Parts List
Laminator assembly - with bench clamps, stainless steel drip tray, aluminium vacuum bed & gas strut assistance.
Vacuum pump - & connection tube.
Coating troughs - 2 off, each comprising an aluminium section with two plastic end pieces.
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Setup
- Clamp the main unit to a convenient bench and
connect and check the Vacuum Pump.
- Raise the Vacuum Bed to its horizontal position and
put a sheet of Stencil Film to the right hand top
corner of the the holed area of the bed and evenly
spaced over the holes that it covers. It will not cover
all of the holes because the bed is supplied oversize
to allow it to be used with larger sizes of Stencil Film.
- Stick insulation tape immediately beside the left hand
edge and the bottom edge of the sheet of Stencil
Film, thus providing a positioning guide and also
covering the remaining holes in the Vacuum Bed.
- On the right hand side of the Vacuum Bed, adjust
aluminium Guide Bar, by means of the three
hexagonal headed bolts, as follows:- Place a Coating
Trough across the sheet of Resist Film so that its
ends are equidistant from each side edge. Adjust
the Guide Bar sideways so that it just touches the
end cap of the Trough. Check that the adjustment
of the Bar is the same at both of its ends.
Use
- Seat the stainless steel Drip Tray on its magnetic
attachments.
- Switch the vacuum on. This will be on continuously
all the time the machine is in use.
- Make sure that the Coating Trough end caps are
firmly in place and then fill it with Carrier Film to
approximately two thirds of its capacity. Place it in
the Drip Tray with the handle facing toward you
- Raise the Vacuum Bed to the horizontal position and
place a sheet of processed (exposed, washed out
& dried) Stencil Film onto the set position as
previously marked with the insulation tape.
- Lower the Vacuum Bed to its vertical position.
- Lift the Coating Trough by its handle, being careful
to hold it horizontal so that the Carrier Film is evenly
distributed along its length. This takes a little practise
to start with, but soon becomes second nature.
- Touch the lip of the Coating Trough to just above
the bottom edge of the Resist Film, with the Trough
end cap up against the Guide Bar.
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- Tip the Coating Trough so that an even bead of
Carrier Film forms against the Stencil Film and then
draw this bead upwards over the Stencil Film in a
smooth motion. Whilst doing this, ensure that:-
a) The Trough remains horizontal from end to end.
b) The Trough right hand end cap remains against
the Guide Bar at all times.
- When the bead of Carrier Film reaches close to the
top of the Stencil Film, stop moving it up and, whilst
still keeping the lip against the Stencil Film, tip the
trough back so that the remaining Carrier Film flows
back into the body of the Trough. Remove the Trough.
- You may, at this stage and particularly whilst you
are still getting used to using the machine, pass the
Coating Trough up, from bottom to top, over the wet
Carrier Film again. This time hold the Trough tipped
back slightly so that the Carrier Film it contains does
not flow against the Resist Film. The lip will act as
a blade and neatly shave off any excess Carrier Film
- Alternatively, if any areas have not covered with
Carrier Film, another pass may be made with the
trough tipped towards the Resist Film and a second
bead drawn across it. Followed by shaving, as above,
if necessary. You will soon get the hang of it!
- When you are happy with the coating, put the Trough
back in the Drip Tray and lift the Vacuum Bed back
to the loading position. Remove the first sheet of
Resist Film and repeat the cycle.
Cleaning Up
- After draining, oven dry any Carrier Film remaining
on the trough and tray and peel it off later.
IMPORTANT
- Ensure that the lip of the Trough is kept clean and
free of dried Carrier Film. A build up in this vital area
will reduce the thickness of the coat that is laid down.
- Do not soak the plastic Trough end caps in the
PrecisionMask Solvent for any extended period. If
you do, they will shrink slightly and then not fit
properly.
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