Creating Custom Magnets with MagnetPouch Magnetic Laminating Pouches

Whether they’re used as promotional giveaways, advertising on vehicles, or gifts for friends and family, magnets have become a popular way of sharing favorite photographs, brand messaging, contact information, and more. Despite their popularity, making custom magnets has typically been a time-consuming, multi-step process that made creating small runs of professional-looking magnets an unrealistic prospect for most businesses. To make custom magnet production faster, easier, and more cost-effective, MagnetPouch has introduced an innovative series of products that eliminates the challenges faced by many previous production methods.

MagnetPouch Magnetic Laminating Pouches

MagnetPouch magnetic laminating pouches combine every aspect of custom magnet production into one easy process that requires only a pouch laminator. Each magnet pouch is made up of two layers – a high-clarity, 3 mil, thermal laminating film layer (available in soft-touch matte or gloss finish) and a thin, high-strength magnet layer that is coated with an aggessive, thermally-activated adhesive. To create a magnet, the printed artwork is placed between the laminating film layer and the magnet layer, then the pouch is fed through the pre-heated pouch laminator. Below is a guide to creating magnets with magnet pouches:

  1. Preheat your pouch laminator. We recommend using a laminator that has six or more rollers for best results. While you may be able to make magnets using a laminating machine with fewer rollers, it may require multiple passes through the machine in order to fully activate both adhesive layers. The optimum temperature will vary depending upon the thickness of the stock that is being used in your magnet. For lightweight stocks (5-7 pt), set the temperature to 230-250 deg F. For cardstock, set the temperature to 250-270 deg F.
  2. Insert your document into the magnet pouch, aligning it as desired. Multiple smaller pieces of paper can be placed side-by-side into a single pouch, however fine wrinkles may occur during lamination.
  3. Place the pouch into a carrier sheet. Always use magnetic pouches with a carrier sheet to protect your laminator from potential damage.
  4. Insert the carrier sheet into the laminator, ensuring that a slow laminating speed setting is selected.
  5. Remove the magnet from the carrier as soon as it exits the laminator. Place the magnet onto a flat surface to allow it to cool.
  6. Trim as desired. Note: To create a borderless (or “flush-cut”) magnet that is water-resistant, you will need to print your artwork onto synthetic paper. Contact us for specific recommendations on which variety is best suited to your project.

MagnetPouches magnetic laminating pouches are available in a range of sizes, including photo, letter, and car magnet.

TruBind TB-SD600 Heavy-Duty Electric Coil Binding Machine Review

The TruBind TB-SD600 Electric Coil Binding Machine is a heavy-duty coil binder that pairs quality construction and user-friendly features with a budget-friendly price point. The TB-SD600 is the newest model in TruBind’s line of affordable coil binding equipment, all of which have an emphasis on easy operation and are built from durable components. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the TB-SD600 and evaluate all of its features.

The TruBind TB-SD600 was designed with high-volume users in mind and has the largest punching capacity of any machine in the series – 25 sheets per punch. The heavy-duty electric punching mechanism makes quick work of punching even thick books, creating clean, consistent holes with every punch. Because the punch can be engaged using either the included foot pedal or by pushing the button located toward the front of the machine, the operator can keep their hands free to grab stacks of paper and arrange punched sheets into books – increasing overall binding efficiency. The punch is 11.81″ long (46 oval holes positioned with .250 spacing) and has an open throat to accommodate larger page sizes in multiple punches. The TB-SD600 also features fully-disengaging dies, which allow the user to eliminate partially-punched holes by selectively disengaging the punching dies along the edges of the sheet. To disengage a die and prevent it from punching, simply pull the corresponding pin (located on the top of the machine) upward until it stops. The die can easily be reengaged by pushing the pin back into place when desired.

For even greater control over your bound documents, the TB-SD600 has an adjustable side guide as well as an adjustable depth margin. The side guide allows users to accurately set the placement of their paper within the punch, ensuring that the holes are positioned consistently throughout the entire book (even when it is punched in multiple stacks). The side guide is located on the left side of the clear punching guide and can be repositioned by loosening the screw that holds it in place and tightening it once the guide is in the desired position. The depth margin control allows the operator to set the distance of the holes from the edge of the paper – allowing the holes to be closer to the edge on thinner books or with a greater margin when binding thick documents. Adjusting the hole depth based on the size of the book not only looks more professional, but also creates a more durable finished book since thicker books will be less likely to tear along the bound edge when a larger margin is used. The TruBind TB-SD600 has three available punching depths – 2.5mm, 4.5mm, and 6.5mm – which can be set using the knob on the left side of the machine.

Another user-favorite feature of this model is the electric coil inserter that is located toward the front of the machine. To use the electric coil inserter, the user inserts a 4:1 pitch binding coil into the first few holes of a book by hand, then gently touches the coil against the spinning inserter. The coil should be positioned against rubber roller so that the tail of the coil is to the right and the holes of the book are to the left. Power to the electric coil inserter is controlled by an independent switch to the right of the inserter, allowing the operator to turn it off when it is not in use. The electric coil inserter greatly increases productivity by making the binding process much faster than inserting the coils by hand, and can be used with coils up to 7/8″ in diameter (larger coils can be inserted manually). To make the process of inserting coils even easier, the TB-SD600 utilizes an oval hole shape that creates a slightly taller hole that provides less resistance during insertion and makes the pages easier to turn after binding. Each machine also includes a pair of heavy-duty coil crimpers, which are used to trim away the excess coil and create a small bend that secures the pages in place. After the coil is fully inserted, the crimpers are used to finish the binding process.

The TB-SD600 has a durable metal housing and metal internal components. It has a moderate desktop footprint of 17″ W x 18″ D (with a height of 11-1/4″ including the clear guide) and weighs 63 lbs. This model features a one-year warranty that protects against manufacturing defects and covers both parts and labor.

In summary, the TruBind TB-SD600 is a well-constructed, solid piece of binding equipment that is built for frequent use in offices, schools, or copy centers. Though it has the same features and output capabilities of professional-grade machines, it has a price point that is hundreds of dollars less – making it an attractive alternative option for those looking to bind on a budget. The design and operation is simple and intuitive, which allows even novice users to bind with ease within minutes of set-up. While it may not offer interchangeable dies or automatic stacking like some of the more industrial machines that we offer, the TB-SD600 bridges the gap between manual binding machines and production-grade equipment designed for high-volume output. It’s an excellent entry-level machine for companies looking to bring their binding process in-house or for those looking to make the leap from manual to electric.

Create Custom Dividers, for Less!

Your professionally bound book deserves equally presentable divider pages.

Consider laminating a full-color, duplex printed sheet with photos or highlighted information on it, then attaching a self-adhesive tab to further indicate a division within your book.

This process combines both pouch laminating and comb, coil or wire binding.

After printing the sheets for your book(s):

  1. Place a single “divider” sheet into the appropriate sized laminating pouch.
  2. Laminate the pouch according to the proper specifications for your pouch thickness indicated by your machine’s instruction manual, allowing enough of a border along the binding edge of the sheet to punch the holes without piercing the paper inside.

Using your binding machine:

  1. Punch the sheets of your book, then punch the divider sheets so all the holes align properly. (It’s okay for the divider sheets to have extra plastic hanging over the unbound edges.)
  2. Bind your book using the spines that match your binding machine’s punch pattern.
  3. Attach self-adhering tabs to the edge of your divider sheets opposite from the bound edge.
  4. Handwrite or type your tab labels, then insert them into the attached index tabs.

Printable ID Card Varieties & Materials

The Zebra ZXP Series 1 and Series 3 printers allow you to print images and information directly onto a plastic card. These cards can be used for identification, membership, employment, hospitality, etc. Choosing the appropriate card for intended use depends on a few factors.

How frequent will the card be used?

The selected thickness and material of a printable card depends greatly on how often the card will be used. If the card will be used a few times a month or few times a year, a thin PVC card 20 Mil or less than will be sufficient. If a card is being used multiple times a week, a standard PVC card 30 Mil or thicker is appropriate. A PVC composite card can withstand being used every day.

Does the card need to be encoded with information?

Select blank PVC cards come equipped with a magnetic stripe, which creates a “smart card.” It can be used to store student identification or account information, or hold a gift card balance.

Does the card need additional security?

If unauthorized card duplication is a concern, we offer colored PVC cards and white PVC cards with specialized hologram designs.

Ready to start printing your own ID cards? Select one of our Zebra card printer starter packages and whichever blank PVC card best matches your needs. If you’re unsure as to which model or material is best for you, please contact us – we’re happy to give you a personalized recommendation.

Understanding ID Card Printing Terminology: Card Printer Ribbon Cartridge Abbreviations

What Do YMCKO and YMCKOK Mean?

Members of the print industry easily recognize the letters “CMYK” as the four basic colors of printing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. The four of these colors are layered in different increments on paper to create hundreds of color output combinations.

This same method applies to ID card printing. The letters “YMCK” also stand for the same four basic printing colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black. When a color cartridge is indicated as “YMCKO,” the cartridge first prints all four basic colors then adds a clear Overlay (the “O”) at the end to protect the printed image.

A cartridge marked as “YMCKOK” is also a color cartridge complete with clear Overlay, but the “K” at the end indicates this cartridge is used for dual-sided card printing. This cartridge allows you to print full color on the front side and just Black on the reverse side.

Other Abbreviations

Some Black cartridges bear different abbreviations like KdO and KrO. The “K” indicates it is a Black cartridge and the “O” at the end indicates it also comes with a a clear Overlay. The lowercase “d” stands for “dye” while the “r” stands for “resin.” The KdO cartridge is ideal for printing grayscale images with light, midtone, and shadow while the KrO is perfect for printing crisp black lines in logos and barcodes for easy reading.

To learn more about ID card printing equipment and supplies, visit our complete selection on www.laminationdepot.com.

Titan-Strength Screw Posts – Home Rocket-Building Made Easy!

Our standard aluminum screw posts are great for binding manuscripts, oversized sheets, and swatch samples – but what about those heavy-duty projects like building a rocket? Lamination Depot’s new titan-strength screw posts offer the strength you need, without the unnecessary accuracy (and cost!) of high-precision screws.

With a package of Lamination Depot’s titan-strength screw posts, a few feet of aluminum tubing from your local hardware store, your favorite rocket fuel, and a little ingenuity, there are only a few hours between you and your dreams of space exploration.

Other possible applications include DIY earth-moving equipment, high-rise building construction, a homemade mech suit, and many more! Now that Lamination Depot offers screw posts in titan-strength, you’re only limited by your imagination – and the size of your launch pad!

*Please note: This post is intended as a joke. Our screw posts are designed for light-duty binding applications and not for construction projects of any type. Happy April Fool’s Day!

Lamination Depot Exclusive – Edible Laminating Film Now Available!

After receiving dozens of requests from of our customers, Lamination Depot is thrilled to announce the launch of our exclusive line of edible laminating films. Designed to meet the needs of discerning chefs, on-the-go eaters, and food photographers alike, edible laminating films provide the high-clarity, water-resistant finish of traditional lamination, but without all of the hard-to-digest plastics. Edible lamination makes an excellent substitution for bread in your favorite sandwich recipes – simply laminate and trim for easy transporting and an indefinite shelf life.

Edible laminating films from Lamination Depot are low-carb, sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. Specialty flavors – including chocolate and bacon – will be available soon.

Serving Suggestions:

Layer your favorite meats and cheeses between two layers of edible laminating film and run through your pouch or roll laminator to create a laminini.

Cut edible laminating film into two circles (approximately 8” across). Sprinkle shredded cheese onto the bottom layer, adding hot sauce if desired. Place the other circle of film on top and laminate for an unbeatable lamidilla. Olé!

*Please note: This post is intended as a joke. Laminating film is not edible and is not to be used with in conjunction with food items. Happy April Fool’s Day!

Upgrade Your School or Office Security with Expiring Visitor Badges!

Identifying authorized visitors is vital to both student and staff safety. Security and staff members can easily identify authorized visitors with expiring, color-changing visitor TIMEbadges.

Lamination Depot now offers a variety of manually-issued, time-elapsed visitor ID badges. Choose a one-step adhesive-backed badge that is activated by removing the release liner and pressing the front and back sides together, or create a secure, highly customized badge by combining your choice of FRONTpart and BACKpart.

We even offer a badge specifically designed for schools which consists of an adhesive-backed badge (that says “School Visitor,” “Student,” “Substitute,” or “Volunteer”) and a time-elapsed cover that lasts either 4 hours (half-day) or 8 hours (one-day) – more customization translates to higher security!

Some TIMEbadges have a “clip-on” option. Though clips are sold separately, we do have a few options to choose from – the most popular being our metal clips with clear PVC straps.

If you are looking for ways to increase security on your school campus or within your offices, we have solutions for you. Feel free to ask us which badge combination is right for you within the comment section!

Automated Lamination with the Fujipla ALM3220 Laminating System

An excellent way to cut down on your labor costs during high volume laminating projects without sacrificing a quality end product is to utilize a commercial laminating system. The Fujipla ALM3220 automatic laminator is an exemplary piece of laminating equipment; it automatically feeds, laminates, and trims projects, virtually unattended!

Aside from some of its great features (including the ability to toggle between encapsulation or single-sided lamination, an ultra-quick warm-up time of less than 5 minutes, a footprint of less than 3 square feet, locking roller casters that enable portability, and a feeding tray capacity of up to 200 sheets), this fully-automatic laminator offers major cost savings when compared to traditional pouch laminating or roll laminating used in conjunction with a manual paper trimmer.

Speed

An economy pouch laminator can laminate up to 12″ per minute while a roll laminator laminates 36″ per minute. The ALM3220 has a top laminating speed of 48″ per minute. Pouch laminating doesn’t require trimming after laminating (since laminating pouches are pre-cut), but roll laminating does; for this example, we’ll assume 100 sheets are trimmed per hour. The Fujipla ALM3220 trims projects while they are being laminated, so there is no additional time added to the project in that respect. The total time to produce 1,000 finished sheets by pouch laminating is 15 hours when the pouches are loaded and fed by hand; the speed of lamination is directly affected by the time involved to manually load and center paper into the pouches. Roll laminating production time, which requires hand-feeding the project into the machine and hand-trimming afterwards, takes a total of 14.5 hours to create 1,000 finished sheets. The ALM3220 finishes 1,000 sheets automatically in just 3.13 hours!

Labor Cost

Aside from the physical production time being reduced, the ALM performs all of the required tasks to finish a project all by itself, which eliminates labor cost completely since it can operate unattended.

Other Factors to Consider

When compared to the results of pouch laminating, the finished documents produced by the ALM3320 are superior. Only encapsulation is possible with pouches; they cannot be trimmed to be flush with the edge of a project (since it would come apart over time). Pouches with adhesive designed for toner-based output are limited in size and finish, expensive, and sometimes hard to come by.

Operator fatigue will greatly reduce speed of a project completed with a roll laminator due to the feeding and trimming aspects. The accuracy of trimming can be inconsistent, since it is done by hand. Job sizes of more than 25 sheets are often discouraged due to high labor involvement.

The ALM3220 overcomes all the above mentioned obstacles:

  • No labor is required beyond the initial job set up, which takes less than 5 minutes.
  • It produces a uniform finished stack.
  • The versatility of this machine allows for complete encapsulation, flush cut, or one-sided laminations.

The Fujipla ALM3220 automatic laminator presents not only a great return on investment, but becomes a profit generator for any high-volume work environment that demands high-quality lamination fast!