Sign & P.O.P. Spotlight

Multi-Color EngravablePolymer Sheet

King ColorCore® is a versatile multicolor engravable high-density polyethylene sheet with multiple layers of contrasting colors. It is a superior homogeneous sheet, a product of a unique state-of- the-art continuous process called Polyfusion, and manufactured to the highest standards in the industry.

King ColorCore® has a matte finish on both sides of the sheet. It is environmentally stabilized to withstand the harshest outdoor conditions. The material will not rust, delaminate or rot when exposed to UV, humidity or water. King ColorCore® is made with high-impact-resistant polymer to handle more abuse than conventional sign materials. Its thin cap layers and bright primary colors make it ideal for signage, marine, playground and recreational applications. For maximum versatility, standard colors are made to coordinate with King ColorBoard®. The polymer sheet never needs painting or refinishing, works like wood and it is easy to fabricate using common woodworking tools and techniques. The material is easy to engrave and machine, as the cap is approximately .050” thick.

For more information, contact Michael Fabbri, King Plastic Corporation, 1100 N. Toledo Blade Blvd., North Port, FL 34288, 941-493-5502, Fax: 941-497-3274, Email: sales@kingplastic.com, Web: www.kingplastic.com.

PC Corner Angles & Channels

Petro Extrusion Technologies, Inc., (PET) offers clear polycarbonate corner angles and channels from stock. Extruded from clear UV grade PC, these channels and angles offer clarity, impact resistance, and ease of fabrication.

PET Inc. offers three sizes of 90° angles, from ó inch to 1 ó inch as well as three sizes from 1/8” gap opening up to 3/8”gap. All parts are .050” thickness.

The channels and angles are available from stock in 2’, 4’, and 6’ lengths. Parts are available in custom cut lengths as well.

For more information, contact Mike Patterson or Julie Hanan, Petro Extrusion Technologies, Inc., 205B Hallock Ave., Middlesex, NJ 08846, 800-229-3338/908-789-3338, Fax: 908-789-0434, E-mail: sales@petroextrusions.com, Web: www.petroextrusions.com.

Portable, Tabletop Diamond Edge Polisher

Abbeon Cal introduces a new portable, tabletop machine that is ideal for polishing acrylic and PMMA work pieces with a high-quality finish. A Chips Suction System is included. The BOX machine is perfect for polishing small work pieces.

This compact machine measures only 35" x 25" x 18" and weighs a mere 33 lbs. It is easy to carry with its two handles. It is great either for the end-user to polish small pieces or for the final touch of a technician on-site. The Diamond tools (polishing set) guarantee a high-quality finishing with a minimum level of maintenance and costs. The cutting angles of the diamond tool have been studied thoroughly to ensure long operating life and effective performance, avoiding excessive tool sharpening and changing costs.

The polisher offers an automatic feeding system with a working length of 28" (700 mm), a maximum thickness of 0.8" (20 mm) and a cutting depth of 0.02" (.05 mm). The feed speed is 0 to 59 inches/min (0 to 1.50 m/min). Its power supply is either 220 V 1 PH+n // 50/60 Hz or 120V with transformer.

Abbeon Cal offers a wide range of fabrication equipment for bending, bonding, cutting and polishing plastics for the sign and P.O.P. industries.

For more information, contact Bob Brunsman, Abbeon Cal Inc., 1363 Donlon Street, Unit 1, Ventura, CA 93003, 800-922-0977, E-mail: abbeoncal@abbeon.com, Web: www.abbeon.com.

Plastic Sign Making Tooling Package

Vortex Tool Company offers a comprehensive plastic/sign making tooling package for CNC routers. The package includes three sizes of Series 5600 upcut or Series 5700 downcut “O” flute spirals. The upcut and downcut spirals’ polished flute design allows chips to curl/form better, reduces heat and adds lubricity without the use of coatings. Doubleedge “O” flute straight tooling featuring two cutting edges to reduce chip load and produce a stronger cross section with harder plastics is also included. The package also contains a spoilboard cutter with replacement inserts, three sizes of ballnose spirals, and engraving bits. The Vortex staff can consult with you to determine your router applications and select a specific set of tools and accessories to meet your design needs. Most items are in stock for immediate shipment.

American owned and operated, Vortex Tool Company, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom high-performance router and insert cutting tools for the woodworking and plastics industries, and provides retipping and sharpening services for all makes and models.

For more information, contact Mike Serwa, Vortex Tool Company, 5605 East Jelinek Ave., Schofield, WI 54476, 800-355-7708/715-355-7707, Fax: 715-355-7353 E-mail: mike@vortextool.com, Web: www.vortextool.com.

Coated CNC Router Bits

Amana Tool, a producer of industrial quality carbide-tipped, solid carbide and replacement carbide cutting tools, recently introduced their Spektra™ extreme tool life coated CNC router bit line.

Their Spektra bits feature a nACo® nanocomposite coating with an extreme Nano hardness and heat resistance. With a brilliant distinctively-tinted coloring, nACo provides additional improvements in four critical aspects of router tooling.

nACo coating is a micro-thin ceramic coating which enables the tool's cutting edge to retain crucial sharpness and lubricity. This provides longevity and produces cutting results of the highest quality. The coating also prevents high heat and oxidation, which is detrimental to cutting tool performance. The multi-colored hues, while attractive, will dissipate upon use and yet coating will remain fully effective.

nACo offers approximately 4,500 Vickers for impressive solid hardness on cutting areas of the tool, for an increase up to 2.5 times the life compared to uncoated bits.

The range of tools is aimed at use in the high production wood and plastics industries. Featured are solid carbide compression spirals for use on wood, wood veneer, plywood, MDF and laminates. Also offered are solid carbide “O’ flute tools for use on acrylic (Plexiglas® Lucite®) and many other plastic materials. The tools are available in a variety of sizes. The compression tools are also offered in a 5-piece set.

For more information, contact Frank Misiti, Amana Tool, 120 Caro lyn Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735, 800-445-0077/631-752-1300, Fax: 631-752-1674, E-mail: frankm@amanatool.com, Web: www.amanatool.com.

Cutting & Milling Tools

Hufschmied offers a range of tooling specifically designed for milling plastics. With plastic materials it is crucial to keep the milling temperature as low as possible. This can be achieved with tools from their Universal-Line and Sharp-Line. Depending on your requirements and your machinery, the solution to your processing problem offers you a choice of one, two or three-flute cutters.

Hufschmied tools are designed to minimize burr formation and provide a quality edge finish at high feed rates minimizing secondary operations.

When it comes to cutting thermoset the avoidance of burr formation is critical to a high quality edge finish. Their Universal-Line and Proto-Line are well suited for this category of materials.

For the processing of PMMA, cast or extruded, the Frasen Per Plex product range of single-fluted milling cutters produce a mirror-like surface finish without the need for additional polishing tools or any other polishing action. When working acrylics, milling cutters and drills need to produce sharply defined cutting edges. For this approach, Hufschmied supplies the FPE tool system with a singlestep roughing and finishing cycle producing these very sharply defined edges. For polycarbonate and PET their Sharp-Line will provide a sooth finish with long tool life.

For more information, contact Erin Roche, Hufschmied USA, 42 Ozark Drive, Unit 6, Durham CT 06422. 239-220-6602, E-mail: erin.roche@hufschmiedusa.com, Web: www.hufschmied.net.

Fabrication Supplies & Tools

Fabrication Tools and Materials, Inc. (FTM) Is a great source for all your P.O.P. plastic fabrication supplies. They stock display hardware such as hinges, turn tables, cam locks, suction cups, hasps, pulls, peg hooks and key hole attachments just to name a few. They have a large variety of drill bits, saw blades, router bits, hand tools and solvent applicators.

For your thermoplastic bending needs, look no further, FTM’s heating trays have a proprietary design with an operating temperature of 800ºF, powder coated steel trays, PTFE working surface, and ultra hi-temperature insulation. FTM’s heaters create constant professional bends while working with all types of thermoplastic materials such as acrylic, PVC, CPVC, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and more. The Free-Standing models can be used with their AEC15 controller to regulate heating temperatures if desired. These heaters are ideal for straight line bends or folds and capable of heating material for tight or wide radiuses Available in lengths from 2 foot, model FS-24, up to 10’ with their NEW FS-120 model with a heated width of ó” that’s ideal for sheet thickness’ from 3mm up to 12mm.

FTM’s line of bending equipment includes 4 foot heaters that offer a verity in heated widths from .” up to 2”, so whether you’re working with 1mm thin material or 1” thick material they have you heating needs covered

For more information, contact Robert Ashcraft, Fabrication Tools and Materials, Inc. 327 Industrial Dr. Unit 1, Placerville, CA 95667, 530-626-1986, Email: info@123ftm.com. Web: www.123ftm.com.

Continuous Cast Acrylic

Plaskolite introduced OPTIX L, a premium continuous cast acrylic sheet. It is virtually flawless for optical clarity to create stunning displays. All OPTIX L sheets have a unique, tight thickness tolerance when compared to cell cast sheet. It’s edge quality is exceptional and unmatched as compared to other display materials; and is UV stable.

When thermoforming OPTIX L, precision and consistency are key reasons for selecting this product. It is the preferred sheet for visually complex or detailed display units.

The OPTIX L series offers designers and fabricators the ideal combination of clarity and quality. Vibrant colors and an extensive gauge range are the perfect combination for any cosmetic display or other in-store applications. This stunning sheet will enhance your brand colors and marketing plans your customers may have. The only limitation to the creativity of a display is the designer’s imagination.

Electronic displays pop with the brand colors and using OPTIX L in a custom shade or shape. The striking look adds flair to store displays and shelves with your customer’s featured product. The continuous cast acrylic sheet is versatile and eye-catching when combined with your brand.

For more information, contact Jane Nash, Plaskolite, LLC, 400 W. Nationwide Blvd, Suite 400, Columbus, OH 43215, 800-848-9124/662-893-5409, E-mail: jane.nash@plaskolite.com, Web: www.plaskolite.com.

All Displays Are Not Created Equal

Some of today’s new technology is based on LED backlighting incorporated into P.O.P. displays found in airports, hotels and commercial buildings. In the past, these P.O.P. displays were laser cut acrylic, cut to design complimented by an appealing fire polished edge cut.

Today, new advances in the lighting industry have allowed LED lights to be used in P.O.P. display creating a new world of advertising grabbing attention. High efficiency LED light strips are snapped to the edge of the acrylic panels and effectively diffuse light across a dot or line pattern laser etched into the acrylic sheet. Translucent acrylic can be placed on the front side of the LED lit panel creating a brightly lit panel with consistent glow. At Kern Laser Systems, they manufacture a number of machines of which their MICRO and HSE machines are perfectly equipped to handle your production needs creating these modern looking P.O.P. displays. Kern Laser understands why all displays aren’t created equal and invite you to inquire for more information that can help put your business on display.

For more information, contact Sales, Kern Lasers, 1501 Industrial Drive, Wadena, MN 56482, 888-660-2755/218-631-2755, Fax: 218-631-3476, E-mail: info@kernlasers.com, Web: www.kernlasers.com.

CNC Edge Polishing

Eliminate the arduous process of polishing edges by hand with the latest in CNC polishing technology. The WEEKE ABP Edge Polishers can polish flat edges from a matte finish to highgloss on visible plastics, acrylics, polycarbonates, aluminum and Corian® - and can also chamfer edges for perfect joints. Stiles Machinery’s WEEKE ABP machines are CNC-controlled edge polishers for manufacturing components made of plastics, including acrylic. It’s designed to eliminate manual labor; the machine brings value as a standalone machine or a component of a work cell.

At roughly 2,600 lbs., the WEEKE ABP 155 frame is integrated with WEEKE’s patented SorbTech mineral composite material. This “steel of tomorrow” is capable of withstanding the increased demand on machine dynamics while providing a low vibration, stable machine construction – resulting in higher quality finished parts and longer tool life.

The machine features a 5' working field (while the larger ABP 350 model offers a 10’ working table). The open ended table design of the ABP 155 allows for machining of parts longer than 1550 mm (up to 3100 mm in 2 cycles). This is a great feature for company’s processing a smaller percentage of long parts. Parts can be stacked up to the maximum width of the machine, further enhancing the efficiency of the machine.

For more information, contact Stephan W. Waltman, Stiles Machinery, Inc., 3965 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, 616.698.7500, E-mail: swaltman@stilesmachinery.com, Web: www. stilesmachinery.com.

Polishing Tools

Since 1995, EURACRYL has been dedicated exclusively to the development, manufacture and distribution of technical equipment for the processing of transparent and glossy plastics (acrylic, polycarbonate, PETG, etc.) and currently offer the world’s largest selection of machinery and tools in this industry. Now their products are represented in North America by Wood-Cutters Tooling Inc, located in Grandville, Michigan.

The program includes 2,700 options of diamond milling heads for over 180 models of edge polishing machines (diamond polishers) for over 50 different manufacturers; more than 1,000 standard tools for CNC milling machines of monocrystalline & polycrystalline diamond as well as CVD & carbide; 30 specialized machines and a selection of accessories and measuring devices.

Products enable processing of PMMA, PC, PETG, SAN, mixed materials (e.g., PMMA + aluminum or paper) and many more, as well as production of high-gloss, standard gloss and satin surfaces or surfaces to be glued.

In addition, they sharpen and repair tools from EURACRYL and other manufacturers quickly and economically. Wood-Cutters Tooling can help you choose the optimal tooling solution for your application.

For more information, contact Eric Jansen, Wood- Cutters Tooling Inc., 4685 Spartan Industrial Drive SW, Grandville, MI 49418, 616-257-7930, E-mail: sales@woodcutterstooling.com, Web: www.woodcutterstooling.com.

Inserts for Plastic Assemblies

SI® inserts from PennEngineering® permanently install in plastic assemblies to provide durable and reusable metal threads for mating hardware and allow for repeated disassembly and re-attachment whenever required. By promoting quick and easy access to an assembly, SI inserts offer highly practical joining solutions in contrast to fixed and unyielding methods, such as adhesives or rivets. Repeated reuse will not damage the strong metal threads or compromise attachment integrity. Types include brass inserts and lead-free stainless steel and aluminum versions.

Applications include plastic equipment or components for the medical, automotive, aerospace, transportation, and recreational industries, among many others.

All SI inserts install permanently in plastic, offer unique features, and can be classified generally by installation method. Depending on series, inserts can either be ultrasonically pressed and/or heat staked, molded-in during the injection molding process, or cold pressed into a pre-molded or drilled hole.

SI inserts can be specified in unified or metric thread sizes and in a variety of designs and lengths – including SI microPEM® inserts with threads as small as M1.

For more information, contact Michael J. Rossi, PennEngineering®, 5190 Old Easton Rd., Danboro, PA 18916, 800-237-4736/215-766-8853, E-mail info@pemnet.com, Web: www.pemnet.com.