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BN-20 Waste Tank / Cartridge consumption – help clarify?
I’ve read on here that the first waste cartridge on a new BN-20 is filled faster than subsequent waste cartridges. The claim for the life of the second waste cartridge is 15 to 18 months.
My BN-20 was installed in early November 2013
The first tank was full and replaced after exactly 6 months.
The second tank is already showing 50% full 4 months after it was fitted.This would suggest that the life of the second tank will be roughly 8 months.
Which is a long way short of 15 to 18 months.Is this typical for BN-20 waste cartridge consumption?
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6 Replies
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Hi Chris,
To be honest there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to these things, it can completely vary due to frequency of usage and ink configurations.
You’re right about the first one usually filling up faster, by the time it has been commissioned and flushed etc you’ve usually filled 50% before you get printing.
When it comes to the ink configurations, white and metallic inks will usually create more cleaning and therefore fill faster. Similarly to the frequency of usage.
It can really vary but you’d probably expect to fill it between 9-12months but can obviously go either way depending on the factors I’ve mentioned.
Hope that helps a little… sorry I can’t be more conclusive but as is often the case in this industry there is no definitive answer without looking a little more carefully at usage.
Simon.
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Thanks Simon,
I have printed some white jobs, but not a great deal.
I’ll have a better idea when the second one is actually full.
I do think claims of 15 months upwards are not at all likely.
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Just having the white cartridge there is going to cause quicker filling as the printer needs to clean more, regardless of how many jobs you’re actually running with that colour.
The white ink needs to be circulated on a much more frequent basis than the standard colours (along with metallic) due to the particles and make-up of the ink.
Simon
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quote Simon Coff:Just having the white cartridge there is going to cause quicker filling as the printer needs to clean more, regardless of how many jobs you’re actually running with that colour.
SimonThanks Simon,
There’s no option to not have the white cartridge there though?
I’m doubting that to be the case?I’m looking after the machine, by the book, by the way.
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Just to clarify… when you originally decided on the machine you wouldn’t have had to have the white, unless you bought it as a 2nd user or ex-demo. When buying new you can double up on the magenta or have a white or a metallic cartridge in there.
Glad to hear 🙂
I’m sure when the 2nd waste cartridge is full you’ll have a good idea of requirements going forward. I hope from the printing perspective you’re getting on well.Simon
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With no previous experience of printer cutters, it was difficult to make the (big) decision for the fifth ink cartridge.
Having now used the BN-20, I am absolutely sure I would have regretted not going for white. It’s a very versatile machine with white.
I’ve already run white overprinted with CMYK onto mirror finish material and double passes of white and then CMYK onto clear vinyl.
The print quality of the BN is very very good too. Better than some VersaCamms.
The speed isn’t an issue for me. Having said that, some of those CMYK and white jobs are a very slow process, and probably a little bit too long winded for some print shops?Another good thing is that more suppliers are doing media in 500mm roll widths, rather than having to ask for larger width rolls to be slit.
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