• Ulrich
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    34 days ago

    Is “UV printer” different from “resin printer”?

    • @WhiteRice@lemmy.ml
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      34 days ago

      Resin printers build 3d objects using 2d layers. UV printers can apply 2D layers to 3d objects. Imagine a permanent phone skin. The objects can have some curvature. I’ve seems some pretty neat designs applied to retro handheld gaming systems.

    • alleycat
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      4 days ago

      Yes. It prints similar to an inkjet printer, but the inks are UV-curable. UV inks don’t need a special medium like coated inkjet paper, they stick to any surface. You can also layer multiple coats on top of each other to create reliefs (like resin printing, but with colours)

      • Ulrich
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        24 days ago

        So it’s a like a 2D printer but with like 3mm of height? What’s the “ink” made of?

        • @alleycat@lemmy.world
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          74 days ago

          Well, kind of. Its main use is to customize existing stuff, like printing pictures on a phone case, custom key caps, and such. I don’t know what the ink is made of - I’m guessing a UV curable binder and pigments? Or liquid gold, judging from the price…

      • Ulrich
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        4 days ago

        I did look at it. Still not sure what it is. It’s just a bunch of marketing nonsense, as per usual.

        • @CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee
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          4 days ago

          It can print on any surface so you could throw a mug in there and print on the side of it apparently. 3D printers require a flat bed to print an object on. It sounds like the mechanics are similar to a resin printer but with the ability to print on top of an existing object.

          • OfCourseNot
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            04 days ago

            Not at all like a resin printer. Imagine a hybrid: the top part is an inkjet printer with a printhead that goes side-to-side shooting ink but instead of paper sliding under it there’s a flatbed not unlike the one in a filament 3D printer. The ink is cured by a uv lamp (or more than one, but I suspect this printer has only one and very small and weak since the smaller lamp I work with costs more than this hole printer) usually fixed to the side of the printhead ‘carriage’.