Refurbished DX5 head for CJV30

[Danthrax]

G'day everyone,
Been reading the forums and trying to work out whether or not I can use an ali-express "unlocked" refurb head on my 2012 mimaki CJV30-160.

I've seen remarks regarding lock versions and decoder chips etc. And because I'm scouting threw so many threads I've found it really confusing, and thought I should just you guys directly.

Can someone help me determine what I need to be sure of / what I need to purchase - and if the unlocked refurbished heads will work on my machine.

Ps: i use ec3 eco solvent, the heads i am looking at are solvent heads ✔️

Thanks in advance everyone!
Keep up the great work!

Regards,
Dan

 

[SGC]

G'day everyone,
Been reading the forums and trying to work out whether or not I can use an ali-express "unlocked" refurb head on my 2012 mimaki CJV30-160.

I've seen remarks regarding lock versions and decoder chips etc. And because I'm scouting threw so many threads I've found it really confusing, and thought I should just you guys directly.

Can someone help me determine what I need to be sure of / what I need to purchase - and if the unlocked refurbished heads will work on my machine.

Ps: i use ec3 eco solvent, the heads i am looking at are solvent heads ✔️

Thanks in advance everyone!
Keep up the great work!

Regards,
Dan

There’s really no such thing as a refurbished Epson DX head. Refurbished implies there’s something that can be freshened up. There is nothing about these heads that can be tuned up, ready for a second home. Either it was retired because of age or failure. A blocked head that’s flushed for “refurbishing ” did nothing but stress out the seals and nozzle plate. It might even present with an all nozzles test print, but it’s a dead man walking.

I get it, heads are expensive, but at least when it’s new you know everything works.

The market is real soft right now. If it was me I’d seek out a deal on a used CJV150 vs putting thousands into a machine that is full of aging plastics.

 

[Danthrax]

Thanks mate!
I appreciate the reply, and totally understand

This machine was donated to me from a company I worked st previously along with a cjv30-130, the 130 already has a refurb head and works great - the 160 has been sitting quite some time and had a failed power supply board. I repaired the power supply, but cannot for the life of me get a good test print - the nozzle plate (gold thin plate with holes stuck to the face of the head?) Had delaminated from the main head unit. I ultrasonic cleaned the unit and plate, both came up clean as a whistle - i tried a thinned out araldite to glue them back together but clearly I'm to fat fingered to get of gotten the process right...

I'm only doing this for a hobby at this stage, and if I can replace the head for $500-1000 I'll be leaps and bounds ahead in the back pocket

 

[Neil]

You absolutely can use refurbished Epson DX5 heads in the CJV30.
You will need to alter a few service menu parameters, if it's not already done.
The fact that you have a gold nozzle plate sounds like it's an Epson head in there already. Genuine Mimaki have grey plates.

The head you are looking at buying is quite possibly taken out of an Epson R1900, R2000 or R2880 A3 printer and cleaned up.
Should be fine, but you won't get any refunds if it's not.

 

[SGC]

You absolutely can use refurbished Epson DX5 heads in the CJV30.
You will need to alter a few service menu parameters, if it's not already done.
The fact that you have a gold nozzle plate sounds like it's an Epson head in there already. Genuine Mimaki have grey plates.

The head you are looking at buying is quite possibly taken out of an Epson R1900, R2000 or R2880 A3 printer and cleaned up.
Should be fine, but you won't get any refunds if it's not.

That’s the risk you take. Not to say that you can’t dig up a head that’s wasn’t abused or was pulled and responsibly flushed from a water based machine, you certainly can. But it’s 2024, the risk isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago. A clean nozzle test doesn’t tell the whole story, so a “it works great” is always conjecture. Too spicy for my book.

 

[Danthrax]

SGC, certainly. But less than 1/10th as spicy as a new printer haha

 

[Danthrax]

You absolutely can use refurbished Epson DX5 heads in the CJV30.
You will need to alter a few service menu parameters, if it's not already done.
The fact that you have a gold nozzle plate sounds like it's an Epson head in there already. Genuine Mimaki have grey plates.

The head you are looking at buying is quite possibly taken out of an Epson R1900, R2000 or R2880 A3 printer and cleaned up.
Should be fine, but you won't get any refunds if it's not.

Thanks Niel,
Is there anything I should look into in regards to the "locking" or "decoding" i have read about on other threads here on signs101 regarding the "unlocked" refurb I'm looking at?

 

[Neil]

Thanks Niel,
Is there anything I should look into in regards to the "locking" or "decoding" i have read about on other threads here on signs101 regarding the "unlocked" refurb I'm looking at?

Not that I'm aware of. I know Epson came out with 2nd gen locked and even 3rd gen, I think?
When you change the parameters, the machine no longer looks at the head ID to check that it's original OEM.
As far as I know you should be okay. I've put 3 in my machines no problem, but I don't know what generation they were.
If you get an error when you install it, you might need to change the parameters. look me up and I'll send info.
I reckon it's probably already done, being the other machine is using Epson DX5.

Before you install it, make sure everything is working, you should be able to see ink going through the tubes when you do a clean.
If you don't have a good air tight seal, so the pump can suck ink through the head, you'll wonder if it's the head when it's not.

 

[Danthrax]

Not that I'm aware of. I know Epson came out with 2nd gen locked and even 3rd gen, I think?
When you change the parameters, the machine no longer looks at the head ID to check that it's original OEM.
As far as I know you should be okay. I've put 3 in my machines no problem, but I don't know what generation they were.
If you get an error when you install it, you might need to change the parameters. look me up and I'll send info.
I reckon it's probably already done, being the other machine is using Epson DX5.

Before you install it, make sure everything is working, you should be able to see ink going through the tubes when you do a clean.
If you don't have a good air tight seal, so the pump can suck ink through the head, you'll wonder if it's the head when it's not.

Awesome mate!
Thanks a million
I'll post how I go when the refurb item arrives

 

[unmateria]

Dont waste your money on aliexpress refurbished dx5. Are all scam. 6 channel plates glued on 8 channels printheads and things like that. If u buy one, make sure to buy with paypal and prepare to loose more time with the refund. The only thing u can go good is with old printers like 48xx etc, but u have to replace printhead manifold, and again aliexpress manifolds measures are wrong and u have to adjust them cutting plastic etc. Anyway, i wouldnt waste 5€ more in a dx5 machine

 

[Neil]

Dont waste your money on aliexpress refurbished dx5. Are all scam. 6 channel plates glued on 8 channels printheads and things like that. If u buy one, make sure to buy with paypal and prepare to loose more time with the refund. The only thing u can go good is with old printers like 48xx etc, but u have to replace printhead manifold, and again aliexpress manifolds measures are wrong and u have to adjust them cutting plastic etc. Anyway, i wouldnt waste 5€ more in a dx5 machine

Interesting. I've never bought one. I've only ever pulled my own from used Epson printers bought locally. R900 and R2880