Most folks don’t care about printers anymore, and for good reason. Fiddling with toner cartridges and managing obtuse hardware DRM policies belongs in the past. So why should we care about Anker’s $1,900 eufyMake E1 UV printer? It prints on anything and can create embossed 3D effects on practically any surface.
The eufyMake M1 reminds me of the maker revolution that came from the advent of at-home 3D printing. No, it’s not as versatile as a machine that turns digital 3D models into a physical object you can hold in your hands, but after seeing the UV printer in person I can already tell this could be many a Etsy seller’s dream device.
At an Anker event, I convinced the company to let me print my favorite Final Fantasy VII meme (in reverence to Earth Day) on the flat side of a ceramic magnet. What struck me most about the few objects I saw printed live was the quality and detail of the 1,440 DPI (dots per inch) prints. A miniaturized meme with small text came out without any sort of bleed or loss of detail. What’s extra unique about this printer is it comes with a rotary attachment that sits inside the printer. This lets you print on objects like your favorite thermos. Anker told me that it doesn’t matter if the object is tapered. The printing apparatus can tilt up to 30 degrees, so it will still print head on without warping the final image.
UV printing isn’t a new technology. The process uses UV-curable inks to apply layers of color onto a surface that can dry almost instantly when subjected to specific wavelengths of light. This means it can coat practically any surface, from paper to wood to acrylic. You can find a fair number of desktop-sized UV flatbed printers ranging from $2,000 up to $7,000. For something that offers 3D texture, you normally have to shell out a lot more money. Back in 2018, Casio showed off similar 3D printing features with a $50,000 UV printer. That sort of tech is now far more affordable. Anker calls its latest eufyMake device the “first” 3D texture UV printer for home use.
Anker’s device also comes with a separate UV laminating machine. That standalone device is better for smaller jobs, like creating stickers. Either way, it’s all controlled via an app that lets you set the parameters of the print, center your images, and control the 3D effect, should you choose to add any depth to your image. Just be aware that the eufyMake E1 uses proprietary inks, and Anker did not reveal how much ink sets may cost in the future. Anker said the system comes with enough ink to print 1,000 of those 2×2-inch magnets, but you’ll run dry faster if you print in 3D.
The eufyMake M1 can print on practically any object, though it’s slightly slower than your average inkjet printer, taking around three minutes to add color to a small 2×2 inch square. It took approximately six minutes to print on two of those at once. Anker told me a larger pane may take between 15 and 30 minutes. A mid-sized painting with 3D texture could take upwards of 12 to 15 hours, plus use a fair amount of ink from your cartridges. It’s why I didn’t get to see the 3D printing in-person, though Anker had plenty of examples surrounding its machine. The effect is stunning, especially if you crave an image with the subtle textures of oil paints on canvas.
Anker’s UV printer is also designed for objects both large and small, as well as oddly shaped objects. I can’t stop thinking about interesting things I would want to try, like printing unique art on the side of a PC case so I don’t have to pay companies like Maingear or Falcon Northwest or break out a swatch of oil paints for the sake of a unique desktop tower.
The device will be crowdfunded on Kickstarter starting April 29, and early backers should be able to get the device for $1,700 instead of $1,900. If you put down a $50 deposit on Anker’s site, you should get the device for $1,500, which saves even more money. As with any crowdfunded project, remember that you’re not guaranteed a product just because you put money down now, Anker is at least a reputable brand and has a solid track record following through. I also asked Anker, a China-based brand which does most of its manufacturing in the country, if the current stress of U.S. tariffs will impact pricing. Company reps declined to comment, saying that the situation surrounded the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China is still fluid.
