Tape marks on phone cases.

[adamctid]

I use quite a lot of tape on my phone cases to ensure a good finish but I am being left with marks where the tape has been.

How do I eliminate these please?

[Scotty@BMS]

Are these 3D cases? A photo would be of help...

[adamctid]

Hi Scotty, yes they're 3d cases. I've taken some pics but it doesn't show anything, the marks only appear at certain angles but they look really bad when you see them.

[adamctid]

Would anyone recommend using a spray adhesive instead of tape?

[adamctid]

vB_ID:3532

image.jpg (86.34 KiB) Viewed 23 times

Managed to Take a pic pal.

[Scotty@BMS]

I think you could use a lot less tape. The way I cut the paper I only use one strip centrally at the top and the bottom. Standard questions, which paper, which heat tape, what are your times and temps?

[adamctid]

Hi pal. I use sawgrass paper. Not sure what heat tape. (Browny yellow in colour).
2 cases for 7.5 min at 190 which always rises to 200 on the machine.

[adamctid]

How do you cut the paper please mate?

[pawelz]

I had a problem with brown tape marks left inside a case.
Used to preheat the mould for 20 minutes (170 C). I thought that might be a problem,
so I reduced the time to 7 min and all my cases are fine now , no marks left.
My time and temp: 3.45 min at 170 C (180 C) - the press is set to 170 C, but temp always rises to 180 C.
Cases are BestSub, paper is TexPrint-R, Sublijet-R ink.

You can try my times and temps, maybe it is also the solution to your problems with tape marks.

This is the method that Scotty mentioned. I don't recommend it if you want your final print to be really sharp on the front edges.

[magda]

Hi, I get the tape marks too but now I tape differently so that there is only tape on the left and right edge, no tape on the flat area inside the case so the marks can't really be seen. I've tried the method you link to but it doesn't work for me, I get bad results on the front edges with that method. So I use a different method folding the paper over the edges.

With regards to the time and temp needed I've found it varies depending on type of blank. Currently I use 177C 3.30min. I still have a few left of the previous type of blanks and they can take 5 min at 177C. I found that if the time and temp is too low the results are less good in areas where the paper is folded or not 100% flush with the case (corners plus around the camera and button openings). At higher temps & times the ink seems to jump to these areas too. Therefore I preferred the type of blanks that could take higher time/temp before shrinking too much but as I don't know what brand they were I'm not sure where to get hold of them again.

PS at the moment I use the mini sub as my big st3042 is broken. The temp in the mini is more stable so for the same blanks in the big one I would have used a slightly lower temp