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All About UV Flatbed Printers

Industrial UV flatbed printers are adept at decorating a diverse array of flat and slightly curved objects using digital UV-curable inks. With the utilization of such a printer, digital images or designs can be directly printed onto various materials, spanning plastic, glass, wood, stainless steel, ceramic, metal, and more. However, it’s essential to note that UV flatbed printers are primarily suited for flat and slightly curved products due to the configuration of their print heads. Achieving optimal print quality entails positioning the product as close to the print area as possible without physical contact. This meticulous approach ensures that when the print heads disperse the ink onto the product’s surface, the result is a crisp resolution devoid of any sprayed appearance. A final distinguishing feature of UV flatbed printers is a traveling fixture, that sends the part(s) into the machine to be printed and then back out.

For cylindrical vessels such as drinkware, consider a UV Cylindrical inkjet printer.

How UV Flatbed Printers Work

UV Flatbed printers have the capability to print single items, multiple items, or an entire bed full of products simultaneously, depending on the size and capacity of the printing bed. With the aid of custom tooling, it’s possible to load a tray full of parts to be printed all at once.

By translating digital images into tangible prints, UV flatbed printers effectively bring your branding, marking, or identification needs to life. Widely applicable across various industries, flatbed printers are predominantly utilized within the industrial and promotional sectors.

A UV inkjet printer operates using a UV digital printing process to convert a 2D digital image into a 3D object. This process involves propelling minuscule droplets of ink onto substrates such as paper, plastic, glass, metal, and others, forming an image through an ink delivery system, also known as a print head. The digital image is transmitted to the printer electronically (via a computer), ensuring an exact replication of the original digital design.

Types of UV Flatbed Printers

UV flatbed printers are a subset of UV printers, falling into a broader category that includes various other types such as flatbed printers, cylindrical printers, conveyorized printers, roll-to-roll printers, and hybrid printers.

While UV flatbed printers share common features, they can also be tailored to specific applications. For instance, Inkcups offers a unique direct-to-bag printer called the XJET Switch.

This versatile machine functions as a UV flatbed printer designed for printing on flat objects like tote bags and hard goods. What sets the XJET Switch apart is its innovative tooling system—instead of the conventional vacuum table, it features four rotating platens arranged in a 2-up configuration. This setup allows for the simultaneous loading of bags in the front while printing is in progress at the back, streamlining the printing process for maximum efficiency.

UV Flatbed Printers for Edible Products

Digital flatbed printers can also be distinguished by their suitability for printing on edible products. For instance, Inkcups offers the X5 and X5-T models in edible versions known as EdiJET, equipped with edible ink. These printers enable direct printing onto a wide range of confections, including cookies, cakes, candies, as well as savory items like bread, buns, and croutons.

EdiJET ink is safe for consumption and compliant with FDA regulations for finished printed goods. Inkcups’ edible ink line, Candymark, is flavorless and does not affect the taste of the confection it adorns.

 

Read: Edible Printing Machine for Large Production

UV Digital Printing Q&A

There are some technical terms thrown around in this exploration that might be very confusing to someone just getting started. The intention is to break those down and get you up to speed.

Q. What are uni-/bi-directional print modes?

A. Uni-directional and bi-directional printing modes are determined by the direction of print carriage movement. Generally, uni-directional printing yields higher print quality but slower speeds, while bi-directional printing sacrifices some quality for faster output. In uni-directional printing, ink is jetted only as the print carriage moves from left to right, whereas in bi-directional printing, ink is jetted during movement in both directions.

Q. What is pass count?

A. Pass count involves dividing the printed image into segments or passes. Increasing the pass count breaks the image into smaller segments or swaths, typically enhancing its appearance and ensuring more uniform coverage.

Q. How fast can I print with a UV flatbed printer?

A. Answering speed-related inquiries can be quite challenging. Typically, the best way to determine printing speed is by sending your artwork and products to our sample department. We can conduct tests to identify a print quality that meets your satisfaction and provide you with speed data. This is because factors such as artwork size and print mode can significantly impact printing speed.

For additional inquiries, please visit our Support Hub. While most information on the Support Hub is customized for existing customers upon login, we offer over 40 concise articles on inkjet printing to everyone! Existing customers can access all inkjet articles plus their machine(s) manuals, standard operating procedures, site preparation documents, and more.

Read: Typical Maintenance for UV Printers

Applications

Although one might initially assume that the capabilities of printing with a flatbed printer are restricted, the reality is quite the opposite. There exists a vast array of products that can be adorned with designs, with even more awaiting discovery. The applications for UV printers are diverse and can be tailored based on height allowances. For instance, a tall UV flatbed printer such as the X5-T is ideal for embellishing hard coolers, a task that its counterpart, the X5®, would be unable to perform due to height limitations.

Flatbed UV printers even lends a hand decorating drinkware. “How?” You may ask. Consider the bottom of a vessel.  With the X5® or X5-T print on the bottom of flat drinkware. For more information read: Digital Glass Bottom Printing with the X5®

Further reading for UV flatbed printers: The 5 Best Applications for Flatbed Printers

Saw Blades

Saw blades are frequently adorned with industrial UV printers, whether for identification markings or branding purposes. With the appropriate tooling, an entire bed of saw blades can be printed simultaneously, streamlining the process and enhancing efficiency.

Learn more: Industrial Printing

Notebooks

Decorate notebook, padfolios, and other stationary items with flatbed printers to create breathtaking and bold images. Perfect for corporate gifts or promotional giveaways alike, flatbed printers can easily print full-color images on these.

Tote Bags

Print on a diverse range of reusable bags including but not limited to: non-woven, coated non-woven, polyester, PVC plastic (clear concert bags), cotton, canvas, and jute.

Learn more: Printing on Tote Bags

Reusable Tote Bag Applications

Canvas

Utilize UV flatbed printers to produce canvas prints as large as the printing bed allows, injecting vibrant bursts of color into dull walls. Among Inkcups’ UV flatbed printers, the X5 and X5-T stand out for offering the largest printing space, measuring 43.4” x 24”.

Read: Mastering Canvas Printing with UV Flatbed Technology

Pens

Pens, consistently ranking among the top promotional giveaways, can now benefit from digital decoration using full-color graphics through flatbed printers. With custom tooling ensuring secure placement, pens remain stationary throughout the printing process, preventing any rotation or shifting.

X5® for Printing on Pens

Bottle Openers

Plastic and metal bottle openers both present a surface that is perfect for decorating.

X5-T for Printing on Bottle Openers

Factors to Consider When Choosing a UV Flatbed Printer

When determining the most suitable UV flatbed printer for your needs, several factors warrant attention: cost, target printing products, desired output quality, and ongoing support and maintenance.

Cost considerations extend beyond the initial machine price. Hidden benefits or drawbacks may accompany different pricing tiers. For example, a lower-priced machine might lack comprehensive support services. Thus, thorough research and dialogue with various vendors are essential. Inquire about support availability, warranty terms, parts accessibility, and any other pertinent concerns upfront. Establishing a strong relationship with the equipment provider is especially crucial in the UV flatbed printing realm.

Read: When to Consider Buying a UV Printer

Product considerations play a critical role in the decision-making process. While opting for a UV flatbed printer eliminates cylindrical inkjet printers from the equation, the assessment extends beyond this point. Factors such as the height and width of your parts are crucial components. If your parts exceed the print bed dimensions in width, compatibility issues may arise. Conversely, smaller items like pens can benefit from efficient batch printing across the entire bed with appropriate tooling, thereby enhancing productivity.

Resolution holds significant importance and can vary depending on the industry. For instance, the industrial sector prioritizes sharp print quality and may prioritize quality over speed. In contrast, promotional products typically have shorter lifespans, leading to a preference for quicker print times even if it means sacrificing some quality.

Service, support and maintenance are a very important part of the decision. Just as your vehicle demands regular maintenance due to its significance as an investment, industrial UV flatbed printers require similar attention, if not more. Proper care and consistent maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of your equipment. That’s why Inkcups support is readily available with just a phone call away.

Learn more: World Class Service and Support

On average, 94% of service cases concerning digital printing machines are resolved promptly over the phone. We take pride in ensuring that our customers always interact with highly trained service professionals. There’s no outsourcing involved; you’ll be quickly connected to the most qualified individual to address your inquiries.

Inkcups UV Flatbed Printers

X5® UV Flatbed Printer

  • 1,100 x 610 mm (43 x 24 in) print area
  • 1200 dpi resolution

Ideal for both industrial applications and promotional items, the X5® UV flatbed printer is designed to withstand near-constant usage. Utilizing UV curable ink, the X5® excels at printing on diverse materials, including flexible ones such as face masks, thanks to the innovative xFlexx ink makeup.

See the X5® in Action

X5-T

  • 1,100 x 610 mm print area / 506mm extended part height
  • 1200dpi resolution

The X5-T offers the same exceptional quality as the X5, coupled with an extended height allowance, enabling customers to print parts up to 20” tall. This makes it perfect for decorating items like coolers and sporting equipment. Moreover, its versatility extends to easily decorating shorter items such as pens and stationery. If you’re contemplating printing on a diverse range of flat items with varying heights, the X5-T is the ideal choice to accommodate all your product needs.

See the X5-T in Action

XJET 800 UV Flatbed Printer

  • 800 x 620mm print area
  • Conveyor loading/unloading system

Looking to add automation to your production? The XJET 800 is automation-ready, easily partner a robotic arm to pick and place parts onto this conveyor system during the printing process to make for the most efficient process, a print shift with no down time. The XJET 800 brings parts in, prints, and then sends them back out to drop into a bin. Alternatively, robotics could be utilized to stack and pack products into boxes.

Watch the XJET 800

XJET 800T

  • 800 x 620mm print area / 500mm extended part height
  • Conveyor loading/unloading system

Much like the correlation between the X5 and X5-T, the XJET 800T offers the extended height that the bed is able to drop to accommodate those taller parts. Print full-color imagery on coolers, popcorn tins, sporting equipment and more with the XJET 800T. Continuous, high-volume production printing is XJET 800Ts best fit.

Learn More about the XJET 800T

XJET Switch Direct-To-Bag Flatbed Printer

  • Total print area: 13.8 inches x 25.6 inches (350 mm x 650 mm)
  • Maximum part height: 8 inches (203.2 mm)

Switch from screen printing on heat transfers to digital UV printing on tote bags. The XJET Switch is a full-color specialized flatbed printer, perfect for digitally decorating a wide variety of different types of bags.

Watch the XJET Switch Decorate Bags

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