A Buying Guide of Continuous Inkjet Printers

Here is a continuous inkjet printer buying guide that you may find helpful.

How Continuous Inkjet Printers Work

Continuous inkjet printing is a popular coding and marking option for countless companies today. The non-contact coding process and the wide range of available inks enable CIJ to print on a wide variety of substrates.

During operation, the CIJ ejects charged ink droplets from the printhead nozzles. Piezoelectric crystals break up the initial ink jet into droplets. One electrode then charges the droplets needed for printing, while other droplets are recycled into the ink stream. The selected droplets are then passed through the electrostatic field. Along with the speed of the droplet, the charge from the electrodes determines where the codes and marks will be printed on the substrate. CIJs typically expel up to 120,000 charged droplets per second.

All of this is achieved without the printer touching the substrate directly, eliminating any risk of damaging the print surface. This automatically makes CIJ printers superior to contact printers. Also, because CIJ machines use external ink cartridges instead of traditional ink cartridges, these industrial printers are able to print thousands of pages before they need to be refilled, and they don't incur the waste of replacing ink cartridges. This makes them cost-effective and even environmentally friendly.

No matter what you're coding, you can maximize the benefits of a continuous inkjet printer with a smart and well-planned purchase. This includes asking the right questions and considering your exact business needs.

Several Important Questions to Consider When Buying Continuous Inkjet Printer

1. Where will you use the device?

Unlike portable home printers, industrial continuous inkjet printers are large machines that take up a lot of space and require additional operator space. Some of them even emit volatile fumes during operation. If you are using your new printer with other coding and marking machines, plan ahead and take the time to find the right equipment for your assembly line setup.

2. What is the size of your printed mark?

Another key specification is the line height of the printer. Characters as small as 0.6mm (such as anti-counterfeiting methods) or as large as 20mm (such as carton information). However, are you looking for a machine that can print both at the same time? Try asking about continuous inkjet printers with various line heights. This can help you avoid spending on multiple encoders.

3. How fast is the printing speed?

Buyers often start by checking a printer's line speed. Line speed determines whether your continuous inkjet printer is fast enough to keep up with production demands. Allow some room and choose a printer that is slightly faster than your assembly line actually needs to handle increases or spikes in demand.

4. How complex are your printing needs?

You'll most likely find an affordable printer that can print two or three lines of text. Some inkjet coders can store up to 1,000 messages and print on four production lines. The right printer will not only meet most of your coding requirements, but also be scalable to a degree in case your company launches a new product with a different code set.

Of course new printers usually come with a warranty. However, the cost and exact coverage will vary from machine to machine. Be sure to find a good warranty period and clearly understand its terms.

However, you may still need to consult the manufacturer or trusted supplier before deciding to buy.