Is the eufyMake E1 worth buying?

A UV printer is a business tool before it is a gadget. Work out what you would print, and how many pieces, before you compare.

The eufyMake E1 is a desktop UV printer. UV ink is cured by light as it prints, so the E1 can lay down color, white and a raised, textured layer directly on an object. The store calls it the first personal 3D-texture UV printer and lists materials from metal, wood and acrylic to ceramic, glass, leather and fabric.

It suits makers and small businesses that sell personalized or custom items, such as tumblers, mugs, magnets and acrylic pieces, and want to print them in-house. A rotary attachment handles cylinders, cones and mugs. If you only need a handful of pieces a year, ordering from a print shop may cost less than owning a printer.

Independent reviews we read point to the same limits: a single print head, which limits volume; an ink system built around the maker’s own cartridges; and consumables that add to the cost of every print. They place the E1 with hobbyists and small businesses rather than production shops. We have not tested the printer ourselves, so this guide draws on the store’s specifications and those reviews.

The store describes a built-in air filtration system for odors and fumes. Even so, plan where the printer will run and how the room is ventilated, and add up the cost of ink and materials per piece before you decide.

• Work out cost per piece

  Ink and materials are a running cost. Estimate what each print costs and compare it with ordering from a print shop.

• Match the bundle to your products

  The store sells the printer alone and in bundles. Check what each one adds, such as the rotary attachment for round items, against what you plan to print.

• Check delivery limits

  The store ships to the continental U.S. only. Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and military PO boxes are not served.

• Read the warranty and return terms

  The store lists a one-year warranty on the main parts and three months on the print head, and has advertised free 30-day returns that exclude inks and materials. Confirm the current terms before you order.