Ricoh 3110 Bypass tray.

[Marlin]

Hi, this is my 1st post.. so be gentle..

I am new to dyesub and have been researching the best equipment to buy for my particular needs which is hard flat surfaces (Like tiles..).
I have settled on the Ricoh SG3110 as it seems to have the facility to print custom lengths (up to 50") which
is what I need.

The only problem is that you seem to have to have the Bypass tray and clicking on that option in preferences..
Trouble is this tray is around £200 (inc.) which is quite alarming considering the printer (Printerland) is less than £50 + new Inks and carts.

I wondered if anyone has any experience of custom sizes and whether there may be some way of removing the Duplex tray and just feeding a cut length of Transfer paper into the rear..??
I am anxious to keep the costs down as the final result may not work.. so..

Perhaps the Epson WF 2010 might be a better option although I know Epson really don't like non OEM inks..

I have not settled on software yet as this may affect things.

Any thoughts plis..

[Justin]

Again, check the recent threads above, this has been discussed a few times recently.

If I was personally looking to print regularly at 50" I'd be buying wide format to bring my costs down significantly. I print on a 44" machine but have a 3110 as one of my backup printers.

Epson will be happier with oem inks than the Ricoh, 1500 is a great machine. It all depends what you're printing and the quantity etc.

[Skye]

Hi Marlin,

I have the A3 version of the 3110. When the bypass tray is attached it makes a connection, via a plug/socket arrangement, to the printer. Once this is done the printer's driver registers the bypass tray and allows larger paper to be specified. With the tray the max is 330mm by 1298mm, without 330mm by 420mm. I haven't yet found a way to lengthen the print passed the maximum accepted by the driver.
Try searching the posts as I sure others have looked at this issue before.

A second thing to consider is what size press you will need to press 50" of paper. What size tiles are you thinking of printing? I don't think that sublimation ready tiles come bigger than 200mm/250mm, so you could consider printing sections of the final piece and pressing the tiles in batches - eliminating the need for long paper and a large press.

Skye

[Marlin]

Hi Skye,
Thank you. This was exactly the sort of information I was looking for. So it looks like you have to have the tray to activate the software.. Darn..

Because my requirements are so small I had looked into just putting this job out rather than investing in all the equipment to do it in house but couldn't find anyone to do it..
The actual material I wish to adhere to is HPL (Formica) and the sizes are 120 x 850mm and 200 x 550mm which would all fit through an A4 machine. I was going to do some designs in Corel or Krita which would be a random pattern like a Marble or Stone. All these designs are available from HPL stockists on 10' x 4' sheets but invariably the designs I like have to be shipped in from Italy or Germany.. Slow and expensive.
So I was hoping to print these designs on a plain white HPL which is readily available.

I actually manufacture Silicone heater blankets and many special purpose machines so I already have Heaters for this job. They go up to 300c. The press I will build when I need it.
Anyone up for printing me off a couple of metres of Transfer every month.? Possibly Shutterstock designs..

[Justin]

Gladly help you out with the printing once my 9600 is back up and running, couple of minor issues to sort first.

[Marlin]

That would be appreciated Justin..
Is it possible to get some transfers (any design) to test on my Substrate.. Anybody..?
I might get lucky and it might stick without digicoat..
Will cover any costs of course..
Save me a huge learning curve and £300 worth of equipment I would barely use..