Tstern83 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Hey all, I'm just starting out with my first flatbed, based on an Epson R2880. At this point I'm putting together a BOM so I can order everything and start building once it is all here. One of the 1st things I've ordered (foolishly or not) is a 50W UV LED module, can't remember the wavelength at this moment but suited to what the ink supplier said it required. I also ordered a dimmable power supply. The basic concept for triggering which I thought about is using two optical switches at each end of the travel but then I came to realize that the printer does not always travel the full distance because I might print on a smaller area. An accelerator comes to mind, however this feels like an overkill. Perhaps there's some digital signal in the printer that I can tap into and using a simple MCU (or even with just logic components) trigger on & off? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 You just need some form of switch to turn it off when over the capping station. This could be a simple proximity switch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tstern83 Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 That's where the printer's head "spits out" ink at the end of the travel on the right side? BTW, also worth asking - how far from the printing surface does the LED mounts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Yes on the right where the head starts from. The light needs to turn off before it goes over there so that it doesn't cure the ink in the capping station. They need to go just above the height of the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tstern83 Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 Thanks! Can you please explain in a few words what am I seeing here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Thats the led's fitted in a cooling housing mounted to the side of the print head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 VID-20180927-WA0001.mp4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tstern83 Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 2 hours ago, reptilesink said: Thats the led's fitted in a cooling housing mounted to the side of the print head. I figured that much :) I've meant what is in the cooling box? is it a heatsink with fans? any electronics for temp. sensing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 (edited) In that one there is a heat sink and fan with an external dimmer control. Other versions of it have liquid cooling. Also a switching transistor can be used to connect to an arduino and use pwm dimming. Edited February 6, 2019 by reptilesink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tstern83 Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 OK got it! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister_X Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 @ Tstern83: Really very nice UV printing system!!!! Today i have received my Epson 1500W and i also plan to build UV light system because i want to print on objects, not on garment. Unfortunately there is not so much information available for UV light printing. Can you help me as a newbie with your experience to clarify some basic UV light questions??? 1. Where to get the UV light to be used in the printer? Any shop in EU/Germany? 2. Is it necessary to place the UV light in the printer beside the printing head or would it be also possible to use normal UV light (e.g. as used for nail polish) for curing outside of the printer. Is this mandatory to cure immediately inside the printer or just to increase the productivity speed? 3. Which UV ink and UV light can you recommend for Epson 1500W printer? 4. Is there also other non UV light based ink available which could be used to print on objects? Or is UV ink the best and only solution for this task? Many thanks in advance for your answers!! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcalp Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 On 2/6/2019 at 9:08 AM, reptilesink said: You just need some form of switch to turn it off when over the capping station. This could be a simple proximity switch. Is there any diagram or diy of how to do it ? i need one of those for my setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 The light needs to be mounted to the print head so it cures as printing. There are various types of inks such as eco solvent and latex. For eco solvent you will need tk replace a lot of parts on the printer or it will melt the plastics. Latex you need a heat source to cure it as it prints. For the on/off of the led light when over the capping station you can just use a momentary lever switch like used for the backstop, a laser, proximity sensor etc. You just need it to be triggered by the print head as it goes over the capping station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - Admin Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 You can use a switch and / or modify the arduino programming and use a relay to turn it on and off only during the printing sequence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcalp Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Hi there andy, My setup doesn´t incluide any arduino since is not a flatbed yet, but i would like to try. what else besiders de arduino board do i need ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Stepper motor, stepper controller, various switches, plus various materials to build the base and platen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcalp Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 Yeah, that i know.. but for now just the auto switch on/off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanrithy Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Hi, How would I wire this system to work with proximity sensor? As a noob at this I've searched around for a while but I seem no clue about this. Thanks in advanced! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - Admin Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 It's most likely the signal plug. Wire it to a limit switch or a proximity switch that the head is going to trigger. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanrithy Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Hi Andy! What proximity sensor should I use? - AC-NC Proximity Sensor 2-wire - DC-NC Proximity Sensor 2-wire Do I need to use relay to connect the sensor to the system's signal wire (black & red)? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilesink Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 You would need to find out the spec of the unit for if it needs an no or nc sensor and what voltage it operates with. I would expect it to be using dc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhim Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 22 hours ago, vanrithy said: How would I wire this system to work with proximity sensor? As a noob at this I've searched around for a while but I seem no clue about this. Thanks in advanced! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanrithy Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 16 hours ago, reptilesink said: You would need to find out the spec of the unit for if it needs an no or nc sensor and what voltage it operates with. I would expect it to be using dc. Hi Reptilesink, This is its spec. Power: 0-50W adjustable Voltage: DC22-24V Wavelength: 395-400NM, 365-370NM Use chip: South Korea LG imported South Korea LG imported chip Forward current Forward current: 0-2000mA Optical power: (395-400NM wavelength) 0-12000mW/cm, (395-400NM wavelength) 0-2500mW/cm. Recommended irradiation distance: 5-10mm Lamp head dimensions: 35.8 * 14.6 * 22.4 mm Radiator size: 230 * 186 * 123mm Packing size: 29.5 * 24 * 20.5cm Suitable for small size printers, Epson R1390, L1300, L1400, L1800 and other printers modified UV flatbed printers Use Epson XP600, TX800, DX5 print head It seem to use DC. I'll check whether it needs NO or NC sensor more. Thank you! 11 hours ago, uhim said: Hi Uhim, Thanks for your input! I just know that much! I wanna attach proximity sensor like this: So, do I just need to connect like Blue + Black & Brown + Red as normal or I need additional stuff(s) to make it works? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcalp Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 On 2/6/2019 at 11:18 AM, reptilesink said: VID-20180927-WA0001.mp4 where i can find those fittings you are using for the ink tank lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnson4 Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 On 2/6/2019 at 10:18 AM, reptilesink said: VID-20180927-WA0001.mp4 do you have a flatbed version and the paper fed version? Your LED/head Photo vs your video show both. If I find the time I'd like to try my hands at a paper fed version. Your ink system looks pretty serious, very good job on the build!! Have you previously shared what that system consists of for the ink system? That was my main caveat, the need to remove the oem ink system and not really knowing what to replace it with " properly". Anyway, not trying to bum your hard earned info, Just curious because that looks well thought out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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