Newbie Idiot Needs Help

[Whitecar]

Hello,
I'm having a few issues and I'm hoping that someone can help. [more than likely tell me I'm being stupid]

What I have
20mm Clear Cast Acrylic
SawGrass 400 Printer
Small Clam Press [180c for 180 sec]

I'm using subliglaze adhesive promoter, clear coat and tran white.

Issues I'm having
Cooking the Acrylic in a oven [as per instructions] is warping it to the point of not being useable. [I'm testing letting it dry over 2-3 days rather than cooking it]
Colours aren't very vivid [I have the paper the right way round... made this mistake straight out of the gate]
Paper is sticking heavily in the centre of the block. I've ordered a silicon pad to see if this helps.
I watched a video on youtube last night that solejuice I think that said I don't need to coat Acrylic as its Polybased. [tried... didn't work]

Any advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[webtrekker]

First off, can I ask what you are using the acrylic for? If you are just making square photo blocks you can buy these ready coated. No oven required, and about 2 mins in your heat press.

If you are using the Subliglaze to allow you to coat other shapes, then you're always going to have the problem of the whole block softening while curing.

BTW, you can sublimate acrylic directly. I've done it with 2mm and 3mm sheets of clear, white, and other pastel colours. The print was excellent, but keeping the sheets flat while cooling was temperamental.

[Whitecar]

Thank you for the quick reply.

I'm doing a few different sizes etc so off the shelf isnt possible.

Do you know if the glaze will cure at room temp? I was on one of the websites and apparently the commerical side says it will fully cure after 72 hours. the Domestic cans says it has to cure at 160c but dosent mention anything about room temp. [subliglaze I think]

I tried without coating last night but the colour didn't seem to want to take. Could I ask what heat and time you have used?

Also if you can print directly to Acrylic how come people sell Acrylic with the coating?

[webtrekker]

Well, I should say that I have never actually used spray coatings myself. I've read up on them and watched some YouTube vids but was never impressed by the reviews. I believe @Justin did some experiments on mugs so he may drop in and offer some advice later.

With regard to direct printing of acrylic, I've no idea why they sell coated acrylic (other than clear, of course, where you may need a white coating).

Here's a sugar skull image I sub-printed on 2mm acrylic as an experiment...


20190325_165346.jpg


Temp: 190 C Time: 60 secs Pressure: medium.

[Whitecar]

Thank you for the info.

Do you use a silicon pad or pillow for your printing?

[webtrekker]

Thank you for the info.

Do you use a silicon pad or pillow for your printing?

No, just the usual soft pad on the bottom platen of my press, a sheet of copy paper, the acrylic, the transfer, then another sheet of copy paper, or baking paper. I don't use teflon with acrylic as the texture of the teflon sheet transfers to the acrylic when hot.