Inkcups Now has used one of its newest machines, the Mimaki UJF-3042, to print on all sorts of objects and promotional items. Recently the Mimaki printer was used to print on a sliding puzzle game. A sliding puzzle game typically has a grid of 9 squares in which one is missing. The user must slide one piece at a time to the correct position to reveal an image.

A sliding puzzle game is great for the promotional products industry. Giving away a free puzzle will attract attention because it is something different, something unique. Puzzles are better than pens or business cards because they require the user to apply thought and strategy consciously opposed to other promotional products that require no thought at all. For example: think of someone completing a puzzle only to realize that they have been staring directly at your company logo for over 20 minutes. Now that’s exposure!

There are almost endless images and ideas that can be printed directly onto these sliding puzzle games. The Mimaki UJF-3042 is able to apply an undercoat of white ink to make the other colors really stand out. At the same time, another layer of ink is printed on top of the white, with Mimaki’s staggered print-head. At an outstanding resolution, there are few printers on the market that can match the Mimaki UJF-3042′s quality of print.

The Mimaki UJF-3042 features:
• Resolution of 600dpi X 720dpi, 1,200dpi X 1,400dpi
• Staggered print arrangement for simultaneous white and color printing
• UV LED curable ink 6 colors (C, M, Y, K), White and Clear
• Automatic platform height adjust with laser height detection
• Accepts items up to 1.95″ (50mm) thick
• A print area of 11.81″ x 16.53″

Printer used in this project:
Type: Inkjet Printer
Brand: Mimaki
Model: UJF-3042
Standard applications: promotional items, pens, stress balls, other metal and plastic parts…
More info: Mimaki UJF-3042 Inkjet Printer page

Technorati tags: inkjet printing, promotional products, puzzles

Recently here at Inkcups Now we received a phone call from a customer in distress. When the customer placed ink in their ink cup, it would spill out of a small hole on the bottom of the ring. The customer had chipped one of their ceramic rings on his ink cup. The customer did not know what to do next. They didn’t have a replacement ring or a ring removal tool and they had a high production demand. The customer could not wait two or three days for a new ring and ring removal tool.

Our technicians had a fast and easy solution for the customer. Place the ink cup in the freezer. Yes, the freezer. Now this seems a little odd, however it certainly does work. When metal gets cold it shrinks, the colder it gets the more it shrinks. The ring is ceramic, thus the cold will have no effect on it and it will remain the same size. Once the metal shrinks enough (usually after about 2-3 hours), the ring can be removed. BE CAUTIOUS the edges of the ring are extremely sharp and can cut if not handled properly.

Now you must be asking yourself, what about the replacement ring? If the customer didn’t have one on hand how is he supposed to replace the damaged ring? The answer is simple. Flip the ring over. All Inkcups Now ceramic rings are double-sided. Just flip it over and it works as good as new!

Remember, keep the ink cup cold while removing and installing the ring, do not let it warm in between. If the ink cup gets warm it will expand again and the ring will not fit. Also, once you change the ring, let the ink cup sit out at room temperature for about an hour or two in order to allow the metal expand to its original form. Just place the ink cup back into the pad printer and continue printing!

Contact us for more information and other helpful hints.

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Technorati tags: Ink Cup, Ceramic Rings, Pad Printer