Introduction
UV printers are characterized by their ability to print and support a broad range of applications. It is an excellent replacement for any business because it is inexpensive, durable, and easily accessible. It can print on any material you choose. It prints on cases of mobile devices, pieces of wood, ceramics, fabric, glass, and vinyl, among many more. A high ROI will be achieved by adding an appropriate UV printer to your business. Additionally, it prevents wasted time and money.
This thorough guide contains everything you need before purchasing a UV printer.
What is a UV Printer?
A UV printer is a digital printer that instantly prints using UV light to dry the ink, unlike a regular printer, which requires waiting for the ink to dry. With a UV printer, the ink is cured as it is printed. It is incredibly versatile and can print in any shape on any kind of material. The UV-cured ink is used to create long-lasting, high-resolution goods.
Types of UV Printers
UV printers are categorised based on their working and ability to print on different substrates. The main 4 UV printers are as follows:
- UV flatbed printer
- UV hybrid printer
- UV Roll-to-roll printer
- UV DTF
UV flatbed printer
As the name implies, the substrate is supported by a flat bed. It is best used on hard, flat materials, that is, metal, wood, or glass. It is primarily applied to consumer goods, such as phone cases and small objects.
UV Roll-to-Roll Printer
It can print from an input roll to an output roll, making it suited to extended continuous production. This printer has been well-suited for media, fabric, vinyl, and paper. Wall graphics, vehicle wraps, and banners are printed on roll-to-roll printers.
UV hybrid printer
A hybrid printer has both a flatbed and a roll-to-roll UV printer. Both soft and hard materials can be used with it. It is an all-purpose application and is suited for printing shops and media.
UV Rotary Printer
Such machines print on a specific transfer film. This is most applicable in thick, curved, and hard-to-print surfaces. However, it is not intended for continuous banner creation. It is frequently used to create unique products. It gives good sticking to rough or shiny surfaces.
How to Buy a UV Printer: 7 Facts to Remember
If you need to print your versatile ideas in reality, a UV printer is your best option. It gives you high-quality prints on just about anything, on demand.
But which question would one ask to determine which printer is best to take? It involves an upfront investment, and you should consider the following before purchasing a UV printer.
Budget
Very important when selecting a UV printer is the budget (the price of the UV printer and printing costs). UV printers cost as little as $500 and as high as $100,000. Simultaneously, a high price does not necessarily mean it should be included in your list of needs. It is just that you seek a balance between your budgets and your needs.
Production Requirements
Businesses must consider requirements and expansion plans before making any purchases. Production requirements will determine the choice of printer size and type for UV printing. When making a decision, the following questions should be in mind:
- What is the local market demand and statistics?
- How much print do you plan to do daily or weekly?
- Is your product seasonal or regular?
- Which UV printer will work with your material and the size of the product?
- What do you mean by expansion plans and objectives of your business?
Print Size (Object size)
Print size of the object entails the maximum size a UV printer can print at once. In addition to the product’s material and shape, one should also consider its size and dimensions, such as length, width, height and diameters (rolls or cylinders).
- UV printers offer the following sizes.
- A4 (8.3″ x 11.7″): for smaller size products
- A3 (11.7 x 16.5) when dealing with medium-sized products such as a tablet case.
- Bigger for industrial and commercial purposes.
As a rule, the most common print size is A3. Yet, the other sizes should be considered before selecting a UV printer.
Print Speed
The time efficiency of UV printing in commercial settings makes it the most suitable option. Time is business money, and the faster a printer can print, the faster the work can be done. The print period depends on product volume, substrate material, and the ink system. It, however, correlates strongly with the print resolution.
The small UV printers have a speed margin of 0.28-12 square meters per hour. And increases to 200-400 square feet per hour in enhanced-size UV printers. In a flatbed UV printer, high resolution translates into a longer job duration. The most widely used A3-size UV printer can print up to 32 square feet per hour. In the case of a DTF printer, the more passes there are, the longer it takes to complete the printing process. As an example, the 4 PASS model should yield 129 square feet per hour. Whenever purchasing, always ask for the actual printing time.
Print Resolution
The dots per inch (DPI), also known as print resolution, determines print quality. The higher the DPI, the better the resolution and the finer the details on the printout. The printing speed decreases with increasing DPIs. Higher DPIs are necessary for high-quality photos. The majority of UV printers have resolutions of 360, 720, and 1440 DPI.
- A 360 DPI resolution is appropriate for colour logos or text.
- 720 DPI has finer details and takes less printing time. It is most commonly used in printing.
- Between 1440 DPI and 1600 DPI is ideal for art printing and signage of a photographic quality.
Operating Software
Software is just as important as hardware when choosing a UV printer. Most UV printers come with their own Raster Image Processor (RIP) software. It also regulates every aspect of printing. Including colour management, print settings, and quality, without sacrificing print speed. Before making your decision, you must think about the following questions:
- Is the software user-friendly?
- Is it possible to save presets on various materials as well as print jobs?
- Is it compatible with the printer’s current design tools?
- Are upgrades required regularly?
- Do you require updates to the third-party software that would increase your costs?
Post Sales Support and Service
A UV printer is a highly technical industrial piece of equipment that may require additional support after purchase. After-sales support and service are more significant than the purchase cost itself. That complicated machine will be trained and properly maintained by the support service. For instance, how may printhead clogging be avoided? Or what are the required temperature and humidity levels to run a UV printer? This needs immediate help in the event of a software malfunction.
You may miss your deadlines, not to mention your reputation, if your printer breaks. The important thing in such cases is post-sales services. Preference should be given to any vendor that would offer instant remote or on-site diagnostics and troubleshooting.
This requires a strong SC to monitor spare parts availability. When a component of the machine fails, the local supplier must keep a stock to avoid the time and cost of shipping the product abroad.
Before making a purchase, the following inquiries should be made:
- Do they have 24/7 on-site and 24-hour remote on-technical support? Is there any local spare parts inventory?
- Are they providing planned services?
- Are they providing installations and training?
- What is normally the warranty period?
Is a UV Printer Worth Buying?
Businesses will always be intent on delivering high-end products within the least time possible. The UV printer delivers high-quality printing on virtually any material. It is a cheap, long-term investment that will pay for itself.
- Purchasing a UV printer for small business ideas is a great decision. Using it for custom printing, packaging, and promotional products is ideal.
- The UV printer’s primary benefit is that the ink dries instantly. There will be minimal smudging of the print.
- Long-term benefits of the purchase outweigh the high initial cost. As the prints are waterproof and scratch-resistant, they are durable.
- The UV printer can produce small batches of customized products. Small business owners can generate significant revenue with UV printers.
Conclusion
A UV printer is a cost-effective, time-saving piece of digital equipment. It offers high-end prints on virtually any rigid or flexible media, with support for various shapes. Finding an optimal UV printer is not easy. Still, when all the considerations are considered in the guide and separated with a specialist, it will be much easier to identify a printer that suits your situation. It is advisable to get all the information before making any purchase. Choosing trusted suppliers and submitting a sample request will change everything. Purchasing a UV printer is a big decision and offers many benefits for its users in the future.
