Mimaki CJV150-75 Convert to DTF

[idydltd]

Anyone have any thoughts on converting a CJV150 to a DTF machine?
The new Mimaki machine is exactly the same it just has different dampers, I read somewhere there was a guy in the USA doing it.

 

[Solventinkjet]

I believe the other main difference is the heaters. The CJV150 heaters go up to about 122 degrees where the DTF machine needs to get up in the 300 degree range. Other than that it's all about tricking the machine into letting you use the ink.

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

If you just want to slap down the ink, lots of DX7 compatible inks. Just get some refillable carts and load them up. Fun part is the shaker and oven.

 

[idydltd]

I believe the other main difference is the heaters. The CJV150 heaters go up to about 122 degrees where the DTF machine needs to get up in the 300 degree range. Other than that it's all about tricking the machine into letting you use the ink.

Yeah but the print has to go through a powder / curing machine anyway and you can set the temp yourself on the cjv. If there was a rip software for it yoi could do it easily.

 

[hybriddesign]

We have a TxF300 and it would be amazing if we could convert our JV160 over. I'm not sure how it would handle the white ink though as our TxF is circulating ink so often it's a little frustrating but it also manages to have practically zero white ink issues and hums along happily all day long. A single head machine sure would be slow though and I would wonder if it's worth the investment and space (we're in Hawaii and space is $$$$) versus buying a faster smaller unit with 2+ heads.

Can't wait for 3rd party ink to be available for our mimaki. Pricing on oem isn't actually that bad but you change cartridges non-stop with the amount of white ink that printer goes through.

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

White ink is a nightmare without a proper circulation system, had lots of folks ask me to work on their crappy Chinese UV printers and it's always the main issue.

 

[dudeinthemoon]

You can’t make txf from cjv, the machine will not know what to do with cutter head, but I don’t see any difficulties of doing it from regular jv150/300

 

[dudeinthemoon]

And you can add txf recirculating pumps to jv150/300

 

[idydltd]

my CJV150 already has recirculating lines on it, just no software to tell the printer how to lay the ink down

 

[idydltd]

You can’t make txf from cjv, the machine will not know what to do with cutter head, but I don’t see any difficulties of doing it from regular jv150/300

you don't need the cutter head just print without cutting

 

[Dave NZ]

Any Updates? I have a JV300 with 2 heads to convert to DTF. Looking for a good rip software that will handle the colour control. I have a 60cm shaker ready to go aswell.

 

[hybriddesign]

Hi,

We have TXF and solvent Mimaki's and honestly after a lot of experience with the TXF I'm not sure I'd try to convert a solvent. The TXF has enough issues on it's own handling white ink and it's a purpose built machine for that. I'd imagine that a converted JV300 would be a hot mess. We converted our old JV300 to solvent and back to sublimation a few times and that wasn't that bad but DTF white ink is a PITA. I've got one paperweight TXF300 that's only a half year old with continuous white ink issues.

That being said, we demo'd printfactory and that'll easily handle your rip side for DTF and works well with Mimaki. It's a monthly subscription. We're sticking with Cadlink just because it's been insanely busy and we don't have time to switch but printfactory has some nice features.

At least on the West Coast this is the Printfactory guy:
John Meggitt
Managing Director
15679 N 83rd Way
Suite 3
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
248-767-3952
john@nthdegreeusa.com

Tai