This is kind of fun… Cast Acrylic is sublimation ready. You need a printer that is or has been converted to sublimation ink and a heat press. White Cast Acrylic is best…since there is no white in sublimation inks. Full color is at your fingertips.
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Huh… that’s really cool! Now you need an alignment jig, or two separate operations and you’ve got yourself one skookum sign making setup
What temperature is the sublimation performed at, 400F ?
I thought that cast acrylic melted at 160F?
I used 60 seconds at 400f. It will bend for sure. A person needs to have a big-a weight to cover the piece…and some heat proof gloves. The cast acrylic will not melt in that time.
thermoforming foam with a plate of something hefty should make sure there is zero deformation
It’s not that big of a deal. Cool water in a glass pan, weighted by something heavy, leaves the cast acrylic strain enough. I am not suggesting that this is a large format solution.
So, 8.5" x 11" acrylic, 60 seconds 400F and immediately place a heavy object (3 x 3/4" MDF panels), then let it cool. Looks like I have a bit of testing to do.
Yes. I also use a silicone sheet below it. I don’t think you would need to if you have a straight up/down platen, but my heatpress is a clamshell. The silicone sheet is a bit spongy and evens out the pressure.
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