CTS ink

[AAMike]

We are using Diamond Chase Digital's Ink in our CTS machine. Does anyone know what brand of inks are compatible to switch out in a pinch?

[Dottonedan]

Be careful of switching out for others that are not specked out for your specific machine. May cause far more trouble ($) than it's worth. As an example, for M&R inks, some people think we just want to sell you our ink because we make a profit on our inks ... but our ink are specifically designed so that they flow best for our machine and heads as well as sets best on the screen at very specific head temps, voltage and neg pressure settings. If you toss in some other type of ink in ours, it can damage heads, halt production and cost more money and time that you want to spend. So I would imagine its similar in other DTS machines. They are not just like any digital paper printer.

[jsheridan]

Be careful of switching out for others that are not specked out for your specific machine. May cause far more trouble ($) than it's worth.  our ink are specifically designed so that they flow best for our machine and heads as well as sets best on the screen at very specific head temps blah blahahh blabbibity blah.. 

That is the same thing every printer manufacturer has said for the last 20ish years now.. inkjet.. solvent.. CTS.. DTG it don't matter what printer is be, it's always

"our ink is a special and unique snowflake that can only be used in this machine"

Something tells me it's all the same.. it's how it's delivered that makes it different.

[jvanick]

I can tell you for sure that the I-Image and I-Image ST inks are different.

even just shaking the bottle and you can tell the viscosity is different.

[dirkdiggler]

Listen to what Dan said!  I can tell you from using only M&R inks in ours, even some of theirs is better than their others, so I would only use what they recommend.  Big troubles if you don't.  BIG TROUBLES.

[mk162]

That is probably somewhat true...the fact is there are different formulations between dye and pigment based...making some of the incompatible with others.  I have thought about going with a different ink in our CTS machine, but since I haven't had any issues changing would probably not gain me much other than saving $200 a year.  Maybe I could get a darker ink, but I am still not even sure about that.

I personally wouldn't go mixing inks.  It's not worth it in a $20-50k printer.  In a cheaper Epson desktop that you can buy new heads for around $400, it's worth it.

[ffokazak]

Side topic.. but what is the difference between I-Image ST "K"and "D" inks?

Always wondered that...

[AAMike]

I am going to get the msds for the digital ink to determine what I am dealing with before seeking another alternative. So far I know wadjet is 375 a bottle and Diamond chase is around 300 a bottle.

[Alex M]

Is it an Epson based CTS?


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[AAMike]

Is it an Epson based CTS?


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Not sure what heads are this Datascreen CTS. The heads are nearly 3 grand a piece!

[Alex M]

It's a Zund drive.
Based on seeing the specs online they are using an Epson print head in it. The resolutions are a giveaway.


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[dirkdiggler]

Side topic.. but what is the difference between I-Image ST "K"and "D" inks?

Always wondered that...

humidity I think is the reason they have K and D inks.  We started with K, then D2, now D2a!

[ffokazak]

Whats the humidity where you are?

[dirkdiggler]

high humidity here, very high!

[Screen Dan]

Is it an Epson based CTS?


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Not sure what heads are this Datascreen CTS. The heads are nearly 3 grand a piece!

Never heard of that one before.  Googled it.  Looks a whole lot like the Richmond DirectJet.

...either way, I've got two Douthitt CTS...I can't even get a refurb head for $3k.  It's $5k no matter what.

Luckily they seem to last 14-18 months of heavy use.  I had a Kiwo iJet2 that would chew through the same head in 3 to 7 months.


...still better than films.