We have seen the Coda work in Soul skis from Dr delam. Looked great, the rate is fair so that's totally viable.
http://www.skibuilders.com/phpBB2/viewt ... c&start=15
http://codaboards.com/topsheets.php
We have found a local person that does sublimation on polyester and nylon materials. She has never done any ski specific topsheet materials.
So the way I understand this process is that the graphic is printed on a transfer material with a specific sublimation inks, and then transferred via heat and pressure to your topsheet of choice.
I would like to use a local option if available. She is eager to learn and cultivate business which is great.
What is the pressure necessary to transfer these inks to these materials? 50psi? less? temp is around 350F, I know that.
Are the inks proprietary to the substrate you attempt to transfer to? ie can I use the same inks to go to Nylon or pbt as I could for UHMWPE?
Do I need a specific material to print onto to transfer to my topsheet?
Who carries PBT topsheet with the felt back. Crown?
How do I get the protective peel ply on there after I sublimate?
I realize QCM caries these inks so a call to them may be in order after I get a better handle on this.
PBT has a polyester base, nylon is totally different?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybutylene_terephthalate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon
UHMW will work with this how? Polypeptide-long polymer chain? I have no clue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UHMWPE
I am not a chemist or a material science engineer, skier first, redneck last.
My fellow ski builder and partner in crime has signed up to sell some skis.
I am a little skeptical about it but we are selling them to a business who will raffle them off. The money we make goes straight back to tools and materials.
They want a custom sublimated topsheet I will design with their logos and such. Its a brewery so the beer logos will be on the skis.
"local brews, & local skis"
Anyone with some specific knowledge on how I can help my local person learn how to do this would be mucho appreciated. The coda guy seems super cool so perhaps he could help.
I may have to have the transfer printed in town and then sublimated with my lady as she doesn't do the actual print I think.
well if you read all this bs I commend you.
I'm going to use this like all my threads, a dumping ground for resource info.
viewtopic.php?t=2330&sid=0a51551f60bee2 ... 98efd9e5e3
http://www.grafsnowboards.com/forum/vie ... ?f=1&t=594
http://www.isosport.com/en/index.php?op ... &Itemid=14It is now possible to get graphics directly printed on to topsheet material. The digital printing can be performed on the top of white material - with the disadvantage that it may scratch off or fade - or back printed on clear topsheet and backscreened with white ink.
Siebdruck Stainer in Austria, and Sitra / Sericora in Switzerland can perform this. The results are highly effective.
In order to get this right you need to ensure your chosen topsheet material is suitable for this type of printing - PBT is the usual choice. You cannot sublimate on to dark coloured backgrounds. If you sublimate onto white plastic, everything will work quite normally. If you sublimate onto clear plastic you must ensure that you have a light coloured substrate beneath - or back screen print white ink onto the back of the topsheet in the areas where the graphic shows through.
Sublimation is costly to set up and not so easy to perform at home. Some suppliers can sublimate your graphics onto topsheet material for a reasonable price - for quality graphics it is worth investing in their services. See our suppliers page for more information.
Thanks
-MM