Heya CorelDraw Pals,
(I know this is more CorelDraw forums. But thought i'd see what everyone thought here as well.)
Does anyone have any advice of a selection of digital printer equipment (available in the USA) options for ‘industrial digital printing’? Iv’e screenprinted with NazDar full solvent inks (ADE & 9600 Series) on metals for many years and I’m researching options to upgrade to direct digital printing onto metals. I’d like to have similar adhesion, abrasion/UV resistance & of course water proof inks. Opaque White, Black, Orange & Reds on Black anodized or painted metals. (Full-color would be nice.) The sub straights range from 1”x1”x.080” up to 14”x22”x8”. The quantities can range from 3pc to 60pc per layout. So for the most part, the machine doesn’t have to output 1’000’s at a time. The usage is mainly indoor industrial electronics. But I’d like the inks to last outdoors as well. So we can sell that option as well.
Does anyone have any advice/recommendations for printer supplier/manufacturers/models that I can look into?
Thanks in advance, Matt
Hello Matt; You might as well go for one that cuts the alum. to size also!!! I don't know what they have but you could call Denver Sign Supply, They aren't in Denver anymore, but they went way out of there way to find me a vinyl cutter that done things the way I wanted. I'd buy me a color printer if I new how to draw in color. lol
George
Matt Mundorf said:supplier/manufacturers/
HP Latex seems the way to go! When our lease is up on our Roland VS640 we will go HP.
Hi Matt
I currently run a direct color 1024 and a Roland LEJ uv As far as printing on metal goes the both do it but neither have the ability to lay down colour with the adhesion of screen printing due to the lack of solvents.
Abrasion is a real problem with metals, the inks will crack and chip in full sun we've had some chipping right after printing. We do use a primer from Direct color that seems to help but haven't found the all round flexibility of screen printing we still buy a lot of screen printing outside.
You are pretty much looking at printing on pre treated substrates from Direct Color Systems for the best results. They go to 2 years outdoor with out coating I'd like to send a printed sample to an ink manufacturer to have a fade test done though.
Good Luck
Ross Blair
Heya Ross,
Very interesting. Those are great points to consider. I really only want to switch to digital printing if it can at least match the adhesion, abrasion resistance & life of the epoxy resin & polyester screenprint inks. (I need all the help I can get. Heh.)
Matt
I know nothing about printing, but I do watch way to much Television late at night. I am an insomniac.
That said, I have noticed that more and more, commercial printing using solvent and resin base inks as well as UV cured inks use pad printing on substrates other than paper. I have only watched the processes and know nothing about the equipment or inks but from what I do see, your may want to investigate the pad print process.