X-Press 500 Printer FAQs
What is the outdoor durability of the X-Press prints?
Graphics created using the X-Press printers are outdoor-durable for up to 2 years - 5 years with lamination. However, environment and application will determine the ultimate outdoor life span and may result in outdoor durability of greater or less than 2 years.
What materials are compatible with the X-Press flatbed printer?
The X-Press flatbed printer will print on almost any rigid substrate that you can think of! Up to 4" thick on the Flatbed and 2.25" on the Hybrid. The rigid material just has to meet the size limitations of the bed or belt drive. The following list of commonly used rigid materials is not all encompassing; you may have success with other materials not listed here: PVC, polystyrene, MDO/MDF, glass, polycarbonate, chipboard/cardboard, acrylic, corrugated plastic, cabinet-grade plywood, styrene, painted aluminum, sign foam.
What materials are compatible with the X-Press Hybrid printer?
Flexible materials must meet the size restriction of 126" wide and weight restriction of 200 lbs. and roll diameter of 10". Compatible materials include but are not limited to: non-grommeted banner, calendared vinyl, cast vinyl, mesh (lined), backlit vinyl, reflective vinyl, cling window film, textiles (canvas, flag), fabrics, paper.
What commercial applications do the X-Press printers support?
The X-Press printers can support a wider range of applications due to its UV curing inks. Just one ink set can produce flexible or rigid outdoor-durable graphics on all kinds of materials such as vinyls, textiles, paper, Dibond®, Alumalite™, glass and many others. There is no need to have different types of inks for rigid or flexible substrates. The list of applications is only limited by the designer's imagination! Typical jobs include window graphics, banners and mesh signs, flexible plastic-based outdoor signage, outdoor rigid signage, site signage, traffic signage, cardboard & display board graphics, double-sided printing, full-bleed printing, backlit signage, and much, much more!
How does UV curing compare to solvent technologies?
The pigment of solvent-based inks is suspended in a volatile solvent. When solvent-based inks are printed they erode the surface of the material to create a chemical bond between the ink and the substrate. During the curing process, the solvent evaporates, leaving the pigment behind. It is the solvent evaporating that produces the unpleasant and potentially harmful fumes during printing and post-curing. In addition, the waste solvent must be collected and disposed of properly. The X-Press UV inks are 100% solid-curing. Curing of these inks by the UV lamps produces no unpleasant odors and creates a strong mechanical bond that is extremely flexible and immediately usable. Another big advantage of UV ink is reduced head maintenance and failures compared to solvent systems. UV inks remain liquid until exposed to intense UV light. Less clogged nozzles means less downtime, less waste and more time printing saleable output.
What RIP vendors support the X-Press printers?
Currently the X-Press printers are compatible with the following RIP vendors: Onyx©, Caldera©.
