DX4 Printhead from China

[player]

Of course there are people who bought them from China & got bad heads but there are also plenty of people who bought them & installed themselves & they work perfectly fine. I am willing to take a chance & see what i will get. Worst case scenario is that i will spend $700 for nothing

I like your style.

 

[reQ]

I like your style.

Heh, sometimes i am willing to take a risk. For example, in this case, if i am successful, i will save over $1400. Sure, i can pay the tech from TG Graphics here to install even one from China, but they quoted me $600 + GST for install only. Considering that, for only $127 more i will get another printhead from china

So, total price comparison:

1) Local dealer's price on printhead - $1534 after taxes
2) Local dealer's price on installation - $630 after taxes

Total: $2164

That is why i am willing to give it a shot, to save $1400 )



P.S. We have a saying back home in Russia - "Stingy person pays twice".... I might be just that person at the end!

 

[reQ]

I ordered a DX4 head from the US from Signage Specialists (Robert M was or is a merchant member here I believe) and installed it myself. I think I ended up saving almost a grand vs. getting our local supplier to supply/install the head. Physically the install went well other than a slight issues with getting ink into the new dampers. I was kind of nervous at first but once you start taking things apart it's very straight forward.

I ran out of time/patience with the calibrations after the install and ended up getting our tech to come and do them for me, was worth the money.

I would do it myself again if/when it comes up.

Good luck with the China head - let us know how it goes.

Was it very hard to calibrate? Reason i am asking, is price for calibration only or install + calibration is same $600 by the dealer.

 

[reQ]

It didn't take the tech long to do once he was here, but then again he knows what he's doing and I didn't.

It really depends which head you're replacing. In my case, it was the black head, which all the heads are aligned to. I wasted a lot of time only adjusting the black head when really I should have been adjusting the other heads to the new black head. (I didn't know this at the time)

So knowing that.... I wouldn't say it's terrible hard to calibrate the heads afterwards. It's worth a shot anyways. You're supplier shouldn't be charging $600 for an hour worth of calibrations anyways!

In SP540i, 1 head prints both channels - Black & Cyan, thats the one i want to replace. As for dealers charge - they charge what they want i guess... but if i possibly can accomplish it myself - i will try

 

[player]

The calibrations and alignments are what I am talking about. After watching my Roland guy doing it I would pay them. It's all in the calibrations... Too many tests and stuff.

 

[reQ]

The calibrations and alignments are what I am talking about. After watching my Roland guy doing it I would pay them. It's all in the calibrations... Too many tests and stuff.

I will keep it in mind. Even if i will pay tech to install, i still will be $900 ahead, considering printhead will work properly

 

[reQ]

Alright folks, my dealer just texted me. Said if i will buy new printhead from him + dampers + install, it will be $1903.00 taxes in. Or i can buy

1) New printhead with rank number from signinchina - $528
2) new dampers + cap tops + 2 liters of Solvent cleaning solution $123

After shipping/exchange rate/taxes & duties it will be around $900 CAD. So after i pay the dealer for install, it is $1500 total.

Thoughts?

 

[player]

Alright folks, my dealer just texted me. Said if i will buy new printhead from him + dampers + install, it will be $1903.00 taxes in. Or i can buy

1) New printhead with rank number from signinchina - $528
2) new dampers + cap tops + 2 liters of Solvent cleaning solution $123

After shipping/exchange rate/taxes & duties it will be around $900 CAD. So after i pay the dealer for install, it is $1500 total.

Thoughts?

Roland dealer will warranty their head for 30 days or something like that. What if he puts the head in and it doesn't work? What if he screws up the head and then says no warranty cause it's your China head? I think it is too much money, but then what business are we in? To print signs, not fix printers... How much money can you make when your printer is down for the month? It's almost like either China and all yourself for $900 or whatever, or pay the extra $1000 and have him do it, cradle to grave no worries and a warranty. Or you could get 2 heads from China, so if it goes well, you have another extra one, if it doesn't, you have one on hand to continue the job. Film the install so you will be better situated to change your next one yourself... Do the dealer prices include HST? If so you get that back don't you?

 

[reQ]

Roland dealer will warranty their head for 30 days or something like that. What if he puts the head in and it doesn't work? What if he screws up the head and then says no warranty cause it's your China head? I think it is too much money, but then what business are we in? To print signs, not fix printers... How much money can you make when your printer is down for the month? It's almost like either China and all yourself for $900 or whatever, or pay the extra $1000 and have him do it, cradle to grave no worries and a warranty. Or you could get 2 heads from China, so if it goes well, you have another extra one, if it doesn't, you have one on hand to continue the job... Do the dealer prices include HST? If so you get that back don't you?

yeah, it was $1730 + some cents + 10% taxes which is $1900 after taxes
Thing is, he wants $120 for 2 new dampers, which cost only few dollars if you buy yourself. I know plenty of people who use dampers from china with no issues at all.

To be honest, i am leaning towards just paying him 1900 and to no worry about it. Will make enough money with the printer anyways once its fully working

 

[equippaint]

Dont be scared of it. I just changed mine, got it from signs in china from their site where they have a better price than ebay and new customer coupons too. Its a genuine epson head made in japan, my guess is these are sold to a chinese OEM at a manufacturers price who backdoors them and not supposed to be sold as parts (the reason they pull the head rank off). They will email you a head rank no charge but Ive read that it doesnt even matter. Not sure if its true but I changed ours to what they sent us anyways. The worst part was dealing with a couple tiny metric screws with stripped heads. I skipped a bunch of steps the manual said to do, I pretty much unplugged it, swapped it out, did 1 cleaning, aligned it and went to printing. I was super lazy. The manual says to adjust the yellow/mag head against the black, i wasnt going to deal with more baby screws so i just did the adj on the black head which was replaced. It prints like new. If youre familiar with head adjustments on the printer itll take an hour or two start to finish, a little more if you havent done it before. Save the $600 labor, its not rocket science.

For calibrations theyre easy to do, IIRC theres 2 manual ones and 1 in the menu. It just does a test print, turn the adjustment knob and test print again. Dont overthink it, its very basic just a little time consuming doing it little by little.

 

[reQ]

Dont be scared of it. I just changed mine, got it from signs in china from their site where they have a better price than ebay and new customer coupons too. Its a genuine epson head made in japan, my guess is these are sold to a chinese OEM at a manufacturers price who backdoors them and not supposed to be sold as parts (the reason they pull the head rank off). They will email you a head rank no charge but Ive read that it doesnt even matter. Not sure if its true but I changed ours to what they sent us anyways. The worst part was dealing with a couple tiny metric screws with stripped heads. I skipped a bunch of steps the manual said to do, I pretty much unplugged it, swapped it out, did 1 cleaning, aligned it and went to printing. I was super lazy. The manual says to adjust the yellow/mag head against the black, i wasnt going to deal with more baby screws so i just did the adj on the black head which was replaced. It prints like new. If youre familiar with head adjustments on the printer itll take an hour or two start to finish, a little more if you havent done it before. Save the $600 labor, its not rocket science.

For calibrations theyre easy to do, IIRC theres 2 manual ones and 1 in the menu. It just does a test print, turn the adjustment knob and test print again. Dont overthink it, its very basic just a little time consuming doing it little by little.

I am pretty good doing this kind of work, but never changed printhead myself. So, you say with enough patience i should be able to do that? ))

 

[equippaint]

I am pretty good doing this kind of work, but never changed printhead myself. So, you say with enough patience i should be able to do that? ))

Yeah its not a big deal. I was told to be careful not to drop any ink onto the board, after you unplug the printer hit the sub power a couple times to discharge capacitors and make sure the head cable is inserted good. My advice is be careful with the little screws that hold the head down and dont forget to loosen them when you do the head adjustment. Dont over tighten the screws either. The service manual walks you through it, I skipped the pump up, I didnt want to waste a bunch of ink or have to go through the problems of priming everything again ( I assume thats what would happen?). I changed the damper and captop a few months ago to be sure it was the head so I didnt replace them when I did the head. Yes, I know not the right way but still the same end result. If I had to do it over again Id just put it in clean mode, swap the head and not go through the service menu for that part, just for the head alignment. Its an older sp300v thats not worth much so resetting the counters and all that wasnt important although I did it. When it finally breaks the garbage men wont care about head hours. Dont get me wrong, I maintain the printer well but I do have to use the manual and forums to do alot/most of the things with it still.

 

[Tizz]

Hey reQ, how did you go replacing the head?

 

[phototec]

I am pretty good doing this kind of work, but never changed printhead myself. So, you say with enough patience i should be able to do that? ))

Well, please give us an UPDATE? What did you do and how did it come out?

Please help other as you have been helped! Thanks

 

[Signchief]

Of course there are people who bought them from China & got bad heads but there are also plenty of people who bought them & installed themselves & they work perfectly fine. I am willing to take a chance & see what i will get. Worst case scenario is that i will spend $700 for nothing

So how did it go?

 

[Charly L]

An update would be great and any video too. If you recorded ,as I'm about to do the same. I may need to xo up to 4 heads. Hoping for 0 to 2. We will see.

 

[Charly L]

I would assume it worked if he's not responding. If he was dealing with misfires he would still be here trying to figure it out.

 

[Active Sign]

Old thread but here's my opinion.

DX4 heads are all made by Epson. There is no replica/aftermarket DX4 heads. The Chinese are good but not that good!

I have purchased and installed multiple heads from Signinchina/eBay. As long as you purchase the head that is made/ranked for your machine (Roland/Mimaki/Mutoh/Epson) you will be fine.

Always buy the solvent version!

Follow installation instructions and replace caps and dampers.

You can do it or get a local tech to install. I suggest hiring a pro to install and calibrate. Use your energy to hit the phone/market your business so you can fill that printer schedule.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[easystar]

So, yeah. I will try to get a printhead from signinchina. My total will be $727 after shipping (canadian dollars) will try & frankenstein the install myself, hope i don't screw up lol

P.S. They state its brand new original printhead from japan. They take a picture of rank number & scrape it off before shipping due to Epson policies. At least thats how they explained that to me. So you get the rank number in email still.

Will update the topic once i get the printhead & attempt to install it.

I note your comments with interest. My experience is the same as yours. I have ordered and replaced 2 heads from made in china and both work as good as the $1500. ones from our roland dealer in Wpg.

I would like to change out my "next" head myself. Don't know enough to do that without some guidance, hope to fina a manual for my Roland ex540 pro11 printer. Please keep me posted with your experience!

Thanks Alex parklandsigns@mts.net

 

[Solventinkjet]

I note your comments with interest. My experience is the same as yours. I have ordered and replaced 2 heads from made in china and both work as good as the $1500. ones from our roland dealer in Wpg.

I would like to change out my "next" head myself. Don't know enough to do that without some guidance, hope to fina a manual for my Roland ex540 pro11 printer. Please keep me posted with your experience!

Thanks Alex parklandsigns@mts.net

Roland DX4 Print head. We stock them here in Denver, CO and offer free phone/email support and installation documents. A majority of our customers are installing the heads themselves.