What is 2D UV printing?

2D UV printing is a type of digital printing that uses ultraviolet light to cure, or dry, the ink as it prints. Unlike traditional printing methods which use heat to dry the ink, UV printing uses ultraviolet light to instantly cure the ink allowing for faster printing times and a wider range of materials that can be printed on. UV printing is also known for producing sharp, vibrant images on the CMYK color spectrum with a high level of detail making it a popular choice for high-quality printing applications.

The Mimaki 2D UV printer Barracks Print Co currently has (UJF-3042 MkII EX) utilizes a rigid ink set best used for materials such as plastics, metals, glass, slate, marble, granite, and other varieties of non-flexibile surfaces with a maximum print area of 11" (W) x 16" (L) x 6" (H). Due to the nature of its rigidity, it also has the benefit of being the most durable ink set type with the highest degree of impact and scratch resistance. In its cured state, this ink is considered a non-toxic, environmentally friendly ink that doesn't contain solvents or other harmful chemicals.

What is 3D UV printing?

3D UV printing is a type of 3D printing that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to cure, or harden, the resin material as it prints. This process, also known as stereolithography, involves a 3D printer that uses a UV light source to selectively cure resin layer by layer, building up the object from the bottom up. The UV light is directed onto the resin by a moving platform, and the resin hardens where the light hits it. The current printer Barracks Print Co currently has is the 3DUJ-2207 with a maximum print area of 8" (W) x 8" (L) x 3" (H).

3D UV printing is often used for the creation of highly detailed and precise prototypes, as well as for small-scale production runs. One of the benefits of Mimaki's 3D UV printers specifically is that they allow for the creation of complex geometries and shapes using CMYK pixel infused resin technology that is difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. This makes 3D UV printing a popular choice for industries such as healthcare, dental, and jewelry, where precise and intricate objects are required and little to no post-processing, or post-print painting, is required.

These printers are also often popular within the tabletop gaming community to produce large armies for games such as Warhammer 40K, or figurines and map scenery for other types of gaming setups.