Frequently asked questions
Are there any analogues to ArtROBO equipment worldwide?
No, there are no analogues to ArtROBO. LAC Corporation is the sole developer and manufacturer of digital airbrushing equipment.
What is ArtROBO?
ArtROBO is the unique full-color printing complex specially designed for printing large-scale images directly on car, truck and bus bodies.
The complex is equipped with a surface curvature tracing system enabling to operate with any 3D surface of any size.
Is ArtROBO capable to print on curvilinear surfaces?
Yes, ArtROBO is capable to print on any curvilinear surface with a maximum curvature radius up to 450 mm (Pen Unit movement on a Z-axis).
The standard (minimum) Pen Unit movement on a Z-axis is 200 mm. As an option you can order the equipment with Z=250, 300, 350, 400 or 450 mm.
When printing on walls Z=200 mm would be enough, while printing on cars you would need Z=450 mm.
What is an image stability to UV?
The ink (image) stability to UV is not less than 3 years without additional protection. Usage of automotive lacquer as a finishing layer will improve the stability of inks up to 5-7 years, as a minimum.
What is the ink composition?
ArtROBO inks are the unique patented composition of pigment suspension in a solvent.
There are acetone (pigment in acetone) and acrylic (pigment in acrylic resin) inks. Both types of inks are of surface fixing (fast hardening within 1-3 sec.)
What is the “acetone” and “acrylic” robot?
LAC Corporation has got two patented digital spray painting technologies – digital airbrush (acrylic) and digital airgun (acetone).
Acrylic technology is a traditional airbrushing when the inks are emitted by a current of compressed air, and spraying is diffuse.
Acetone technology is similar to that of wide format printers, the inks are emitted by the pressure in the ink cartridge, and the spraying is spotted.
The difference between acetone and acrylic models is only in nozzles, and accordingly in Pen Units. It is always customer’s choice which technology he/she prefers. Additionally the equipment with replaceable Pen Units (both technologies simultaneously) is available for orders.
The price of the equipment is solely defined by the printing area size, number of nozzles and the movement along a Z-axis and is not subject to ink type.
What is the distinction between “acetone” and “acrylic” technologies in principle?
Functionally both technologies are absolutely identical, and the distinction is only in subjective visual perception of a printed image.
Both technologies provide the printing of images with the resolution up to 63,5 ppi. The printing speed of the equipment of both types is equal (for identical printing modes).
Which of the technologies (acetone or acrylic) is more economical?
From the economical point of view both technologies are identical.
The cost of 1l of acetone inks is equal to that of 1l of acrylic ones. The ink consumption of the equipment of both types is absolutely identical as well.
What is a temporary airbrushing?
This technology provides the printing of images directly on any degreased surface, on a degreased car body in particular. Later on this image can entirely be removed with the acetone or ethyl spirit (acetone and acrylic inks respectively).
What is the distinction between an airbrushing and a temporary airbrushing?
An airbrushing and a temporary airbrushing are distinctive in visual perception and characteristics of image stability.
Traditional airbrushing provides the use of automotive lacquer as a finishing layer. First thing we talk here about non-absorbing surfaces (such as car bodies, cases of household appliances and the likes). For instance, there is no way to remove an image off the wall, if it has been printed on to plaster.
Automotive lacquer works as a prism, provides certain depth to an image and increases the contrast. Such an image is getting maximum stability to fading and mechanical damage. Though it cannot be removed without repaint (full or partial).
Lacquering needs special preparatory works – matting the surface before printing an image and drying the lacquer coating in a chamber.
A temporary airbrushing is put over the basic paint coating. A temporary image is absolutely stable to fading and quite enough firm against mechanical impact (can be put on up to half a year). And such an image can entirely be removed (washed out) without any damage to a surface.
A temporary airbrushing does not require any special preparatory works, besides surface degreasing.
What material is used to wash an image out?
Normally they use 99% pure acetone (acetone inks) and 95% proof ethyl spirit (acrylic inks) to wash an image out (and as a means of cleaning the nozzles).
How stable is a temporary airbrushing to other chemicals?
A temporary airbrushing is absolutely stable to a majority of chemicals, gasoline and diesel, glass cleaners and automotive shampoos.
Acrylic inks are in a negative contact with detergents used by non-contact washing facilities in Russia.
Which protective coating can be used?
Any of them.
The choice of protective coating depends on characteristics and composition of a surface on to which an image is printed. For metallic surfaces (painted or not) any automotive lacquer is acceptable, for the walls – applicable compounds, for ceramics – compounds for ceramics and so on.
What is included into the price of the equipment?
The price of the equipment includes everything minus a PC.
In particular: airbrush-robot with a controller, applicable software, a set of tools, documentation, cables, inks start kit (5l – a liter per each color), a compressor with connecting tools.
Additionally one-week training at our facility is included into the price (at customer’s choice and for an additional charge training and equipment installation is available at customer’s facility).
What are the requirements for an airbrushing facility?
The basic requirement is a dry and clean facility with year-around temperature of +20-25îC.
The humidity inside the facility should not exceed 60%.
Electrical supply – 50Hz, 220V.
Which additional equipment is required for the works?
A scissors lift would be an optimum choice for lifting the cars, but this task can be performed with lifting jacks and jack stands.
Are the ink vapors harmful to one’s health?
Not harmful, but cautious use is required.
A facility should be equipped with at least an elementary ventilation system.
How to choose a suitable model?
To take our advice.
We are well experienced in operating this equipment.
We are the first who has drawn the manufacturer’s attention to the need of producing twin Pen Units – 2xCMYKW (to increase printing speed), and the need to increase a free movement of a Pen Unit to 450 mm (to increase functionality).
What is the printing cost?
Actual printing cost is USD 5-6 per square meter.
What is the ink consumption on printing?
The overall ink consumption (all colors) is 15-20ml per square meter (240% of the color, printing over the entire area).
How to operate with automotive lacquer and whether a painting chamber is required?
Automotive lacquer requires standard operating provisions (and a chamber included).
Though there is no need for a chamber at own facility. Initially it is better to apply to a third party automotive service center.
Can the robot be operated on the road?
Yes, it can.
The robot is dismantled within 1,5-2 hours by two technicians. The same time is required to install the equipment into operating mode.
Though it should be considered that medium models (1.2, 2.5 and 3.1) are more adapted for operations on the road, than all others.
What are the basic stages when working with a car?
The basic stages of an airbrushing are:
Surface preparatory works;
Printing an image;
Lacquering.
How to prepare a car for airbrushing and lacquering?
The basic stages of preparing a car for printing:
Fittings works (demounting mirrors, exterior lighting, door handles);
Covering works (covering non-painted parts from over-spraying);
Matting (abrasive treatment of car paint to the entire removal of polish);
Degreasing.
How does the surface curvature tracing system work?
A car (or any other object, a snowboard, for example) is put in front of airbrush-robot.
An image position on a car body is determined.
The co-ordinates of 4 marginal points of an image in robot co-ordinates system are determined (0:0 point is considered as upper left point of the robot).
Further the points (X- and Y-coordinates of the points), in which the robot measures a distance from an X-axis to the surface, are set on an image area (thereafter the points will get 3 co-ordinates – X, Y and Z).
A matrix is set up of points (N number of lines, each consisting of M number of points), which is then saved as Body Data File by the robot.
When in printing mode a Body Data File is up-loaded – the robot is printing from a constant equal (10mm) distance to the surface, avoiding roughs by available free movement (Z=200~450mm).
What does the printing process look like?
Just the same as printing with any printer, but in 3D-mode.
You upload an image file and a surface curvature file (Body Data File), determine a starting point for printing, set the modes of speed, quality and some other parameters, and then start printing.
How many people are needed to operate to operate the robot?
1-2 operators.
Minimum requirements to an airbrush-robot operator?
PC literacy, minimum knowledge of color gradation, work experience with graphics software, work experience with printing devices, physiologically correct position of arms/hands.
What does the training involve?
Mastering the basic skills of operating the equipment. Upon the end of training session a certificate is issued.
We do not provide training on graphics software.
How many people can be trained?
If you order and buy the equipment, we can simultaneously train up to 5 people free of charge.
What shall I do, if there are questions/problems while operating the equipment?
There is Technical Support Service which can be reached over the phone or by e-mail 7 days a week from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.
What is the warranty period and how does the warranty work?
The warranty period is 12 months for all items, including the nozzles.
The general rule is that any defective component is replaced by a new one within 1-2 days (if available at the warehouse) or 7-10 days (if not available at the warehouse) free of charge.
Are ArtROBO inks opaque?
To some extent yes, if white color is additionally used.
How to print on dark surfaces?
For printing on dark surfaces besides CMYK inks they use the white inks, which are put in a common printing process alongside with other colors, but put as a first layer.
A white layer can be put exactly under an image, be evenly slightly bigger or slightly smaller than an image area.
Are there any restrictions in regard of printed surface?
Practically there are no limitations.
The robot is capable to print on any surface, be it smooth or rough, absorbing and non-absorbing, white and black, glossy or mat.
Sometimes you get to know about the limitations with your experience. For instance, you should not print on the wall covered by peeling off plaster. An air stream beats off plaster particles which ricochet to the nozzle and clog it.
Printing on the walls – what material to use as a covering layer?
While printing on absorbing surfaces there is no need in any covering layer.
Should need arise to make an image glossy, you can use any glossy covers suitable for a given type of walls, plaster and so on.
How does the quality of printing depend on a chosen airbrushing-robot model?
The quality of printing does not depend on a model, it is identical for all robot models.
Why are the big models produced?
The big robot models are more expensive than the small ones, but provide a substantial economy of time when relocating the equipment.
The time is one of the most important factors for advertising tasks, especially for a mass circulation.
Besides, such models simplify the printing operations with trucks, tourist buses, carriages etc.
How to move the robot inside the printing facility?
All the models are equipped with transportation wheels, which provide mobility and a quick relocation of the equipment inside the facility.
How does the size of a printing area relate to the overall equipment dimensions?
The overall equipment dimensions are bigger than the size of a printing area (see Specifications for details).
A minimum clearance from the floor is 450 mm.
How many printing modes are provided?
Each model provides 3 printing quality modes, each mode provides 10 printing speeds.
Thus, you can always find a required compromise between speed and quality parameters.
What is a life span of the nozzles?
The life span of the nozzles is not limited, provided that the planned maintenance is taken care of in time (at LAC Corporation factory in Japan only).
The planned maintenance regularity is not less than once a year.
Which language is the documentation supplied in?
English only.
A Russian translation does not seem reasonable.
What is a printing speed in the operating mode?
The printing speed of the equipment with 5 nozzles is 0,5-2 square meters per hour.
The increase in the number of nozzles to 10 and 20 provides 2- and 4-time increase in the printing speed respectively.
Which packaging is used for the inks?
The acrylic inks are supplied in plastic bottles of 100 ml.
The acetone inks are supplied in metallic bottles of 500 ml.
Where can the robot be seen in operation?
You can see the robot in operation at our facility.
Check this site for a directions map.
Please advise us about your visit beforehand.
Can non-original inks be used?
In this case you lose the warranty maintenance and get rather unpredictable print-out.
Therefore, the practical use of non-original inks is quite doubtful.
Is there a support program for the industry newcomers?
As a minimum, you can rely on that the information about your company will be reflected on our site.
How to get the information about the prices and the equipment availability?
All the required information can be received from us as soon as you fill in the inquiry form on this site.
We appreciate your correct understanding of unanswered inquires with no company name, its whereabouts, contact details and other issues.
We also do not pay our attention to the inquiries to “send the entire price-list” and the likes.
