Part 2: 4 Reasons Why eufyMake E1 is the Most Expensive Desktop UV Printer

3. Maintenance and Operating Costs

• Printhead

One particularly puzzling aspect of the eufyMake E1 is the complete lack of transparency regarding the printhead model it uses. In a transparent printer industry where components are disclosed, it's strange that eufyMake has revealed nothing specific. However, based on the advertised 1440 DPI print resolution, we can make some educated guesses .

There are several piezo printheads on the market capable of 1440 DPI. Let's take the economically friendly and UV-compatible L805 and XP600 printheads as examples. On similar desktop-level UV printers equipped with an L805 head, printing a full A4-size image takes about 24 minutes. If the printhead is upgraded to an XP600, the same task takes only 12 minutes.

Pseudo 3D effects can be achieved through repeatedly layering white ink to build up thickness.

The printhead is usually the most vulnerable part of a printer, followed closely by other components that come into frequent contact with ink. This is especially true for printers like the E1, which are designed specifically for 3D texture printing and rely heavily on white ink to create dimensional layers. As a result, white ink will be used much more frequently than in standard printers.

Whether due to clogged nozzles or wear and tear from heavy use, a replacement eventually becomes inevitable, and you’ll likely have to purchase it through eufyMake’s official channels. However, here's the catch: eufyMake hasn't disclosed the cost of replacement printheads or other replaceable parts. In other words, they hold all the cards. You won’t be able to purchase proven, cost-effective printheads like the ones mentioned above from third-party vendors. Everything must go through eufyMake. That said, we can wait and see how early users report their experiences—someone’s definitely going to find out.

• Ink

According to official data from eufyMake E1, printing a full-sized 3D relief effect image on a standard flatbed requires 398.28 ml of ink. However, the E1 only comes with 100 ml ink cartridges for each color. This raises a clear question: can the white ink cartridge even support the printing of a single relief image?

We tested a full-coverage image without any special effects to measure how much ink it consumes:

Even when no thickness is pursued, white ink still accounts for around 70% of the total ink used in the image. To achieve real depth, however, you must rely on repeated white ink layering. In other words, to print an image with a 5mm thickness, white ink consumption far exceeds 70% of the total. At minimum, that’s 398.28ml × 70% = 278.796ml of white ink—nearly three entire 100ml white ink cartridges.

To prevent white ink from drying out, the user must constantly monitor ink levels over a long printing session. Should the white ink run out, the entire job will be ruined. And after printing one such image, you’ll likely need to purchase another full set of inks. How convenient, E1 thoughtfully offers a 'custom-matched' refill bundle.

In comparison, a typical set of UV inks for UV flatbed printers costs $189 for 500ml per color (CMYK+W+G), which breaks down to roughly $0.063 per ml.

This price comparison reveals that eufyMake E1' s ink is around 8 times more expensive than what you' d pay for high-quality UV ink on the open market. If you' re planning long-term use of the E1, you may want to prepare for substantial ongoing ink costs.

Now you might ask: Am I required to use eufyMake’s ink? The official answer is yes—they definitely expect you to. They claim the printer is not compatible with third-party inks, and if you don’t use their official consumables, you likely won’t receive tech support. This is a common business model in the printer market, and you’ll probably just have to accept it.

Another issue worth discussing is ink quality. Traditional UV inks come in soft, neutral, and hard formulations—each suited for different materials. So far, eufyMake only offers a single type of ink, and while the exact formulation remains undisclosed, testing revealed that it doesn’t work well across all materials, as seen with issues like cracking on printed Apple Watch bands, indicating compatibility seems limited.

• AI Software Fees

The application of AI in artistic creation has touched on a long-standing legal grey area: copyright. Should AI-generated artwork belong to the user or to the company that developed the AI technology? There is currently no global consensus or unified legal framework on this issue, which could lead to unexpected complications during later use.

Compounding this issue, the AI features of the eufyMake E1 are not entirely free. Users must purchase a membership to access built-in templates and unlock the 2D-to-3D conversion. Even more limiting is the fact that this AI-generated 3D rendering is automated and non-customizable. In other words, once you import an image, the system decides where to raise or lower the texture—without your input.

Sometimes, it may even destroy your picture, since the AI capability often fails to understand your actual intention.

This kind of hidden cost is frequently overlooked, especially when not clearly disclosed to customers during the initial purchase. It can place an unexpected financial burden on users later on. The so-called “free” functionality is, in reality, locked behind a paywall, often leading to misunderstandings and unplanned budget overruns.

many popular image editing programs—such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and others—already offer free 3D embossing effects that fulfill similar design needs. Rather than relying on the E1’s AI tools, users might be better off using more mature and transparently priced software alternatives to avoid unnecessary hidden costs during their workflow.

 4. Other Hidden Investments 

While the previous costs, consumables and subscriptions, can be addressed with money, the following hidden costs demand serious consideration. As mentioned earlier, eufyMake is an entrant with no proven track record in either 3D or UV printing industries. Their expansion across various product lines shows an effort to grow revenue rather than specialize, which is a red flag for equipment requiring specialized maintenance. Especially UV printers are heavily reliant on maintenance and after-sales support. Although they promise a warranty, details of which remain unverifiable as they have yet to deliver products, users may face significant challenges if the team lacks experience in printer repair and troubleshooting.

A. A Drastic Drop in Productivity

Given its documented speed, the E1's commercial viability is highly questionable. If E1 prints too slowly or has a high failure rate, you'll face a serious challenge—production and business operations will become inefficient. Ultimately, you may find the costs even higher and delivery times longer than simply outsourcing to offline suppliers or Southeast Asian manufacturers. Slow printing impacts not only productivity but also the printer’s operational reliability. Imagine a scenario where printing is interrupted midway—can you remain calm and resume work quickly?

B. Are You Ready to Handle Complex Maintenance Alone?
Sure, maybe you're not planning to run a business or mass-produce anything—you just want to print for fun. That sounds reasonable, right? But here's the kicker: even as a hobbyist, you're not off the hook.

Are you really prepared to handle the complex upkeep of the machine all by yourself? Once a malfunction occurs, fixing it can be a nightmare. A minimalist design often implies a complex internal structure. When issues arise, replacing a single part might need hours of fiddling and a ton of patience, sometimes requiring professional tools and technical know-how.
To get a reality check, just do a quick online search and see how printer owners complain about their experiences.

C. Lack of Effective Customer Support and a Professional Parts List
Some might argue that brands offer support teams. But keep in mind—printers are industrial tools, not everyday home appliances. Regular contact with UV ink inevitably causes corrosion, aging, and errors over time. eufyMake’s crowdfunding page doesn't disclose many details about parts, and due to the product's complexity, most basic support staff can’t grasp technical issues in depth. You’ll struggle to explain your problems clearly, and chances are they won’t understand them either, let alone connect you to senior engineers. Typically, after initiating a chat, you'll receive copy-paste replies. Eventually, you’ll be forced to carry your printer to a repair shop and pay $300/hr just to get it fixed.

In Summary, for hobbyists, the eufyMake E1 seems like a low-cost option to support DIY creations. But don’t underestimate the time and energy required for daily maintenance. The viscosity of UV ink and the complexity of the ink flows mean you’ll need to clean and maintain the printer every single day.

For small business owners, ROI is everything. And when you calculate it, you may find the cost of using this printer exceeds the cost of buying ready-made or customized products from Temu or AliExpress. Is this really a worthwhile investment? Don’t believe it? Let’s do some math:

Let’s assume that ink is the only consumable. The initial investment in the machines is as follows: the E1 is priced at $1699 on their Kickstarter campaign, while a typical A4 desktop UV printer on the market is approximately $3099, and an A3 desktop UV printer is around $4999.

If you're a hobbyist who doesn’t print often, when not printing 3D textures, the average daily ink usage for an A3 printer (like the E1) is 50ml, totaling around 1500ml per month. For an A4 printer, that’s about 30ml per day or 900ml monthly. Let’s compare the initial investment and ongoing ink costs for E1 vs. other UV printers.

Results show that by the second month, the E1's total cost nearly matches that of an A4 Desktop UV printer. By the fifth month, it matches an A3 Desktop UV printer. Beyond that, the cost of operating the E1 grows at an alarming rate. After a year, your total investment in the E1 could equal the cost of buying 3 A4 Desktop UV printers or about 2 A3 UV printers—including their consumables.

This shocking data reveals eufyMake’s pricing strategy—lure users in with a low initial cost, then bleed them dry through overpriced consumables. It's worth noting that this estimation doesn’t even factor in other consumables or potential maintenance costs. Believe it or not, all E1 accessories are likely to be 5x more expensive than those for standard desktop UV printers—just like their ink.

 5. Conclusion 

For most small business owners, selecting an established professional brand with reliable after-sales support is clearly a more sustainable path. Inksonic's support team, consisting of engineers with 5+ years of field-proven experience, understands how budget-conscious small businesses are with equipment investments. And we are prepared to launch a UV flatbed printer with a low starting price and reasonably priced consumables, just as we've always done with our DTF and UV DTF printers.

In an era where frequent crowdfunding project failures,stability has never been more important. As a factory-owned brand with 15 years of printing experience, Inksonic provides exceptional print quality and speed, unbeatable long-term value through manageable consumable costs, and reliable service.

If you currently need transfer stickers printing, we recommend our  VF13 UV DTF Printer  , which excels in precision and stability, ideal for small businesses that need high-quality, durable results. It boosts productivity and slashes maintenance costs, making your investment far more competitive.

By choosing Inksonic, you're not just buying a printer—you’re choosing a long-term partner committed to helping your business thrive.