Print on metal or tin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blake
  • Start date Start date
B

Blake

I am curious if a specialty printer exists that prints on small gauge
metal or tin? I have some digital artwork that I would like to place
on metal or tin and am curious if it is possible??

Thanks All!
 
Blake said:
I am curious if a specialty printer exists that prints on small gauge
metal or tin? I have some digital artwork that I would like to place
on metal or tin and am curious if it is possible??

Thanks All!
Click to expand...


You might want to consider a transfer method such as the Tee shirt transfers.
 
I've used Inkjet Decal paper and that seems to work ok but it isn't as good
as screen printing. The instructions suggest wetting the surface with a
dilute solution of PVA glue to help them stick, then spray with acrylic
varnish to protect.

I used Decal paper to add lettering to some electronic equipment. You can
just make out the lettering on some of these photos...

http://users.pandora.be/colin.watters/new_timer/new_timer_photos.htm

I've not tried this but... Some printers with a straight paper path will
print directly onto CD's with a special surface coating. If you put metal in
the CD tray the ink will probably come off on the rollers - however
sometimes it's possible to lift some or all of the rollers so they don't
pickup the wet ink. The ink will take a very long time to dry and may need
to be coated to prevent damage.
 
Blake said:
I am curious if a specialty printer exists that prints on small gauge
metal or tin? I have some digital artwork that I would like to place
on metal or tin and am curious if it is possible??
Click to expand...

There is a company in the States that produce a system for using a
Laser Printer to produce transfers that you fix to copper clad PCB,
they then use a modified laminator to make the transfer stick to the
board. This is then used as a quick way to produce small quantities
of PCB's. This whole setup would require that you have a lot of work
to do just to make it economic.
--

..
--
Cheers,
Jonathan Lowe
whatever at antispam dot net
No email address given because of spam.
Antispam trap in place
 
Blake said:
I am curious if a specialty printer exists that prints on small gauge
metal or tin?
Click to expand...

There are industrial printers that can do this, although the print quality
may not be good. They use a solvent-based ink that dries almost instantly.
The machines are complicated and expensive. Makers of these printers
include Domino Amjet and Videojet.
 
Back
Top