EFI Rastek T660 is the new name for the Raster Graphics Daytona T600

EFI bought Raster Printers during 2008 and so some of the brand and model names have changed. EFI Rastek T660 is new designation for what started as the Raster Printers Daytona T600uv dedicated flatbed wide format inkjet printer.

But all the printhead models are being changed, since MEMS printheads do not hold up

Through not fault of Rastek, Inktec, L&P or any other printer manufacturer who started with the impressive Spectra M-Class printheads, all these printers now have to switch to a new head. This switch requires about 4 to 6 months of additional work on new electronics, ink feeding system, etc. This is why the Rastek T660 will not be delivered until late Spring or early Summer 2009.

In late November 2009, FLAAR visited RGB Digital Wide Color, a sign shop in Korea that recently acquired an EFI Rastek T660 UV flatbed printer (shown in picture) and a VUTEk QS3200.This small flatbed was being used to print street address signage. At FESPA '09 this model was producing beautiful colors.

Daytona T1000uv is now exhibited at SGIA

Now that Raster Printers is part of EFI they have a new name, Rastek or Rastech or Rastec. Problem is that all these corporate names already exist elsewhere, so I am unsure what to call the new Daytona T1000uv printer?

Rastek Daytona T1000uv

Rastech Daytona T1000uv

Rastec Daytona T1000uv

First version of the Raster Printers Daytona T600uv experiments with LED curing

The Raster Printers Daytona T600uv was one of many new UV printers by various manufacturers shown at ISA trade show, 2007. The Daytona T600 uses Spectra M class heads, which are MEMS technology printheads.

The original version used one set of LED UV lamps. Other than the Inca Spyder 150 and the Luscher JetPrint , this was one of the few UV-curable flatbed printers in the world to use LED lights at this date. So far, in that year (2007), not many other companies have been successful.

But then we spoke with another company that had both LED lights and a special UV-curable ink whose chemistry was tuned specifically for these LED lights. FLAAR inspected their headquarters in Novosibirsk, Russia. There was a two-day program on UV printers here with lectures by FLAAR both days. By late 2007 this company had a second-generation printer NEO UV-LED Evolution . Their current LED version was exhibited at DRUPA 2008.

Nicholas Hellmuth inspecting some samples printed by Raster Printer Daytona T600uv at DRUPA 2008.

The Raster Printers dedicated flatbed: Daytona T600uv at DRUPA 2008.

But after several months of trials, Raster Printers decided to drop the experiment of using an LED light, and returned to using two conventional mercury arc UV lamps. Mercury arc UV curing lamps facilitates a better cure and faster printing speed. This leaves the Inca Spyder 15, the Russian Sun Neo LED UV as the only two printers using LED lamps in 2007 that actually can accomplish curing. The Luscher JetPrint has not been successful, but for other reasons than using LED curing lamps (despite being Swiss technology and a printer that costs over half a million dollars). The Mimaki UJC-60uv hybrid was exhibited at DRUPA 2008 and Shanghai 2008 with LED lamps, but they were not yet curing the ink (the ink was still tacky to the touch).

Although LED lamps for UV printers offer less heat and thus are beneficial for printing on thin materials, it will take more advances in UV-curing ink chemistry before LED lights are used more often. But by the time of SGIA '08 and ISA ‘09 you can expect several more UV printers using LED lamps. So clearly this is a UV lamp technology to learn about. Indeed at DRUPA 2008, Mimaki, KonicaMinolta, and Sun LLC were all displaying wide-format UV hybrid printers with LED curing lamps.

Raster Printers Daytona T600uv

Daytona T600UV (EFI Rastek T660) flatbed printer

The Raster Printers Daytona T600uv is a dedicated flatbed, 4x5' in size, and not made in China; it is entirely made in the USA. I visited the factory (ISI in Alabama) during summer 2008 so the new FLAAR Report is already finished. The printer is available direct or from Global Imaging (Global Imaging Inc. is also the primary distributor for Zund G3 cutters in the US. Their web site is Globalimaginginc.com).

Photo taken during inspection of the Raster Printers T600UV at the ISI factory, summer 2008.

If you compare other entry-level printers, you will find the others lack white ink and lack variable-droplet precision printheads. The T 660 UV has white ink and can print 4 pt type easily. The quality of the output of this printer beats most other entry-level printers (and even is better that some flatbed printers with Toshiba Tec printheads and costing $140,000).

At SGIA '08 and ISA ‘09 the Raster Printers will again be in the EFI booth under the new brand name EFI Rastek (as it was at DRUPA 2008).

The EFI Rastek T660 printer was exhibited at ISA trade show 2009.

Samples printed by the EFI Rastek T660 printer, ISA 2009.

EFI Rastek T660 applications, ISA trade show 2009.

 

Most recently updated January 12, 2009.

First posted March 9, 2007. Updated April 11, 2007, April 16, 2007, July 20, 2007. Updated June 18, 2008, after DRUPA. Updated Aug 2008, Oct 14, 2008.