Print on metal or tin

[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!

 

[Ray R]

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!

You might want to consider a transfer method such as the Tee shirt transfers.

 

[CWatters]

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.

 

[Model Flyer]

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??

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

 

[Steve Dunbar]

I am curious if a specialty printer exists that prints on small gauge
metal or tin?

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.