Ultra-Violet Directions

  Remember to empty the hopper of any other kind of thermo powder still in the machine, and NEVER mix it with either regular powder OR another laser powder!   PLEASE keep your UV powder in the sealed plastic bag or other moisture proof container, and store it in a cool, dry place such as an air-conditioned room. If you want a smooth & glossy finish, please keep sealed to keep moisture out of the powder.  This is important!

  Our UV powder will run fast or slow, depending on the granulation size, thickness of stock, or coverage desired, but it needs to run a little hotter for best results.  It is particularly important to turn OFF the cooling fan at the end of the thermo machine for best results.  If at all possible, turn the fan/UV light around so that the UV light is at the very END of your machine.  The longer the tunnel, the better.  The curing reaction actually continues for several seconds AFTER passing under the UV light.  If the paper is cooled too quickly the consequence will be an incomplete cure. 

  The useable lifetime of most UV lamps is about 1000 hours.   Read your manufacturers specifications for life and maintenance data, and follow all safety precautions religiously.  As your UV lamp approaches the end of its lifetime, it's output ratings usually drop to about 80%.  If the fingerprints are on the lamp, soot buildup from a fire under the reflector, or even a defective lamp can cause an incomplete cure.   The habit of testing every job is good assurance that you will catch any problems before your customer does!

  All jobs done for laser safe thermography should be tested by a rigorous protocol to insure that sufficient curing has occurred.  Any domestic iron set on "high" that will slightly scorch the paper should be on standby and the first, middle, and end of each run tested by placing a cover sheet over the imaged area and holding it there until scorching has occurred.  If the thermography is not sufficiently cured it will leave residue in the cover sheet.  The reasons for such precautions are simple:  Your customers will not be pleased by anything not true to your claim of "laser safe," and you will not want to do the job over again.   The product is only guaranteed to cure under specific conditions, and it is implicitly recognized by the user that those conditions must be measured (tested) to establish that those conditions have been met.

  Please follow these guidelines closely.  Future developments and improvements will be sent to you automatically, and we welcome any questions or comments you may have. 

  Ultra-Violet Laser Safe Powder works best with longer heat tunnel and with UV inks.