DIELECTRIC
SEALING
R.F. Heat Sealing Glossary of Terms
A
B C
D E F
G H I
J K L
M N O
P Q R
S T U
V W X
Y Z
A
- alternating
current - or AC
- Flow
of electricity which reaches maximum in one direction, decreases to
zero, then reverses itself and reaches maximum in the opposite direction.
This cycle is repeated continuously. The number of such cycles per
second is the frequency.
- amperes
- Electrical
current or rate of flow of electrons. The higher the amount of amps,
the more power is consumed.
- ampere
meter
- An
electrical meter which measures the amount of current.
- anode
- See
Plate
- applique
- A
decorating technique used on vinyl where one piece of vinyl is applied
to the surface of another through the heat-sealing process. This often
is done with special custom dies so as to produce a dimensional effect.
- arc
- This
occurs during a sealing operation, the buffer is usually damaged,
either by deposits of carbon, or holes through the material. If the
damage is not too extensive, the burned area may be cleaned with solvent
to remove the carbon deposits, and/or lightly sanded. The reason for
getting rid of the carbon is that r.f. is attracted to it and will
keep on reacting to it if you don't get rid of it. The damaged area
may then be patched with a single layer of mylar tape approximately
.001" thick. Clean the die up also. If the damage is more severe,
replace the entire buffer. Make sure the Arc Suppressor sensitivity
is set to the most sensitive setting. Make sure this is working before
continuing. See Surface flash
- arc
suppressor - also known as Arc Guard, Arquench, Arc Eliminator,
Arc Anticipator.
- A
device that detects a voltage drop between the upper and lower plates,
and instantaneously shuts off the r.f. power preventing damaged to
dies. Generally the higher the dial setting, the more sensitive it
is.
- artwork
(binders)
- This
is type, line art, drawings, etc., mounted on a board or produced
on a diskette, giving color requirements, size, and all necessary
specific directions. Photographs should be provided separately, but
indicated in exact size on the art board or a "dummy" mock-up.
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- back-bone
(binders)
- This
is the spine of a binder or the supporting part at the back to which
the front and back covers are attached. It's the part you can see
when you place a binder on the shelf.
- back-set
(binders)
- the
dimension from the edge of the page to the center of a hole that has
to be drilled.
- bakelite
(buffer) - or Phenolic
- A
synthetic resin and plastic made from formaldehyde and phenol. It's
an insulator and used as buffer material. Paper base grades XX, XXP,
XXX and XXXP in thicknesses ranging from .015" to .020" thick.
- balanced
material
- Material
coated or laminated equally on both sides.
- bar
- Used
on bar sealer. This is used instead of a die. It can be straight or
curved. Surface area is calculated by measuring length by width.
- bar
sealer
- Machine
with a flat bar instead of a die, usually not heated, with a deep
throat press for sealing long seams.
- bead
seal
- The
perimeter of a heat seal where you see a "bead" finish around the
edge.
- binders
board
- This
is fibre board used in the construction of case-bound construction.
- boosters
(binders)
- These
are the triggers or levers found on the ends of a metal ring which
are used to open and/or close the rings.
- booster
cylinders
- Cylinders
added to the sides of existing cylinders for more pressure, used when
surface area is larger and/or materials are thicker and need more
compression for r.f. heat sealing to perform properly.
- buffer
- Insulating
material used as an electrical barrier. Separates the dies and decreases
arcing of r.f. . Phenolic, fish paper, glassine, teflon, glass, mylar,
silicone fiberglass, etc.
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- capacitor
- Device
used for storing an electrical charge. Consisting of two or more conducting
plates separated from one another by an insulating material, air,
or a vacuum.
- cathode
- See
Filament
- chipboard
(binders)
- Craft
paper that has been glued together to form a firm board used to give
binders their hard cover.
- choke
- wire
coil that allows D.C. electrical flow but blocks r.f. .
- clipboard
- Any
product using a clip to hold loose sheets.
- concealed
rivets (binders)
- a
process where the rivets holding the metal to the binder are concealed
inside the cover material. This form is often used to provide a clear,
unobstructed spine on which rivets will not interfere with graphics.
- cold
crack
- Vinyl
will crack under certain conditions and at specified temperatures.
You have to be certain that the vinyl used in your product is properly
rated so that it will not experience cracking, especially if it has
to be shipped to cold climate.
- conductor
- Any
material that allows the flow of electricity. Copper, brass, aluminum
etc.. R.F. travels on the surfaces of the connections, so make sure
that your power strap and grounding straps are making good surface
contact with each other. Never use steel hardware inside or near the
oscillator circuit.
- control
voltage
- The
voltage powering the control circuit(s).
- contact
- Part
of a switch or relay that makes the connection and separation to open
and close a circuit.
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- D-ring
(binders)
- A
metal ring that looks like a "D". There also are "O" rings.
- dies
- Rule
set on a plate to seal, cut, shape, punch holes into plastic material.
Usually made of brass or steel. Brass lasts longer but costs more.
Surface area is calculated by measuring (width x length) of rule.
- dielectric
- A
material , such as rubber, glass, etc., or a medium, such as a vacuum,
gas, etc., that can sustain an electric field: dielectrics are used
in capacitors, between adjacent wires in a cable, etc.
- dielectric
sealing - or r.f. sealing, r.f. welding
- The
process of fusing two or more pieces of PVC, compounds of : polyurethane,
polyester, nylon, , polyolefine, coated fabrics etc. together with
a single weld. It is accomplished through molecular friction at the
frequency of usually 27,000,000 times per second (27 MHz). This friction
melts the material and two pieces become one. This type of seal is
far stronger than a thermal seal.
- Dielectric
Sealing Service, Inc.
- The
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Parts (including New and Rebuilt Tubes) IN STOCK AT FACTORY PRICES
!!!
Machine Sales (New) Hall Dielectric or (Used)
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- debossing
- The
process of using heat and pressure to smooth out an area on your material.
This can be used for a stamping or additional graphics, attachment.
- diode
- A
solid state rectifier
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- elasticity
- The
quality or condition of being elastic. The springiness, flexibility,
resilience of material.
- emboss
- This
decorating technique uses top and bottom dies to create a raised dimensional
effect to the graphics.
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- fabric
weight
- Ounces
per yard. Term used in synthetics and fabrics.
- feather
seal
- This
is a dielectric sealing method which uses a die that forces the traditional
bead inside of the sealed edges.
- filament/cathode
- The
electrode on an oscillator tube, which is the primary source of an
electron stream, typically constructed of carburized thoriated tungsten
wire which is directly heated by application of filament voltage.
- fish
paper (buffer)
- Buffer,
blueish grey paper material used for less critical applications. It
is available in thicknesses from .005" to .020" thick.
- flush-cut
(binders)
- It
is any material that is cut exactly to size and utilizes a single
piece of material to form the entire binder. This can be leather,
hardboard, polyethylene.
- foil
stamp
- A
decorating technique that uses dies, heat, pressure and colored foil.
The foil image is transferred to the cover creating an upscale graphic
effect.
- frequency
- Rate
of change of polarity in alternating current (AC).
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- gauge
- Thickness
of plastic in mils or thousandths of an inch.
- ground
- A
conducting body (such as the earth, or an object connected with earth)
whose potential is taken as zero and to which an electric circuit
can be connected. A stake 4 ' into the earth is a good ground.
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- hertz
(Hz)
- Unit
of frequency in cycles per second. 60 Hz = ordinary house current.
Mega Hertz (MHz) = 1 million cycles per second.
- hot
stamping
- Process
in which roll leaf is stamped with heated metal dies onto the plastic.
- hub
(binders)
- The
spine or back-bone.
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- interlock
- Safety
device used to open circuit and disable machine when doors or covers
are open. Make sure that this safety measure is not defeated. Sometimes
they are jumped out.
- insulator
- Non
conductive material used to separate or support conductors. i.e. ceramic,
mica, bakelite, etc.
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-
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- kilowatt
- 1000
watts. Machine size / power is given in kilowatts. The amount of kilowatts
to seal a given area is figured out 1st by getting the surface area
of your die in square inches by multiplying length x width of die
or rule. 4 square inches of die = 1 kilowatt of power needed. Sometimes
this varies with the thickness and material being sealed. The thinner
the material, the more power needed and the more rigid the material,
more power is needed.
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- label
holder (binders)
- A
clear vinyl pocket on the hub into which you can insert a label so
as to identify the binder's contents. Some label holders are made
of metal.
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- mechanical
- This
is final art in which all of the necessary pieces are put in place
or position in the exact size and place desired.
- mylar
(buffer)
- Film
or tape made of polyester used as buffer. Available in thicknesses
from .005" to .015" . It is used for both stationary sealing buffer
as well as moving belt buffer for automatic pull-through indexing
equipment. Some "tensilized" mylar sheets show significant curling
after use, which may be objectionable.
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- nylon
- material
used as substrates in supported vinyls.
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- ohms
- Measure
of resistance.See Resistance
- oscillator
circuit
- Generates
alternating current (AC) power at a frequency determined by the values
of certain constants in the capacitors, coil, and tank.
- oscillator
tube
- High
power triode tube that produces the r.f. (The workhorse of sealing).
Top
- permeability
- Diffusion
of a vapor or fluid through a porous body without physically affecting
it.
- plasticizers
- Chemical
additives used to bond together molecules in plastics to produce desired
physical properties.
- plate/anode
- The
electrode on a oscillator tube, to which a principle electron stream
flows by means of application of a positive voltage with respect to
the cathode (filament). Typical voltages of 8,000 to 12,000 volts.
- platen
- Upper
plate to which a die is usually mounted and is heated to help in sealing
and maintain same quality all day long.
- PLC
- Programmable
Logic Controller device used to control machines. Takes the place
of relays, timers, clocks, and counters.
- pockets
(binders)
- Any
opening built into a binder for storing loose sheets. These can be
any size or shape because special dies can create whatever effect
you desire.
- poly
- The
short form for polyolefin.
- poly
binder
- A
single unit of polyolefin, die cut and scored to form a loose leaf
binder. This is often called a flush-cut binder.
- polyester
- Material
used as substrate in supported vinyls.
- polymer
- Naturally
occurring or synthetic substance consisting of giant molecules formed
from smaller molecules of the same substance and often having a definite
arrangement of the components of giant molecules.
- polypropylene
- A
tough, ridgid, light-weight plastic.
- poly
vinyl chloride (PVC)
- A
petro-chemical and hydrogen chloride combined. It is widely used in
the manufacture of loose leaf binders and other products.
- power
tube
- See
oscillator tube
- press
- Device
that uses pneumatics or hydraulics in cylinder(s) to bring down top
plate (platen) or seal bar onto the bottom plate with pressure. This
is done to assure the bonding of the materials.
- PVC
- See
Poly Vinyl Chloride
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- radio
frequency (R.F.)
- Any
frequency between normally audible sound waves and the infrared light
portion of the spectrum, lying between 10,000 and 1,000,000,000 cycles
per second (Hz). R.F. heat sealing machines cycle at around 27 MHz.
- r.f.
generator
- Device
that changes line power to a radio frequency.
- rectifier
- Changes
alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
- relay
- Device
activated by a variation in conditions in one electrical circuit and
controlling a larger current or actuating other devices in the same
or other circuit.
- resistance
- Property
of conductors which - depending on their dimensions, material, and
temperature - determines the current produced by a given difference
of potential; property of a substance which impedes current and results
in the dissipation of power in the form of heat. The practical unit
of resistance is the ohm.
- resistor
- A
device connected into an electrical circuit to introduce a specified
resistance. Some are color coded to show resistance and tolerance.
- ring
protector (binders)
- A "U" shaped piece of fiber or board placed between the rings and the
inside cover to keep the rings from punching through the flush-cut
cover.
- rivets
(binders)
- Fasteners
eyelets used to secure the metal to the binder.
- round
back (binders)
- A
concealed rivet binder that has a rounded spine. This is generally
a metal component with rivets built into the curve to conceal the
rivet head on the binder.
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- seal & cut - also known as trimbond
- A
process of sealing and die-cutting simultaneously materials which
cannot be tear-sealed with conventional r.f. heat sealing. Hydraulics
are added to the machine.
- scrim
- Open
weave cloth used as base for laminated material.
- sheet
size (binders)
- The
size of the paper used in the finished product. The "binding edge"
size should come first. So, in binder language, you might call for
an 11" x 8 1/2" sheet, while printer's language the same sheet would
be 8 1/2" x 11".
- sheet
lifters (binders)
- Special
hard inserts that fit ring mechanisms to reduce sheet tear-out when
opening and closing the covers. These can be made of poly, fiber,
or plastic.
- shore
hardness
- Measurement
of surface hardness of material.
- silicone
treated paper (buffer)
- Buffer
material used in combination with bakelite, fish paper, or mylar.
It is placed on top to prevent sticking of PVC material.
- silk
screen
- A
direct image stencil used in the color screening process. Early on
this was always made of silk. Today that material is rarely used.
A different screen is required for each color.
- single
phase
- 2
wire AC Circuit
- slant
D (binders)
- Like
the D-ring, only slanted.
- spine
(binders)
- Also
known as the backbone or hub.
- substrate
- Cloth
that is used as a base for coating or laminating.
- supported
vinyl
- Cloth
backed vinyl material that offers strength and heavy wearing qualities.
- surface
flash
- This
is sometimes confused with arcing. A flash that occurs on the surface
of the material during sealing cycle. This is caused by any combination
of these: Press pressure too low or press stop set too high, Power
set too high, and the die being too cold. This carbon must be cleaned
up good. See Arc
- synthetic
- Produced
by chemical synthesis, rather than of natural orgin. Man made such
as plastics.
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- teflon & teflon coated fiberglass (buffer)
- A
series of specialized buffer materials. Available in thicknesses from
.003" to .020". The teflon coated fiberglass may be used as a moving
belt buffer material for some applications.
- tensile
grab
- Resistance
to delamination from outside force.
- tensile
strength
- Resistance
to lengthwise stress, measured (in pounds per square inch) by the
greatset load pulling in the direction of length that a given substance
can bear without tearing.
- tetrahydrofuran
- Solvent
used for many plastics including vinyl.
- thermoplastic
- Plastics
which can be changed by heat and pressure.
- thermoset
- plastics
which have permanent physical properties not subject to change.
- three
phase
- 3
wire AC circuit. Normally 208v to 240v.
- thread
count
- Number
of threads per inch in a given direction.
- timers
- Pre
Seal Time delay between press being closed and seal time coming
on to ensure proper compression. Usually between 1/2 to 1 sec.
Seal Time that r.f. is on and material is being sealed. Generally
you want less time to seal, try more power and less time. It saves
wear on the oscillator tube plus you can produce more. Some materials
have to be sealed at lower power with more time.
Cool or Dwell Time for material to cool while still under pressure,
preventing tearing of hot material. Generally cool time is 1/2 the
seal time.
- toluene
- Used
as a solvent for polyurethanes. Very flammable.
- top
coat
- Added
to plastic surface, supported or unsupported to give greater weather
resistance.
- transformer
- Abv. XFMR
- A
device consisting essentially of two or more coils of insulated wire
that transfers AC energy by electromagnetic induction from one winding
to another at the same frequency but usually with changed voltage
and current values. Transformers can step-up or step-down.
- triggers
(binders)
- Also
known as boosters on binders.
- turned
edge (binders)
- This
is another term for "casebound" , a durable type of construction in
which the material is glued to the binders board and the edges of
the materials are turned over the board and glued or sealed.
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- unbalanced
material
- Coated
or laminated material with different thicknesses of plastics on either
side.
- unsupported
vinyl
- Simple
vinyl without any kind of backing or support material.
- UV
stabilizer
- Chemical
added to absorb or diffuse ultra violet. Used in tarps and awnings.
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- VOM
- Volt
Ohm Meter used to test resistance and potential.
- vinyl
- Another
term for PVC
- voltage
- Electromotive
force, or difference in electrical potential, expressed in volts.
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- watt
- A
measurement of electrical power : Watt = Volt x Amp
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