If you use lanyards or badge reels for your employee or student ID cards, punching a slot for attaching them can break your proximity card if you aren't careful. And punching slots before printing can irreversibly damage your ID card printer's printhead.
Here's what you need to know to create slot punches safely and securely for your ID card program.
When to slot punch your ID cards
It seems intuitive to order pre-punched cards on which to print your employee or student ID information. Before you take this step, understand that the uneven surface created by a slot can damage your printer's sensitive printhead. And punching your cards in advance can leave a small sliver of plastic behind that can cause a lot of damage. Replacing your printer's printhead is expensive, not to mention unnecessary when you take the proper precautions.
Always slot punch your employee or student ID cards after printing to avoid damaging your printhead. You have plenty of options for slot punching such as reasonably priced manual punches and electric slot punch machines that can handle a high volume of cards quickly and easily.
Where to slot punch your ID cards
Manufacturers embed a system of copper antennas in their proximity cards necessary for the card to work properly. If you accidentally slot punch a proximity card in the wrong place, you can break these antennas and render the ID card worthless.
To prevent damage to their embedded technology, manufacturers mark where to slot punch your card on both horizontal and vertical card designs. Pay particular attention to your card's manufacturer recommendations to avoid breaking the card.
Most manufacturers designate where it's safe to slot punch their cards with a series of dots on the back of the card. If your student or employee ID cards don't have punch guides, don't slot punch them until you talk to an ID expert about your options.
Options to slot punching cards
You have options to manually slot punching your employee and student ID cards. One is to order pre-punched proximity cards from a reputable ID card company. This option works best for organizations that don't need a high level of customization. You can order slot punched cards with your company's information already pre-printed. Your ID card company provides you with already-printed and slot punched cards that you assign to a student or employee.
The drawback is that you can't print on these ID cards without damaging your ID card printer's printhead. So if you need highly customized ID cards, this option isn't financially workable.
To avoid slot punching, you could use badge holders. ID cards slide into a plastic badge holder that's connected to a lanyard. The drawback is sometimes using proximity cards means employees or students need to remove their cards from the badge holder to interact with the card reader.
For those who need to customize pre-punched ID cards, a retransfer card printer avoids the damage that direct-to-card printers suffer. Direct-to-card printers can't handle uneven surfaces without damaging its printhead, a pricey repair bill. Retransfer printers don't print on the card's surface; rather, they print on a film that is heat adhered to your ID card's surface, eliminating the potential damage caused by printing directly to a pre-punched ID card. In essence, the printhead of a retransfer printer never touches the uneven surface of a pre-punched proximity card, eliminating the likelihood of damaging its printhead.
Final thoughts
You have plenty of options for your employee or student ID cards needing slot punched. Using your current direct-to-card ID printer, your best option is to slot punch the cards after printing. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the safest place to place your slot punches.
Another option is ordering a standard ID card from a reputable vendor that comes slot punched. For organizations that require no customization, this is perhaps the most workable option.
If you need to customize your ID cards with individual information, however, you have two options: slot punch your cards after printing either manually or electrically. Or purchase a retransfer printer that can safely print over the surface of pre-punched cards without damaging the delicate printhead.
Contact an Idesco ID Expert to discuss your needs and the options available. We bring over three-quarters of a century in experience with ID cards to help you find the perfect solution. Our ID Experts can guide you to the perfect solution that meets your business and security needs while adhering to your budget. Call us today at 212-889-2530 to get started.