Did I bought some bad cases ? (video to see the problem)

[Alox]

Hello,

I'm a beginner in the 3D sublimation world. I never sell a phone case.

I've bought some cases and dummies phones (1 provider for the cases and an other provider for the dummies). The dummies have the good dimensions.

Some cases I've bought are bigger than the phone. Did you have the same problem before ?
I mean, before you sublimate a 3D case, can the phone move in the case ?

Here you can see a video where I show the problem : https://youtu.be/aGIrZ1-HFM8

Thank you for your help

[Paul]

Have you tried to sublimate them? They will shrink to the size of the mould once heated so they will be proper size... Plastic does shrink when hit.

all the best
paul

[Alox]

Hello Paul,
Thank you for your help. Oh ! And thank you for your video about how to sublim well the corners of 3D cases, it helps me a lot !

OK, I tried to sublimate an iPhone 6 case.
Check my video here : https://youtu.be/4YtyeBDLvvQ

So the white case is not sublimated, and the orange is. You can see the white case is too large horizontally (width) and vertically (height). But after the sublimation there is not problem with the width size, but it's still a problem with the height :S

Here is the tool I used : http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/601040 ... or_all.jpg

So this is what I do, with my 3D oven, I put the case inside. I turn on the vaccum, I turn on the heat. After the tempeture is 200° I turn on the timer (20 minutes). After these 20 minutes, I pull out the mold and I put the case on the dummy iPhone 6 and put the dummy with the case in the cooling tool (so there is no water).

I don't know how I can do it well with these iPhone 6 cases. I have also too big iPhone 4 cases, but after the sublimation there are right (no problem at all).
But I have the same problem with the iPhone 6 Plus cases. :S

Could you help me please ?

[Paul]

how ablout leave it for longer in the oven? should shrink bit more. i just printed iPhone 5 case and it fits perfectly.

[Alox]

I gonna try with something else (I'll show you tonight the pictures) and if doesn't work I'll try to let the case more time in the oven.

But I have to questions about that :

- Me too, I have no problem with the iPhone 5 cases. But is it weird that a no sublimated iPhone 5 case is very good when I put the dummy on it, and no problem too when I sublimate the iPhone 5 case with the dummy. But with iPhone 6 cases (and also iPhone 6 Plus cases) they don't fit well before and after the sublimation... ? So the providers produce blank cases with "random" dimensions... ?
- The problem if I stay the iPhone 6 cases more than 20 minutes, is that I won't be able to sublimate in the same time iPhone 4, 5, 6 cases. :/

[Alox]

Moreover Paul,

When you buy some blank cases, does they fit well to your dummies before the sublimation or not ?
Because I'm wondering if I should tell to my provider that there is a big problem.

[socialgiraffe]

Hi Alox

I suspect there is no problem with your phone cases. Prior to sublimation they are generally too big, but after sublimation they will reduce in size and subsequently fit the correct phone. For some reason I have found this is more noticeable on curved devices (such as Iphone 6 and Galaxy's) than the squarer Iphone 5.

However, your cooling device you are using is not the best and will cause you problems. You need to get dummy phones (particularly for curved devices) and you MUST make sure that the dummies you purchase are the CORRECT size. I print quite a few phone cases and am still on the hunt for a Iphone 6 dummy that is the correct size (I am currently using a real Iphone!).

Dropping the phone in water is also good practice for the "cut away" designs that a lot of manufacturer's are steering towards (hence I need a dummy and not a real phone!).