I. Introducing violet laser technology into platemaking
1, Japan Nichia
The Japanese company Nichia is the first supplier in the world to supply violet laser diodes. Nichia was founded in 1998. The original R&D concept was to develop diode lasers with shorter wavelengths than the infrared and red laser diodes that are already quite common on the market so as to further increase the storage capacity of the optical disks. Nichia was the first to successfully develop a violet laser with a wavelength of 391-420 mm. Since the shorter wavelength laser has a smaller laser spot, it can be written under the same density of storage media with a better optical focusing lens. Enter more information. Since Nichia's violet laser diodes have not yet been widely used in their production and use, their selling prices are still high, and they are still not widely available in general home appliances. However, this price is more affordable than the CTP of industrial products, so the current violet laser The most widely used field of diodes is the CTP industry. Nichia expects that in the next five years, the price of violet laser diodes can be reduced to an acceptable level for home appliances.
2, Heidelberg Extreme Series
Heidelberg also released the violet laser technology image-setter product, the Super Victory Series. This product is based on the well-known inner drum technology of Pusheng Laser Output Machine, and can provide models suitable for folio, four-open, and eight-open formats. With built-in punching system, small size, high output, fully meet the needs of the current printing environment. The WinSat series products can be controlled by the new metaDimensionnJP and workflow software. The birth of this series of platesetters, together with the award winning top winning series, indicates that Heidelberg now has the ability to provide CTP solutions for all market segments.
Extremely successful in the use of drum technology, through the purple laser photo plate. Therefore, it not only ensures excellent plate quality, but also has an attractive performance-cost ratio. Vibrant violet laser diode power is only 5mW, and the wavelength of 405nih can support resolutions of 2400dpi, 2540dpi and 3386dpi. In the imagesetter, up to four different punch systems can be individually adapted and built-in, ensuring the necessary prepress stage flexibility. The compact design is also one of the features of Extreme Victory, which makes it require only a small space. If a printing plate needs to be reloaded later in the platemaking process, even if the temperature has fluctuate, the built-in temperature compensation system ensures accurate registration. Another advantage of Super Victory is the ability to process photo sensitive plates under yellow light, which makes the working environment comparable to daylight conditions. Compared with the traditional darkroom operation, the working environment is significantly improved. The plate after photographing is compatible with most of the punching machines on the market. Zhisheng Phototypesetting Machine Series is one of the fastest CTP products on the market. Take the Extreme Win 52 as an example, it can process up to 20 plates per hour, with a web size from 370323 to 670525mm. Suitable for a range of presses from the Speedmaster 46 to the Speedmaster 52. In addition, it can be upgraded to an extremely successful 74 in the field without excessive cost. The Victory 74 has two speed standards: 16 plates per hour or 24 plates per hour. Speedmaster 46 to Speedmaster CD74, it supports a variety of format printing presses. As the top product of this imagesetter series, Super 102 can support various printing presses from GT052 to Speedmaster 102. Up to four types of built-in punching systems are available, which combine outstanding versatility with outstanding performance, handling 12 to 18 plates per hour, and can be upgraded to higher speed models in the future.
Modular Workflows for the Future In the printing industry, pressures on costs and time are increasing, making reliability, modularity, and versatility an increasingly important factor in seizing business opportunities in the competition. Today's products can no longer be just an isolated unit of equipment. Only when they are organically combined with other products in the business process, can they demonstrate their true value - establishing value-for-money solutions.
The metaDimensionn 2.5 is the latest version of Modular RIP in Heidelberg and is used for PostScdpt or PDF-based job flow software. Like all Heidelberg imagesetters, Gypsophila continues to evolve with the needs of users. It can perform trapping within Rip, basic page positioning and color management functions just like a pure RIP. However, in this new version, it can also be used in conjunction with Superttap and the new version of the Superttap workstation to form an open PDF solution for complete plate-making control including proofing. The Gypsophila is the foundation of Heidelberg's future work process strategy, and therefore it has incorporated the use of job tickets and JDF (Job Definition Format). Extremely successful can not only be controlled through the Starry Star 2.5, but also integrated into the work environment of Delta or Prinergy.
Second, the advantages of violet laser imaging
Violet laser imaging speed, high output, it improves the efficiency of computer-to-plate, and ensure the production of stable high-quality printing plate. The following is an example of Agfa's two platemakers, Galileo VS and VXT, to discuss the advantages of violet laser imaging.
1, imaging speed
Because the short wavelength produces a smaller laser spot, the volume of the reflective lens of the laser head can be reduced, and the smaller laser head volume means that the rotational speed can be increased. With the high-sensitivity silver salt plate, the laser head speed can be as high as 55,000 revolutions per minute. If converted to the circumference of the inner drum, the speed of the laser sweep is 5078 km/hr, which is equivalent to 4.26 times the speed of sound. At such a fast rate, even a single laser beam can produce 22 full-print plates per hour (1030800mm/2400dpi), which is the highest output on the market today.
Galileo VS and VXT use the first violet laser diode with a wavelength of 400 nanometers. Due to the shorter wavelength and the use of a smaller rotating mirror, the imaging speed is further increased. Smaller mirrors equate to higher rotational speeds, which produce imaging speeds that go beyond imagination. Galileo VS has a speed of 37,500 revolutions per minute, while Galileo VXT can reach as high as 55,000 revolutions per minute. At the same time, Galileo's famous IntelliTrackTM slide conveyor allows the entire imaging system to move in balance, ensuring extremely accurate imaging.
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