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Hello,
Im trying to sublimate thin (0.5mm) aluminium sheets but i get a weird result.
The sheet looks dirty/blurry after sublimation. This happens even if i just use a blank paper with no print.
Any ideas why this is happening? Is it moisture or heat/pressure issue? See the photos below.
Thanks in advance
* Yes i have removed the protective film.
** This happens with any combination of temp/time setting
Heat AND pressure.
Metal need very little, almost no pressure.
Thanks for the reply Paul. Reducing pressure and adding a piece of cloth on top of everything did the trick. However its clear that now i need to increase time and temp to get the print right since it has blotches all over.
Any suggestions? I saw that many use 120 seconds. 185c and 90seconds had this result:
We print loads of .5 metal and actually use firm pressure. 190c for about 50 seconds with paper side down on press bed so heat platen goes onto back of metal. You can get the odd batch where the coating is not as good and will melt at a lower temp holding onto fibres of the paper when removing. When this happens we drop to around 170c but haven't had a dodgy batch for a while.
Hi Andrew,
I have tested many combinations of heat and temperature settings. Nothing worked. I always get the result that you saw in the first photos. Only if i have the sheet on the rubber pad facing up, then the paper and then a piece of cloth, then and only then the coating remains glossy without these weird stains. Im still not sure what causes this (you say its not pressure). After a few more tests i found out that 190c for 110 seconds produces fine prints. The colors are off but thats a different discussion. I have 10 years of experience with 3d sublimation but im new with heat presses, metal sheets and 2d in general.
If it works for you that way just keep tweaking until you are happy. We use several different presses and never have to change the way we do it and it is never longer than 60 seconds or 190c. It can work at just under that for us with paper side down on the bed and that is a few thousand sheets a month going through.
The original photos you put up do seem to indicate to much heat getting into the coating. A cloth obviously slows that down and if you aren't rushing to get the work done then that is not a problem. We do often use a cloth or silicone sheet on the base of the presses anyway so perhaps try it that way around and pull the time down. The cloth just stays in place then to save you taking it on and off.
One more question. Do you let the paper dry for a while before pressing?
Is this because of moisture or wrong settings? You can see both the paper and the sheet after pressing.
ALWAYS USE DRY PAPER. AS WET INK WONT HELP YOU. IT WONT BE YOUR FRIEND AT ALL.
i FORGOT TO MENTION THAT YOU DONT USE ANY CLOTH. AND PRESS IT UP SIDE DOWN. sO PAPER AT THE BOTTOM. LOW, VERY LOW PREASURE. !85C for 45sec as starting point.
PS. sory about the caps :rolleyes:
Hi Paul,
Some people say little pressure, some say medium to strong. Some say 90-120 seconds, others 50-60. Its hard to say which settings are right.
Is this because of moisture or wrong settings?
low preasure - up side down. look like you need more heat. also is your meal a quality one?
Well… thats what i thought and thats why i started messing with the settings. This is moisture. The paper needs to dry for 5 minutes. Maybe more. I also reduced the ink density of my Epson Ecotank a bit. Now im able to get pretty good results with 185c and 60 seconds. No cloth or anything else. Although i can still see the marks that i mentioned first when i put the sheet under a light. They are not that visible though anymore. The sheets are from alibaba… Im looking for another supplier. Any suggestions? Also, are all aluminium sheets that easily scratched? Even a simple wipe leaves lines.
I only use metal from sublimetals, and 185C 45seconds works great for any size, the large 20x30inch image and 16x24 image on sublimetals website are ones i have printed = paper on the bottom of press with print facing upwards metal on top with print side facing down - a mediumish pressure (although them big ones were done at 7bar pressure) and never have an issue.
Hello,
I will try to reduce the time although im pretty sure i read that longer time means more durability for the print. I will check sublimetals although after Brexit buying from UK businesses is too expensive.
My press is 40x50 cm but it has no indicator for the pressure so im not sure if 7bar is a lot or not.
Thanks for your comment!
7bar is very high pressure (around 100psi), on my stahls i generally user 6-7 on the pressure read out which is medium ish in my opinion. With import+vat etc etc i have very rarely noticed its much cheaper buying in from abroad myself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul
could possible check my post to see if you know my issue
My money would be on the paper being the issue.
What type/brand are you using?
Hi,
I have used two different types of paper (Sublisplash-DyeSub). Same result.
Actually i found posts describing this very same issue from 10 years ago so its pretty common.
It is know as "orange peel" or "watermarks". It appears usually on the cheaper aluminium sheets with thinner coating.
My understanding is that because of the thinner coating the paper is imprinted on it, leaving these marks.
I could not find a solution. I have used a variety of settings combinations (heat-time-pressure) with no luck.
An easy way to test if it's the paper or not is to put a little water on a microfiber towel and rub it over the areas with the marks. If they come off or lighten, it's the paper.
Some of the self branded xpres paper left these kinds of marks but was fixed by wiping over the area.
Might be worth a shot and help narrow things down a bit more.
Nope it wont come off :(