Buying Mimaki JV3 75 SP2 – advice required, please?

[David Rogers]

They are good little machines when looked after.

Is it running a CMYK or the C LightC M LightM Y Y K K ?

Third party inks should make little or no difference to the output colours.

A big service might run you a few £hundred in parts (third party dampers & genuine wipers are cheap though) depending on what you think you need to replace…and how much stripping down you fancy…only worth it if the heads are in tip-top condition or you’ll end up with banded prints.

The RIP issue – can’t run without some sort although you can get various plug-ins for Corel / Signlab I believe depending on the version you run / how much you want to spend.

A good RIP on its own can be worth a fair bit. We ended up with a server version when we bought our first machine so it’s more than happy driving both out machines at the same time.

In my personal opinion a ’75’ is too small as it really limits you as anything and everything needs joins in the prints.
can’t do an 8×4 or 10×5 without joins or big banners.

have a look around for a 1600mm machine if you have the space (2.5m+) – a good, well serviced JV3 SP 160 can go for about £1800 – older, maybe a little slower but opens up a world of possibilities…oh, and you’ll NEED a laminator – anything from a robust chinese cold roller to many thousands on a major brand (eg. Seal) heater one with spoolers & take-up.

Dave

[Stafford Cox]

It really does depend on the source. I’m guessing it’s on eBay? There have been a few on there lately. It depends what, ‘just needs a service’ means really. I’ve had customers call me saying the machine works fine and ‘just needs a service’ and it’s needed 4 new heads, a new Y motor and pulleys and a new wiper mechanism. If it just needs a service, why not selling it having ‘just been serviced’ and ask for the going rate for it. I would beware personally but that’s just my opinion.

Stafford

[Daniel Evans]

Thank for the reply guys.

Dave: It’s running CMYK

In regards to the plugins you mention, can you not just print just like a normal printer and a profile? I’d rather not purchase a rip on top of the printer as I would like to get a newer one at some point, I just wanted to get started printing my own stuff, anything that needs the colours spot on I can continue to outsource it.

Stafford: This is what scares me, I’m told that it’s been well looked after but it’s time for a service, he also mentioned that moving it can cause issues.

Is there any checks I can do to limit the risk?

In regards to the service, I’ve offered a price and he’s accepted, he was planning to get it serviced but he said that the service engineer he uses is closer to me and there for would charge me less.

Thanks Guys

[David Rogers]

Sadly you can’t run one without a RIP or some sort.

I’d be wanting it serviced before picking it up or at least see a metre of print coming off it live before parting with any cash as well as photos / scans of head test prints. Any MISSING nozzles not good – minor deflections – meh…live with a few.

transport is no big deal – keep it level and tie it down REALLY well in the back of the van. immobilise the print carriage with something as simple as a bit of tape.

Schedule in about £300-£400 for a basic service (estimate) performed by an engineer with genuine Mimaki parts. They are skilled but can’t perform miracles if it’s not a good machine.

Just remember – no RIP and you won’t be able to run it…an idle machine is a money pit and will suck the ink and life out of you just sitting there (self cleaning)!

[Stafford Cox]

Do you know who the engineer is that’s closer to you than him?

I hope it’s a good one, let us know how it turns out.

Stafford

[Daniel Evans]

Hi Stafford

I’ve just this second tried calling you.

I’ve now emailed you.

Dan

[Stafford Cox]

Sorry Dan, I’m with a customer in Norwich today and have no signal. I’ll email you back as and when I can.

Stafford.