DX5/DX7 capping station lifespan?

[Robert Walker]

I’ve just replaced mine on my VS hadn’t been done since I bought it 3 years ago

[Chris Wool]

interesting

on my vs because it has white and silver it will tend to block the pipe work not the actual seal or foam bits.

when i did a manual clean the other day this time using a mirror and a bright light i noticed a build up on the edges of the head which took a bit of shifting. this would have been affecting the seal. and i would not have noticed it with out the mirror.

other thing i do is as the head uses the capping station as a spit area and the pump sucks it dry about every 30 or so passes of the head i add a little cleaning fluid to the pad, not in normal printing but if using white or silver just to thin the deposits.

[John Thomson]

What I am trying to work out is are some better than others? …..if so which supplier is good…..

My printer is an import and the manufacturer reckons 3-6 months lifespan for their capping stations is normal.
Switching the capping station is easy and the oems are less than half the price of Digiprints non oem offering.

I tried non oem on my DX4 head Mimaki and could not get a good seal so reverted to the much more expensive genuine capping station.

If this is the same with the DX5/DX7 unit where do I get a better quality longer lasting unit?

john

[David.Smith]

I know this doesn’t help your question but I tend to use the video on the iphone to get right into the capping station with the flash on, you get a great video and it shows up the slightest bit of fluff or dried ink.

[Reza Faezi]

Mmm, we were advised to change it every couple of years on our Mutoh VJ and we only just changed it a few months ago (after 5 years). We didnt purchase the Original Mutoh capping station 1st time either and we had trouble with it sealing properly. After a few weeks, it seemed to sort itself out (or a little ink built up where the seal was failing)