UV-CTP plate system technology development trends

Foreword

UV-CTP technology refers to a method of computer-to-plate making on a conventional PS plate by using UV light or a UV laser, and is also referred to as CTcP technology at the earliest.

This technology eliminates the need for film output and has a low overall cost (because the use of conventional PS plates, common developers, and common platers, which consumes only half of digital thermal, digital violet lasers, or plate-free processing), and relatively low investment in equipment. , can be operated under the bright room (yellow safety lights), is conducive to environmental protection and other advantages. At present, the UV-CTP plate-making machine of PunshGraphix has been developed to the fifth generation, and the imaging quality and plate making speed have been significantly improved compared with the previous generations, and the running stability is good. According to Basysprint (acquired by PunshGraphix), a CTcP direct plate-making machine's general agent in China, sales personnel of Shanghai Saitu Printing Equipment Co., Ltd., the total installed capacity of UV-CTP platesetters in the world was 1,500 units in 2006.

With the increase of the light source power of the plate-making machine, the application of the new-generation DSI2 digital screening technology and the introduction of high-sensitivity plates by many world-renowned media manufacturers, the application of UV-CTP technology has been rapidly developed. At present, UV-CTP platesetters account for approximately 5% of the total global CTP platesetters (the number of 30,000 units at the end of 2006).

First, UV-CTP technology

1. Ultraviolet UV-CTP Technical Features

(1) The use of digital plate-making process, eliminating the need for output film and other links to reduce the loss of information transmission.

(2) Using square dots to increase resolution, compress output files, shorten RIP processing time and data transfer time, and increase plate-making efficiency.

(3) The plate making operation (yellow safety light) can be performed in the bright room.

(4) The use of conventional PS plates and kits, low prices, low overall cost.

(5) The laser head of the plate making machine has a long life (about 3000 hours), the price is relatively low (about 10,000 yuan), and the maintenance cost is low.

(6) Fully automatic, semi-automatic, and manual printing can be used.

2. The characteristics of violet laser UV-CTP technology

In recent years, with the introduction of 365nm and 375nm semiconductor UV lasers, the UV-CTP has brought a new light. UV-CTP systems using violet laser light sources will quickly dominate the market and achieve good economic benefits.

The future UV-CTP technology will present the following advantages:

(1) faster plate making;

(2) Higher accuracy;

(3) Better compatibility than traditional PS plates.

A comparison of the relative performance of the thermal CTP, violet CTP, and UV-CTP systems can be found in Table 1.

It can be predicted that along with the development of semiconductor UV laser technology and the high sensitivity of the plate, UV-CTP will be the product of the combination of violet laser CTP and UV-CTP.

Second, UV-CTP plate making equipment

UV-CTP platesetters can be classified into ultraviolet UV-CTP and UV laser UV-CTP depending on the light source used.

The former include the UV-Setter series platesetter from PunchGraphix, the parent company of BasysPrint, and the latter is the XPoseUV-Setter platemaking machine from Lüscher.

1. Ultraviolet UV-CTP platemaking machine

The earliest ultraviolet CTcP platesetter was Drupa 1995, and Purop-Eskofot, BasysPrint and Esko-Graphics launched the violet laser/laser platesetter prototypes. Especially after 2000, it was commercialized by BasysPrint, and four series of platesetters such as UV-Setter 5, 6, 7, and 11 were introduced, adding vitality to the CTP market and attracting investment from many small and medium-sized printing companies. In 2004, PunchGraphix acquired BasysPrint and renamed CTcP technology as UV-CTP technology. By 2006, there were at least 1,500 UV-CTP platesetters installed in the world and 70 in mainland China, mainly in Guangdong (Dongguan, Shenzhen), Zhejiang, Shanxi, and Northeast China.

In 2006 in China, Saito Technology Co., Ltd. cooperated with BasysPrint Corporation and became BasysPrint's CTcP product distributor in China. Saitu Co., Ltd. specializes in European digital prepress equipment and printing equipment. It is headquartered in Hong Kong and has branches in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing.

According to Mr. Lin from Sales Department of Shanghai Saitu Printing Equipment Co., Ltd., BasysPrint has sold more than 20 UV-CTP platesetters in mainland China in the second half of 2007.

The Lüscher Xpose series launched by Lüscher! UV laser UV-CTP plate making machine technical parameters are shown in Table 2 [1].

In recent years, Photonics and PowerTechnology have successively introduced 355nm, 365nm and 375nm UV laser diodes, and the laser power has been gradually enhanced. The requirements for plate material sensitivity have been reduced accordingly, bringing more room for the development of UV-CTP technology. . Among them, the power of the 375nm UV laser diode introduced by Nichia Chemical has reached 800mW, and the corresponding CTP users are already being developed. At the Shanghai All-In Print Exhibition in 2006, Swiss Lüscher company exhibited a new version of the XPoseUV-CTP platemaking machine, using a 405nm UV laser, and a plate making speed of 20 sheets/hour. Hong Kong Yongjingtang Company purchased this model during the exhibition. Platemaking machine.

2. UV laser UV-CTP platemaking machine

The development of UV laser technology has brought a new round of opportunities and opportunities for the promotion of UV-CTP. As of now Lüscher has launched Lüscher Xpose! 130UV, 160UV and 190UV models of UV laser UV-CTP platesetters began to be sold worldwide, and more than 20 units have been sold since April 2007. It adopts 405nm laser light source, which is close to that of conventional PS, and can be directly plated by PS plate.

3.UV-CTP platesetter development trend

The rapid development of UV-CTP platesetters is determined by their technological advancement. See Table 3 for the technical development of UV-CTP platesetters.

Third, UV-CTP plate imaging principle

1. BasysPrint's UV-Setter Platesetter Imaging Principle

BasysPrint's UV-Setter platesetter utilizes Texas Instruments (based in Dallas, Texas, a global semiconductor company and a world-class designer and provider of real-time digital processing solutions). Digital raster processing technology (DLP, DLP2), developed into digital screening imaging technology (DSI, DSI2), using a UV light source (high pressure mercury lamp, 350 ~ 420nm) directly exposure to the traditional PS version, making a printing plate for printing .

The core component of the platesetter is the microscope (DMD), which is a 4cm2 wafer with tens of thousands of supermicro lenses on it. Each AMD lens processes the image information from the RIP and then exposes it. The working principle is shown in Figure 1.

At present, with the application of DSI2 technology, the increase of light source power, the use of continuous scanning, and the improvement of plate material sensitivity, the plate-making speed of the UV-Setter plate-making machine is further increased, reaching 25-30 sheets/hour.

2. The imaging principle of the Xpose! series UV-CTP platesetter from Lüscher

The plate-making machine of this series adopts a 405nm UV laser light source and can expose the traditional PS plate to obtain high resolution. The platesetter is applied to frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, and hybrid screening modes, respectively, and the imaging speed is comparable to that of Xpose! The biggest advantage is that only laser heads can be replaced, and UV laser and thermal laser (830 nm) conversion can be realized.

Lüscher's Xpose! series UV-CTP platesetter is an improved version of its Xpose! Thermal Platesetter. It uses a unique laser set and inner drum design. The optical parts are close to the plate to ensure maximum transfer efficiency. And exposure accuracy. According to LarsJanneryd, Lüscher's vice president, Xpose130 UV platesetter can complete the exposure of 1000mm×700mm plate in 2min, with a production capacity of 20 sheets per hour. The Xpose160UV and 190UV platesetters use a two-plate exposure structure, which doubles the platemaking capability.