EufymakeUVprinting
EufyMake E1 UV Flatbed Printer
The EufyMake E1 is a desktop UV flatbed printer capable of printing directly onto rigid and semi-rigid objects — wood, acrylic, leather, metal, ceramic, phone cases, and more. Unlike inkjet or laser printing, UV printing cures ink instantly with an onboard UV light, producing durable, vibrant prints with no heat and no drying time.
GRM's E1 is available to members as a service — bring your file and your object, and staff can assist with setup and print settings.
Machine Overview
- Standard flatbed area: 13" × 16.5" (A3 size)
- Mini flatbed area: 13.2" × 3.54" (335 × 90 mm)
- Max material thickness: 60 mm (~2.36")
- Max embossed print height: 5 mm (for 3D textures)
- Max supported weight: 1.5 kg (3.31 lbs)
- Ink type: UV-curable CMYK + White
- White ink capability: Yes — enables printing on dark or transparent surfaces
- Print modes: Flat print, relief/embossed, white underbase
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Software: eufyMake app (desktop and mobile)
What It Can Print On
The E1 prints on most flat or gently curved hard surfaces, including:
- Wood and MDF
- Acrylic and PETG sheet
- Leather and leatherette
- Ceramic tile and mugs (flat surfaces only)
- Metal (anodized aluminum, powder-coated)
- Phone cases and similar plastics
- Paper and cardstock
- Painted or primed surfaces
Porous surfaces such as unfinished wood or raw MDF benefit from a light primer or sealer coat before printing for better ink adhesion and color vibrancy.
Accessories
- White ink cartridge — required for printing on dark or transparent materials; also used as a base layer for raised/textured prints
- CMYK ink set — standard color printing
- Height adjustment platform / risers — for positioning thinner objects at the correct focal distance
- Cleaning kit — printhead cleaning solution and wipes; regular maintenance prevents clogs
Print Modes
- Flat print — Standard full-color image printed directly onto the surface. Best for photos, logos, and detailed artwork.
- Relief / embossed print — Uses multiple passes of white ink to build up a raised texture before printing the color image on top. Creates a 3D tactile effect. Uses significantly more white ink than flat mode.
- White underbase — A layer of white ink is printed first, then color on top. Used on dark, transparent, or natural wood surfaces to make colors appear accurate and vivid.
Designing for the E1
File Requirements
- Format: PNG, JPG, PDF, or SVG depending on software version
- Resolution: 300 DPI minimum recommended for sharp output; 600 DPI for fine detail
- Color mode: RGB (the app handles color conversion)
- Canvas size: Set to match your actual object dimensions
Design Tips
- For printing on wood grain, use a white underbase layer — without it, the grain will show through and affect color accuracy.
- Leave a small margin from the edge of your object to avoid ink overflow or registration issues.
- For relief prints, high-contrast images with clear light/dark areas produce the best raised texture results.
- Dark backgrounds in your artwork will print as CMYK dark tones, not as "no ink" — use transparency in your file where you want no ink deposited.
Things to Be Aware Of
- White ink maintenance — White ink settles and can clog if the printer sits unused. Run a printhead cleaning cycle if the machine has not been used recently. Do not leave white ink idle for extended periods without running maintenance.
- Object flatness — The print head passes very close to the surface. Objects must be flat and stable — warped boards, uneven surfaces, or loose items can cause printhead strikes. Always confirm your object sits level before printing.
- Object thickness consistency — If printing on multiple objects in one run, they must all be the same height. Even small differences can affect focus and cause smearing.
- Ink adhesion varies by material — Some surfaces, especially smooth plastics and metals, may need a UV primer spray to ensure ink adheres properly and resists scratching.
- Ventilation — UV inks have mild fumes during curing. Ensure the space is reasonably ventilated during extended print runs.
Tips & Tricks
Save White Ink with a 3D-Printed Base
When creating raised or textured prints, white ink usage can be dramatically reduced by pre-building the raised structure with a 3D-printed base. Workflow shared by Cameron via the eufyMake community:
- Generate a 2.5D depth map of your image using an AI tool such as ChatGPT or Gemini.
- Example prompt: "Create me a 2.5D depth map of this image with a black background"
- Convert the depth map to a 3D model (STL) using an image-to-STL tool such as imagetostl.com
- 3D print the model — white filament preferred; can be printed flat or on edge with brim supports.
- Place the printed base on the E1 bed and print the original image on top using flat print mode.
By building the raised structure with filament first, you reduce the amount of white ink needed while still achieving a dimensional result. Especially useful for complex textured prints where white ink consumption would otherwise be high.
