Rookie question about print heads.

[threeputt]

Ok, so my tech tells me there are only so many "shots" or "firings" in the life of any print head.

My question is what constitutes a "shot"?

In theory if you were printing a rectangle of say, red 1" deep by 54" wide,
and the heads are putting down 1/8" of pattern with each pass, is that 8 total shots from the Yellow head and 8 shots from the Magenta head?

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

I think what he means is every shot is a drop of ink, that's how I alway's took it. I think heads go way beyond there expected life as long as you take care of your printer.

 

[Robert M]

Shots

I was told a shot is every time an electrical pulse goes to the head. I know that does not answer the question, but want to also say that heads tend to wear out rather then just quit. When they quit it is often an electrical problem caused by a short.

 

[threeputt]

I think what he means is every shot is a drop of ink, that's how I alway's took it. I think heads go way beyond there expected life as long as you take care of your printer.

So, with my example above, when the head fires once and continues to spray ink all the way across the media from edge to edge, would that then be one shot? (one from the magenta and one from the yellow)