Printing wide format Epson sublimation?

[Justin]

I am in the process of sourcing a replacement for my 9600. I appreciate the different heads etc. throughout the model range, rather than discuss these I'd like to hear from people using alternatives, 9800, 9880...maybe even a 9890! (Yes, I know about the heads!)

Maybe you're running something other than an Epson? Interested to hear from you.

[JMugs]

Following with interest after getting my fingers burned with the 7890!

[Justin]

Me too, big style. Such a shame, fantastic printer, assume the DX7 just wasn't suitable for sublimation. Some suppliers still stock it though, maybe non Sawgrass inks work better?

[JMugs]

I had thought briefly a about it until I discovered the head dies using Epson ink as well!

[Justin]

So why are so many other printers supplied with the same head? Not just Epson. Strange.

[mags1892]

As a Epson Engineer I see more failures on the 9890 7890 9900 7900 9700 7700 range of printers than any other this is with Epson ink and Without, the newer machines use the TFP head and the inks are completely different and so far ive only tested the 4 colour versions of the surecolor with great success. Now this said I also have clients using the 9890 with my inks with no problems at all however as ive had more engineer call outs and requests for heads on the 9890 range im still inclined not to recommend it. Thats leaves you with teh DX5 head if you want 8 colour and out of these its the 9880 which was the latest model to be phased out.

As for other machines like the Mutoh - it also used the Epson head, as do many of the roland machines and Mimaki. So no matter which machine you use it ends up being an Epson head, there are however Ricoh Gen5 heads out there but these will be 4 colour and large droplet sizes (7picolitre min dot). These generally are production machines designed to print at speed as are the konica heads et al.

The main issue is that Epson (Seiko) own the patent for piezo electric heads which lend themselves to Sublimation so well so they more or less control it.

[JMugs]

Thanks Mags, that backs up my own research.

[Justin]

9800 is current runner for my replacement, just been told by Inktec MD that they may not be stocking light light black so a bit pointless really!

[mags1892]

9800 is current runner for my replacement, just been told by Inktec MD that they may not be stocking light light black so a bit pointless really!

9800 also uses light light black , i can get you this ink they dont stock it in uk but i can get it .

[Justin]

9800 also uses light light black , i can get you this ink they dont stock it in uk but i can get it .

Uhm...isn't that what I said! lol. Are these Sublinova Smart inks? What difference is 9880?