Helix® Digital Cylinder Printer

Designed for superior full-color (CMYKWW + varnish) decoration, the Helix® digital cylinder printer by Inkcups produces vibrant, high-resolution images on both straight-walled and tapered cylinders. Fast and flexible, this UV cylinder printing machine is ideal for use in the drinkware, barware, candle, and industrial printing industries.

The Helix® digital cylinder printer strikes an ideal balance between speed and image quality thanks to its patented Helix® software, which places 7-picoliter drops of ink precisely along the cylinder at extremely high speed. Designed and built in the United States, the Helix® features a wide frame and illuminated interior, allowing easy access and maintenance of the machine.

Advanced Tooling & Easy Changeover

The Helix® digital cylinder printer minimizes setup time with an advanced quick-change tooling fixture that easily adjusts to print on both straight and tapered parts. To best service you, Inkcups offers a custom tooling service from concept to build. The process is simple:

Simply send in a few of your drinkware or cylindrical items, and we will create tooling that will fit perfectly into your Helix® rotary inkjet printer.
Easily adjust a fixture’s angle for tapers by saving each product’s specifications in the system software.
Set the angle and assign a number to the product type. The Helix®’s part fixture will auto-adjust once that number is selected for a quick and easy part changeover.

Time-consuming prepress and screen-making steps are eliminated with this all-digital inkjet-based process. Import an image, choose the quantity for production, and print directly on the product via user-friendly control software. Rotary printing could not be easier! Interested in hearing more about cylindrical printing? Listen to our Digital Cylinder Printing and Technology podcast!

Fully Digital Workflow

There are a variety of UV inks you can print with while using the Helix® digital cylinder printer, including:

The DL Series: An ink line that was formulated for excellent adhesion to glass and plastic. Paired with MagiCoat pre-treatment solution, glassware items can handle up to 200 residential washes (depending on temperature and detergent).
The S1 Series: A perfect solution for a variety of rigid substrates such as stainless steel and metal that is also Prop. 65 compliant. This UV inkjet ink recently got an upgrade with a new UV curable white ink – Vivid White.
The XFlexx Series: Compatible with flexible applications like squeezable water bottles, this series consistently passes the squeeze test without cracking.

Complete Installation, Training & Support

Inkcups truly offers a full-service solution, covering services like consulting, setting up machines for print, training your operators on how to use the Helix® cylindrical printer, and more. Training sessions, specifically can be held either at one of our facilities or at your own facility. We want to ensure your operators understand how to operate and how to perform daily maintenance to the machine.

Get started with the Helix® digital cylinder printer. Contact us to start the sampling process.

See our full line-up of cylindrical printers or visit the Support Hub to learn more about this UV printing method.

Need help with the Helix® or any other digital printer? Visit our FAQs section.

What our Customers Have to Say

Case Study: Bottled Goose

Nothing speaks louder than a happy customer. Our latest case study features the capabilities and impact of the Helix® digital cylinder printer has had for our customer, Bottled Goose.

For more information please visit: Customer Success Stories.

BENEFITS OF THE HELIX® DIGITAL CYLINDER PRINTER

Nano Pin Curing for Transparent Drinkware

The Helix® digital cylinder printer is now available with Nano Pin Curing (NPC), a patent-pending technology that enables seamless printing on transparent vessels — including glassware, plastic cups & bottles, candle holders, and more — without the need for a UV-blocking agent.

Beyond this key advantage, NPC also offers a 10%* increase in print speed, the ability to print from the sham of glassware upward, and a laser alignment system for precise positioning. Nano Pin Curing is the only technology of its kind, setting a new standard in transparent vessel printing.

*on average

COLORBOOST

The Helix® line of printers now comes equipped with ColorBoost. This proprietary system allows Helix® machines to obtain 12 pass quality at 6 pass speeds. With a dedicated head per color, ColorBoost allocates 2 channels per head rather than 1 channel per head in competitive machines. Get the best image quality in industry with ColorBoost!

Glossy spot varnish accent applied to a UV printed product

PRINT ON DEMAND WORKFLOW

The Helix® has the unique ability to integrate with print on demand shops both for eCommerce and standalone companies looking to enter this market. This machine, paired with our patent barcode scanning mechanism, can make inventory management and production a breeze. Learn more about our print on demand drinkware solutions.

Integrated Pre- Treatment

The Helix® easily integrates corona treatment, plasma treatment or jettable primer directly into the machine. Alter the surface tension of a part utilizing the corona treatment or plasma treatment methods to increase adhesion and remove any foreign objects. Utilize jettable primer to apply the proper adhesion-promoter directly under the print.

PROGRAMMABLE TILT

Easily adjust a fixture’s angle for tapers by saving each product’s specifications in the system software. Simply set the angle and assign a number to the product type. The Helix’s® part fixture will auto-adjust once that number is selected for a quick and easy part changeover.

AUTOMATION READY

The Helix® is now available automation-ready for the utmost efficient print cycle. Utilize the universal robot to both load and unload to the following configurations: a single Helix®, or two Helix® machines. Three benefits of integrated automation include: more consistent production times, 24/7 production capabilities, and the elimination of down time. The Automation System utilizes a handling system of either vacuum or dual gripper. Automation can be added to both new and existing Helix® machines.

See the robot in action: https://youtu.be/AZZ24TLRfeI

Innovative Digital Printer Features

Mirror Print

The mirror print feature on the Helix® digital cylinder printer leverages our specialized helical software to lay down an image using colored ink, then a layer of white ink over it, and another color image layer over that. The resulting effect is a mirror image of the interior and exterior artwork. Depending on the design, an image printed on the inside layer can be different from what’s printed on the outside.

Learn more about: UV Cylindrical Inkjet Printer Design Features: Mirror Print

Lustre Effect

Leverage the Lustre Effect with the Helix® to print stunning metallic effect colors directly onto aluminum, metal and stainless vessels. The Lustre Effect is a technique achievable through software technology, offering a range of over 200 metallic shades. Additionally, this software empowers the user further with access to unlimited embellishments to create gradations, dimensions, watermarks, and patterns with metallic colors.

Create beautiful metallic works of art with the Lustre Effect, while saving time and money eliminating manual steps and costly mistakes.

Full Coverage

Full-length cup and bottle printing are possible with the Helix® – print the full length of a straight or tapered drinkware cylinder (up to 8.6″) in a single print cycle with Helix® Top-to-Bottom print technology. The Helix® can also print full-wrap images up to 360° around cylinders.

Tone-on-Tone & Contour Print

The Helix® digital cylinder printer’s tone-on-tone feature gives glass bottles and drinkware a truly elegant look by applying gloss effects that use high-quality varnish formulations without color. Contour printing, on the other hand, layers the ink to give drinkware a highly appealing textured 3D feel. The end result is a one-of-a-kind, almost irresistible print effect.

Learn more about UV Cylindrical Inkjet Printer Design Features: Tone on Tone

Photorealistic Rotary Printing

With the addition of two new colors: light cyan and light magenta, the latest Helix® digital cylinder printers can now achieve true skin tones, smoother gradients, and higher resolution than ever before!

Optional Safety Features of the Helix®

OPERATOR-PROTECTED LIGHT CURTAIN

The optional light curtain feature allows operators to run Helix® machines with added protection. Once something passes through the invisible curtain, the machine will halt all motion.

CURING LOCATION

An additional safety feature moves the curing process to the back of the machine. In the standard model, the product obtains its final cure after exiting the machine. This exposes the operator to UV light. While we encourage all operators to wear UV blocking glasses, this is not always done. Curing in the back of the Helix® circumvents any UV light from entering the outside environment.

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

Inkcups understands the safety requirements for countries across the globe. We are able to certify Helix® machines according to UL, CSA or CE requirements.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES FOR THE HELIX® DIGITAL CYLINDER PRINTER

Extended Range Kit

The extended range kit features a tooling extension mechanism which increases the diameter capabilities of the Helix®. Print a part with a diameter of 1.5″ (38 mm) up to 5.0″ (127 mm) all with the same fixture! This kit is available for both new and existing Helix® machines.

Head Recovery System

The Head Recovery System is capable of cleaning both Gen 4 and Gen 5 printheads. Head recovery can be performed to restore printheads that may be clogged and generally increase the longevity of the printhead. By using EBD cleaner in combination with this unit, printheads can be cleaned for further printing.

Cleans Gen 4 and 5 printheads
Utilizes EBD Cleaner
Available in 120VAC or 220VAC

Printing Applications of the Helix®:

Print-on-Demand Drinkware Solution

Equipped with an advanced workflow system, the Helix® is the ideal solution for e-commerce companies looking to differentiate their brand, to appeal to a wider variety of purchase occasions and to increase margins. Add the hottest product category of the decade to your product mix!

Learn more about Inkcups’ Print-on-Demand Drinkware Solution

digitally print on bottles with our BB ultra flexible ink

Plastic Cups and Bottles

The Helix® as a digital bottle printing machine offers solutions to even the trickiest printing needs, like printing on the flexible surface of squeezable sports bottles. The Helix® is loaded with Ultra Flexible Ink that is pliable enough to move with the bottle as athletes require. Reference our blog UV InkJet Ink for Sports Bottles article to find out more.

Whether you need a high-speed plastic cup printing machine for events or a solution for flexible sports bottles, the Helix® handles various plastic substrates with ease.

Stainless Steel Tumbler Printing

The Helix® offers greater adhesion and abrasion resistance to stainless steel. See all our drinkware printing applications here.

UV Digitally printed designs on glassware

Mixing Glass Printing

Also known as pint glasses, these are ideal for breweries, bars, restaurants, and special events. Paired with the Helix®, the MagiCoat® Pre-Treatment System works to ensure optimal adhesion when UV printing on glass.

Glass Bottle Printing

The Helix® is an industry-leading glass bottle printer that’s ideal for decorating beer bottles, wine bottles and growlers alike. Customize labels on the fly, and utilize our MagiCoat® glass primer to ensure the best adhesion for heavier-use items like mixing glasses.

Further reading here: How to Print on Glass

Candle Holders

Print directly onto candle holders with the Helix®. Add a personal touch to any candle jar!

Resources

Digital Cylinder Printers by Inkcups	Overview brochure	us IT
Helix®	Video Demonstration	en
Helix®	Video Demonstration - Candle Holder	en
Helix® for Barware	Video Demonstration	en

Specifications

Product Type

Cylinder or Taper (360 degree print)

Speed (based on bed size)

11 seconds per part (Based upon a 2.3" image (60mm) CMYKWW no varnish)

Part Diameter

51 mm - 114 mm (2 - 4.5 in) - with Extended Range Kit - 38 mm - 127 mm (1.5 - 5.0 in)

Part Length

51 mm - 305 mm (2 - 12 in)

Lamp Style

8W LED

Ink Type

UV LED

Ink Configuration

CMYKWW (Varnish optional)

Print Modes

4 pass • 6 pass • 8 pass • 12 pass • 16 pass • 24 pass

Bulk Ink System

3 Liter

Dimensions (lxwxh)

2.0701 x 0.67818 x 1.6764 m (81.5 x 26.7 x 66 in)

Voltage

220/208 VAC, Single Phase, 4 Amp

Maximum Resolution

1200 dpi

Bed Type

Rotary

Weight

1,230 lbs. (558 kg)

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