Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
(OP)
Hello. I have been on google for hours and came up with nowhere.
I need to come up with a low cost solution for laminating glass with PVB or other poly as sublayer. In some cases there will be 1/16 or 1/18 glass on top of a sublayer of acrylic or polycarbonate. In other versions, there will be Lexan MR on top of a sublayer.
The point is to have a transparent top layer of glass or some poly material, the top layer gets digitally printed from the back side in reverse. The sub layer covers a PCB(electrodes for capacitive touch sensing(Qprox)). The panels are 4" x 6.6", and total thickness will be around 1/8" when laminated.
Can anyone recommend a source to do this lamination process on a shoe string? Ideally, some small oven or oven with press would be great, small quantity production is OK. I understand that heat and pressure are the method, but I see no small solution.
I have talked to big companies, but their processes are too time consuming and costly for prototyping and experimenting to get the right look. The quotes I have from several companies are not doable, so home brew is the only path.
Thanks for any suggestions on how to set up for lamination.
I need to come up with a low cost solution for laminating glass with PVB or other poly as sublayer. In some cases there will be 1/16 or 1/18 glass on top of a sublayer of acrylic or polycarbonate. In other versions, there will be Lexan MR on top of a sublayer.
The point is to have a transparent top layer of glass or some poly material, the top layer gets digitally printed from the back side in reverse. The sub layer covers a PCB(electrodes for capacitive touch sensing(Qprox)). The panels are 4" x 6.6", and total thickness will be around 1/8" when laminated.
Can anyone recommend a source to do this lamination process on a shoe string? Ideally, some small oven or oven with press would be great, small quantity production is OK. I understand that heat and pressure are the method, but I see no small solution.
I have talked to big companies, but their processes are too time consuming and costly for prototyping and experimenting to get the right look. The quotes I have from several companies are not doable, so home brew is the only path.
Thanks for any suggestions on how to set up for lamination.





RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
Also polycarbonate can be coated to give an MR finis. This is how automotive headlights are done. am not up to date on the inal method, but I know siloxane and PU coatings were on the short list.
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RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
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RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
http://www.cpfilms.com/
RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
Now that I have got some insight into how to do this, I will probably do 3 layers:
Top Lexan MR or Makrolon AR one side (.05")
Middle Graphic Layer. Ink jet printed Velvet Polycarb(.05")
Bottom Stiff acrylic for strength in black .1".
Now that the films are sorted, it's time to look at a low cost ink jet printer to print the inner layer. Then come up a hash marking scheme to lay the parts together and heat press in some type of small press (modified pan cake cooker--top and bottom heat), then laser or machine the entire thing, cutting the real border and required holes.
I appreciate your input guys, those are helpful for the layers needed.
RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
http://www.contravision.com/index.html
RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
In reality, each part contains different cut-outs and drills that are unique to the layer, then all parts are aligned and heat pressed with or without a cement which remains to be sorted out.
RE: Need info on laminating poly carbonates etc
http://microadvances.com/
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA