DSF

Hi,
I was just wondering if someone could help regarding a problem that I have had when sublimating a neoprene laptop/tablet sleeve.

The image on the product after going in my heat press (3D vacuum press ST3042) was faded and blurred and had water-like marks, especially in the corners as if they were crumpled after going in the vacuum. I have attached an photo of the sleeve and in the bottom right corner you can see the light coloured arch across the faded image.
The sleeve does have a burnt smell and an outline of the image is visible on the silicone sheet that wrapped around the product when the vacuum was on.

I'm not sure why the problem occurred;
Could it be as a result of the sleeve being heated for too long or on a too high a heat?
Should I have pre-heated the sleeve to get rid of any moisture- my concern with this is that the heat press I use holds steam which is released when I open the lid, so would preheating just mean more moisture is absorbed into the sleeve?

Any thoughts and tips would be much appreciated.

I also tried printing a metal insert for a bauble also in this heat press. The instructions were 190*C for 60 seconds but no ink was released onto the insert at all, I am assuming I should just leave it in longer? If anyone had used this vacuum heat press for metal inserts, would you be able to give me some advice regarding time and temperature?

I have successfully printed mugs, coasters and phone cases so I don't think it is a problem with the heat press, printer or inks.

Many Thanks in advance

Hi
Sorry for late reply, but hopefully better late than never!

I did one phone sized neoprene case in my ST3042 and decided it doesn't work... the colours were washed out and the neoprene completely flattened (i.e. gives no protection to the device) except for the nobbly imprint from the tray. I have tried various soft items like fabric swatches, even using 3mm silicon sheets to minimise the pattern from the metal vacuum tray but none are satisfactory compared to a 'normal' flatbed press. I tried higher and lower temps and shorter and longer times and the colours just never seem right;never crisp and vivid, blacks especially not black!

With regards to the metal bauble, was the vacuum working throughout? I found with some really flat items that unless you put paper or fabric over the vacuum hole, the membrane goes baggy. also 60 seconds isn't long enough for vacuum press, sounds more like timings for flat press. You can usually expect to triple or quadruple flat bed timings in a vacuum press. There are some guidelines for 3d vacuum timings on the web, worth googling

Oh and did you check if there was a protective film on the bauble before pressing? it doesn't stop the process but does affect the quality in my experience (accidental obviously!)

Hope some of that helps

Sam

Hi sam, thanks for the reply

Iv now got the bauble insert sorted- Like you've said i have found that trippling the revommended timings is required!
I burnt the first neoprene case i did (shown in the picture i attached). It was the first thing i ever sublimated and i put it in the heat press before turning the heat on so it warmed up with the temperature, rather than me putting it in when the recommended temperature had been reached. i also left it in the machine as the press cooled down- so by the time i took it out the neoprene was very well cooked!!!
iv made another and it worked better, i think ill test it afew more times before i stop and give up on fabrics aswell.

i had tried putting a glass chopping board (one that went wrong when i was experimenting with the timings for them) on the bottom of the press to prevent bobbles, it stopped the bobbles but restricted the flow of heat so the inks didn't sublimate evenly. i can put up with the imprint on the larger cases for laptop/tablet as it just looks like the back of the case has a textured pattern.

And there was a film on the bauble but it was attached like i have found with metal keyring inserts. I tried peeling it off first and the image was not right at all. I left in on and it was much better, the inks seem to pass through this type of film. i dont have a clue what the film does but it seems to be absorptive and allows inks to pass through evenly- maybe it helps when printing on metal surfaces, i dont know. for the keyring and bauble inserts i peel the film off with the paper after heating.

i'll try putting paper over the vacuum hole like you suggested to see if it wakes a difference.

Many thanks,
Conor

These items really need to be done on a heat press.