Top 5 Cold Weather Rules for Applying Paint

Matthews Paint just posted the message below outlining 5 tips for painting in cold weather. These tips will help when painting NovAcryl photopolymer and everything else you paint.

To obtain maximum performance of Matthew's products, follow these essential rules for applying paint in cold weather.

• Make sure your spray area is between 70°F and 85°F. Under no circumstances should you paint below 60°F.

• Maintain airflow in spray area around 100 CFM.

• Select reducers and catalyst to the ambient room temperature of the spray booth.

• Dry times increase if cold conditions prevail and decrease significantly if temperatures are above 85° F. Also, most dry time and pot life times are given at 70 - 75°F (21 - 24°C) with 50% relative humidity.

• For every 15° increase in temperature, dry time and pot life maybe cut in half. For every 15° decrease in temperature, dry time and pot life will double.

We hope these tips help. Make sure to check out the MAP Ultra LOW VOC paints that Matthews offers. The Ultra LOW VOC coating are a perfect way to make NovAcryl sign even more Green!

How To Route NovAcryl PT Series Photopolymer

NovAcryl PT Series Photopolymer is constructed with a clear PETG (Polyethylene Terephlalate Glycol) base. PETG is a thermoplastic and machines differently than other materials like Acrylic. The most notable difference is that PETG does not chip or shatter and requires a different routing bit, feed rates and spindle speeds when compared with other substrates. 

ROUTING RECOMMENDATIONS:  

We suggest using the 13000 Series Spiral "O" Belin Yvon S.C. Router Bit. For 1/8" NovAcryl use Tool# 13317 - CED 1/8", CEL 1/2", SHK DIA 1/4", OAL 1-1/2" at RPM 18,000 with a Feed Rate of 140. 

To place a bevel, we suggest using Belin Bevel 00182 CC05 QL.

The link to Belin's website is www.belintools.com. The bits referenced can be located on page 5.

NEW Video Gallery

We have just added a NEW Video Gallery to our website. The page has all the important videos we've made about our products, processing procedure, best practices and more.

We also have a video trailer of a live Continuing Education presentation by Dave Miller where he presented our ADA Requirements for Room Identification Signage course.

Make sure you check out this page to learn everything you can about photopolymer signage.

Nova Polymers Video Gallery

Choosing The Right Photopolymer

Not all photopolymer is created equal. NovAcryl® PT™ Interior Photpolymer has a PETG base that has a zero moisture absorption ratio with the photopolymer layer that has a .001 moisture absorption ratio. The NovAcryl® EX™ Exterior Photpolymer (NovEx) has an aluminum base with a synthetic rubber/photopolymer layer which both have a 0 moisture absorption ratio.

As you can see in the picture above, the  NovAcryl® brand  of photopolymer sign material out performed the  other competitive material that was made with a phenolic base. The reason for this dramatic contrast in performance is due to the phenolic base material having a high moisture absorption ratio which has a negative effect on the material when in an exterior environment, or an interior environment with high humidity levels.

The samples seen in this picture where manufactured  according to manufactures guidelines, top coated per specification and mounted on the outside of a building for over a year. These sign were exposed to high temperatures ranging from -20F to 100F plus with direct sunlight, rain, snow and humidity levels of 100%.

The results speak for themselves. So, make sure you specify or use the right photopolymer material for your next project.

Process Control: How To Ensure ADA Compliancy using NovAcryl Photopolymer

Walk through the process of using the 21 Step Stouffer Scale with Mike Santos. The Stouffer Scales is considered the "holly grail" of photopolymer processing and ensures that the Novacryl photopolymer has been exposed properly with correct shoulders resulting in ADA compliance. 

Mike also walks through he process of using a Production Log that helps keep the process in check. The use of the production log and Stouffer Scales are requirement for becoming a Novacryl Preferred Fabricator.

Adheso-CUT Tape Dispener Adjustments

The Adheso-CUT Tape Dispenser is designed to automate the cutting of narrow width adhesive tapes like VHB and Acrylic adhesives. The cutting device has a couple of light sensors that need to be adjusted in order for the unit to work in AUTO Mode.

Follow the step below to make these adjustments.

1. The tape must be over top of the sensors in the cutting device which is pictured below.

2. Adjust the sensitivity of the sensors by turning the adjustment screw on the bottom of the device.

If you are still having trouble after adjusting the sensitivity, you can cover the sensors with a piece of opaque tape. The idea is to cover the sensors so the unit thinks the tape running over them. This will allow the unit to stay in AUTO Mode.

Please contact Nova Customer Service with any questions.

--MS

Laser Cutting NovAcryl

The base material used for the NovAcryl PT Series Photopolymer is PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol). Many people think that the clear base is acrylic and are often times surprised when the PETG does not laser cut the same as acrylic.

PETG is a thermoplastic polymer resin and requires different setting when laser cutting. There are several large photopolymer fabricators that exclusively use lasers to cut their NovAcryl photopolymer. The most common lasers are made by Universal Laserr in Scottsdale, AZ.

Here are a few setting for cutting NovAcryl with a 50 watt Universal Laser.
-  run at 100% power
- .6% speed for PT-236
- 2.0% speed for PT-118
- 3.0% spedd for PT-060
- run all at 1,000 PPI

Visit the Tech Support section of our website for more information.

How To Process Photopolymer

We recently made a video that demonstrates  How To Process Photopolymer Signs for ADA Complaint Room Identification signage. 

In the video below we process NovAcryl Photopolmyer using our Orbital X Photopolymer Processor, AccuCutter 19" finishing shear and the Kobo TC-851 hot stamp device. Please contact us for more info. 

Photpolymer Processing Video