Falling somewhere between a 3D printer and the inkjet you use to churn out color photos, Anker’s eufyMake brand has announced what it’s calling the “industry’s first 3D-texture UV Printer designed for personal use.” The UV Printer E1 is closer in size to a 3D printer than an inkjet, but is designed to produce 2D images on various surfaces – such as paper or glass – with a subtle raised texture that can simulate the feel and appearance of materials like wood or even crocodile skin.
These types of printers are typically used in large printing and manufacturing facilities who have the budget and the room to operate what’s traditionally bulky and expensive hardware. For example, several years ago at CES, Casio demonstrated a $50,000 printer offering similar functionality. eufyMake is launching its UV Printer E1 later this month through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with a standard bundle priced at $1,899. But those willing to reserve one now with a $50 deposit can get the E1 discounted to $1,499.
As the name implies, UV printers use a specially formulated ink that cures and dries instantly when exposed to ultraviolet light after it’s been applied to a surface. The process typically produces prints that are more durable than other printing techniques, and it can be applied to multiple surfaces, not just paper. To create 3D textures, a thicker ink is laid down and cured first, in a process similar to 3D printing. eufyMake says the E1 can create textures as thick as five millimeters deep.
Supported materials include wood, metal, glass, leather, and acrylic which can be placed on a moving bed measuring around 13 inches by 16.5 inches in size. But using an optional rotation unit, the E1 can also directly print on rounded objects like mugs and water bottles, improving the accuracy of applications by eliminating the need to manually transfer designs.
For further ease of use, the E1 includes a self-cleaning system to prevent clogs from forming that could put the machine out of use. It also uses a combination of cameras and lasers to measure and determine the location of objects being directly printed on, such as smartphone cases.
The E1’s pricing will help make UV printing accessible to a wider variety of makers and smaller companies, but eufyMake hasn’t revealed the pricing of replacement ink cartridges, or how long they’ll last. The E1 uses a set of six UV inks including CMYK plus white and an ink that creates a glossy finish. They’re included with the UV printer as part of a bundle that eufyMake says is worth $299, but details on how many projects can be printed before cartridges run dry have not been revealed.
“We want the E1 to shift the UV printing experience away from factory walls, and into homes, studios, small businesses and art markets around the world,” says eufy general manager Frank Zhu. But depending on the price of those UV inks, the UV Printer E1 may end up only being affordable for those able to sell their creations.
