More about Flatbed Printer

Flatbed printers have a number of names. Some call it a flatbed digital printer, flatbed UV printer, and so on. But all of them refer to a device that is more commonly called a flatbed printer.

In fact, you can guess why it is called that. True, it is called a flatbed printer because of its expertise in printing on materials that are positioned horizontally. This is different from most printers, where the material to be printed is in the form of rolls.

YD-F2513R5-40 Heightening Flatbed UV Printer. Photo: yottaprinter.com

This is what makes many people divide digital printing into two categories of machines. Based on the location of the material to be printed, there are flatbed printers and roll-to-roll printers.

The need to print flat media is the reason for making this type of printer. We certainly know, the printing world provides a lot of demands. Moreover, media to support printing, such as acrylic is widely used.

Unfortunately, before there was an acrylic flatbed printer, it would be coated with printing or cutting stickers. Then the machinist thought of a way so that a sheet of acrylic could go directly into the printer machine and produce prints.

Media and Lighting

Various media can be printed using a printer machine that is now commonly used by this large company. Among them are photographic paper, film, cloth, plastic, PVC, acrylic, glass, ceramic, metal, wood, leather, and so on.

Well, can you imagine ancient times? How to display the promotion on a piece of glass or ceramic? Definitely going to use a printer machine, print the design on vinyl or transfer media and paste it on the surface of the media.

Flatbed printers use ink that dries quickly when irradiated with an ultraviolet or UV system. The ink material itself is made from an acrylic monomer. If exposed to strong UV, it will dry immediately. This process is called polymerization.

Due to its fast ink drying advantage, this printer is recommended for printing images on wood, canvas, carpet, tile, and even glass surfaces.

The base or tray on which the media is placed can be adjusted and adjusted making it possible to print on surfaces ranging in thickness from a single sheet of paper to several inches.

Screen Printing Substitute

Since the flatbed printer was introduced, some say it is a screen printing replacement machine. However, it is much more effective than ancient screen printing.

As is known when doing screen printing, it takes effort to make a negative film. Screen printing also often requires a printing plate, making the process take longer.

In contrast to flatbed printers, without having to make negative films, it takes a much shorter time. Printing billboards on a sheet of acrylic only takes not too long. With maximum results of course.

So how to print in long size? A number of flatbed printer manufacturers also produce printers that make it possible to print on a roll system at once.

Of course, this printer that combines flatbed and roll to roll is expensive. Can be categorized as a premium class printer. The advantage is that it is able to print long designs without the need for supervision.

Continuous Innovation

Being able to print on flat media is still considered less than optimal. Human needs are increasing inevitably must be followed. As a result, there are now flatbed printers that can be used to print on bottles and cans.

This can be done after printing experts believe this printer supports environmentally friendly programs. Waste ink and cartridges are manufactured in such a way that they do not generate waste and pollute the air in the operator's premises.

Flatbed printer resolutions range from 72 DPI (dots per inch) to about 2400 DPI.

Flatbed printers that are capable of printing on cylindrical media are usually called hybrids. When printing the rotary attachment on the bottle, there is a tool that will rotate the bottle body so that the ink can spray perfectly.

The explanation is that a swivel attachment is used which positions the object and rotates it when the printhead uses ink. With technology, even ping pong balls can now be printed.

Even if you look closely, the resolution of prints far from the head will decrease. This is because the inkjet shoots the ink at an inclined surface and further away.

The two-dimensional effect was finally considered less. People want a printer that can print three-dimensional images. The manufacturer is no less resourceful. This is then done with colored inks or clear varnishes that are used to create a glossy finish or highlight the print.

Conclusion

Flatbed printers can be divided into 3 based on the type of equipment. Namely flatbed screen printers, flatbed laser printers, flatbed inkjet printers. Meanwhile, based on the ink used, it is known as UV flatbed printer, eco-solvent flatbed printer.

Although the name is very diverse, in fact, it is a flatbed printer. By using special inks, including UV curable that can be embedded on the surface of the substrate, resulting in a short curing time.

The printouts can be directly installed. You don't have to wait for the wind to dry the ink. Or must be assisted with a fan. It's an old printer.

The lamp technology is also updated, which previously used mercury instead of UV LEDs. Mercury was found to generate too much heat when working and the heating time is rather long.

Now LED UV lamps are becoming the mainstream of ink preservation resources in the digital inkjet printer industry, which is more energy-efficient, versatile and efficient. Because of the superiority of the UV LED curing system, it must be admitted that flatbed printers are now a trend. ***