Computer Direct Plate Making Machine CTP's latest laser source violet laser introduction
We are a big printing company in Shenzhen China . We offer all book publications, hardcover book printing, papercover book printing, hardcover notebook, sprial book printing, saddle stiching book printing, booklet printing,packaging box, calendars, all kinds of PVC, product brochures, notes, Children's book, stickers, all kinds of special paper color printing products, game cardand so on.
For more information please visit
http://www.joyful-printing.com. ENG only
http://www.joyful-printing.net
http://www.joyful-printing.org
email: info@joyful-printing.net
Foreword:
The computer-to-plateetter was first exhibited at the 1995 Drupa International Printing Exhibition, so that Drupa 2000 is mature for commercial operation. The global printing market is welcoming this new technology with a high growth rate. The installed capacity in the global market has exceeded 6,500 units, although the Asian market started slightly later, there are more than 30 installed units in Hong Kong and China. However, there are also a large number of operators who, although interested in investing, are still looking at the evolution of technology to find the most suitable model for their own. The development of CTP machines is also changing with each passing day. In the past few years, there have been new models and new technologies, and many models have been eliminated. There are also internal drums and outer drums. There are also platform types for light sources. Wavelength lasers have been used on CTP, but the evolution to today seems to have been integrated into two camps, one is a silver salt plate system using visible light laser, and the other is a thermal plate system using infrared laser, two systems each There are advantages and disadvantages, supporters, and even debates on the internationally renowned Seybold, but it is hard to say which system will become mainstream in the future. For Agfa, the two systems are balanced to meet different customers. Demand.
For manufacturers of various systems, it seems that the manufacturers of thermal systems prevailed before Drupa 2000 was exhibited, but Drupa In 2000, a number of manufacturers introduced new models using violet lasers. It seems that the two camps are evenly matched. In view of this, Seybold’s senior correspondent in Europe, Mr. Kurt Wolf visited various suppliers and users to understand the development and characteristics of the violet laser, and explained why the violet laser can rise after Drupa and is favored by the market. This article refers to Mr. Mr. Wolf's research report, together with the product information in the hands of the company, introduces the readers to the characteristics of the violet laser.
The violet laser is not an argon laser (Violet≠Blue):
The first thing to clarify is that the violet laser is not an argon laser, and many people are misled into the violet laser that is the same as the argon laser more than a decade ago. But in fact, this is a completely different kind of laser technology. Argon laser is an early gas laser. It is bulky and requires a huge amount of energy to stimulate argon to produce a blue laser. The laser tube has a short life and high price. Early roller scanners used argon lasers. The violet laser uses the latest laser diodes, solid-state purple lasers, which consume very low energy, long life and stability. Therefore, the purple laser is not only an outdated technology, but the latest technology.
1. The origin and development of the violet laser:
As of September last year, only one supplier in the world supplied violet laser diodes. This is a Japanese company "Nichia". Nichia was founded in 1998. The original research and development concept is to develop infrared and red which are quite common in the market. The diode laser with a shorter wavelength of the laser diode is designed to further enhance the storage capacity of the optical disc. Nichia was the first to successfully develop a violet laser with a wavelength of 391-420 nm. Since the laser with a shorter wavelength has a smaller laser spot, it can be written in a storage medium of the same density with a better optical focusing lens. More information.
The table below shows the laser head wavelengths used in different disc formats, as well as the storage capacity:
Disc media
Laser type and wavelength
Storage capacity (single side)
CD, CD-R, CD-RW
780nm infrared diode laser
650 MB
Home DVD
640nm red light diode laser
4.7 GB
Professional DVR (Developing)
400nm violet laser diode
30 GB
Since the production and application of Nichia's violet laser diodes have not yet been fully popularized, the price of the diodes is still high, and it is not yet widely available to general household electrical appliances. However, this price is affordable compared to the CTP of industrial products, so the current purple The most popular application area for laser diodes is the CTP industry.
Nichia said that in the next five years, the price of violet laser diodes is expected to be reduced to acceptable levels for home appliances.
2. Advantages of violet laser
High-resolution
Due to the small laser spot produced by the short wavelength, it can provide higher resolution, also represents higher printing quality, and the output resolution can reach 250.l/inch
Small size and fast speed
Due to the small laser spot generated by the short wavelength, the reflective lens volume of the laser head can be reduced. The smaller laser head volume means that the rotation speed can be increased. With the high sensitivity silver salt plate, the laser head speed can be as high as every minute. 55,000 rpm, if converted to the circumference of the inner drum, the laser sweep speed is 5,078 Km/hr, which is equivalent to 4.26 times the speed of sound.
At such a fast speed, even a single laser beam can produce 22 full-page plates (1030x800mm/2400dpi) per hour, which is the highest-volume model on the market.
Bright yellow safety light can be used
Thanks to the use of a purple light source and the corresponding photographic material, it can be operated under a bright yellow safety light, close to the bright room, and more convenient to use.
Stable quality, further enhance the performance of the internal drum model
The laser diode source is stable and the laser spot is strong, which can produce high-quality dots and improve printing quality. Although the cost of the violet laser is still high, the total cost of the CTP is limited because the inner drum type uses only a single laser. However, the outer drum type is often limited because the rotation speed of the plate cylinder cannot be increased. The laser beam compensates for the speed defects, so the cost of replacing the new violet laser is relatively significant. Therefore, the current CTP on the market is only the first to adopt the violet laser.
Easy maintenance and quick replacement
Due to its small size and high modularity, the violet laser diode is easy to repair and replace, which can shorten the number of maintenance hours and increase the effective production hours.
3. The life of the violet laser
It is also often misunderstood that the life of the violet laser is short, but it is also misled by the argon laser. Because the working principle of the argon laser is that the laser tube is always bright when working, because it requires a large activation energy to stimulate the generation of argon. The laser, therefore, cannot control its on/off switch in a circuit-controlled mode. Instead, it uses a constant-light tube to control the laser point using the deflection of the lens. Therefore, the average life is only about 2.5 years, and the effective production time is also short.
However, the violet laser is completely different. Because it is a diode principle, it consumes very little energy. Therefore, when it is not working (starting but no exposure), the laser is not bright, and only the laser is bright when exposed, so the laser life can be effectively extended. At present, the life of the violet laser diode is about 3,000 hours to 1030. For example, the x 770 version, which produces 100 copies per day and 250 days a year, is equivalent to 3.5 years in 3,000 hours, which is very cost-effective in terms of return on investment and is not inferior to infrared diode lasers.
4. Application status of violet laser in CTP
At present, manufacturers using violet lasers for CTP platesetters include Agfa, Barco Graphics, Manufacturers such as Krause Biagosch and Purup-Eskofot are silver salt plates. The silver salt plates are available from Agfa and Mitsubishi Paper. The digital version, its high-resolution features can take advantage of the short wavelength of the violet laser, so the output resolution can reach 250 l/inch, plus the high sensitivity of the silver salt version, can be sensitive with only 2.5μ joules of energy, while the energy of 2.5μ joules is equivalent to 5mW produced by TuiOptics. (Haowa) 5% of the output power of the laser head, it can be seen that the current purple laser with silver salt version is a temporary choice, that is, the perfect match is not too much. (See the figure below)
5. Future development of violet laser
Due to the many advantages of the violet laser, many well-known home appliances and semiconductor manufacturers have been investing in research and development, such as Sony. Sharp, Sanyo, etc., more input means that the future products will be more diversified, more advantages will be developed, and the price will be reduced due to competition and popularity. According to the current development, the purple laser is taking off. Will never be eliminated in the short term. Currently in the CTP application, Nichia is also working hard to increase the energy of the laser. The goal is to produce 30mW (now 5WW) products for use in plates other than silver salt plates, such as the Photopolymer version, due to the upgrade. Six times the output energy, so there are still some technical difficulties.
6. Purple laser CTP is good or thermal Good CTP
When investing in CTP, operators actually consider a lot of factors. Thermal CTP systems are also constantly evolving. Because of their irreplaceable advantages, there are also customers in the market to meet different needs. So basically there isn't an absolutely best CTP system, and only the system that best suits your business environment. But because of the many advantages of the violet laser, this product is indeed available in Drupa When it was launched in 2000, it was accepted by the market and created an impressive sales volume. It is also hoped that the development of science and technology will continue to bring more benefits and business space to the printing industry.