Drylam PRO-LAM PL1200-HP - Manual (Page 48)

48
Film Tuning
Once the laminator has been set up and the film threaded, the laminator should be fine-tuned to the film
that you are using. Once the laminator has been fine-tuned, it is not as crucial to adjust the machine for
subsequent film rolls. It may however be necessary to review this paper when one is having problems
with the film. The following may be best accomplished by using the thinner films available, such as 1 –
2 mil films but should easily be performed with a thicker film.
1. Mandrels Alignment.
A. Loosen the mandrel towers just enough that the weight of the film roll doesn’t move them but
you can do so forcefully or, with a rubber hammer.
B. Make sure that the film is very close to the center of the supply rolls (measure the difference
between the distance from the right mandrel tower to the right side of the film roll and then
the left side, adjust half the distance of the difference or until centered).
C. Loosen the mandrel knobs until loose enough to allow the film to spin smoothly but not free
wheel.
D. Turn on the machine and heat to operating temperature.
E. Slowly run film through the machine while watching how the film comes off the supply roll.
This should be even and straight and you should see a line at which the film separates from
the supply roll this line should be parallel with the rollers or the floor. OR feel the film for
slack on either side of the web coming off of the supply roll you will notice that one side is
loose and the other is tight and uncoiling the roll. The mandrel knob must be tight enough to
cause some tension on the supply roll but not so tight that the film stretches when it is
coming of the roll.
F. Adjust the mandrel towers a very small amount at a time until the film is coming off the roll
straight or parallel with the rollers. On the bottom, if the film separates late or is loose that
side should be lowered or the other side raised. On the top, if the film separates late or is
loose the tower on that side should be brought forward or the other tower pushed back
G. This setup procedure should only have to be done one time or when adjustment is lost
2. Adjust the mandrel tension.
A. Typically, the mandrel tension is used to smooth the laminating film as it comes over the
rollers into the nip and when to adjust film curl.
B. If the film is coming over and through the rollers wrinkled, you may add a small amount of
tension to the mandrels in attempt to alleviate this. In some conditions, it is possible for the
tension to be too great and actually cause wrinkles.
C. If too much tension is applied to the mandrels, it can also cause excessive stretch and will
result in unsatisfactory lamination.
D. Single sided lamination should be as loose as possible