to wrap around an object like vc then you need a vacuum box to get that media to wrap around the part

You beat me to it Baz lol........what you are looking for is called kolortex. I found a link to a supplier aways back but I need to figure out what I did with it

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

The other limitation to this process is there is no white ink..........just like when you print from your bubblejet the computer uses the white paper plus the 4 color inks to produce the image......same for this process so you need to have a white or light color base to put the image on.

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

I do not know what you got going Slow but Terry said there was no special tools every thing is in the ink with transfer paper 400*f. Every resource I read so far never talks about a vacuum chamber.


So in your project how many microns you pulling. Are you using UV light to gain 400*f or I guess you could make your chamber go through a 400*F cycle that would radiate that temp. What would be your cycle time? Also what is very $$$ to you. A poor man Vacuum chamber is cheap to make that would hold a gas tank, and fender at one time I could give you a couple ideas.

Thanks but no thanks...........I look forward to seeing some of your work with this.

[BeeBob]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

The vc I saw definitely used at least a vacuum setup and probably heat also.

[Streetwerkz]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

http://markitco.com/virtual_tours/index.html

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

The process is known a sublimation... the dyes within the ink (transfer) volatilize when the temp reaches 180C. This vapour enters the semi cured powder and becomes part of the film. The powder then has to be re-baked to obtain full cure. Alternately, we have provided (9 years) a one bake system, mainly for wood grain effect, but marble and funky colours can also be obtained. I can ask our labs to produce some 6x4 panels of different effects and take some photos if anyone is interested. The wood grain effect can be seen at www.martexpaints.com then maybe someone will import Artpow and break it down to commercially viable quantities?
Terry

[wiseguyz]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

Interesting info, and welcome to the forum.

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

Yep Harleydad it's me. Tried earlier to post ... does the post show up straight away if it does you will have 2 separate and different replies.?
Things are fine over here except 2 ins snow closed all our schools, many employees did not go to their offices or factories... just played in the snow
Just a couple of things re Artpow (several e-mails have asked) coats any profile, only one bake, becomes an integral part of the PC. Four colours no white - so pastels depend up Artpow colour plus white or any shade of powder that complements the Artpow colour. Like your printer... from the 4 basic colours your can obtain 1000's more then add the different powder colours and .
Great site, however, can' put our logo on for some reason or login automatically... and what all that stuff at the top "B,quote,img URL" etc and how to use?
Whats parse and the rest of the options down there?
Terry

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

heh I am 1 of those emails and I do web development Terry...maybe we can work something out

It sounds from what I got that it is 4 marble colors that react w each other that you could put over a white. Totally different thing, but cool potential. I am trying to find a good abstract bright looking coat actually so I am interested. I really don't have $800 to plunk down on 1 of those insane printers or a vinyl cutter to get some effects like I am thinking of.

[Guest]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

I probably did not explain it very well ~ All inks, transfers use four basic colours red, blue and yellow... the black being a mixture of these three primary colours. You can't manufacture a white because white is not a obtainable colour in this particular sector of special effects mf. Therefore if you want a pastel shade on the substrate... say a sky scene then the sky area would be created from the ink/dye (blue) mixing (as previously explained) in with the white powder resulting in a pastel blue. To obtain the cloud area (white) you would not apply any ink/dye. The whiteness of the cloud comes from just using a white PC material... in fact the whole substrate is powder coated and only the ink areas create the picture.

[cprvh]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

Dye sublimation requires a receptive poly coating. Any coated item that is flat can be pressed in a standard heat press (for t-shirts). 3D objects can be sublimated using thermofilms and a vacuum heat press.

There are several ways of producing the transfers (inkjet, laser, screen printing, litho). The right combination of temperature, time and pressure are required for successful image transfer. The resulting images will be near photo quality.

Dye sublimation will fade over time with exposure to UV light sources (sun). The image cannot withstand the heat of an engine. The transfer process takes place somewhere between 350°F and 425°F (depending on substrate and inks). If your finished piece reaches these temperatures the image will start to outgas or fade.

Successful dye sublimation onto powder coating requires two coats (underbase and clearcoat).

[TBPC]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

has anyone found were you can buy the products to do this printing?

[Streetwerkz]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

http://www.kolorfusion.com/index.htm

[baz]

Re: Vacuum formed graphics?

kolorfusion does not sell you the material only . i am still looking to find the right thermofilm , the dye sub ink is easy to find , i already have the right printer , the vaccum heat press can be built but the film is the hard part of the process to find.
places like kolor fusion sell the pre printed film