PVC Card Tray for Epson L8180 / ET-8550

I consider this a WIP due to how variable my experience with the inkjet print process has been . Please comment with feedback from your experience with the process.

Model Info

This is designed around standard NFC PVC Cards (54mmx85.5mm). The original model had a lot of room to shift the cards around in each slot, so precise printing was impossible. This model has extremely tight tolerances. Cards should fit perfectly (held in place if you flip the tray over). If your trays are a little too tight, you can try to pop cards in and out repeatedly to get rid of any filament imperfections that might be affecting fit (could also run a file or knife around each slot to widen slightly, but shouldn't be necessary).

****Print with white or light colored filament**** Otherwise the printer optical sensor may not trigger properly.

Issues with first layer will be very obvious with this model. Make sure you can get a get a nice first layer on all parts of the bed before printing this.

Keep all slots on the tray filled with blank cards, even if printing less than the 6 slots.

When you feed the tray into the rear feed slot, you need to apply firm pressure (use both hands, one on each corner of the back of the tray) to ensure it is picked up by the rollers and stays aligned, BUT NOT TOO MUCH. If you push it too hard, I believe it slips forward and affects print alignment, leaving a gap at the top of each card.

Photoshop Template info

In Photoshop, I am currently using these settings. If anyone has better suggestions, PLEASE comment/share:

Printer Setup:

Print Settings…

• Main
• Paper Source: Rear Paper Feed Slot

• Document Size: A4

• Orientation: Portrait

• Paper Type: Card Stock 2 (0.032-0.051 in)

Color Management

• Color Handling: Photoshop Manages Colors

• Printer Profile: EPSON ET-8550 L8180 Series Photo Quality Inkjet

• Normal Printing

• Rendering Intent: Relative Colorimetric

• Black Point Compensation Unchecked

Position and Size:

• UNCHECK Center

• Top: -3 (YMMV)

• Left: -4.6* (The original template suggests -2.857, YMMV)

• Scale: 100%

*In theory, the original PSD's suggestion of -3 top and -2.857 left alignment should work identically with this model, but I needed to set mine to -3 top and -4.6 left. I suspect there may be variability between printers…YMMV. You will undoubtedly need to dial yours in and your offset may vary. Please comment with your findings.

Suggest leaving 1-2mm border on your printed designs OR print full bleed outside the card borders. e.g. don't try to line prints up perfectly to the very edge of the cards like me, and you'll probably have more success and less frustration. Any oversprayed ink wipes off the model easily with IPA or even water.

Final Thoughts

Get ready to waste several cards before you get everything dialed in. Test printing one at a time in the various slots until you're confident everything is consistent (I'm still not).

Good luck!