Drylam PRO-LAM PL1200-HP - Manual (Page 43)

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12. Raise the lower idler roller to its upper position (if the film is correctly installed, the adhesive
should be facing and in contact with the idler rollers – not the laminating rollers).
13. Now you are ready to complete the threading process. Using a threading card, (included with
some laminating film) or a piece of light card board at least 65% as wide as the laminating film
and at least 10" long
14. While running the rollers very slowly forward, immediately push and follow the laminating film
between the two rollers with the feeding card.
15. When the threading card contacts the nip (where the two heated rollers contact each other), slowly
advance the speed control knob while pushing the threading card. Keep the speed as slow as
possible. The card will be pulled into the rollers.
16. Immediately monitor the area between the front and rear rollers. You must make sure that the
threading card advances directly to the nip between the rear rollers.
17. After the feeding card has exited the machine and is at least 1-foot away from the rollers stop the
machine and cut the feeding card from the lamination web. Be extremely careful that the rollers are
not contacted with any sharp object as this could damage the rollers and cause poor lamination
surface quality
18. Continue to advance the laminating film through the machine. The film will begin to "straighten
and flatten itself out". Stop the machine and check both side edges of the film to be certain the top
and bottom laminates are precisely lined up. You may need to slide one of the supply rolls a bit to
obtain perfect alignment. You will need to slowly run a few feet of film to allow any side
adjustments to take affect.
19. To facilitate this process of straightening and flattening the film, it may be necessary to run the
feeding board through the laminator again, this will aid in straightening the film. Another trick
may be to put tension on the supply roll with your hand to temporarily increase mandrel tension, it
may also be necessary to run your hand over the film just behind the idler rollers where there are
creases, this may aid in smoothing them.
20. If the lamination does not smooth out you must align the towers to the machine see page 23
for the preliminary alignment and then see page 46 for the final alignment.
21. Also, monitor the film tension as it passes over the heated rollers. Adjust the tension using the
knobs located on the mandrels. Keep tension as light as possible while keeping wrinkles and
creases that appear on the face of the rollers to a minimum. If there are no wrinkles or creases, the
tension is probably too tight. You will find, through experience, that a considerable number of
wrinkles can he tolerated before you have a finish quality problem. The trick is to use as little
tension as possible or no tension at all. If you use too much tension, the film may stretch, curl or
twist.
22. Spend a little time at this point to make sure that "all is well" and you have clear and properly
aligned film.