Currently, many customers are trying to decide between Epson DX5 and DX7 printheads when purchasing commercial printers, including UV printers. Despite being familiar with micro-piezoelectric inkjet printing technology, few are aware of the specific differences between these two generations of printheads. Understanding the distinctions between various types of printheads can help guide you toward the machine that best meets your needs.
So, which is the better choice among domestic piezoelectric printers: Epson DX5 vs DX7 printhead?
Epson’s micro-piezoelectric printhead is specifically designed for printers and is renowned for its advanced technology. As the inkjet printing industry evolves, piezoelectric technology continues to progress. From the early adoption of the DX3 piezoelectric printheads in China to the current Epson DX7 printheads, advancements are made with each iteration.
However, within Epson’s system, printheads are not categorized by generation; instead, they are distinguished based on their release date. The labeling of different generations of printheads in China is primarily a convention used by domestic dealers for ease of reference.
What is the Epson DX5 Printhead?
The Epson DX5 printhead is a classic choice that is one of the most popular the printing industry. Known for its high precision, speed, and stability, this printhead is a go-to for a variety of alternate use applications, including photo printers, inkjet printers, DTF, DTG, and more. Its versatile performance makes it a popular choice among professionals in the screen-printing business seeking reliable and efficient printing solutions.
DX5 has an 8 channel head. Technology started around 2007 and is still considered fairly current and sold in many machines. Most printers using a DX5 are single head machines which eliminates all alignment issues and only have one capping top and pump. Some multi-head DX5 machines like the Mimaki JV5 are also made but are much more difficult to align and maintain. On these the heads are staggered and the purpose is just for additional printing speed. A single DX5 head can print slightly faster than a 4 head DX4. The DX5 head is twice the cost of a DX4 head and if one channel goes out the whole head (all 8 ink channels) are replaced.
Epson DX5 printheads generally use primary encryption or secondary encryption when used in photo machines, and the price is relatively cheaper. When used in modified universal flatbed printers, unencrypted DX5 heads are generally used. Epson DX5 has been committed to high precision and is famous for its high speed. The specific parameters of the Epson DX5 print head:
The width of the printhead is 24.5mm.
Each printhead has 8 rows of nozzles, each row has 180 nozzles, and the total number of nozzles is 1440.
The printhead is equipped with a unique wave size connection variable printing technology, which can solve the horizontal lines caused by the passage of the image and make the image lifelike.
FDT technology: When the amount of ink ejected from a certain nozzle hole decreases, it will immediately get a variable frequency signal to open the nozzle hole.
The ink droplet size of 3.5PL enables the resolution of the pattern to reach an astonishing 2880dpi, which is comparable to the effect of high-definition photos.
The thickness is as small as 0.2 mm, as thin as a hair. It is not difficult to imagine that no matter how small the material is, the pattern can be perfectly displayed!
DX5 Used In Other Printers
Various Chinese solvent printers use the Epson DX5 solvent printhead.
Here is a list of some of the additional Chinese printers that DX5 printheads work with.
Allsign: AS1802S, AS3202S, E6184
Freejet TX DTG: Freejet TX 330, Freejet TX Plus 330
Galaxy: A1801S, A1802S, BY-1801B, UD-1612LC ,UD-1612W ,UD-161LC ,UD-161W,UD-1812LC ,UD-181LA ,UD-181LB ,UD-181LC ,UD-2112LA ,UD-2112LC ,UD-211LA,UD-211LC ,UD-2512LA ,UD-2512LC ,UD-251LA ,UD-251LC
MEiTu: MT-E1802S, MT-Starjet 5.0
PrismaJet: GE 1802 DS, GE 1802 DSII, GE 1802 S, GE 1802 SII
Rodin: 1804
Smart Color: FT1800
Sunfiner: X4740ASE
Taimes: X2A-7405SE
WER: ES160 ES1802 ,ES2502 ,ES3202 ,ES3202I
Wit-Color: Ultra 9000, Ultra 9010
Xunfei: ME1300 ,ME1600 ,ME900, VE1800, VE2600
Zhongye: DTG
Our DX5 printhead model is compatible with all DX5 based Chinese printers and doesn’t require any decoder.
Product Specifications
- Technology: Micro-Piezo
- Native resolution: 1440 dpi
- Min. droplet size: 1.5 picolitre
- Max. droplet size: 21 picolitre
- Tot. amount of nozzles: 1440 (8 lines x 180 nozzles)
- Firing frequency: 8 kHz
- Ink compatibility: solvent and Eco-solvent based
What is the Epson DX7 Printhead?
This printhead is the old DX7 head model released by Epson early 2014. It is not locked and it is compatible with old printhead control boards installed on printers before the end of 2013. It doesn’t require any chip decoder.
Various Chinese solvent printers use the Epson DX5 solvent printhead.
Here is a list of some of the additional Chinese printers that DX5 printheads work with.
DX7 Used In Other Printers
Sanyi Tech: Starjet 7702L
Wit-Color: Ultra 9200
XENONS: X2, X3, X8126
Product Specifications
Technology: Micro-Piezo
Native resolution: 1440 dpi
Min. Droplet Size: 1.5 picolitre
Max. Droplet Size: 21 picolitre
Tot. Amount of Nozzles: 1440 (8 lines x 180 nozzles)
Firing Frequency: 8 kHz
Ink Compatibility: eco-solvent and mild solvent
It is highly recommended to replace the head cables together with a new printhead.
This solvent resistant Epson printhead is suitable for certain solvent based Chinese DX7 printers manufactured before 2014. This printhead has 8 channels and 180 nozzles per channel. It has a 3,5 picoliter drop size with Variable-Sized Droplet technology. This is the original Epson printhead.
What’s The Differences Between Both DX5 And DX7 Printheads?
First, let’s clarify the difference between the two:
- 1. Nozzle Arrangement. There are 8 rows of nozzles on the surface of the DX5 head, 180 nozzles/row, and the distance between every two rows of nozzles is equal, and the distance between every four nozzles is unequal; while the DX7 head also has 8 rows of nozzles, 180 nozzles/row. rows, with equal spacing between nozzles in each row.
- 2. Application Time. In 2005, Epson launched its DX5 printheads, and in 2009, it launched its DX7 printheads. In other words, Epson DX5 has been in use for the longest time, so the technologies in all aspects are quite mature. This type of model has stable performance and strong durability.
- 3. Speed. The speed of the DX7 head is not much different from that of the DX5 head. After all, they are all micro-voltage inkjet.
- 4. Ink droplets. The highest accuracy of the DX5 head can reach 1440dpi, with high inkjet accuracy, bright colors, small ink dots, and high fineness; while the DX7 head has large ink dots and is not as fine as the former.
- 5. Price. Nowadays, there are not many supply channels for Epson DX5 heads on the market, but DX7 heads are everywhere. Therefore, the price of the DX5 head is higher than that of the DX7 head.
Finally, the properties of the printheads are different. The DX5 is biased towards the field of UV printers, while the DX7 is biased towards the textile and photo fields. Even within the same generation, printheads are also divided into different models, classified according to characteristics such as water-based, oil-based, and solvent-based.
The required ink is several times smoother than the ink required by DX5, and the ink droplet output is several times smaller than that of the DX5 printhead, although the speed and accuracy are higher than those of the DX5 printhead. It should be fast and accurate, and the ink droplets should be ultra-fine, but the stability is far inferior to that of the DX5 head. The machine will be prone to problems if the stability is not good. Users will not recognize the practicality of use.
From the current industry analysis data, users and manufacturers are still keen on the inkjet printing application of Epson DX5 printheads. Why are they so popular among people?
When using the Epson DX5 of domestic photo printers, the printhead does not pick ink. Even if ordinary thermal transfer ink is used, the damage to the printhead will not be great, and the use is stable. At the same time, after many years of actual inkjet printing and technical experience, the control technology of domestic photo machines for Epson DX5 printheads has been very mature, and the print output accuracy is also high and the speed is fast, so this is also the piezoelectric printhead used in many domestic photo printers.
How to Clean Clogged Epson DX5 and DX7 Printhead
Routine maintenance is very important for printers, especially the printer’s printhead. Long-term use, frequent ink replacement, or long-term non-use will lead to problems such as clogged printheads and unclear printing. We have created several videos that show the different ways you can restore your printers printhead back to life!
