Custom sub blanks

[PeteL]

Hi All

I would really appreciate someone's help, I have only recently started in the sublimation world.


i am looking for metal squares that are 16mm x 16mm x 2mm and suitable for sublimation work. I have contacted a few companies and everyone says they cannot do 2mn thick shapes. I have managed to source the actual squares but they are not coated with the sublimation coating.

I also looked at the liquid sublimation coating but the results are not very good.

Does anyone know of anywhere that either makes custom sublimation shapes or anywhere that can add the sublimation coating to shapes?

Thank you all in advance. I can see this is a site I will be spending a lot of time on.

Pete

[Justin]

Welcome to the forum Pete

Is there a reason why the metal has to be 2mm thick? I've seen 1.5mm and possibly other thickness's not sure about 2mm though.

Justin
DSF Admin

[Justin]

http://www.chromaluxe.com/products/alum ... to-panels/

May be worth contacting?

[pisquee]

Chromaluxe aluminium is 1.1-1.2mm thick, and as far as I've found is the thickest available in blank sheeting, and can be cut to size with a guillotine.
What is it you're trying to achieve/produce that means the aluminium needs to be as thick as 2mm?
What type of aluminium have you already sourced? is it adonised?

[PeteL]

Thanks Justin I will give them a try.

1.5mm may be ok, it just needs to be rigid. I am hoping to print onto it to make a small lapel pin.

Fingers crossed

[ASLCreative]

I think the reason 1.5mm is the maximum thickness available is because most hand operated metal shears can only cut aluminium up to 1.5mm thick.

Does it have to be aluminium? Only you can get 2mm plastic and probably have it laser cut into the exact shape you want.

[PeteL]

How rigid would a 1.5mm piece of aliminium be?

The plastic may be the way forward I will look into that as well.

How is the sublimation coating added to the aliminium? Are there any companies that do the coating?

[Justin]

1.5mm is pretty rigid, I print A4 and it seems fine.

[PeteL]

Ok, so any idea where sells 1.5mm metal squares?
Thanks again for all the answers

[ASLCreative]

One thing to think about when cutting aluminium with shears is that you end up with sharp corners. You can cut a curve on them but the radius of the curve is set by the machine used (http://www.novachrome.co.uk/equipment/c ... pment.html)

Alternatively you could CNC the aluminium sheet.

Or glue two 1mm thick squares together. I have used dog tags and other dye cut shapes that are made up of two layers of aluminium sheet. Gluing of aluminium is common practice in the Aero industry - so it should hold for a badge