Today's featured Inkjet printer head

Xaar and Spectra and Konica with Seiko SPT,TOSHIBA PRINTHEAD

Introduction:

In the past ten years of inkjet industry,piezoelectric print head had been significant development and progress,which lead inkjet industry a leap forward from simple labels printing to large printing,from low precision to high precision.
The influential piezoelectric head company in inkjet industry is XAAR in Britain,Spectra in USA,Konica and Seiko SPT in Japan,the following is the brief introduction of the of each company’s heads in China market.

1. XAAR printhead
XAAR mainly produced XAAR128,XAAR500,XAAR126 and XAAR380,XAAR760 and so on.

A.XAAR128 printhead is the earliest and widely used in the market,there are five models:
 
XAAR128-200 (80),200dpi,0.54 m /s,color identification is blue (common market model)
XAAR128-200 + (80-W) 200DPI,color identification is purple
XAAR128-360 (40-W),360dpi,0.39m/s,color identification is gray (common market model)
XAAR128XL (40-8.3),360dpi,0.59 m /s,color identification is dark gray
XAAR12840-5.5,360DPI ,color identification is black

There are 128 nozzle and the internal filter mesh is larger. The ink droplet is around 80PL. The head cannot control the head voltage through software when the temperature changed,which lead to its lifetime reduced compared with other kind of heads.
　　　　　
B. XAAR500 is the best  printhead  in its usage,stability and operability,which printing width is 70mm with 500 nozzle. There are two kinds of heads as follows,

XAAR500-180-speed can reach 0.51 m / s,the ink droplet is 80 PL
XAAR500-360-speed can reach 0.56 m / s,the ink droplet is 40 PL

XAAR500 is highly integrated head developed after XAAR128,there are big progress in its production technology. The ink drop and lifetime are 4 times advanced compared with xaar128,meanwhile,xaar500 has ability to switch different ink,it means the same head can print different color from different ink supply system. It is easy to be installed also,the market price is higher,in china market price is RMB20000/PC,Cai shen printer use this head in china market,but its market share is small,because the head price is far more than the market price in domestic.

C. XAAR126 is highly integrated head developed after XAAR128 and XAAR500,which retain the characteristics of low-cost of xaar128 and XAAR500 long-life,at the same time it has the advantages of adjustable voltage through software.

There are three common types: 
          
XAAR126/80 (200) 200DPI speed can reach 6 meters / second,color identification is blue on the back of the old model. The new one is the silver-gray aluminum alloy,marked 126/80 on the printhead (the commonly used models in the market)

XAAR126/50 (300) 300DPI speed can reach 6 meters / second color identification: old Model is green on the back,the new one is the silver-gray aluminum alloy,marked 126/50 on it.

XAAR126/35 (600) 600DPI speed can reach 6 meters / second ,ink drop size 35PL,ignition frequency is 9KHZ,color identification: silver-gray metallic

a.  Xaar128’s accuracy and speed have been improved. XAAR128 highest precision is 360DPI,and XAAR126can reach 400DPI,fast running speed of 660 mm/sec. The biggest difference with XAAR128 is electronic switch for solvent-based inks without replace the head.

b.  The strong Adaptability performance. As a result of external factors (ink,temperature,etc.) change,XAAR126 with advanced control functions,flexible,easy to adjust and control various external factors.

c.  Installation and maintenance. XAAR126 has a unique design and framework of the special modules,which lead to easy use in the process of installation.

d. The stability and cost. XAAR126 lifetime is more than one year,the proper maintenance can make the lifetime longer,which has well-adjusted performance,ink off,flying and burning ink nozzles of the phenomenon has been greatly reduced,so that the printing quality is more stable . According to  the current market price,the cost price XAAR128 prices more competitive.

D. XAAR128 + (a joint name of 128 series except XJ-128-80) is a newly developed varieties with 128 nozzle,such as XAAR128-200 type,XAAR128-360.

a. Limitation. Because its similar with XAAR128,compared with XAAR128 and XAAR126,the ignition frequency was significantly higher than the former.

b. Stability. Purcell produced as a result of the company's head all the materials used to create Teflon,it is XAAR128 + stability in the use of performance can not be guaranteed.

XAAR 64 is used in the Code machine,as the only digital jet printing,so the application area is very small,only IKONMAC use this head at present.

2. Spectra print head

Spectra is the first company to produce,after the emergence of HP ,spectra give up the  foam thermal print head and turn to research and develop industrial piezoelectric head. Its head is characterized by a smaller drop (corresponding to high-accuracy),high frequency (speed),the ink is not very "picky" ,there are four main types variety series:

SKYWALKER series: (domestic application of Cyber) 
 
JA 128/50 speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 50PL
Maximum resolution of 600DPI ignition frequency of 16KHZ
The application of ink: Solvent ink 
 
GALAXY series: 
 
JA 256/30AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 30PL
Maximum resolution of 900DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink),water-based ink 
 
JA 256/50AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 50PL
Maximum resolution of 600DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink),water-based ink
 
JA 256/80AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 80PL
Maximum resolution of 450DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink),water-based ink
 
PH 256/30AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 30PL
Maximum resolution of 900DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink),water-based ink
 
PH 256/50AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 50PL
Maximum resolution of 600DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink),water-based ink
 
PH 256/80AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 80PL
Maximum resolution of 450DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink),water-based ink
 
PH 256/30HM speed can reach 7 meters / second for the size of the drop 30PL
Maximum resolution of 900DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: thermal transfer ink

PH 256/80HM speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 80PL
Maximum resolution of 450DPI ignition frequency of 12KHZ
The application of ink: thermal transfer ink
 
NOVA series: (domestic Tai Wei,Lan Ya-color,application-hong hua)
 
PH 256/80AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 80PL
Maximum resolution of 450DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: water-based ink and solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink)
 
JA 256/80AAA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 80PL
Maximum resolution of 450DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: water-based ink and solvent ink,UV ink(ultra-violet light-cured ink) 
 
S-CLASS Series : 
 
SE-128/30AA speed can reach 10 meters / second for the size of the drop 30PL
Maximum resolution of 900DPI ignition frequency of 40KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink)
 
SM-128/50AA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 50PL
Maximum resolution of 600DPI ignition frequency of 20KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink)
SL-128/80AA speed can reach 8 meters / second for the size of the drop 80PL
Maximum resolution of 450DPI ignition frequency of 30KHZ
The application of ink: solvent ink,UV ink (ultra-violet light-cured ink)

SX2

SX3  128/10PL

SE3  1287/35PL

Q-class series:

Q-256/10PL       size of drop 10PL    1200DPI        firing rates up to 50 kHz 

Q-256/30PL       size of drop  30PL    900DPI         firing rates up to 33 kHz

M-class series:

M-300/10PL

M-class quad      720dpi

M-class hex         180dpi

3. Konica Minolta Print head

Konica is the new brand Japan head newly promoted,the company just to set foot in the production of piezoelectric head,the hardware facilities are also did successfully,Konica Minolta 512 and 256 heads used in Mai Jiete,West,Aowei,Tai Wei,Lan Ya color,HP8000S,HP9000S

     KM 512 head of the main three: (can use the UV,solvents,oil-based ink)
    
     KM 512 L 42PL (used internally) drop size 42PL,is the ignition frequency 7.60KHZ
    
     KM 512 M 14PL (used internally) drop size 14PL,is the ignition frequency 12.8KHZ
    
     KM 512S 4PL (domestic non-common) drop the size of 4PL,is the ignition frequency 23.0KHZ
    
     KM 256 heads of the two major:
    
     KM 256 42PL (used internally) drop size 42PL
    
     KM 256 14PL (used internally) drop size 14PL
    
     KM 1024 the head of the main three:
    
     KM 1024M/50PL size of the drop 50PL
    
     KM 1024M/14PL size of the drop 14PL
    
     KM 1024S/6PL size of the drop 6PL

     KM 216 DPN/15PL size of the drop 14PL
    
     KM 206 DPN/6.5PL size of the drop 6.5PL

Konica nozzle characteristics:

Mexico is a double nozzle into the pipe,pressure flow evenly. Print quality assurance. Some brands of single-row.
Konica 512 is closed sprinkler heads,water-proof,Anti-aging. Some brands of semi-naked or nozzle is exposed.
Semi-naked to the main shortcomings of the following: 1,chips,circuit boards and so on out,easily lead to short-circuit,and head burned. 2,spraying the plastic bag is easy to aging.

Because it is closed,so no short-circuit such as the above. Nozzle live longer,not-for-nozzle,it will greatly cut maintenance costs.

High-accuracy,high speed printing,14pl is the accuracy of 1440dpi,42pl accuracy is 720dpl,print 1pass equivalent to the number of 2pass.

4. Seiko SPT print head
  
Produced By the Japanese Seiko electronics group,Seiko is well-known in the production of precision clocks throughout the world,now in the production of piezoelectric nozzle have been very strong foundation and stability.
　　　　　　
a. The stainless steel design,with super-resistant life and each nozzle have 510 b. Head voltage change by temperature.
c. Its data port can adapt different printing software
d. The ink droplet is 35PL and 12PL,the highest standards of accuracy are 720DPI and1440DPI.
e. The printing wide is 75mm,which is four times than normal head with high speed output.
f.  It applies to industry and business scope.
g. The entire production line is tested by Japan's Seiko Electronics Group,the ink is put into market after Seiko Group certification
h. Low cost and popular.

At present,domestic manufacturers of large-scale application of the United Yang Fei is the limit machine series and now works.
   Mainly in the domestic application of the nozzle series: 
     SEIKO SPT 255 35PL (mainstream limit nozzle)
     SEIKO SPT 255 12PL
     SEIKO SPT 255 GS Gray 
     SEIKO SPT 510 35PL (mainstream limit nozzle)
     SEIKO SPT 1020/35PL
     SEIKO Jet T508GS/12,24,36,48,60,72,84 PL
     SEIKO Jet T254/35PL
     SEIKO EB3

5. TOSHIBA printhead
At present,only one company Cai shen use this head in domestic market

CE2 6-90PL 300DPI
CA4 6-90PL 150DPI
CA5 3PL 1200DPI ignition frequency: 17.9KHZ
CA5 12PL 600DPI ignition frequency: 17.9KHZ
CA5 42PL 300DPI ignition frequency: 17.9KHZ
CA3 6-42PL 150DPI
CB1 6-42PL 150DPI

6. TRIDENT head of the United States.
Inside the nozzle is a relatively unique,is the printhead of the steel can be opened to clean. Penma that the main logo applied to large-scale industry. Nozzle was later to see images of large-scale industrial development. I joined. At present,The use of manufacturers in Guangdong Zhongshan Billiton Digital Technology Co.,Ltd. Thailand.
Inkjet used in the mainly 768JET.

TRIDENT of the United States has more than 20 years of industry jet printing technology. Its products are mainly used in various sectors of the printing industry.

For more than 20 years has been living in the printing industry leadership,its products include:

Print Address (50,000 per hour to print the address)

on behalf of the nozzle: UltraJet II 96 Bar code print(Japanese for more than 90% of the carton bar code printing market)

on behalf of the nozzle are:UltraJetII,SolidJet,768Jet,384Jet Print the document deal with decoding(picture files will be encoded to restore the post-print scan)

on behalf of the nozzle to: UltraJet ® II 96,is used by the development of the TRIDENT ink JetWrite ™,PostBrite ™,VersaPrint ® Finance Application Document printing (printing bank checks,can generate bar codes)

on behalf of the nozzle to: UltraJet ® II 96,is used by the development of the TRIDENT ink JetWrite ™,PostBrite ™,VersaPrint ® Industrial special printing materials (print dot matrix liquid crystal displays,printed circuit board printing)

on behalf of the nozzle to: UltraJet ® II 96 Packaging printing signs (of the product line of bar code and print logo)

on behalf of the nozzle to: UltraJet II Print postmark (the postal system for the automatic printing postmark)

on behalf of the nozzle to: UltraJet II 96,UltraJet II 352,768Jet Print product code (used in the production line for a variety of materials,products encoded print) and the use of high-temperature solid ink Textile printing (for a variety of industrial textiles,carpets of print)

on behalf of the nozzle to: PixelJet,768Jet,384Jet The large-format printing images (for the advertising industry Penhua Large Format)

on behalf of the head: a newly developed 768 L jet.

7. RICOH (the original Hitachi HITACHI) print head
Ricoh to buy Hitachi's technology research and development department,currently,the only Tai Wei's wide format printer use this head. Tai wei promote Hitachi's head in 2002,but until now it is rarely used in the market.
We will update when the new technology in the market.