Printhead Specification Explain ARTJET 2025

Printhead Specification Explain

 

Let me explain some basic terms related to print heads.

Anyone working at InkJet should know at least what I explained today to be able to have a conversation.

 

I. What is a print head and what is a nozzle? _Printhead Specification Explain

 

The clusters on the left side of the picture above are called print heads.
If you look at the bottom of the print head, you can see something like a small line, and if you enlarge this line, it is made up of small holes, as shown on the far right.
These holes are commonly referred to as nozzles.

Rather than saying, “I think the head is clogged,” it is easier to understand if you say, “I think a few color nozzles are clogged.”

 

Print heads have dozens or even thousands of nozzles.
The more nozzles there are, the more they can jet at once, which increases production speed.
However, the more nozzles there are, the higher the price.
Print head manufacturers also set prices based on the number of nozzles.

 

 

II. Print head resolution, how many DPI? _Printhead Specification Explain

 

1. If you are an inkjet practitioner _Printhead Specification Explain

‘Is the resolution set on the print head itself? What are you talking about?’

At first glance, it may seem like a difficult concept, but I’ll try to explain it simply.

If you’re working with inkjets, this is a concept you absolutely must understand.

 

2. Print head X-axis (scan direction) resolution _Printhead Specification Explain

If the print head resolution is 720 x 1080 dpi, the first 720 refers to the X-axis resolution, and the following 1080 refers to the Y-axis resolution.
The print head printing resolution is determined by how many ink drops fall in the X-axis scanning direction and the Y-axis feeding direction within 1 inch (25.4 mm).
If the printing resolution is 720 x 1080 dpi, you can see that 720 ink drops fall in 1 inch horizontally (X-axis direction), and 1080 ink drops are densely packed per 1 inch vertically (Y-axis direction).

The X-axis DPI in the print head scan direction can increase the X-axis printing resolution as much as desired by reducing the print head transfer speed as much as the jetting ink drop volume allows.

 

3. Print head Y-axis (feeding direction) resolution _Printhead Specification Explain

The X-axis DPI in the scan direction can increase the print resolution as much as the ink drop volume allows by reducing the print head transfer speed, but the Y-axis resolution in the feeding direction, the print head, is determined by the physical specifications of the print head itself.

For example, if you look at the bottom of the Ricoh Gen4 print head, you can see two lines.
They are composed of countless nozzle holes, so when you look at them with your eyes, they just look like lines, but
when you zoom in, you can see that the lines are composed of countless holes (nozzles).

 

In the picture, the concepts of distance A and distance B are important.

A: Distance between nozzles in one column: 0.1693mm
B: Distance between nozzles when looking at two columns together: 0.0846mm

In the picture above, the black dots (column 1) and the red dots (column 2) are offset by exactly 1/2.
Resolution is the concept of ‘how many dots fit in 1 inch?’, so if you divide 1 inch by the nozzle gap (0.1693 mm), you get the resolution.
The black hole and the red hole are the same, 25.4 mm (1 inch) ÷ 0.1693 mm = 150.029… => 150 dpi. In other words, both black and red can implement 150 dpi.

 

If black and red nozzles are used in the same color,
each row is offset by 1/2 of 0.1693 mm, so the nozzle spacing is 25.4 mm(1 inch) ÷ 0.0846 mm = 300.236.., which means 300 dpi can be implemented.

If one color is used for one nozzle row, 150 dpi can be implemented,
and if one color is used for two nozzle rows, 300 dpi can be implemented.

However, in inkjet practice, two offset nozzle rows are combined and “this print head is a 300 dpi head.”

For reference, when talking about the resolution of the print head itself,

NPI (Nozzle Per 1 inch) is a more accurate expression than Dot per inch, DPI.

If you are curious about the Y-axis resolution, please refer to the following.

Print head Y axis resolution

III. Ink drop volume, How many picos? _Printhead Specification Explain

 

1. “This print head is 7 pico” _Printhead Specification Explain

Most people misunderstand the size when they say 7 pico.

The unit omitted after pico is not a size unit, but liter, which means the ink volume that falls at one time.
The ink drop volume in the print head specification data is the drop volume based on the print head manufacturer’s test liquid.
You can think of it as the ink volume that comes out under the best jetting conditions.

 

However,

Depending on the ink properties such as water, solvent, and UV, the ink drop volume may vary,
and depending on the printer manufacturer, the ink jetting conditions such as Waveform, temperature, viscosity, and air pressure may also vary, so the ink drop volume may vary accordingly.

That is, the drop volume mentioned by the print head manufacturer is 5 pl, but when applied to an actual printer, there may be an error range of 4 to 7 pl.

 

2. Print roughness by pico liter _Printhead Specification Explain

Just by looking at the picture below, you can see why ink dot size is important.

Why should you choose a small pico liter head?

In reality, it seems that the only head that can reliably jet 2 pico liters of UV ink is the Samba head.

IV. Gray scale, Multi drop? _Printhead Specification Explain

Before I studied, I also thought that big drops and small drops were distinguished from the print head nozzle itself.

Gray scale, multi drop is not a separate big drop and small drop,
but small drops are combined within the short 1.2~1.5mm standoff to form a large drop, and this is called Gray scale, multi drop.
In the photo below, small ink drops from the red numbers 1 to 7 on the left are combined at a distance of 1.2mm, and the combined ink volume falls on the material.

The right side is a binary drop that is not combined, and the jetted ink falls on the material one by one at the same speed.

You can see more details if you watch the Multi drop part at around 2 minutes and 4 seconds into the video below.

Gray scale multi drop video

 

V. Additional head specs  _Printhead Specification Explain

1. Nozzle actually used _Printhead Specification Explain

Instead of using an entire row of nozzles on the print head, there are several dummy nozzles on each end that are not actually used.

 

2. Heater _Printhead Specification Explain

This is a function that maintains ink viscosity at a constant level and forms a stable jetting condition by having a heater attached to the head itself.
Some heads have a built-in heater, and some do not.
There is a price difference, and models with heaters are better, but since there are only one or two heated points,
it is not easy to see that the same temperature is maintained throughout the entire nozzle section.
Nozzle No.1 may be 45 degrees, but nozzle No. 500 may be 44 degrees, and this can affect the ink jetting condition,
which can affect drop volume, drop speed, and straightness.

 

3. Ink Type _Printhead Specification Explain

If you look at the print head spec data, compatible inks such as water-based, solvent, and UV are indicated.
Some models are compatible with all ink types, while others are not, so you need to look carefully.

 

4. Optimum viscosity _Printhead Specification Explain

The viscosity range of ink that can be jetted from the print head.
Industrial print heads are around 10 cp, and Epson series are in the range of 5 to 7 cp.
If the viscosity is not right, ink may not be ejected from the print head,
or even if it is ejected, straightness may not be secured,
or ink may not be ejected stably, causing ink to run out during printing.

 

5. Drop volume, jetting speed, jetting angle _Printhead Specification Explain

Head manufacturers sometimes provide ink manufacturers and inks that fit their heads. Or, ink manufacturers themselves purchase Dropwatchers that can test ink jetting conditions and sell ink after testing it. They change various variables such as air pressure, temperature, viscosity, and waveform to fit the print head, and then sell ink after finding the jetting conditions that fit that print head.

 

6. Print head life span _Printhead Specification Explain

Industrial print heads are replaced due to print head crashes or lack of maintenance, rather than replacing the print head due to its own lifespan.
In the case of Konica print heads, the print head lifespan was previously indicated in shots, but in terms of work volume, it was only 6 months, but there were customers who actually used it for over 3 years.
Now, it seems that the trend is not to indicate the number of shots for lifespan in print head manuals.

For articles on head lifespan, please refer to the following.

Print head life span & warranty

 

Today, we looked at the concept of print head specifications in a very simple way.

 

 

VI. This is how ARTJET supports our customers.

 

One thing I feel while selling and maintaining ARTJET UV Printers for 5 years is that the next most important thing after product stability is Troubleshooting DATA.

All products have problems, whether they are actual equipment problems or consumer errors, and product stability is how easily and quickly you solve those problems.

Since words alone are not convincing, we are organizing all the troubleshooting DATA as follows.

 

1. Printhead Problems and Solutions Total 10

ARTJET UV Printer Problems and Solution_Printhead Problems Summary

Additional issue and solution
The red color does not appear at first, then appears during printing, and then does not appear again

 

2. Ink Supply Problems and Solutions Total 17

ARTJET UV Printer Problems and Solutions_Ink Supply Problems Summary

Comprehensive application
Damper replacement time
The nozzle test is fine, but it seems that a certain color is not coming out during printing
Capping station block positioning to match the print head and captop
Can I ignore the ink alarm and use it?
UV Printer Monday Morning Routine
I tried white cleaning every day for a month

3. Mechanical problem and Solutions 

1. How to align the print head in a straight line
2. There is a clicking noise from the X-axis
3. Banding problem in specific section
4. The Importance of Head Height in Bidirectional Printing
5. Problems that occur when the wiper height is high
6. When the cleaning belt screw is loose
7. When the capping fixing plate does not fit
8. How do I prepare the ARTJET electricity?
9.When Anti-crash becomes a jam in captop
10. Print head Anti crash system 

 

4. Electron board and Software problem is hereunder. 

1. The printer works but printing does not work
2. Resetting to default settings
3. Touch panel does not turn on
4. The printer is printing, but nothing is printed
5. Software closes when I just press the print button
6. Printing in the wrong place
7. Positioning misalignment in X-axis direction
8. How to make the Offset fine tune
9. Vertical offset is not correct only for the right section of white
10. Software turn off when click print button

 

5. Sai Flexi Rip software  

1. Sai Flexi Rip _ How to make the Spot Color & several mistakes
2. Sai Flexi Rip _ Color is strange after applying Spot color
3. Sai Flexi Rip _ White is sticking out
4. Sai Flexi Rip _ Installation and Dongle Key Recognition Failure Measures
5. Sai Flexi Rip _ Dongle Key Recognition Failure
6. Sai Flexi Rip _ White lines appear when printing only color
7. Sai Flexi Rip _ Color Adjustment through Graph
8. Sai Flexi Rip _ Print size compensation
9. Sai Flexi Rip _ Ink Consumption Calculation
10. What is ICC profile & menu board UV Printing
11. Sai Flexi Rip _ Dongle Key recognition Failure from USB port

 

6. Problems and solutions from actual consumer sites

1. Paper that absorbs ink
2. White Motor Pump Does Not Turn
3. A line-like thing appears at the end of the white print surface
4.Can varnish banding be reduced?
5. Are there many problems with China’s UV Printer?

7. UV Printer Application 

we are explaining not only UV printer problems and solutions, but also what products are produced with UV printers.

1. Braille printing
2. Flip the material and align it
3. 2.5D UV print
4. ARTJET UV Printer Application 6 _아크릴 본딩 장비
5. I phone 14 print limitation 
6. Mask printing not recommend
7. Leather Cigarette Case UV Printing
8. Round soccer strategy board UV printing
9. Primer  performance & limitation 
10. UV Print & Laser crop mark cutting
11. Mobil case UV print profit
12. Screen vs Digital Comparison and UV Printing on Hand Sanitizer Cases
13. Bottle zig & print
14. Canvas UV Printing
15. Applying epoxy effect with varnish
16. Making a light frame with UV Printer & Laser cutter
17. UV Printer & Laser Cutting Equipment Button Name Tag Making
18. UV Printer & Laser Cutting Making a Cell Phone GripTok
19. Making an Acrylic Keychain with UV Printer & Laser Cutter
20. UV Print with Zig
21. How to make RD WORKS CCD camera cutting Video manual
22. Acrylic bonding equipment
23. All the steps to create UVDTF
24. UVDTF TEST Result on various material
25. ARTJET CW+C Print time & Ink Cost
26. Create a white shield with different images on the front and back of the keyring
27. Keyring Business Required Equipment and Investment Costs
29. Acrylic Lighting Goods
30. Ballpoint pen jig printing
31. Staining occurs when printing on coated leather

 

 

That’s it for today.