What does it do?
Helix One is a direct-to-object full colour inkjet printer for parallel and tapered cylinders that is compact enough to fit on a desktop or be used in a shop kiosk. The case is styled with bright colours and curves to look more like an office appliance than an industrial machine.
It is made by the US-based Inkcups, which also makes pad printers and laser plate engravers for direct-to-object work. Its Helix range of direct-to-cylinder printers was first introduced in 2016; the name refers to the spiral line of print as the inkjet head advances along the rotating cylinder.
When was it launched and what markets is it aimed at?
The compact Helix One was launched in April this year and shown at Fespa Global Print Expo. It’s said to be particularly suited to drinks applications: bottles, cans and flasks.
“The compact size and price point make it well-suited to print shops aiming to target new markets with an entry-level yet efficient and high print quality solution,” says Bobby Grauf, managing director of Inkcups Europe.
“There was a clear desire for a more modular machine that could run independently as an entry-level printer, so the ability to scale up is very attractive to users. It is an ideal solution for businesses exploring new markets, with a lower investment than other direct-to-object solutions, minimal footprint, and full colour, productive, and quality print operations.”
How does it work?
Housed in an attractively styled casing, the lift-up front door includes a UV-filtered smoked glass window to show job progress. There’s a touchscreen control panel and buttons on the front panel below the door.
Inside the system uses an inkjet printhead on a travelling carriage that moves from side to side across the width of the print area. The colours are CMYK plus white and clear, with an optional primer as a seventh channel. Inkcups says its printheads use MEMS technology that’s new to its Helix range. “Early users have been amazed by the output quality and consistency of this head,” claims Grauf.
Underneath the head carriage is an automatic programmable tooling fixture and height adjustable rotation mechanism. This holds and supports the target parts (Inkcups also calls them ‘vessels’) and automatically tilts and rotates to optimise print quality and speed.
The parts must be fully cylindrical (ie not oblongs) and straight-sided, either as parallel-sided cylinders or conical sections (maximum taper is 7º). Cones are rotated at an angle so that the straight edge is always at a constant distance from the printhead.
Inkcups says that most competitors are belt-driven, but the Helix One has a precision linear servo/rail system with a linear encoder controlling the carriage motion and synchronising the inkjet head firing clock.
The LV series ink is UV-cured, with a segmented curing lamp that “minimises the carriage travel for a given image size,” says Grauf. It’s suited to substrates including powder coats, stainless steel and rigid plastics. Some materials work best with a primer that is available if you order an extra printhead.
Helix One is supplied with Onyx RIP software controlled from a separate PC. It accepts standard PDF or EPS files. Artwork can be set up in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. For conical sections you’d need to measure the object and set up the appropriate 2D shape for the wraparound.
As standard the Helix One is intended to fit on a desktop or similar surface, but there’s an optional standalone base with storage cabinet for ink and supplies. There’s also an optional ink mist extraction system, which sounds like a good idea around an office or shop.
How fast is it?
Throughput depends on the size of the items being printed, but Inkcups reckons that on average it can print one vessel per minute.
How easy is it to use?
“As an entry-level solution, the Helix One is user-friendly and intuitive,” says Grauf. “Training and support from Inkcups are provided to operators to maximise the machine’s productivity and fully benefit from the range of additional features.”
What UK support is on offer?
Inkcups is based in Danvers, Massachusetts, in the US but has a European office offering service support and consumables stock. “Our office in Freudenberg caters to all European countries,” says Grauf. “Equipped with a demonstration room, a well-stocked warehouse, and office facilities, our German office is presently undergoing expansion to enhance customer service capabilities. Additionally, we have service technicians worldwide, including one in the UK, ensuring the fastest turnaround time for our clients.”
What does it cost?
The complete system is about £60,000.
SPECIFICATIONS
Process UV inkjet direct-to-object
Resolution 600x1,200dpi
Colours CMYK plus white plus varnish (plus optional primer)
Part length 51-305mm
Part diameter 45-120mm
Max image length 220mm
Max taper angle 7°
Voltage 220V
Dimensions 1,227x825x950mm
Weight 295kg (including workbench)
Price About £60,000
Contact Inkcups Europe +49 2734 4782050 www.inkcups.com/europe
ALTERNATIVES
Mimaki Kebab Mk II
Kebab is an optional cylinder rotator using motorised rollers, that fits onto the bed of Mimaki’s UJF series of small-format inkjets, which are priced from £19,995. It can’t handle tapered items. Kebab Mk II is for the UJF-3042MkII family, while the longer Kebab Mk IIL is for the UJF-6042 MkIIe and UJF-7151 plus and plus II.
Colours CMYK plus white, clear and primer
Rotation 360°+ (unlimited)
Item lengths 30-300mm (Kebab Mk II); 30-600mm (Mk IIL)
Item diameters 10-110mm (parallel only)
Price From around £2,500 (on top of printer price)
Contact Hybrid Services 01270 501900 www.hybridservices.co.uk
Roland DG VersaObject LEF2 series
Roland DG’s LEF2 series of small flatbed UV inkjets can be fitted with an optional rotary axis jig to take cylindrical objects. This uses powered rollers to rotate the objects. The LEF2 series has formats of 508x330mm or 770x330mm and start at £21,995. Colours CMYK plus white, clear and primer (optional)
Rotation 360° (diameters between 10 -90mm) or 341° (diameters between 91-95mm)
Max item lengths 495mm (SC-RD-200), 755mm (SC-RD-300)
Item diameters 10-95mm
Price (on top of printer price) about £800 (SC-RD-200) to £1,000 (SC-RD-300)
Contact Roland DG UK 01275 335540 www.rolanddg.co.uk
