A Buying Guide for Continuous Inkjet Printers

Your continuous inkjet printer of choice will remain on your assembly line for a while, so you'll want to invest in a machine that matches your particular application and that won’t cause inconveniences in the long run. Here's a continuous inkjet printer buying guide that you might find helpful.


Continuous Inkjet Printers: A Buying Guide


 

How Continuous Inkjet Printers Work

Continuous inkjet printing is a popular coding and marking option for countless companies nowadays. A non-contact coding process and a wide range of available ink allow CIJs to print onto various substrates.

 

During operation, CIJs expel electrically charged droplets of ink from a printhead nozzle. A piezoelectric crystal breaks the initial ink jet into drops. Then, an electrode charges the drops which are required for printing while the other drops are recirculated into the ink stream. The selected droplets then pass through an electrostatic field. Together with the droplets’ speed, the charge from the electrode determines where the codes and marks will be printed on the substrate. CIJs often expel up to 120,000 charged droplets a second.

 

All of this occurs without the printer directly touching the substrate, eliminating any risk of damage to the printing surface. This automatically gives CIJ printers an advantage over contact coders. Also, because CIJ machines use external ink tanks instead of traditional cartridges, these industrial printers are capable of putting out thousands of pages before needing refills, and they do not produce waste from cartridge replacements. This renders them cost-effective and even eco-friendly.

 

On top of that, the ink for CIJ printers is available in numerous colors and contrasts. Machines that fall under this type can print onto irregular products and produce readable marks on high-speed lines.

 

To give you an idea of just how flexible these machines are, here are a few examples of what CIJ coders can print:

● Text on printed circuit boards

● Date codes on the bottoms of glass bottles and on the insides of bottle caps

● Serial numbers on wooden panels and metal sheets

● Expiry dates on the foil packaging of tablets and pills

● Wire size and type along the length of a cable

● Barcodes and serial numbers on car parts

● Specifications and manufacturer logos on plastic piping

● Wattage information and model number on the side of a lightbulb

 

No matter what you’ll be coding, you can maximize the advantages of a continuous inkjet printer by making an informed and well-planned purchase. This includes asking the right questions and taking your exact business needs into consideration. Here are 9 guide questions for when you start looking for your company’s new continuous inkjet printer.

 

Questions to Ask When Buying a Continuous Inkjet Printer

1. How Fast Will You Be Printing?

Buyers often check printers’ line speeds before anything else. The line speed determines whether your continuous inkjet printer will be fast enough to keep up with production demands. Do allow some room and choose a printer that is slightly faster than what your assembly line actually needs, to account for increases or spikes in demand.

 

2. Does it Use the Right Ink for Your Job?

Each substrate has a matching ink type, whether specified by the manufacturer or suggested by your supplier. Make sure that your printer will actually be able to print on your products! You may estimate how much you’ll be spending on ink and try to look for more cost-effective alternatives. Also, feel free to ask your suppliers about refills! They can point you to the best ink manufacturers if they’re not distributing the ink themselves.

 

3. How Reliable is the Printer?

This is more than a matter of your machine’s lifespan. You’ll need to look up the printer’s average mean time between failures (MTBF), which is often among the device specifications, although your supplier should be able to cite it as well. Then, calculate reliability, or R(t):

R(t) = e-λt

where λ is the inverse of your MTBF (i.e. 1/MTBF). With this formula, you can determine the probability that your printer will fail within a given amount of time.

Other similar factors are the mean time between maintenance (MTBM) and the mean pages before failure (MPBF).

评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

What are the different types of POP displays?

图片
  In the competitive world of retail,   Point of Purchase (POP) displays   are essential tools for attracting customers, promoting products, and boosting sales. These displays come in various forms, each designed to serve specific marketing objectives and fit different retail environments. Here’s a comprehensive look at the main types of POP displays: Counter Displays Definition and Purpose Counter displays, also known as  countertop displays , are small, portable units placed on checkout counters or service desks. They are designed to catch the eye of customers as they wait in line to pay, making them ideal for promoting impulse buys and last-minute additions to a purchase. Examples and Benefits Common examples include small stands for candy, gum, magazines, and small electronics. Counter displays are cost-effective and easy to set up, making them a popular choice for retailers of all sizes. They can significantly increase the average transaction value by encouragin...
阅读全文

Enhancing Residential Spaces with 3D Acoustic Wall Panels

图片
  In the realm of interior design and home improvement, the quest for functionality and aesthetics harmoniously interweaves. Addressing the quintessential challenge of acoustics in residential environments has spurred the emergence of innovative solutions like  3D acoustic wall panels . These panels, once relegated to commercial and studio settings, are increasingly finding their place within residential spaces. But are they truly suitable for such intimate settings? Let’s delve into the empirical evidence and expert insights to uncover the verdict. First and foremost, let's address the core functionality of  3D wall panels : sound absorption. While the bustling energy of urban life seeps into our homes, creating a cacophony of noises ranging from traffic rumble to household chatter, maintaining tranquility within residential spaces becomes paramount. Acoustic panels, with their intricate designs and porous structures, act as effective sound absorbers, mitigating reverber...
阅读全文

THE BEST USE OF LED VANITY MIRRORS

图片
The lighting capability of  LED Mirrors  is almost similar to natural lights. This mirror serves the dual purpose of making a place look beautiful and assistance in self-grooming to people. However, they are more acknowledged for decorating the place. They give a clear vision and are feasible to view yourself than any other form of lighting. They are not only used at homes but in offices, hotels, and boutiques. These mirrors are brilliant to uplift the aura of the place. They provide a classy environment with high energy efficiency. The environmentally friendly characteristic makes them extremely desirable.    WHAT IS AN LED MIRROR? An LED mirror in simple terms is a mirror with the addition of LED bulbs. This could be anything from strip lights around the side of the mirror to create a ‘back-lit’ effect or bulbs straight on the front to create a vintage vanity LED mirror style.  LED mirrors come in all shapes, sizes and styles...
阅读全文