ABC Office Educator Operation Manual - 5-4  Laminating

5-4  Laminating 

1.  Turn the heat/power switch to ON.  The heater light will come on.  The laminator will 

be ready to operate in about 10 minutes.  The heat indicating light will turn off when 

the machine has reached the correct temperature.  Allow about 20 minutes for warm 

up the first few times the machine is used. 

WARNING:  Never permit the temperature to exceed 310

°°F while film is threaded 

and the laminator is not running.  The film could disintegrate and require cleaning 

and rethreading of the machine.  When it is necessary to laminate at temperatures 

in excess of 310

°°F, such as for poster board or when using 1.5 mil film, pull some 

excess film off the film supply rolls to provide slack so the film is not tight against 

the heat shoes while the machine is heating.  This will keep the film from melting 

when the laminator is not advancing film. 

When the heat indicating light is on, it means the thermostat is calling for more heat to 

maintain the laminating temperature.  During normal operation, the light will go on and 

off periodically.  After initial warm-up (but not before), there is enough heat for 

laminating to continue normally even if the light is on.  The heat drop during lamination 

is too slight to affect operation. 

2.  Position the feed guide for the work to be performed.  Adjust by loosening the black 

knob, sliding the guide to the desired position, and tightening the knob. 

3.  Check the tension on the film supply rolls to see if the top roll and the bottom roll 

have approximately the same tension.  This may be done by gently rotating the rolls 

back and fourth.  If a roll moves too freely it is too loose.  If a roll is difficult to move 

the tension will need to be decreased. 

4.  Once the machine has come up to temperature, as indicated by the heat indicating 

light going out for the first time, you are ready to laminate.  Check the heat setting 

dial to make sure the machine is at the right temperature for the film you’re using.  

Making sure that the safety shield is in the operating position (up), move the drive 

switch to the forward position.  Film will begin to pass through the laminating rollers.  

Once you start the film, watch the film as it passes over the heat shoes to let the 

wrinkling disappear before inserting material to be laminated.  Each time you stop the 

film, slack will form in the web of film.  It will take a few inches to get the slack and 

the resulting wrinkles past the shoes. 

5.  Slide items over the feed tray, positioning them against the guide and into the 

laminating rollers.