roland UI-1000F vs Mimaki 600

[jelazc]

So I am not new to UV and flatbeds, had 2 Dilli before and currently have a Mimaki 500 but I need to increase my production time and output.
I checked Flora, Vanguard, Epson and HP and pretty ready to get the Mimaki 600 but today I got a call by Roland distributor that They lowered the price to 100K and while it is has half the speed of the 600, it is cheaper... but I can not find any reference in the forums on the Roland UI-1000F. I have an excellent relationship with my Mimaki dealer, and tech support is not an issue. But I know Roland is a good brand, I had 7 Roland solvent printers back in the day before changing to mimaki, epsons and hp latex, so It does make me think... Any experience on this one?

 

[Solventinkjet]

I'd look for a printer that has the same print speeds with the fewest heads possible. Did you not like the Vanguard printers? The only reason I bring it up is because the JFX600 has 12 very expensive heads and if you don't take care of the meticulously, they will fail on you. I believe the Vanguards have similar speed with fewer heads. Plus there are only a few techs who have the skills to align those 12 heads so make sure your local tech is confident they can do it. I've seen experienced techs struggle with 4 heads let alone 12.

 

[jelazc]

I'd look for a printer that has the same print speeds with the fewest heads possible. Did you not like the Vanguard printers? The only reason I bring it up is because the JFX600 has 12 very expensive heads and if you don't take care of the meticulously, they will fail on you. I believe the Vanguards have similar speed with fewer heads. Plus there are only a few techs who have the skills to align those 12 heads so make sure your local tech is confident they can do it. I've seen experienced techs struggle with 4 heads let alone 12.

They are nice and the magnetic rail does make them faster but at 2 pass (8 print heads) it was doing around 20 boards/hr , the JFX600 I am looking at the configuration with no white so it's 16 printheads and at 2 pass around 60 boards/hr (but it is more like a draft mode) 4 pass prints more than 30 boards/hr (with nice quality). I do agree that more printheads means more risk I do see your point. I have only replaced 2 heads in the JFX500 in 5 years... I would hope not to have that issue.

 

[Solventinkjet]

They are nice and the magnetic rail does make them faster but at 2 pass (8 print heads) it was doing around 20 boards/hr , the JFX600 I am looking at the configuration with no white so it's 16 printheads and at 2 pass around 60 boards/hr (but it is more like a draft mode) 4 pass prints more than 30 boards/hr (with nice quality). I do agree that more printheads means more risk I do see your point. I have only replaced 2 heads in the JFX500 in 5 years... I would hope not to have that issue.

I agree. As long as you take care of them the heads should last a while. I have a customer who mixes old ink with new ink and doesn't maintain it very well and we are putting heads in every 1 or 2 years it seems and that's on a JFX200!