CJV150 in general and perf cut

[TomK]

Hi All!

I'm looking to add a "small" print and cut printer to our shop. Today I use an HP 310 and Graphtec FC8600, which are working fine minus the color issues I constantly chase on the HP. We use Flexi and Flexi for our RIP, just FYI.

We focus solely on stickers, decals, and small signs, no wraps, no banners, or anything else.

I am looking at the Mimaki CJV150 32", since we do most of our sticker print jobs on 30" rolls, and have some questions!

1. This machine does perf cuts, however, do I need to change blade positions or do anything else for perf cutting on this machine? On the graphtec, I have to contour cut, then change the blade holder position, and then resubmit the job. Would be nice to just click print, cut, and have it contour and perf cut without having to do anything else. Anyone know how this works on this printer/cutter?

2. We run our small business out of our home basement, which is one of the reasons we went with Latex - to avoid fumes. Do I need to worry about fumes with the Mimaki and ink running in an enclosed space like our basement?

3. How much maintenance is required for these machines? I've only owned Gerber thermals and now the HP Latex, no idea what to expect owning a solvent printer in terms of required maintenance. We normally take a couple of weeks off in the summer time, would this printer be OK being left in an idle state for 2 weeks?

4. Is there another brand or model # you would recommend instead of Mimaki?

Thanks, I appreciate any guidance or advice offered!

 

[TomK]

Not many CJV150 users around here?

 

[particleman]

A friend of mine just bought this machine. He previously had the CJV30, both the 30" and 54". He moved to the CJV150-130 (same just bigger).

1. I can't really speak to this since he doesn't do perf cutting. A good question for your sales rep or Mimaki probably.

2. This will likely be your biggest issue. If you were to print 80-100% coverage you will get odor from the SS21 ink set. The CJV30 you were able to run ES3 inks which didn't have any smell. On the 30" machine I'd say it won't be something you deal with a lot if you are say 50% coverage. For example with 50% coverage in a pretty large room we don't smell any odor, at 80% or more it will definitely smell.

3. Very little maintenance really. Most days turn it on, do a test draw, and off to printing. My guess is 2 weeks would be ok assuming you were using oem ink.

4. The CJV30 with ES3 ink seems like a better fit because of the ability to use ES3 ink. It is still a good machine, mostly based on the JV33 platform. Mimaki isn't producing it anymore so support will be limited as time goes on.

Personally I will say the CJV150 using the light black and orange ink will produce some of the best colors of any printer in that class hands down even next to the latex machines. I've seen or ran a lot of them and you can't hit oranges this machine can print without orange ink. The silver and grey shades are great also.

 

[paperstrategies]

Mimaki

Hi there, I run a Cjv 150 64"
Few things (as per your order)

1. Perf cuts are easily accessable right in the rasterlink rip. I haven't had to change the depth of the blade except when cutting through thick materials or running print/lam/cut
2. ss21 inks are pretty gassy. They do stink up the place with alot of usage or coverage. Maybe you should consider using eco-solvents or a different type of ink, you'd probably have to consult your sales rep.
3. Maintenance is typical. Auto cleanings and some manual work here or there, nothing too serious. My tech informed me that the only time these machines have big issues (typically) is when they are inactive for extended periods of time. Most of his concern was centered around the nozzles. In the event that some of the nozzles are unrecoverable, there are unused nozzles that can be calibrated to take the place of damaged ones. But for two weeks it should be fine. Assuming the auto cleaning function is setup properly. It should clean itself every 12 hours or so as long as the main power isn't switched off.
4. I've grown to love my mimaki machines. They're easy to manipulate and learn.

 

[TomK]

Thanks!

A question on the inks, what's the difference between the SS21 and ES3 inks? I assume the ES3 are ecosol? Even though the Mimaki site says the SS21 are also ecosol...so I'm confused now. Their site says the CJV150 will take SS21 or ES3.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[paperstrategies]

Yes the es inks are eco solvent. The ss21 inks, to the best of my knowledge, are not ecosol. And they do stink sometimes. It's strange that mimaki would list them as eco solvent. Yet another question for the sale rep! The cjv series can take ss21, es3, and can be converted into a sublimation printer.

 

[particleman]

Thanks!

A question on the inks, what's the difference between the SS21 and ES3 inks? I assume the ES3 are ecosol? Even though the Mimaki site says the SS21 are also ecosol...so I'm confused now. Their site says the CJV150 will take SS21 or ES3.

Thanks,
Tom

This was a big source of confusion when we looked at the machine as well. Especially coming from a CJV30 using ES3. I think it is a branding type of situation. The big take away though is that you cannot use the orange and light black ink in ES3 which is a huge downside if you want the true odor free ecosol ink.

 

[TomK]

This was a big source of confusion when we looked at the machine as well. Especially coming from a CJV30 using ES3. I think it is a branding type of situation. The big take away though is that you cannot use the orange and light black ink in ES3 which is a huge downside if you want the true odor free ecosol ink.

Thanks for the info, this is probably a deal breaker for us as I need ecosol and was planning on orange and lt black.

Back to shopping around I guess.

Tom

 

[jsonpaul]

It smell

I have a CJV150 and it is located in a specific room on its own. basically if you print full coverage you would not be able to work beside it in an enclosed area.

Prints are great and very vibrant. It is a plus for us that it comes with the take up system with its price so it can be in our small room printing long runs and vent over the window plus carbon a purifier.

 

[Solventinkjet]

ES3 inks are not the same as, what people call, ecosol inks. ES3 inks are a low solvent ink which means they are more environmentally friendly but also scratch very easily. SS21 is what 99% of people use and that is what you should use if you are doing outdoor signage unless you feel like laminating everything and I mean everything.

Fun Fact: Eco in ecosol just means economical. It has nothing to do with what the type of ink is. Mutoh calls theirs Eco-Ultra. Mimaki calls theirs SS21. It's a marketing buzz word.

 

[TomK]

I have a CJV150 and it is located in a specific room on its own. basically if you print full coverage you would not be able to work beside it in an enclosed area.

Prints are great and very vibrant. It is a plus for us that it comes with the take up system with its price so it can be in our small room printing long runs and vent over the window plus carbon a purifier.

Thanks for the info, the fumes are a non starter for me, so back to looking for something else.