Mainboard Development in Small UV Flatbed Printers

Mainboard Development in Small UV Flatbed Printers

As UV printing technology continues to advance rapidly, small-format UV flatbed printers have become the preferred choice for startups, workshops, and niche manufacturers. These compact machines offer flexibility, a  ffordability, and the ability to print on a wide range of materials—from acrylic panels to phone cases and more. At the heart of these printers lies the control mainboard, which has undergone a remarkable transformation in China—from early modified Epson boards to today’s high-speed, fiber-optic-driven intelligent systems.

Mainboard Upgrade: Evolution of Data Transmission Technology

Timeline of Mainboard Upgrades

1. The Early Stage: Modified Epson Boards with Encryption

In the early days of China’s UV flatbed printer market, most small-format machines relied on modified Epson inkjet printer boards, often extracted from consumer models like the Epson R1390, L800, and R2000. These retrofitted boards used hacked firmware or external circuits to simulate Epson’s printing protocols.

However, this stage was marked by limitations:

*Heavy reliance on firmware cracking, leading to system instability.

*Low printing precision, unsuitable for white ink or varnish layers.

*Encrypted boards, resulting in high maintenance costs and limited scalability.

This phase was dominated by imitation and dependency, with Chinese manufacturers relying heavily on foreign control systems. At that point, the market lacked a reliable UV printer factory capable of offering scalable and customizable mainboard solutions.

2. The Rise of Independence: USB2.0-Based Domestic Mainboards

Around 2015, several Chinese control board developers began to design and produce their own UV printer mainboards, ushering in a new era of independence. These new boards adopted USB2.0 communication protocols, offering improved data transfer and system compatibility.

Key features of this generation:

*Full compatibility with Chinese ink systems, including CMYK+W+V (varnish).

*Independent driver software, offering better UI and print control.

*Transition from parallel/serial ports to USB2.0, improving speed and stability.

*Support for popular printheads such as TX800, 4720, and i3200.

These developments helped standardize the production of entry-level models such as the A3 UV printer, a compact solution now widely used in desktop production environments, especially for phone case printer applications.

Domestic brands like Lianxun, Sangong, and Kucai began establishing themselves as trusted UV printer manufacturers, especially for startups seeking a reliable UV printer for small business use.

3. Technological Maturity: The Launch of Hanson 3.0 Mainboard

By 2020, the release of the Hanson 3.0 mainboard represented a major leap in stability, control, and scalability. It quickly became one of the most widely adopted control systems for high-end small-format UV printers, including best-selling models such as the 6090 UV printer.

Highlights of Hanson 3.0:

*Multi-head printing support (up to 6 heads), with high precision control.

*Advanced white ink circulation and auto-cleaning functions.

*Support for dual varnish channels, 3D texture, and relief printing.

*Standardized modular interfaces, improving maintainability.

Compared to earlier USB-based systems, Hanson 3.0 offered greater speed and grayscale accuracy, laying the technical foundation for more advanced UV flatbed printer applications, as well as hybrid solutions that integrate DTG printer and DTF printer functionalities.

4. A New Era Begins: N10 Mainboard with Dual Fiber-Optic Data Transmission (2023)

In 2023, China’s UV control board technology achieved a new milestone with the release of the N10 mainboard—the first in its class to feature dual optical fiber data transmission. This development was specifically aimed at maximizing performance in small-format UV printers used in high-volume production.

Breakthroughs of the N10:

*Dual fiber-optic channels with transmission rates up to 800 Mbps+.

*Significantly lower latency and higher stability, even for multi-layer jobs.

*Compatible with next-gen printheads such as the i1600 and TH5241.

Modular firmware with remote upgrade capability.

AI-enhanced imaging algorithms, supporting smoother gradients and surface texturing.

The N10 platform has redefined what’s possible for compact machines like the A3 UV printer, enabling use in both craft-level production and commercial-scale workflows. For many businesses, it provides an affordable and scalable entry point to custom UV printing, meeting diverse demands in signage, promotional products, and packaging.

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