Homebrew PCBs

I was in Big Lots discount store recently and decided to pickup a 
couple of their cheap laminators that they carry --a 4" for $12.99 
and a 9" for $29.99.  I got them home and opened them up to find that 
these were fabricated in the cheapest possible fashion.  These 
are "heated rollers" but the heat transfer mechanism doesn't look 
very effective.  It took a very long time to get them warm enough to 
even seal the laminator pouches they were designed for.  The rollers 
are statically fixed in a plastic pillowblock.  It's not surprising 
to hear that someone on this list (I can't remember names) managed to 
melt the mechanical supports on this model when they modified the 
heating element.  Two strikes against this one.  Ineffective heat, 
and a static roller support.  The one I use has a 4 roller system, 
heater in between rollers and has a spring loaded roller support --
accomodating varied thickness materials.  I don't believe 4 rollers 
are necessary for good TT, but springloaded and good heat are 
probably must haves.  

I wonder if we might start a laminator listing with known good / 
known bad laminator hardware.

  Anyway, this one looks on the surface to be a looser for toner 
transfer.  I'd be delighted to have someone correct me.
-Dal

For TT, I use:
Royal Sovereign NR-900 Laminator
 --Sams Club (newer digital version NR-901)--$77
http://www.royalsovereign.com/product/e_pro1_3.asp
9"
4 roller, spring loaded
center heater top&bottom elements (not heated roller --which could 
actually be more effective, just not the design on models below)

"Big!Lots" versions:
(recommend you avoid these for TT)

Design Concepts LAMINATOR model:YJ-3071 --$12.99
4"
static 2 roller design
30 watts!!!! (could be a typo on the label)
ineffective heated roller

TDE Systems #W14G4819  --$29.99
9"
static 2 roller design
230 watts (but doesn't get all that warm on the roller surface)
ineffective heated roller

In the Links I have a folder for Toner Transfer and inside that is a
sub-folder for Laminators and Heat Presses.

Please, by all means add links for recommended laminators there. Make
sure you mention where you got it if the link is to the manufacturer's
info. Better to give the manufacturer's website and just say in the
description where you got it.

Also, what constitutes a satisfactory laminator? I have a pretty good
Ibico EL-12 with temp control, but even on the highest setting I had
to pass a very thin doublesided board through a half dozen times to
get barely satisfactory sticking. I used some recommended inkjet
paper, haven't tried it with PnP or label backing sheets yet.

Steve

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "wheedal99" <wheedal@h...> wrote:

> I was in Big Lots discount store recently and decided to pickup a 
> couple of their cheap laminators that they carry --a 4" for $12.99 
> and a 9" for $29.99.  I got them home and opened them up to find that 
> these were fabricated in the cheapest possible fashion.  These 
> are "heated rollers" but the heat transfer mechanism doesn't look 
> very effective.  It took a very long time to get them warm enough to 
> even seal the laminator pouches they were designed for.  The rollers 
> are statically fixed in a plastic pillowblock.  It's not surprising 
> to hear that someone on this list (I can't remember names) managed to 
> melt the mechanical supports on this model when they modified the 
> heating element.  Two strikes against this one.  Ineffective heat, 
> and a static roller support.  The one I use has a 4 roller system, 
> heater in between rollers and has a spring loaded roller support --
> accomodating varied thickness materials.  I don't believe 4 rollers 
> are necessary for good TT, but springloaded and good heat are 
> probably must haves.  
> 
> I wonder if we might start a laminator listing with known good / 
> known bad laminator hardware.
> 
>   Anyway, this one looks on the surface to be a looser for toner 
> transfer.  I'd be delighted to have someone correct me.
> -Dal
> 
> For TT, I use:
> Royal Sovereign NR-900 Laminator
>  --Sams Club (newer digital version NR-901)--$77
> http://www.royalsovereign.com/product/e_pro1_3.asp
> 9"
> 4 roller, spring loaded
> center heater top&bottom elements (not heated roller --which could 
> actually be more effective, just not the design on models below)
> 
> "Big!Lots" versions:
> (recommend you avoid these for TT)
> 
> Design Concepts LAMINATOR model:YJ-3071 --$12.99
> 4"
> static 2 roller design
> 30 watts!!!! (could be a typo on the label)
> ineffective heated roller
> 
> TDE Systems #W14G4819  --$29.99
> 9"
> static 2 roller design
> 230 watts (but doesn't get all that warm on the roller surface)
> ineffective heated roller