Printing on hard surface tile?

[jeffterm]

I want to print on a hard piece of plastic, approximately 4" x 4" square. The material is also approximately 1/4" thick. Does anyone think I could modify an old inkjet printer to feed this through? The material obviously will not flex through the rollers as is but maybe if I remove enough of the case to just slide it in through the rear?....

I have both an old Canon 1000 & a Canon 3000 to disassemble...

Has anyone experimented on something like this? I though I remember reading about someone who did this to print directly onto CD's but can not find it anymore.

or does anyone know where I should be looking?

Thanks
jeff

[slp_prlzys]

try THIS.

I think you'd need a special ink, quick drying ones as media has
special coating for the ink to adhere.

[jeffterm]

Thanks - thats a good start. Now I'm off to destroy my old printer!! ;-)

I was also thinking I might have an ink "drying" problem - or I might have to adjust my material. This is still in the creation phase so I still have some flexability.

If anyone comes up with any great ideas, please let me know.

Jeff

[Ito-Brazil]

Hi there. EPSON created a new type of ink. Your Cannon printers are not prepared to use it, because they are not PIEZO. Cannon uses the BUBLE JET technologies, like HP. That´s because the Epson ones got blocked-up...

Better search for another print head...

See ya! Ito-Brazil.

[c-c-cncboy]

There's a new FlatJET from Roland DG that can print on anything up to 150mm thick (some models). It has a vacuum bed and they released new inks. I have seen the results on tile, MDF-board, fluted plastic sign sheet, plastic-faced cork mats etc.
Worth a look to get ideas, cuz you can't afford to buy one!
Regards, Terrence

[High Seas]

Suppose you considered heat transfer already? Print the image - then heat tx it to the object. Just need to watch the plastic melting... Jim