Custom HDPE Jigs: UV Printing

CNCROi.com offers a host of custom products and production techniques, in this case, we'll review Custom HDPE Jigs: UV Printing.

HDPE makes for wonderful jig material, it can be easily machined and is incredibly durable in a variety of settings!

See related blog post with more videos and photos at:
https://cncroi.com/custom-hdpe-jigs-u...

Jon from CNCROi.com explains the process of creating custom HDPE jigs for a UV printing project. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is a durable and versatile material often used for a range of applications, including cutting boards. However, for precision tasks like UV printing, Jon highlights the need for extremely flat surfaces, which is often a challenge with HDPE, as it tends to warp. This warping is particularly problematic for UV printing, where precise tolerance between the printer head and substrate is crucial. By machining the HDPE, Jon is able to flatten the material, eliminating the warping and ensuring that the jig meets the necessary specifications for high-quality printing.

The HDPE material starts as a ¾ inch thick sheet, but after machining, it loses about a third of its height. Jon mentions that this is due to the need to flatten the material perfectly, which is essential when working with UV printers that have strict tolerance requirements. Unlike traditional materials like MDF or acrylic, which may not be suitable for high-production environments, HDPE offers durability and stability. While acrylic was ruled out due to its lack of durability and MDF was unsuitable because it warps over time, HDPE provides the right combination of strength and resistance to deformation, making it the ideal choice for this project.

The project involves machining the HDPE with a CNC router, as lasers cannot be used due to the thickness of the material. The CNC router allows Jon to achieve precise cuts, and he also incorporates holes in the jig to prevent material from getting stuck during the printing process. These holes provide a simple way to remove any items that may get caught, ensuring smooth operation. The jig’s size is critical, as it needs to fit the specific items being printed on and maintain precise alignment in the machine, including the x, y, and z axes.

Jon also addresses the challenge of warping that can occur when working with thick plastics like HDPE. To mitigate this, the jig is manually held down during machining to prevent any distortion. Additionally, the back of the jig is scored to help maintain its flatness. The overall process involves flipping the jig back and forth, carefully machining both sides to ensure complete flatness. Despite the challenges, the result is a perfectly flat, durable jig ready for use in high-production UV printing.

At CNCROi.com, Jon and his team specialize in creating custom jigs from a variety of materials, including HDPE, acrylic, MDF, and even metal. The goal is to provide jigs that meet the precise needs of high-production environments, ensuring reliability and efficiency. Whether it’s for UV printing or other applications, CNCROi.com offers high-quality custom jigs that are built to last. If you're looking for custom jigs tailored to your needs, contact Jon at CNCROi.com for a solution that will be delivered right to your door.

We are a custom fabrication shop with lots of production equipment across CNC, power and manual for use on metal, wood, rubber, plastic and other materials.

CNCROi.com is a professional custom CNC shop with clients worldwide that can design, engrave, etch, mark, anneal and cut any material for any application in addition to custom design / build solutions.

If you want something CUSTOM by a passionate company that lives and breaths CUSTOM, you want CNCROi.com to make it for you!


Visit us at http://CNCROi.com for a free no-obligation quote.

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