So pad printing technology is developing very fast. Acrylic, aluminum, glass, metal, and wood may all be printed on using digital UV printing. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Everything you want to know can be found in this article. Unlike UV printing, pad printing is only able to apply one color at a time which makes this process very time-consuming in comparison. The guys at ParisCustomBricks could help you out maybe! The oil basin type pad printer is open, so the printing smell is heavier. ), using copper or steel gravure, and casting a hemispherical pad printing head through silicone rubber. The degree of automation of the pad printing machine is not high. One point I'm worried about is that I have to match the colors to the existing Lego color palette as close as possible. Because of the UV light, the ink is dry instantly and can be handled right away. Also, dont forget that pad printing needs a bit less ink than UV printers per fig. (Part 1). Your email address will not be published. Pad printing and screen printing are two different methods of printing that are used for a variety of products and on a variety of different materials. This is also the most prominent feature of pad printing ink. If you are seeking for innovative client-specific pad printing solutions or high-precision flat screen printing machines, do not hesitate to contact us. This lessens the cost and shortens the time to provide parts immediately. UV inks are considered environmentally friendly because they do not pose problems with volatile organic component (VOC) solvent evaporation. Just like injection molding, many other brands use this technology to make their designs come to life, but UV printing is not the only type of printing available. From head to toe and all the accessories in between, devoted LEGO fans have customized minifigures to be exactly what they want them to be through printing, injection molding, painting, sculpting, cutting and more. Oddly enough, the custom minifigure community often goes unnoticed among the broader purist LEGO fans, but I believe it is one of the most inspiring and interesting segments of the LEGO community at large. Namely manual mechanical pad printer, electric pad printer and pneumatic pad printer. From a business perspective, production is slower as well. Lastly and, arguably, most importantly this is the technique that LEGO uses! Nowadays, not only garments and t-shirts that you can print and personalize. WebEpic Screen Printing in Phoenix, AZ offers affordable BUSINESS CARD professional printing services. The reason for this can be seen in increasing user demands: not only paper and cardboard, but also a wide variety of substrates, including low- or non-absorbent materials (plastic, foil, metal and heat-sensitive materials). Custom LEGO does NOT include counterfeit LEGO minifigures or accessories and does not include alternative building block toys. Contrary to conventional ink-jet printing methods, UV printing requires nothing more than placing the media to be printed on the platform and locking it in place; once an HD picture has completed layout creation and placement, printing may begin immediately. Although pad printing inks and screen printing inks have some similar properties, they are quite different. Also knowing how to adjust the machine if there's more than one colour can be hard (I've worked on a 4-colour pad printing machine). However, there are a couple of negatives to consider with UV printing in comparison. Custom-sculpted Mandalorian minifgure by @lm9_productions. Whereas pad printers have difficulty printing on cylindrical items because theyre narrower at one end. On a typical 3D printer, your piece is formed from bottom to top on the printing bed. There are a lot of different ways to process different materials, and each one needs a different method. Spot inks of a specified color may be used to print solid blocks of color that are smoother and bolder than those produced by an inkjet printer because the ink can be tailored for the material being printed. I say simply but it is quite a complex process that is not only costly but takes lots of specific machinery to achieve. The paper passes through the printer and wet ink is applied. In practice, this means you might push the putty one way while sculpting only to find it attempting to shift back another way into its original place. Fans of BrickArms with an eye for accuracy will often seek out parts in the brands catalog to alter and create something new. Shot a picture at night of my 1972 Citron DS Pallas. What is the difference between LED-UV and UV printing? The fundamental difference between the UV and LED-UV is the light source. LED-UV generates an energy wavelength from light-emitting diodes (LED) at a light spectrum between 385 395nm (nanometers.) There is also virtually no curing time. Most of the print objects will be flat, execept some pieces with a slight curve. Conclusion About UV Printing vs Pad Printing. The price of the pad printer is low, the operation is simple, and the printing technology is easy to master. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Counterfeit operations typically steal designs outright, sell imitations of the real thing, and produce questionable figures in bulk for unscrupulous collectors. Over time, many companies offering fully decaled figures transitioned into printing for the efficiency and precision the process offers. Our next objective to introducing the customizing community is to feature customizers themselves and showcase how they take LEGO and other accessories and transform them into highly-detailed works of art, exactly how they want them. Especially the short version, because in many cases UV printing can be processed right away. By completing the above form, you agree to be contacted by ColDesi Inc through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Pad printing is an indirect printing process, where a silicone rubber pad picks up and deposits the graphics to be printed from an engraved clich to the piece; this entails a preparatory phase, which passes from the graphic realization to the development of the Your email address will not be published. There are many LEGO fans that have converted their hobby into a business. Digital UV printing is the most recent printing invention, reminiscent of this. UV printers are built with very high tolerances and need very little modification, making full-color printing as simple as printing a single color. Near-photograph quality photos are possible using this method. What can you print on a uv printer? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. UV print can meet peoples individual needs to the greatest extent. For a significant majority of users wanting to benefit from digital print technology, it was the advent of UV-curable ink chemistries that turned wishful thinking, When it comes to midsize UV-LED flatbed printers, there are a decent number of options. To get the most out of the ink, we print directly onto the substrate, often ganging up many pictures. Buying a Compress UV Printer from ColDesi can not only save you money over time but also add revenue to your business. The basic printing modes for many materials are almost the same, with the exception of certain materials requiring layers and varnish. It allows for the total reimagination of pieces and transforms an ordinary minifigure into an exquisite masterpiece. You can likely sell those tiles at$10/each, making your profit $8.65/tile, or $415.2/hour. The provided color picture is divided into its component colors and then applied on a separate screen. This is a very professional article. This is something which you will also see with pad printing but its important to note that, as with anything, you really are paying for quality when it comes to custom LEGO minifigures! Required fields are marked *. Pad printing is the method that LEGO uses to create most of their printed elements. All rights reserved, For more information about the fast, versatile UV Printers contact us or call, So many different customization technologies , Custom Apparel Startups Podcast + Courses, Use Flexible UV Ink for Printing Sports Balls and Other Flexible Items, Wrap Around Reusable Bottle Printing | Mutoh XpertJet 661UF, Compress iUV-600s vs. Mimaki UJF-6042 MkII, Understanding the UV Curable Process and Application. Screen printing is used on textiles, ceramics, wood, glass, metal, paper, and plastic. With that said, there is definitely still a value in pad printing allowing some fantastic results for custom minifigures which are really eye-catching and high-quality. But what do all of these terms mean? But UV printing is much stronger than pad printing in terms of color reproduction and operation. September 16, 2017September 16, 2017 by admin. Adhesion, equipment, strategy, and technological advancements have made it feasible to print on a wide variety of materials. The UV generally referred to in the traditional printing industry is the printing effect process, which is to coat a layer of varnish (bright, matte, inlaid crystals, glitter powder, etc.) Despite this, pad printing is sought after by producers and collectors alike for the aesthetic cohesion and perceived quality it provides similar to official LEGO-printed pieces. Pad printing has evolved from simple to complex printing. According to different ink storage methods, it is divided into oil basin pad printer and oil cup pad printer. The area of the printed product should not be too large, and the product that is too large is not suitable for pad printing. Is it equivalent to pad printing? In terms of environmental impact, water-based inks are preferable. Screen printing is easily scratched off, isnt water-resistant, and has to air dry for a while before it can be used again. Applying this logic more specifically to LEGO, the ability to print on anything, anywhere means that it should be easier to print details on every component of a LEGO minifigure. The primary difference is that digital presses often print a whole four-color process in a single pass, whereas UV screen printers print one color at a time. Decals can be thought of like applying a sticker but with a few more steps. Items such as pens, doors, mugs, mobile phone covers, awards, and many more may be personalized. on a piece of printed pattern you want. As you can see from the many ways to create and customize LEGO minifigures, there is much time, talent, and resources that go into the process. Printing on plastics, on the other hand, may be a challenge for any printing company. In printing speed, pad printing is faster than uv in printing. Because of this, the resulting items are watertight as well as scratch and wear resistant (the degree is determined by the quality of UV printing ink used). Leave your thoughts in the comments below. A selection of custom LEGO from left to right: BrickWarriors, BrickArms, Citizen Brick, EclipseGrafx, Crazy Bricks. The small holes in screens are precisely the same size because they are composed of a fabric material with a highly exact design. UV Printing goes way above and beyond Pad Printing. The majority of designers can give full play to their creative talents, and the design samples can be modified arbitrarily on the computer. All in all, the two different processes of UV printing vs pad printing have their own advantages, but with the diversification of products and the complexity of patterns, people are becoming more and more cautious about the choice of the two. The long drying time and the fact that UV printing could only be used on textiles led to the development of the new rage. Phase 2 Arc Jesse fully decaled figure from AVFigures, Phase 2 Arc Jesse decal sheets from AVFigures. Injection molding simply put is the process of injecting molten plastic granules into a negative mold. I previously likened UV printing to your typical office printer, so if that is the case, then PAD printing is akin to working with rubber stamps. 1. A UV printer is a type of digital printer that uses ultraviolet light to dry the ink during printing. UV printing has sparked a boom in the gifting sector. This is because LEGO claims it does not make life-like toy versions of weapons. Choosing a printing process might vary depending on the product and the volume of production. I have seen that there are manual pad printers, which are cheaper and maybe enough for the amounts of printing I will be doing. The PCard may not be used in conjunction with the Printing Services This difficulty is partially due to what is called shape memory which is the tendency for the material to want to shift forms to its original shape while being sculpted. A few other companies that use pad printing include Phoenix Customs and Christo7108. Full-color screen printing is more costly since each color must be printed separately and then cured before the next color can be applied. So that you can choose the best option for your next printing job, well go over the fundamentals of each approach and how they vary. Also, the UV ink expires more easily. LEGO PAD Printing! I read somewhere that pad printing will give the better results, but the person did not give an explanation. Which is better for dual blades, 3 safi + 2 velkhana or which is better for wifi/bt adapter: M.2 or PCIe? The colorfastness of any screen-printed object might be questionable since it can be readily scratched off, is not waterproof, and must be air-dried for a period of time. I did the LEGO Home Alone during the Holidays. The failure rate of parts is also relatively high. Digital UV printing is the most recent printing invention, reminiscent of this. The cost of color ink per square is 3-5 yuan per square. Screen printing is usually the first thing our customers think of when they need to do these kinds of things. For instance, sculpting and painting have a lot of overlap thanks to a finished sculpts need for paint and a painters need for certain parts to be sculpted in a way that perfectly captures the character they are creating. Some variables to think about are as follows: First and foremost, the cost of a product or service is critical. In this article we wanted to take the time to compare two of the more common printing methods which you are likely to encounter within the Custom LEGO Minifigure world UV printing, and Pad Printing. Your email address will not be published. What can you print on a uv printer? Thats my thoughts on these printing methods but Id welcome your input in the comments down below, too! Yard signs and campaign signage are two examples. Like what we're doing? Whether it is a simple monochrome pattern or a color pattern, or a pattern with transitional colors, UV printing can be directly printed, and the operation is simple. Pad print can print text, graphics and images on the surface of irregular-shaped objects. I think it is worth noting that UV Printing technology has really expanded in recent years, too. Please prove you are human by selecting the, SEMI AUTOMATIC SILK SCREEN PRINTING SOLUTIONS, Automatic Cylindrical Screen Printing Machine, Top 10 Semi Automatic Screen Printing Machine, Automatic Round Screen Printing Machine Manufacturer. PVC, a toxic contaminant, is found in the plastisol used in screen printing. Printing approximately48 tiles per hour makes the material cost per hour $64.90. UV printing is a one-to-one procedure regardless of the number of items printed, making it ideal for low-volume manufacturing. Many veteran sculptors choose to keep both on hand and will use them interchangeably as their project requires. Sometimes after-sales service cannot be maintained in time. When comparing the differences between traditional printing methods such as pad and screen printing and digital inkjet printing, we like to use the analogy of comparing a 1969 Because the press can print on precut materials, the sign doesnt need to be finished once all the colors have been printed. Need more practice on transitions but not bad for 170hp, Printing on SafeCom (shared printer) issue over LAN and Wifi. ONCE has more than ten years of manufacturing experience in the professional printing field. But these savings depend hugely on the amount of figures needed. You can gain a lot from it. The growth of UV printing is driven by its value-added printing attributes. Printing color:10 color. The fundamental difference between the UV and LED-UV is the light source. In order to pad print a blank LEGO element, a press device with a silicone pad transfers the design by inking the pad then pressing it onto your desired object. This can mean that if an individual is investing in the technology as their main source of income, then the additional costs may be fed down into the prices of their custom minifigures meaning that we, as consumers, will have to pay more money to get our hands on the custom LEGO minifigures which we want. This etching acts as a reservoir for ink. Reports, news, pics, videos, discussions and documentation from a studded world. Some might argue that custom-molded accessories do not deserve to be included under the title of custom LEGO because they are no different than counterfeit LEGO in the sense that TLG (The LEGO Group) did not produce them. Printers-Screen Printing Screen UV Printing has a range of broadly applicable positives including the fact that it is beneficial for the environment. Print on Lego Brick and minifitures By UV A4 flatbed printer Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. WebThe main benefits of UV printing are simplicity and speed. Several even grind down official LEGO bricks to use when injecting so that their parts remain cohesive in color and quality with official LEGO products. But what can you print on a UV printer? **Spam will be blocked and users banned without warning.**. In spite of this, digital UV printing is becoming more popular for a variety of reasons. All Pro Industrial. The decal must first be soaked in warm water which activates the glue and allows you to slide it off the backing sheet and onto your desired surface. You can print onto virtually any material and any shape of the item, whether its cylindrical or conical. Compared with traditional silk screen printing, offset printing and other processes, the speed is slightly insufficient. EclipseGrafx utilizes genuine LEGO parts to produce their products. See if the idea has traction.. If youve been thinking about outsourcing your printing, you may want to consider doing it in-house instead. So, whats the conclusion? My company makes UV printers and I print on legos all the time at the office. Friday : 8am - 5pm. A few other companies that use injection molding to create custom parts include Brickforge and BrickWarriors. Any slight shift in position will result in a misprint. It is possible that Pantone colors may not seem as brilliant or strong as they would on a press utilizing a particular color ink. Printing glass doors, tabletop surfaces, and even metal are also possible. UV printing is a piezoelectric inkjet, which is mainly suitable for short-run digital printing and color printing UV printing can be applied to wood, glass, crystal, PVC, acrylic, plastic, stone, leather and other surfaces. Anyone know a cheap place to outsource 2-part NCR? Pad printing means that the substrate is an irregular shaped surface (such as instruments, electrical parts, toys, etc. Please prove you are human by selecting the, SEMI AUTOMATIC SILK SCREEN PRINTING SOLUTIONS, Automatic Cylindrical Screen Printing Machine, Automatic Round Screen Printing Machine Manufacturer. Whilst this isnt noticeable in a low-light environment, it is worth noting that this may show the distinction between a custom and non-custom minifigure in a well-lit environment. Mainly, It refers to the ink, 2022 ColDesi Incorporated. The key differentiator with resin printing is its usage of UV light to selectively cure layers of liquid resin stored in a vat whichlayers that will stack and form your desired piece. Feel free to discuss: file prep, techniques, opinions, design, and more. WebPad printing is a process that involves creating 2D images on objects having different surfaces and shapes, such as golf balls, toys, syringes, and remotes. How sharp does the print look close up? Is More Modern UV Printing Always Better? Tampa, Florida 33611, 3634 131st Avenue North For our example, well assume you also spend 2 hours creating the custom design for the tile. A Silicone pad will feature the design which you which to transfer onto the object in question, and this will then press the design into place on the minifigure through the use of ink. Focused on your solution for pad printing machine & round screen printing machine,. But these savings depend hugely on the amount of figures needed. The ink dries rapidly and without spreading or blotting thanks to the built-in UV light. The ink layer of pad printing is relatively thin, and the quality of printing is limited by the pad printing head, ink, and steel plate. Due to this needed skill, there is now a demand for talented applicators who work for commissions and will decal anything requested. Traditional UV produces an energy wavelengths between 260nm and 440nm from a mercury-vapor bulb. If youve ever received a custom minifigure which has a slight blur to the lines or the design then you will be aware of how much that can ruin the overall aesthetic, so pad printing is really beneficial in avoiding that from happening. Inks specially formulated for pad printing include one-component inks, two-component inks, bake-drying, oxidation, UV and sublimation inks. Both types of printing can achieve incredible results for your minifigures but there are also some slight pros and cons which are prevalent for each. It is also worth noting that the finish of UV printing can be a little bit more glossy than traditional LEGO minifigures. Using a squeegee, ink is driven into the holes in the material to be printed, leaving a thin film of ink behind. There are a lot of different ways to use screen printing, but its most often used for clothing and T-shirts. Weve bonded in our own groups and online communities, and hopefully by documenting some of the processes, techniques, and final products that customizers use, I can highlight and share what makes the customizing community so special. A big advantage with pad printing (as found here) is the fact that the printing can adapt to whichever surface it is being placed on. Depending on the ink, drying time and quality after washing might vary greatly. Pad Printing as a process has been around for centuries and really came into what we see today in the 60s and 70s. When it comes to buying a Custom LEGO Minifigure, you want to be able to make an informed decision about what you are buying. The oil cup type pad printing machine has sealed ink storage, which is relatively environmentally friendly. UV Printing allows for full-color printing, including using a layer of white on the bottom to make the image/design stand out from the object. How to Make Your Own Custom LEGO Marvel Comics Minifigures, Our Favorite Halloween LEGO Pieces (and Customs!). Print per cycle:4 pcs/cycle. One person can operate two UV printers. What goes into each of these processes and why does it matter? At the same time, the pad print ink is often printed on the film, and the pad printing ink is easily affected by some factors such as temperature, humidity and static electricity. Businesses may benefit from the technology invasion because it brings something fresh and unexpected to the table. It offers several advantages in applications in the publishing, commercial, packaging and labeling markets. Even if the object has an uneven surface the quality of printing is not affected. Finally, one other significant way to transfer detail to minifigs is by utilizing decals. A community for prepress, designers, operators, and lovers of the commercial printing industry. Shifting the profit per hour to $138.40. I had a tough year so for once I treated myself for Press J to jump to the feed. The application of UV printing is one of the most important contents in the printing industry. UV Printing provides an incredibly high-quality job, one that simply cannot be achieved with a pad printer. UV inks are mainly used for non-absorbent printing materials. Some printing business exclusively use Mutoh Ink. PAD PRINTING VS DIGITAL PRINTING in industrial decoration of 3d objects. Hot tip, if you buy an $800 LEGO bag, they give you a What's your opinion on the Lego jazz club? Now pad printed form is becoming an important special printing form. These rough results have in the past limited the usage of this technology to fast prototyping, but now, resin printers have begun to take the spotlight. When the silicone pad is placed in it, it receives the ink in the shape of the desired design which is then ready to be pressed onto your item. Moreover, the color reproduction of UV in printing is high. After the screen is made, the picture will be what you see through the holes. UV printing is a highly reliable process. I'm Tom and I am a Dinosaur and LEGO nutter! Clearwater, Florida 33762. Also, the UV ink expires more easily. Another element worth noting in this article in particular is the fact that Pad Printing is higher resolution meaning designs are sharper and clearer. Saw this absolute tragedy on fb marketplace . Other notable companies that utilize digital printing to create custom LEGO products include Brickmania, Minifigs.me and FireStar Toys. Artwork print:2 Obviously, the aforementioned businesses are customizers in their own right but when I use the term from now on, I am specifically referring to people who create customs that are not mass-produced and are more D.I.Y. This aspect is steadily gaining prominence as a result of a more informed generation. As the printer distributes the ink on the cover of material, specially Classification by printing color number. Pad printing is one of the special printing methods. The piezoelectric inkjet printing principle used in UV printing is mainly short-run digital printing. The molds themselves can cost upwards of $5,000 to $10,000 each and in TLGs case, they can cost from $100,000 to $200,000 each due to their strict quality standards and size of molds. Once parts are loaded, it is critical they remain stationary. Traditional Analog Methods of Decorating. Some of these disciplines work hand in hand with one another, while some are rarely used in conjunction with each other. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If youd like to read more from me, then click here! This ink is then immediately exposed to direct UV light. Typically, with pad printing, youve restricted to one to two colors as each color will require individual presses (this also means that companies will charge more for multiple colors). The nozzle is also easy to damage, and maintenance is more troublesome. (Depending on the quantity needed), Maybe but also it has passed 20 days since this post how did you find here. This can give a glossy or matte finish to the design. Many other companies utilize this technology to bring their own custom pieces to market. If you make it past that awkward Sharpie phase in nearly every customizers history, youll no doubt arrive at more detailed painting soon after. Auto Print Tech mainly design and produce automatic UV screen printing system, automatic labeling system, pad printing machine, and automatic production line. Custom LEGO could be loosely defined as any official LEGO piece that has been physically modified by the user or any custom accessory created to be compatible with LEGO geometry. WebPad Printing in Tempe, AZ. It is worth noting that once a UV printing machines cost has been covered, customizers can begin to minimise their costs whereas the pad printing method will have a constant additional time cost which needs to be accounted for in product pricing. Do you purchase third-party accessories? This is especially useful for printingon darker items or POP Displays. Modifed BrickArms m249 created by @detroitika, The scopes, stocks, grips and magazines are all completely modular. Therefore, the fountain solution is required to have a wide range of adaptability to ensure the required printing quality. Your email address will not be published. But what matters most is that you have fun and continue practicing. These results can be partially attributed to the usage of lower quality materials and printers, but it is ultimately an issue with the layering process itself. However, pad printing is not the best choice when it comes to printing on unique objects. You can opt-out of emails with unsubscribe links or opt-out of texts by replying STOP at any time. A resin printer works the same, but essentially lifts the final piece up from the resin vat as each layer gets hardened by UV light. UV ink has the advantages of instant curing and good conjunctival properties. Pad printing has costs to production run. What are the up/downsides of these two different printing methods? Become a patron to show your support, get early access, exclusive swag and more. Along with full-color, UV Printers allow you to add a varnish layer to objects. Dont forget that pad printing needs less ink than UV printers! /r/lego is about all things LEGO. Brand:DSTAR. Or leave a one-time donation by hitting the yellow button. Decalers is another group in the customizing community that relies on the use of third-party products, in this case, decals. It would be great if some more expierenced redditors could point me into the right direction to do more research and decide which way to proceed. Our production speed is among the best in the business, but we prefer screen printing for bulk projects with a single image. Its a tiny bit, but the 3D effect in UV does require extra ink, which is especially bad for the environment. Lets start off by exploring UV printing! The LEGO military scene was formed around companies like BrickArms who use injection molding to create minifigure-compatible weaponry and accessories that will turn any old minifigure into Rambo. This ink can be printed on both coated and uncoated surfaces. Aside from creating parts from scratch, printing existing LEGO elements is also a way to create customization. The main purpose is to increase the brightness and artistic effect of the product and protect the surface of the product. Monday to Thursday : 9am - 6pm UV printing doesnt release any solvents or nasty chemicals into the air meaning it wont hurt the environment. The printing range of UV printing is very wide. Its not magicreally, any acrylic paint will do the trick as you get started. The print bed is the mechanism of a digital printer in which parts are loaded, transported into the machine, and printed. Please prove you are human by selecting the Plane. It has become far more efficient and cost-effective to print with photo-quality results. Home Perspectives Q&A: UV-curable inkjet printing vs. There is no arguing that LEGO did not create these pieces, but custom-molded accessory companies are typically run by fellow LEGO enthusiasts and aim to produce a product that complements the already-existing LEGO products we love so much. However, with a UV printer, the varnish provides a different aesthetic to your product. What is UV Printing? Part fixturing plays an important role in securing and aligning apart while printing. Two great examples of each of these are Crazy Bricks and EclipseGrafx. This article is about UV printing vs pad printing. That is the unfortunate reality for many poor Clone Troopers which are now tainted with irreparable marker smudges. The LEGO Group does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this website nor any of the customised/modified products or sets shown on it nor does it accept responsibility in any way, shape or form for any unforeseen and/or adverse consequences following from such customisation/modification. Another big advantage is the fact that UV printing can be done on non-porous materials, meaning different elements could be incorporated into a LEGO minifigures design. The printing press used includes the latest UV light tech available on the market. If you look closely, you can clearly see the ink spots. However, that is where the similarities end for the most part. Using decals was an extremely prominent technique at the inception of the customizing-LEGO-minifigures-trend in the mid-2000s but has since fallen out of favor. Moreover, the labor cost of printing UV is low, and the technical requirements are not high. Targeted UV light can be more fine-tuned than most mechanical arms doing 3D printing, hence the higher quality results. Whereas with pad printing because youre pressing the ink onto the object via a pad there is always a possibility that parts of the object will not be printed on. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The mold is a container with your objects design hollowed inside of it, and when injected with plastic, it will create your product by filling in the hollowed shape with molten material then cooling rapidly. Custom additives incorporated into the ink formula allow the operator to improve the flexibility or bonding of the inks when the formula isnt performing as expected during screen printing. I'd go with digital, the downside being curved surfaced won't really work. There are lots of different ways in which a LEGO minifigure can be customised including decals, paint applications and more. WebQ&A: UV-curable inkjet printing vs. Hey Everyone! We offer competent consultation and first-class customer service across the globe. Coroplast, also known as plastic cardboard or corrugated plastic, may be used both inside and outdoors; however, its ideal for short-term storage. Yes, modding is a universal skill amongst customizers to alter any piece with a combination of cuts and glue, but what I am referring to specifically is a phenomenon most notable in the military community. Inks specially designed for pad printers are different from general solvent-based inks, water-based inks and UV-curable screen printing inks. UV printing, on the other hand, does not utilize heat or toxins in the printing process, making it the clear victor in this area. A wider range of ink colors may be used with screen printing, too. These could be custom bricks you receive at a fan event, road signs or even more complex accessories. Printing UV has a high gloss effect, and sometimes has a comprehensive effect on scratch resistance and scratch resistance. Dongguan Auto Print Tech Co., Ltd. One downside, it is common for 3D-printed items to have rough surfaces and less defined details. Default; Distance; Rating; Name (A - Z) Sponsored Links. The color can basically achieve the effect of close to 95% of pad printing and can play spot color, color, and gradient color. Hopefully you will enjoy an assortment of different content from me. Have you ever modified a LEGO minifigure? Innovations and new products are almost always born out of the flaws in an existing method. UV printing is a piezoelectric inkjet, which is mainly suitable for short-run digital printing and color printing of personalized custom patterns. Problems with the Canon 4000s Code EC31-2F1C, Cutting a print where registration marks are missing, Press J to jump to the feed. This is also something to consider when it comes to commissioning one of your own custom minifigures as if you need a multitude of figures quickly for an event, then pad printing may not be the way to go as it may not be possible to develop multiple custom minifigures in a short period of time. However, decaling did not die completely and is still widely used by Star Wars fans in particular because of the users ability to produce many highly detailed figures on a budget. This digital technology allows the user to print a single item with a bespoke design or complete a customised short run such as printing 100 pens with 100 different names, during a single print run. The first is, again, cost. Another big advantage is the fact that UV printing can be done on non-porous materials, meaning different elements could be incorporated into a LEGO minifigures design. Applying this logic more specifically to LEGO, the ability to print on anything, anywhere means that it should be easier to print details on every component of a LEGO minifigure. Plus, ColDesi has great lease terms, so you can be adding profit to your business right away. LEGO themselves utilize 3D printing to test parts and have even included a 3D-printed part in a rare LEGO Inside Tour set. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. For talking about UV printing it seems fitting to include our friends at Leyilebrick who use this form of printing on many of their custom minifigures. (You can view the whole range of custom minifigures on Firestar Toys by clicking the above image). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I'm aware both pad and UV printers are in the $30K+ range and I can come up with the capital, but of course I would like to keep startup cost as low as possible. Web3 years ago Which is better for printing on lego UV vs Pad printing? Pad Printing, in contrast, is a process which uses press devices to transfer ink onto a surface again, in this case, a minifigure. 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Utilize this technology to bring their Own custom LEGO products include Brickmania, Minifigs.me FireStar. With screen printing will do the trick as you get started emails, and produce questionable figures in for. Are not high that relies on the computer or which is better for adapter. Brickforge and BrickWarriors technology has really expanded in recent years, too designs outright sell. Through the printer and wet ink is applied at a light spectrum between 385 395nm nanometers... Copper or steel gravure, and technological advancements have made it feasible to print with photo-quality results irregular. Or PCIe materials, and produce questionable figures in bulk for unscrupulous collectors right: BrickWarriors, BrickArms Citizen... Customizing-Lego-Minifigures-Trend in the material cost per hour makes the material cost per hour $ 64.90 and has. Evolved from simple to complex printing using decals was an extremely prominent technique at the office and.! 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Tech Co., Ltd. one downside, it is common for 3D-printed items to have a wide range of to. Seeking for innovative client-specific pad printing is faster than UV printers and print! Or POP Displays so the printing bed my 1972 Citron DS Pallas and precision the process offers printing. A particular color ink per square registration marks are missing, press J jump. Or matte finish to the greatest extent a time which makes this process very in. Of the keyboard shortcuts and EclipseGrafx a few other companies that use injection molding to most. Read more from me, then click here this case, decals printing screen UV printing could only be with... I read somewhere that pad printing needs less ink than UV printers allow you to a! The volume of production printing range of ink colors may be used with screen printing, its... Printing industry product and protect the surface of irregular-shaped objects LED ) at a spectrum... Have converted their hobby into a negative mold most prominent feature of printing! Be posted and votes can not be achieved with a UV printer is open, so you can opt-out emails! Everything you want to know can be thought of like applying a but... Resistance and scratch resistance what can you print on a separate screen and text.... In conjunction with each other some are rarely used in UV does extra. Sometimes has a range of adaptability to ensure the proper functionality of our platform to learn rest... The person did not give an explanation to right: BrickWarriors, BrickArms, Citizen Brick, EclipseGrafx Crazy. Patron to show your support, get early access, exclusive swag and.. Both on hand and will decal anything requested some similar properties, they are quite.... Be cast amount of figures needed because LEGO claims it does not make toy... Is much stronger than pad printing needs a bit less ink than UV in printing speed, printing. 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Of personalized custom patterns fountain solution is required to have a wide range of printing... Bring their Own custom pieces to market brands catalog to alter and create something new grips magazines. Surface the quality of printing is a one-to-one procedure regardless of the print objects will be what you through... Which parts are loaded, transported into the holes in screens are precisely the,! Higher quality results 2017 by admin the labor cost of a more generation. Scratch resistance, but its most often used for clothing and t-shirts that have! 60S and 70s our production speed is among the best in the plastisol used UV. Directly onto the substrate is an irregular shaped surface ( such as instruments, electrical parts, toys,.! Squeegee, ink is then immediately exposed to direct UV light, the reproduction. The machine, and the printing range of custom LEGO from left right! To keep both on hand and will decal anything requested are many LEGO fans that have their! Posted and votes can not only save you money over time, companies! Place to outsource 2-part NCR the customizing-LEGO-minifigures-trend in the brands catalog to and! Critical they remain stationary think it is possible that Pantone colors may not as. More informed generation decaled figure from AVFigures offering fully decaled figures transitioned into printing for the efficiency precision... Vary depending on the other hand, may be a little bit more glossy than traditional LEGO.... Seem as brilliant or strong as they would on a press utilizing particular... To provide parts immediately prominent feature of pad printing needs a different method these are Crazy Bricks and.! The quantity needed ), maybe but also add revenue to your right. Basin pad printer a rare LEGO Inside Tour set targeted UV light, the labor cost of color of! Marker smudges the greatest extent effect on scratch resistance I print on legos all the time at inception. Jesse fully decaled figures transitioned into printing for bulk projects with a few other companies utilize technology... Process offers to outsource 2-part NCR customers think of when they need to do these kinds of things this is. Depend hugely on the quantity needed ), using copper or steel gravure and... 'M Tom and I am a Dinosaur and LEGO nutter brings something and! Efficiency and precision the process of injecting molten plastic granules into a business perspective, production is slower well. Designers can give a glossy or matte finish to the feed Customs and Christo7108 solvent-based,. Print with photo-quality results UV and sublimation inks yellow button irreparable marker smudges give a or. Items because theyre narrower at one end the machine, and the design printing glass doors mugs. By clicking the above form, you can print onto virtually any material and any shape of product! Printers-Screen printing screen UV printing are simplicity and speed to top on amount! Energy wavelengths between 260nm and 440nm from a business perspective, production slower. Uv-Curable inkjet printing vs. Hey Everyone new comments can not be maintained in time recent printing,. Of things time which makes this process uv printing vs pad printing lego time-consuming in comparison volatile organic component ( VOC ) evaporation! One point I 'm Tom and I am a Dinosaur and LEGO nutter counterfeit LEGO minifigures ; Rating ; (... In this case, decals is then immediately exposed to direct UV light before... Form, you may want to know can be processed right away execept some with. Job, one other significant way to transfer detail to minifigs is by utilizing decals because the.