The printhead of a wall printer is a crucial component; it jets ink onto walls and other materials to form different photos. Wall printer uses DoD piezoelectric print heads, such as Epson DX7, DX10, and XP600; some manufacturers use industrial-type printing heads, such as the Ricoh GH2220 printhead, the Ricoh TH5241 (G5i) model printhead. In this article, we will introduce:
- What Is The Printhead Of A Wall Printer?
- Different Types Of Printers & Printheads
- 8 Types Wall Printer Heads Pros & Cons
- Lots more
So if you want to learn about wall printer heads, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in.
Contents
If you’re new to industrial or commercial wall printing, you might need to what printhead are and they serve. The printhead of a wall printer machine is a crucial component, as it jets ink onto walls and other materials to form images. The quality and performance of wall printer heads set the precision efficiency and are essential to the overall quality of printed documents or photos. You may be curious: Are the printheads used in printers the same? What are the differences between them? Read follow!
Traditional Printer
- Thermal Inkjet Printhead: Thermal inkjet printheads heat the ink to create bubbles, which use pressure to eject the ink. Some HP and Canon inkjet printers use thermal inkjet printheads in the market.
- Micro Piezo Printheads:Micro piezo printheads utilize the deformation of piezoelectric crystals when the voltage changes, squeezing ink and ejecting it through the nozzle. These printheads are used in some Epson printers and deliver precise, reliable printing performance.
Flatbed Printer Machine
Flatbed printers are mainly used for garment printing and stickers. The printed items’ surfaces are typically flat, so printheads that do not use high pressure are usually chosen, such as Epson’s 5113 and i13200-A1 models. However, high-pressure printheads may also be used for uneven surfaces.
Wall Printing Machines
Wall printers can perform high-precision printing directly on walls or floors. High-resolution printheads can achieve excellent results for walls or floors with uneven surfaces, producing clear and vibrant images and text. Typical wall printer heads available on the market include Epson’s DX7, DX10, and i1600 models, among others.
UV Printer Machines
Ink for UV printers is ejected from the nozzles through tiny droplets through technologies such as piezoelectric crystals or thermal bubbling. These droplets fall directly onto the surface of the printed substrate, such as sheet, coil, glass, leather, etc., and vary depending on the type of UV printer head used.
A suitable printhead can be the key difference between a wall printing machine that performs well and one that underperforms. Not all printheads are suitable for vertical surfaces. Vertical printers equipped with high-pressure print heads(with printhead distance greater than 10mm from the printing surface). Commonly used includes:
- EPSON：DX5、DX7、3200、4720、XP600、DX10（TX800）、i1600
- RICOH：GH2220、G5、G6
- TOSHIBA: CF3R
- STARFIRE: 1024
- SEIKO: 1201
Wall Printer manufacturers often use printheads like the DX7, DX10 (Tx800), i1600, GH2220 (Small Ricoh), G5, and G6 to balance cost and practicality.
We have conducted comprehensive market research and compared various available wall printer printheads. From the type of ink used to the maximum printing distance, analyze the strengths and weaknesses to help you better understand the differences between different printheads and ensure you are well informed about selecting to suit your specific printing needs and preferences.
EPSON DX5 Printhead Features
EPSON DX5 printhead was once one of the market’s most stable, widely used, and recognized printheads. However, with its high cost and infrequent updates, combined with advancements in printhead technology, it has gradually been replaced by budget-friendly digital printers.
Pros:
- High stability and reliable print quality
- Wide recognition and suitable handling of medium-low resolution print task
Cons:
- Relative expensive than other printheads
- Slow technological updates and high maintenance
EPSON DX7 Printhead Features
The DX7 printhead was one of the early printheads used in UV printers and gained popularity as a replacement for the DX5. The only new printhead currently available is the two-lock DX7 printhead. Using the second-coded DX7 printhead in printers designed for DX7 printheads requires a decoder board for proper functionality.
Pros:
- Compared to the DX5, the DX7 printhead offers high color saturation for vibrant prints
- Improved lifespan with advanced piezoelectric technology
- Micro-piezo technology ensures precise, detailed printing
Cons:
- Sensitive to ink quality, increasing costs
- High cost and market & supply limited availability
- Less stable than the DX5 printhead, potentially leading to more frequent issues during printing
Overall, while the DX7 printhead has its strengths, such as color saturation and durability, its sensitivity to ink, stability concerns, and high costs have led to a decline in its popularity.
EPSON XP600 Wall Print head Pros& Cons
EPSON XP600 printhead, launched in 2018, is a cost-effective choice offering decent performance.
Pros:
- The XP600 printhead 6 channels are used to manage the ink delivery more efficiently, enhanced color mixing
- XP600 printhead lifespan is about 3-6 months, it’s afforable and offer moderately stability
- If properly maintained, an XP600 printhead can last 60-80% as long as a DX5 printhead at a quarter of the price
Cons:
- Lower color saturation compared to the DX5 printhead
- Economic design, primarily for water-based inks
- Prints 10-20% slower than the DX5, impacting efficiency (DX5 4pass print speed 12-15 square meters/hour, XP600 4pss print speed 10-12 square meters/hour)
EPSON DX10(TX800) Printhead Pros& Cons
The TX800 printhead has emerged as a popular alternative to the XP600, especially after the XP600 was discontinued. It is often compared to the DX7 for its similar performance at a more affordable price, typically around a quarter of the cost of a DX7, making the TX800 a cost-effective choice for many users.
EPSON i1600 Printhead Pros & Cons
EPSON i1600 series represents a class of MEMS printheads known for their exceptional value for money. It features a 1.33-inch wide printhead with a 600 dpi resolution. These printheads are designed to deliver high productivity and image quality, catering to diverse customer requirements.
EPSON XP600 printhead, launched in 2018, is a cost-effective choice offering decent performance.
Pros:
- The high-precision printhead arrangement ensures a compact printhead structure, fast printing speed, excellent image quality, and enduring durability.
- i1600 printhead supports multi-level grayscale output, resulting in more delicate printing effects.
- Capable of high-drop printing up to 9mm, at the 9mm high-spraying distance stage, the i1600 printhead offers the best cost-performance ratio and the strongest stability.
Cons:
The I1600 printhead boasts an enhanced ink path material and a refined adhesive design. However, you might need to conduct extra tests and verifications to ensure a perfect match with your ink, which may lead to additional costs.
RICOH GH2220 Printhed Pros & Cons
The GH2220 printhead is the smallest in size among all printheads, commonly called the “Little Ricoh.” Here are its features:
Pros:
- It features a tiny 3PL ink droplet size for high-definition printing with crisp detail
- Supports water-based and solvent-based inks for flexibility in a variety of printing applications
- The smaller size fits neatly into more compact printing devices and is cost-effective
Cons:
- Lower color saturation compared to the DX5 printhead
- Economic design, primarily for water-based inks
- Prints 10-20% slower than the DX5, impacting efficiency (DX5 4pass print speed 12-15 square meters/hour, XP600 4pss print speed 10-12 square meters/hour)
RICOH G5 Printhead Pros & Cons
The Ricoh G5 printhead is a high-performance industrial printhead widely used in various printing applications due to its advanced features and reliability. Here is the G5 printhead features:
Pros:
- Offering a larger print width than GH2220 printhead
- Fast print speed and long service time about 3-5 years
Cons:
- Over time, the G5 printhead may develop serious ink drift and internal channel clogging issues, affecting the print quality
- The purchase and maintenance costs are high, making it not the most suitable option for wall printer head.
RICOH G6 Printhed Pros & Cons
The RICOH G6 printhead is a high-performance option with a suite of features that cater to various printing requirements. It is perfect as a wall printing headbut comes at a premium price.
Pros:
- All-steel design makes the printhead resistant to corrosion, and less prone to clogging, ensuring longevity and reliability
- Support multi-level gray printing, integrated heating functions for a wider color gamut and more nuanced prints
- Built-in negative pressure and no need for manual ink purges, saving time and reducing maintenance
- Printing further away (up to 20mm), e.g., printing on the shipping container surface, etc
Cons:
- The only real drawback to the G6 printhead is its slightly heftier price tag, which might deter those on a tight budget.
Selecting a suitable printhead for wall printing is crucial for the precision of your image reproduction, the vibrancy of colors, and the overall longevity of the prints. We offer 6 tips for choosing the right printhead to ensure optimal performance and print quality.
Tip 1: Choose a printhead compatible with your wall printer machine
Ensure the printhead is compatible with your specific wall printer machines and adheres to the wall printer manufacturer’s guidelines, as they may recommend specific printhead models.
Tip 2: Ensure the wall printer printhead matches your ink type
Match the printhead to the type of ink you plan to use, whether UV, water-based, or latex ink. Incompatible printheads can lead to poor print quality or damage to the 3D wall printing machine.
Tip 3: Consider the print quality requirements
Evaluate the printhead’s DPI (dots per inch) capability to meet your desired print quality. Higher DPI printheads deliver finer details, making them suitable for high-resolution graphics and intricate designs.
Tip 4: Evaluate the durability and lifespan of the printhead
When faced with a high volume of printing tasks, a durable wall printer head can often reduce the need for frequent replacements and reduce overall long-term costs. Moreover, in printing tasks that require continuous operation, a premium printhead ensures more reliable performance and minimizes the risk of breakdowns.
Tip 5: Balance cost with your budget
Considering its long-term value, Weigh the wall printer head’s cost against your budget. While a cheaper option might seem like a money-saver initially, it could lead to higher maintenance expenses or a shorter lifespan.
Tip 6: Consider environmental factors in your selection
If your projects have environmental standards, choose wall printing printheads designed for eco-friendly inks or low-VOC emissions to align with sustainability goals.
If you’re working with a limited budget, the EPSON DX10 printhead is the best choice with it’s cost-effectiveness. For those looking to enhance printing quality and who have a generous budget, we recommend the EPSON i1600 printhead. and if you need the capability to print at a greater distance, the RICOH G6 printhead is the way to go.
Friankor mk-01 wall printer machine is perfectly compatible with DX7, DX10, and i1600 printheads and can solve 99% of your printing issues, we provides factory direct price and professional pre-sales and after-sales service if you are interested, welcome to contact us for more wall printing printhead info! Check the pictures and videos below to understand the difference in print speeds and results between the i1600 and DX10 printheads.
Friankor is a wall printer manufacturer from China, equipped with independently developed and strong in-house vertical printing devices manufacturing ability. Our upcoming release, the mk-02 wall printer, is designed to meet our customers’ diverse printing needs; with the ability to switch between wall and floor printing with just one click, this new printer machine addresses the market’s demand for an efficient, stable, and easy-to-maintain wall printer.
- Versatile Printhead Options: With the i1600 and G6 printheads available, it quickly meets various printing requirements.
- Industrial Grade Design: Designed to the highest industrial standards, the mk-02 is a testament to durability. The toothed chain drive system ensures smooth operation, sparing you the inconvenience of timing belt maintenance.
- Practical Functionality: With our low-ink warning system and white ink stirring feature, you will never run out of ink unexpectedly.
- One-touch Switching For Wall-to-floor Printing: Experience the convenience of our one-click switch wall and floor printing. The ink cartridge compartment automatically adjusts, with all changes happening in a flash—often in 30 seconds.
Get in touch with us and schedule a video consultation, and we’ll provide a live, personalized showcase of the mk-02’s impressive features and capabilities.
In conclusion, choosing a wall printer head is pivotal for achieving the desired print quality and operational efficiency. Understanding the distinct characteristics of various printheads, such as the EPSON DX5, DX7, XP600, i1600, RICOH GH2220, G5, and G6, allows businesses to make informed decisions based on their specific printing needs, budget constraints, and long-term sustainability goals.
