I-IMAGE INK AND HEAD REPLACEMENT

[RICK STEFANICK]

What ink do you use and have you had to replace the heads for any reason? 

[Zelko-4-EVA]

original heads since 8/2014

weve used type K ink since install

im thinking we should get the heads replaced within 4-6 months along with some drive belts that are cracking.

[kirkwad]

Started with D2A ink & switched over to the T6. D2A gummed up so much & we've had much better luck with T6 since. The only bad thing we've found with the T6 is that if screens loose too much moisture the ink has a tendency to spider out on the edges & get a cracking pattern. We try to keep humidity at 20-30%.

We've had to replace 2 heads & the encoder strip. 1 head was from lack of preventative maintenance where the D2A gummed up way too much. Other I think was from stray mesh strands on the corners of screens contacting the print head.

[Admiral]

1 head a couple years ago, due to stray mesh poking up from loose corners on rollers.  The sensor was adjusted higher by the tech when one of the heads was replaced.

Used to use Type-K but was told by M&R that T6 was supposed to be better for the heads...changed to that when we moved 15 months ago.

[Dottonedan]

Started with D2A ink & switched over to the T6. D2A gummed up so much & we've had much better luck with T6 since. The only bad thing we've found with the T6 is that if screens loose too much moisture the ink has a tendency to spider out on the edges & get a cracking pattern. We try to keep humidity at 20-30%.

We've had to replace 2 heads & the encoder strip. 1 head was from lack of preventative maintenance where the D2A gummed up way too much. Other I think was from stray mesh strands on the corners of screens contacting the print head.

Same at our Shop for T6 liking humidity.  T6 is sensitive. Once you get it good to go, you have to keep that RH consistent.   At first, when we got it, we would come in first thing in the am and found that we could not print without spidering (bleeding) for about the fist hour or so till the room got going.  Couldn't have that, so the PM decided to try adding a $60.00 moisture humidifier just in that screen room to keep it more stable all the time over night. Since then, no issues Wirth T6.   But (we) didn't have any real issues with the D2A either. We just switched dot see if it was any less maintenance. I believe that was due to our cleaning the print head area more frequently than normal.  The D2a just wasn't as friendly if you have no add any more cleaning than typical, so I'm glad they changed the ink formulation to the T6.

[LuckyFlyinROUSH]

D, D2, D2a, T6 - all crap. T6 spits pretty bad. No heads lasting longer than 9 months.

Moved on to 01. Seems to be decent so far.

I'd honestly try K if this doesn't work. Seems like everyone who started with K has had their heads the longest with no issues.

[dirkdiggler]

D, D2, D2a, T6 - all crap. T6 spits pretty bad. No heads lasting longer than 9 months.

Moved on to 01. Seems to be decent so far.

I'd honestly try K if this doesn't work. Seems like everyone who started with K has had their heads the longest with no issues.

Went through all of those aswell with LOTS of problems.  Finally about a year ago went back to K, the first one i ever had.  Will NOT be switching again.

[Ross_S]

I bought my I-Image in 2014 (2 head).  I've always used K ink I never switched.  I also keep up on the maintenance and change the filters when recommended.  I fortunately have never had to replace a head in 6 years.

Ross

[tbarnes]

We had two single head i-Image S machines installed 3.5 years ago. Both switched from D2 ink to T-6 ink because of humidity, D2 seemed like it was bleeding and creating almost a double image. No complaints about the T-6 ink. One machine has run like a champ, it is still on the original print head. The other machine had a lot of issues. We were having registration issues after about a year and the printhead was losing it's place and printing in different spots. We replaced the encoder strip, sensor, the entire x drive and servo drive to try and fix it. They ended up taking the machine back and replacing a bunch of parts, they concluded that it was caused by the x drive belt that was defect from the manufacture. After the machine was returned the printhead seemed to be misfiring on some nozzles and that ended up being replaced.

In my opinion, if you maintain the machine the print head will last forever. The issues we did face were addressed right away and covered under warranty. M&R was professional in handling the issues and getting them resolved in a timely fashion. We bought two single head machines instead of one double head or triple head machine so we could be prepared for any issues that might arise. Now if we need to replace a part or get it serviced we don't have to switch and print film, we just get by with one single head for the time being.

[GraphicDisorder]

We are on year 5 as well of our original print head and we still use the original ink as well. K ink.

[dirkdiggler]

We are on year 5 as well of our original print head and we still use the original ink as well. K ink.

Smart!  Wish I would have followed your lead!