Looking to Purchase new DTF setup

[GamecockGrafx]

Looking to purchase a new DTF system for classroom setting. I've ordered hundreds of DTF's from online vendors and love using them and customers love it as well. Anyhow, since I'm in a school system, we rely on using Purchase Orders and companies must be on the approved vendor list.

So far, I have quotes from Coldesi for their 24H2 and 12H2 and Athens Paper for a Shurez Peacock. From what I've gathered, Shurez is made in USA and offers on site tech support as well as extended warranties (for additional $)

Thought process in choosing models was the 24" wide model were only a few thousand more than the 12" so might as well, right? Also, both of these quotes include an integrated shaker system, heater and fume extractor - all plusses for me. Anything else I should be looking at as "must haves?" I'd like to pull the trigger before Christmas break so it's ready for the new semester.

On a side note, my class consists of wide format printing equipment (Latex), embroidery machines, heat presses, lasers (diode), wide format cutter, wide format laminator, dye sublimation printers, white toner laser printer, etc. Truly a hands on learning environment and so much fun!

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

Been dealing with a lot of DTF as of late, so here's my breakdown.

1) Most printers are based on nearly identical parts, even US assembled ones from most brands. Support will be the major motivator for most people in choosing brands.

2) 13" and 17" are most common widths. Most people going for 24" are doing that for crazy capacity.

3) For low cost, XP600 printhead machines are great. However, heads are typically only rated for 6 months. These are basically cheap 6 channel heads for photo printers. If you need new heads, $160-180 is ideal price. Much more is just shameless markup.

4) For a higher volume printer, Epson i3200 heads are ideal. Way more durable, however, around $950 per head. Some machines use i1600 heads, and those can be a good compromise. However, they seem to be pretty uncommon.

5) Avoid ProColored, terrible choice of parts like pumps mean they have major issues with ink completely solidifying in the white system and capping stations. For the nerds, they use diaphragm pumps instead of peristaltic pumps for some moronic reason.

6) Run these printers at least 4 days a week and plan on doing daily maintenance. Never unplug or shut off main power, the ink is really bad about clogging.

7) Dual head machines are fine for most small to mid-volume shops. 4+ head machines go up substantially in price, and maintenance, calibration and operation tends to be more work. However, the boost in output is great if you need it. Some printers support 4 or 2 heads and you can add the extra heads later if needed.

8) Shakers/dryers tend to be machine agnostic but be mindful of the powder circulation systems. Some shakers use a toothed belt that drags the powder from the bottom of the shaker area and are really bad about jamming and snapping gear motors, avoid those. Auger systems tend to be better.

9) Warranties are great, but note that your most common issue might be heads. If you're buying an extra service plan, see if it includes heads.

XP600: $164.31 at time of post.

XP600 Epson DX11 Printhead - F1080-A1 / FA09121 / FA09xxx

This Epson DX11 printhead is used by various Epson printers including the XP600 series.

us.digiprint-supplies.com

i3200 A1: $901.62

Epson I3200-A1 Water Printhead - I3200-A1

The Epson I3200-A1 Water is a cost-effective 1.33 inch-wide providing high productivity and high image quality with 600dpi high-density resolution. This printhead is suitable for water based inks.

us.digiprint-supplies.com

i1600 A1: $438.17

Epson i1600-A1 Water Printhead

The Epson i1600-A1 Wateris a cost-effective 1.33inch-wide MEMs head series providing high productivity and high image quality with 600dpi high-density resolution. This printhead is suitable for water based inks. It is unlocked.

us.digiprint-supplies.com

 

[TedThePrintWizard]

Looking to purchase a new DTF system for classroom setting. I've ordered hundreds of DTF's from online vendors and love using them and customers love it as well. Anyhow, since I'm in a school system, we rely on using Purchase Orders and companies must be on the approved vendor list.

So far, I have quotes from Coldesi for their 24H2 and 12H2 and Athens Paper for a Shurez Peacock. From what I've gathered, Shurez is made in USA and offers on site tech support as well as extended warranties (for additional $)

Thought process in choosing models was the 24" wide model were only a few thousand more than the 12" so might as well, right? Also, both of these quotes include an integrated shaker system, heater and fume extractor - all plusses for me. Anything else I should be looking at as "must haves?" I'd like to pull the trigger before Christmas break so it's ready for the new semester.

On a side note, my class consists of wide format printing equipment (Latex), embroidery machines, heat presses, lasers (diode), wide format cutter, wide format laminator, dye sublimation printers, white toner laser printer, etc. Truly a hands on learning environment and so much fun!

Not sure where you're based, but I would recommend Resolute ( https://www.resolute.ink ) as good entry level machines.

But as the other comment says, the maintenance is a lot more regular than most other inkjet based printers. Not difficult, but way more important for good print quality, in my experience.

 

[GamecockGrafx]

Not sure where you're based, but I would recommend Resolute ( https://www.resolute.ink ) as good entry level machines.

But as the other comment says, the maintenance is a lot more regular than most other inkjet based printers. Not difficult, but way more important for good print quality, in my experience.

Looks like nice equipment, but we're in USA (SC) and are prohibited from doing business outside of USA. Thanks!

 

[JBurton]

On a side note, my class consists of wide format printing equipment (Latex), embroidery machines, heat presses, lasers (diode), wide format cutter, wide format laminator, dye sublimation printers, white toner laser printer, etc. Truly a hands on learning environment and so much fun!

That's wild! Gotta ask what size school and budget your department has. My school had the traditional vocational classes, but to have classes of even marginally educated students graduating every year would be a godsend. I'd reckon your department got its start when someone figured out how cheap banners are to make in house for the FOOTBALL TEAM!!!! Am I right?

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

Working on school equipment is terrifying at times, but it's great for finding the weirdest problems and 'fixes' that you'd almost never find elsewhere. Then again, I did just put new dampers in a printer that had zipties and twist ties holding the tubing directly on the head ports. That was special, but it was also a franchise shop, so cheapness knows no bounds.

 

[JBurton]

zipties and twist ties holding the tubing directly on the head ports.

Nothin wrong with zipties most of the time, but twist ties? (Though I have no room to talk, I just double stuck that sensor back on my 560 earlier today, ain't no shame up in my game...)

 

[geezer]

Very lucky students to have all of that equipment to learn on! Hopefully they will be interested in the sign or garment printing business after high school. I'm so old that I remember we were issued a dead chicken and a piece of string to pull it around the parking lot with
. Road maintenance training they said...

 

[hybriddesign]

Hi,

We have two Mimaki TXF300 printers and researched the hell out of the i3200 based imported printers. I think it's a great idea to buy one but you really need to know that NONE of the machines out there are 100% trouble free and you're going to have issues no matter what you buy. I think the Mimaki printers are least problematic but they are big and fairly expensive. We're having issues with one of ours and Mimaki support isn't great (it never has been even with our other Mimaki printers in the past). That being said, if you buy a i3200 based printer you will have issues with color drop outs, blown heads, that sort of thing fairly often. Once you figure out how to deal with it you get over it and just know what to do each time but you'll likely be the one stuck doing it versus the kids. We print DTF for our own use and also sell via alohadtf.com and at least half of our clients who buy DTF transfers actually own DTF printers but have a hard time keeping them running consistently and because of that they order from us. We're in Hawaii and a ton of schools out here now have DTF printers and many of them have Mimaki printers. Yet, many of those schools order transfers from us.

All I'm trying to say is that you should know that you're walking into an area of printing that isn't perfected yet. Make sure you have good local support and a lot of personal patience.

Also, DTF dryers are LOUD. They make a high pitched whining noise, or at least all of them that I've seen do. You may not be able to stick them in a classroom and expect to also be using the classroom for other things. I'm guessing the cheaper machines that don't have vacuum film hold down systems are a lot quieter but most of the better ones do.

Shurez Peacock is a re-branded Chinese machine. Nothing wrong with that but again, buy based on the level of support you think the seller is going to give you as all the machines will have some issues.

We actually buy our supplies straight from one of the OEM companies but buy a few pallets at a time. They manufacture the machine that M&R sells as well as Coastal Business and others.

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

One of the first machines I trained on with Mimaki was the TXF series and I was sorely disappointed with the machine. It's just a JV150/300 with some new plastics on it and some different parameters. Heads are going to get nuked regardless of your DTF setup, the rubberized ink is always going to suck to unclog. At over $2500/head, and an ancient 2008 era Epson designed head with less nozzles, smaller print path and generally harder to source, it was a no-win for me. That said, the one advantage they do have is the new circulation dampers. Circulates the white ink just a bit closer to the head (but not inside the head), so a slight advantage there. While I miss out on commissions not recommending Mimaki machines, I also find service calls to be about equal. That said, I REALLY do what I can to make sure people use DTF printers often and train them to be rigorous in maintenance and cleaning. Ink also plays a key role, and adding 10 micron filters is something I do to all Chinese printers. Since there's no real warranty, mods are great.

This is where it comes to support, Mimaki is well established and will take decent care of you if you get a good dealer.