Wide-format printer

Large format printer (English: Large Format Printer, LFP) are devices for printing large designs. This inkjet printers are preferably used with printing widths between 1.3 m and 5 m. In some areas they are the technical successor of plotters.

Printable are a whole host of media, such as textiles, self-adhesive films, pvc tarpaulins or poster paper, as well as rigid materials such as plexiglass, PVC rigid foam panels or aluminum composite panels. The latter three are inter alia processed on the so called flatbed printers ( UV direct printers). The material must have a suitable surface for ink jet printing. The only exception is currently the UV direct pressure at which it is possible ( etc. including wood / glass ) to print on almost any material.

Printing Techniques

In general, the printing techniques to distinguish in large format printing between four print method:

  • Continuous inkjet: the print head, the ink is supplied in a circuit and is deflected electrostatically to the print material only on demand
  • Drop on demand (DOD ) ink in the print head to static and is shot out, if necessary (as in the bubble jet printing ) the first printer based on the DOD was Siemens PT 80
  • UV direct printing: the ink is applied directly to the material and cured with UV light
  • A thermal transfer printing: Resin ink is transferred to the printing material by heat from an intermediate carrier ( ribbon)

A special position is occupied by the process of thermal sublimation. In this case the print motif is first printed in mirror image onto a transfer material and then ironed with heat to the print carrier material ( textiles).

Inks and Pigments

Generally, in inks and pigments to distinguish between:

  • Solvent inks ( based solvents such as eg methyl ethyl ketone)
  • Water-based inks ( water-based inks )
  • ECO inks ( ecologically improved variants of solvent inks )
  • UV inks ( to be cured with UV light)

After printing, the substrate for long-term outdoor use can be prepared. This is done through a transparent coating of the printed material in planning eg by a coating, but films by lamination with a protective film, which can be done either matte or glossy. Such coatings are usually also UV-resistant and prevent premature color fading due to light exposure as well as the immediate damage to the pressure due to mechanical influences.

Swell

  • Http://mimech.com/printers/inkjet-printer-technology.asp
  • Printer
Motif (visual arts) Inkjet printing Butanone
282240
de