I have one of the original GB laminators mentioned in Ultrakeet's
(PodeCoet?) hack article. I replaced the temp switch with one for
300-plus (330? -- I forget) degrees F. I always use 10 passes.
If you do the temperature switch hack, watch closely when you do your
first warm-up and first board(s). The plastic top of the laminator
gets so hot it will deform. I decided to cut off the ends (they hold
the switch and LEDs and cover the motor and drive gears) and ditch
the middle 10 inches or so..
The small boards, as mentioned, can be problematic due to their small
size relative to the roller width. To insure even pressure across the
board, run them at the edge of the rollers and put a second blank, or
scrap board (that you're not processing) next to it, "inboard" of it.
This will even out the pressure on the target board.
Never leave the laminator on unattended. I always consider it a fire
hazard and make sure I'm around when it's warming up and that I turn
it off before leaving.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Dave
-=-=-=-
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>Haven't tried that specific laminator but I do have and use the
>older model he wrote about in the previous article
>(http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=article&name=superfuser)
>
>He says it (GBC Creative) can't do 1.6mm but mine has no problem
>with it. Not sure what the minimum amount of passes should be but I
>do about 10 (from a cold board) which works fine.
>
>One thing to note (and this probably applies to laminators in
>general) that if you put the board through in the middle, your board
>edges may not transfer as well as the center.
>
>To solve this I run the board through closer to the ends of the
>laminator for 2 of the later passes.
>
>Note that with any laminator, small boards can potentially be
>annoying. I use a piece of cardboard to follow them through and push
>them out the other side.
>
>Only funny thing with my laminator is that it works better on cold
>days. A couple of times I tried it on hot days and the transfer was
>lousy. I think when the ambient temperature is warm, the
>temperature sensor is already too warm and the controller won't heat
>the rollers up enough.
>
>I have never measured the temperature with a proper thermocouple and
>meter, but so far if I make sure I use it from cold it works well.
>This may only be specific to my laminator, I haven't heard of anyone
>else having the same problems.
>
>
>Interesting the 'improved' version of the GBC Creative is now on the
>'shitlist' - I had been told it was much better. Will have to ask
>him why he changed his mind!
>
>
>
>--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "jhalbrecht" <jeffa@...> wrote:
>
>> I found this page after following some links to GBC laminator
>> conversions. It's for a pinch roller laminator. Seems affordable.
>>
>> http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=article&name=superFuserV2
>> <http://ultrakeet.com.au/index.php?id=article&name=superFuserV2>
>> Looks like a pretty good description of the modification with specific
>> parts I've been able to find at their suggested source and others.
>>
> > Opinions? Suggestions?