Currently, on our UV printers, there are three types of linear scales commonly used: 1) Plastic optical scales, 2) Magnetic scales, and 3) Metal optical scales.
With the widespread adoption of linear motors, plastic optical scales have largely been replaced by magnetic scales and metal optical scales. So what are the differences between metal optical scales and magnetic scales?
First, the difference in price. Metal optical scales are significantly more expensive than magnetic scales. Taking a length of one meter as an example, a metal optical scale costs approximately 8,000 to 10,000 RMB, while a magnetic scale costs only around 3,000 to 5,000 RMB.
Second, the difference in precision. In terms of precision, metal optical scales are also much higher than magnetic scales. The signal transmission of metal optical scales is more stable than that of magnetic scales. Additionally, during installation, the parallelism requirement for the beam is two to three times higher for metal optical scales than for magnetic scales.
Third, the difference in service life. In this regard, the lifespan of metal optical scales and magnetic scales is roughly the same. Under normal use, both can last 5 to 8 years, or even up to 10 years without issues. However, one important thing to note about magnetic scales is to never bring anything magnetic near them — doing so will ruin them.
So when choosing a UV printer, whether to go with a metal optical scale or a magnetic scale depends on your own budget. If you have a high budget, choose a metal optical scale. If your budget is lower, choose a magnetic scale — it will still adequately meet your production needs.