Platen Design |
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The bigger the platen the more difficult the task of distributing the pressure. The platens of the Big Squeeze are designed to distribute pressure evenly across their entire surface. The top and bottom beams distribute pressure across the length of the platens. The platen "sandwich" ribbed with hard maple and faced with birch plywood distributes the pressure across the width making for even pressure throughout. This laminated, internally ribbed design adds strength and stiffness while accommodating the problems of hygrothermic expansion that would tend to warp and crack platens of solid wood construction.
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| Distributing Pressure | |
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Where Platens Come Together |
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Even distribution of pressure requires not only stiffness under load but platens that properly mate. Whereas minor variations in the platens will have little effect when pressing thicker objects or stacks of objects, they can be critical when pressing a thin object. The platens of the Big Squeeze are glued and pressed together to ensure they mate completely. The orientation in which they are glued is maintained into the finished press. |
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