The Roland IU 1000F comes with Print Control which allows for the RIP of image files and print scheduling of various jobs
Graphics on demand
The boundaries of what print-service-providers can apply colour to is getting increasingly wider. This is driven equally by the client or market and from manufacturers who continue to develop equipment to levels one could only have dreamed about ten, or even five years ago.
Whether it is to produce a sign or banner for an exhibition or show, a large-format billboard, or to colour a rather dull cupboard front with an image or information, Roland can help.
The company now has available the IU 1000F flatbed UV printer which can cope with the aforementioned applications and much, much more.
At the heart of the printer is a twelve head Piezo-electric UV inkjet printing head, coupled with now the almost standard LED UV drying system. Given where we are heading with regards to energy, the fact the printed sheet is drying within seconds of being printed with the minimum amount of power needed, will make this printer an attractive option.
Staggered means staggering
The IU 1000F has twelve individual print heads which are arranged in four banks of three inkjet heads. The inner pair of three heads is reserved for the process colours, CMYK. Depending on how they are configured, the outer pairs of heads can be used to deploy a double white (which would be six heads), or you can arrange the ink deployment having one set of three heads dedicated to white ink with the remaining three heads used for a combination of primer and gloss.
The IU 1000F has twelve individual print heads which are arranged in four banks of three inkjet heads
The reasoning behind this layout is to give far greater flexibility and gives users the ability to print onto media from glass to wood and virtually everything in between. The head layout with gloss and primer can give the ability to use different substrates. Should high speed be needed on a more common substrate, then the additional channel of white ink gives the increase in productivity sought.
In addition to the various head layouts available, the Roland IU 1000F is able to adjust the droplet size from five to 15 pico-litres. This is obviously controlled via the software of the machine, but this combination of variable droplet size and ink dispersion means you can balance economics over costs. Customers can get deep coloured high resolution images at a very reasonable cost.
This combination of variable droplet size and ink dispersion means you can balance economics over costs”
The inks all come in one litre bottles with the exception of the white which comes in a 900cc size. In addition to the colour, due to the nature of the products printed, the Roland IU 1000F uses inks with the GREENGUARD Gold-certificated standard.
The UL GREENGUARD certification is part of UL Environment’s ecological compliance programme. UL Environment is part of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and acquired GREENGUARD in 2011 which provides purchasers with assurances that the products being supplied will comply with the highest of ecological standards.
By applying to hold the GREENGUARD certification, suppliers to end users can ensure they can back up claims that the products they have supplied will make a minimal impact to the environment and reduce the impact on us.
To satisfy the GREENGUARD gold standard, the inks supplied must meet the stringent emissions standards based on established chemical exposure criteria. Specifically the UV inks meet the UL2818 standard which is for low chemical emissions for indoor products.
Handling the media
The ink and print heads are obviously only one part of the puzzle with the sheets and how they are held and processed being the other.
With regards to the Roland IU 1000F, the maximum print area is very large at 2,500 x 1,300mm. What is equally as impressive is the printer can be configured in four quite separate areas. Each of these sectors has a vacuum device to hold and retain the media meaning you can hold substrates as one sheet, or up to six individual sheets equally laid out on the table.
The flatbed printer can be configured in four quite separate areas with each section equipped with a vacuum device to hold and retain the media
When setting a sheet to the table, you have a set of pins which pop up out of the table to provide a reference point for the sheet or sheets. Once clamped to the table by the vacuum, the pins are retracted prior to printing. Whether you are locating one or more sheets, the machine can use these specific points to locate the sheet for the origin of the image to be printed on it.
By using the software bundled with the printer, you can RIP the image you want, selecting a quality setting desired and then it can be laid onto the sheet on the screen. Should you want multiple step and repeats of the image on one or more sheets, you can just select that function in the software and it will prepare the sheets ready for printing.
Just prior to printing, the Roland IU 1000F has a device that can select the correct placement of the head by the use of an internal substrate thickness device.
Just prior to printing, the Roland IU 1000F has a device that can select the correct placement of the head by the use of an internal substrate thickness device”
Placing the head over the desired media which has been secured to the table, a small pin touches the substrate but then automatically lowers the head to the correct height. This is particularly necessary as the printer is capable of adapting to substrates up to 110mm in thickness.
Considering options
The Roland IU 1000F comes bundled with Print Control which allows for the RIP of the image file and the composition and print scheduling of various jobs. Should you need to upgrade the controller, the printer can be selected with the Ergosoft Roland Special Plus device, expanding the options and flexibility of the machine.
When you consider the order book you have from clients or orders your sales team is out trying to attract, the Roland IU 1000F UV inkjet printer can be a solution to problems and a sales magnet for others.
Brian Sims Principal Consultant, Metis Print Consultancy, www.metis-uk.eu
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