Mimaki expands portfolio with new large-scale 3D and roll-to-roll UJV100-160 inkjet printers

Mimaki 3DGD-1800 3D

The Mimaki 3DGD-1800 3D facilitates large-scale production up to three times faster than with conventional Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) type 3D printers and connects the company’s 2D printing expertise and 3D technology innovations.

Capable of producing objects up to 1.8 metres tall in just seven hours – with its assembly-based design allowing for the creation of even larger designs – the innovative 3D printing system boasts a number of clever time- and cost- saving features, including dual-head configuration to enable the simultaneous output of two structures.

The Mimaki 3DGD-1800 also facilitates the production of support-free hollowed structures, further streamlining production whilst allowing for increased portability and the possible addition of interior illuminations. The technology will open up a diverse range of potential applications, from signage, events and creative art through to interior design. Customers can utilise Mimaki’s extensive portfolio of 2D print solutions to cost-effectively decorate these applications, opening doors to a range of new products that combine creativity and innovation with Mimaki’s tried and tested vibrant, high-quality results.

Commercially available from April 1, 2020, the new Mimaki 3DGD-1800 is set to revolutionise the way in which large-sized objects are created, enabling a switch from costly and time-consuming conventional handcrafting methods which require significant expertise, to effortless, high-speed production utilising 3D data.

Whereas large objects have traditionally been produced by manually sculpting foam materials, Mimaki’s new 3D printing system transforms this process right through from concept to manufacture – meaning that designs can be visualised as a finished product just based on the 3D data, and then produced in various sizes from a single data set. Contrary to other 3D printing methods involving hot-melt lamination, the 3DGD-1800 employs Gel Dispensing Printing technology, extruding gel-type UV curable resin lineally and utilising LED UV light to instantly cure the resin, enabling lamination speeds of up to 350mm in height per hour.

 “We are very excited to be able to bring such a transformative product to market,” said Bert Benckhuysen, Senior Product Manager at Mimaki Europe. “With unprecedented modelling speeds and the possibility to create enormous objects even beyond the sizeable formation area, the 3DGD-1800 represents a real transformation in large-sized production. Combined with the superior quality that we have become known for here at Mimaki, the potential impact of this new 3D printer is tremendous – particularly for the sign and display market but also far beyond that. The opportunities are boundless.”

Mimaki UJV100-160

This latest addition to Mimaki’s extensive product portfolio is designed for high quality printing and maximum productivity. It features two newly developed printheads and the new DAS (Dot Adjustment System) feature that automates conventional dot placement (dot position and feeding correction) for maximum image quality, saving operators time and reducing manual errors.

Printing at a maximum of 23m2/h(1), the high-speed UJV100-160 also utilizes VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals)-free UV-curable ink for even greater productivity. Not only is this ink a more environmentally conscious choice for the production floor, it is cured instantly after printing, eliminating the drying time that water-based or solvent ink requires. Post-processing and sign application are therefore possible immediately after printing, reducing production time and enabling printers to deliver products to short deadlines. In addition, UV-curable ink supports a wide range of commercially available media, including PVC, tarpaulin and paper with no acceptance layer, PET film, and fabric, contributing to associated substrate cost efficiencies and an increased variety of application possibilities.

High value products such as two-layer print, in which white ink is used for transparent PET film, and varnish print using clear ink, can also be handled with the UJV100-160, further increasing the variety of creative applications achievable with this system.

Other features that ensure the UJV100-160 meets the same high-standards for print quality and reliability, which Mimaki’s solutions are known for, are the NCU (Nozzle Check Unit) for missing nozzle detection and auto cleaning and NRS (Nozzle Recovery System), a function that automatically replaces defective nozzles, if there is a problem left unsolved by the nozzle cleaning, to ensure uninterrupted printing and stable image quality. MAPS4 (Mimaki Advanced Pass System) prints pass boundaries in gradation to reduce banding, uneven color, and glossy streaks.

“Printers asking themselves how they can diversify their product offering or enter new markets with a wider variety of applications will find the answer to these questions is the UJV100-160,” said Ronald van den Broek, General Manager Sales EMEA, Mimaki Europe. “The applications achievable with this technology include posters, POP, soft signage, stickers, window decoration, to name a few, and the array of substrates this solution can handle does not compromise the quality of the printed output or the system’s high productivity. It’s truly a versatile solution that will enable users to grow their businesses and increase their profitability