Mimaki JV33 or Roland SP

[Jamie Wood]

The Mimaki JV33 is a better printer than the Roland SP540v, so that’s what I would recommend, although you would be losing a bit of plotting area.

[Robert Lambie]

Cough… cough… splutter…. Roland… Ahem… cough. 😉 :lol1:

😀
Sorry I will add my comments/views to this when i get a moment.

[Daniel Evans]

Don’t leave us in suspense then?

In fact are these 2 the front runners or are there any other printers?

I’m also not fussed about cutting as I have a ce5000-120 although I do get caughout on cutting 1300 vinyl

[Colin Crabb]

Cough… cough… splutter…. MIMAKI… Ahem… cough. 😉 :lol1:

[Ewan Evans]

Thanks for the replys, I’ve bought another Roland SP 300 for now as I’ve now got acess to a Mimaki CJV-130 for my bigger stuff. I don’t have enough wider format requests at the moment so this machine gets most of my printing done until I save enough money for an SP540 i or a VS.

Cheers

Ewan

[Stafford Cox]

Haha, this is like trying to choose your favourite toe!!

I repair both, I don’t USE or sell either. I’m always slightly biased toward Mimaki as I’ve been looking after them for longer and know more about them. However, the SP is a seriously good machine!! If it was me, I’d still go for the Mimaki because it’s a newer generation of printer, plus you already have a cutter. It prints better quality than the Roland (if set up correctly) and will be faster as it uses a single DX5 printhead, rather than the SP that uses 2 x DX4 printheads. If you ever need heads replaced though, a DX5 (genuine) is about £1500, as apposed to a DX4 (genuine) is about £700, but there are 2 of them. Inks and consumables will be about the same price, maintenance is about the same on both. Dampers are more expensive on the Mimaki as they use compression type. Other than that, you’re going to do well out of either. But just to throw you out a bit, have you considered a Mutoh ValueJet at all?

Post any questions you have and I’ll give you my experience of both, but I can only really answer technical questions about them. There are plenty of other on hear who would be able to give you better answers on any usage questions.

Best of luck
Stafford

[Stafford Cox]

Did you make a decision on this, Ewan? I’d be interested in which side you went…

Stafford

[Barry Williams]

quote Ewan Evans:

Hi everyone,

I have been trying to get the funds together for a while now to purchase my own printer for general vinyl & banner printing and it’s now time to make a move. I’m currently looking at purchasing a used Mimaki JV33-130 or a Roland SP540v and can’t decide what one is the better option. I know the Mimaki does not cut but I have a Graphtec Ce6000-120 for this. Has anyone had both of these machines? I had a Roland Sp300 in the past and still have access to it so I fell comfortable using Roland machines but I like the fact the Mimaki has a DX5 head instead of two DX$’s. Any help would be appreciated.

Ewan

Hi all,
can anybody tell me the difference between the SP 300 AND THE SP300V Roland.
I checked two out today and both vendors claim that the 300 has been upgraded to a 300v by changing the Main Board.
Any comments/guidance or are the two models (300 and 300v basically the same?
Regards,
B

[Ewan Evans]

Hi Stafford,

I ended up buying a Sp300v to get me through until I raise more funds. I’m now going to sell it and buy something bigger. I love Roland machines as they are nice and easy to maintain. Myself and a friend of mine fitted a new print head to it last month and it prints perfectly but it’s just a bit too small for me.

Cheers

Ewan

[Ewan Evans]

Hi Barry,

The difference between the two models is the Sp300 runs with Colour rip software due to the main board and the Sp300v runs on Versaworks which is far better. I think the Sp300v also has an upgraded pump.

Cheers

Ewan

[Barry Williams]

quote Ewan Evans:

Hi Barry,

The difference between the two models is the Sp300 runs with Colour rip software due to the main board and the Sp300v runs on Versaworks which is far better. I think the Sp300v also has an upgraded pump.

Cheers

Ewan

Hi Ewan,
many thanks for the reply and it bears out what the vendors have told me in that both machines now run Versaworks.
Going prices for those machines in Ireland apparantly in the £5500-bracket and no idea of their age other than they have been "rebuilt".
Next problem is to find an upgrade to my Mac Flexi 7.7
to perhaps Flexi 8 or thereabouts for my newly acquired PC.
Having been a Mac person for about 20 years the change will not be enjoyed.
Regards,
Barry
Upgrade to Version 10 available at approx £700 but seems a bit sweet compared to various upgrades to Signlab.

[Stafford Cox]

quote Ewan Evans:

Hi Stafford,

I ended up buying a Sp300v to get me through until I raise more funds. I’m now going to sell it and buy something bigger. I love Roland machines as they are nice and easy to maintain. Myself and a friend of mine fitted a new print head to it last month and it prints perfectly but it’s just a bit too small for me.

Cheers

Ewan

They’re a great machine, and I’m sure that with the reputation they have, you’ll get a good price for it without any bother.

Stafford

[tarek88cl]

quote Stafford Cox:

Haha, this is like trying to choose your favourite toe!!

I repair both, I don’t USE or sell either. I’m always slightly biased toward Mimaki as I’ve been looking after them for longer and know more about them. However, the SP is a seriously good machine!! If it was me, I’d still go for the Mimaki because it’s a newer generation of printer, plus you already have a cutter. It prints better quality than the Roland (if set up correctly) and will be faster as it uses a single DX5 printhead, rather than the SP that uses 2 x DX4 printheads. If you ever need heads replaced though, a DX5 (genuine) is about £1500, as apposed to a DX4 (genuine) is about £700, but there are 2 of them. Inks and consumables will be about the same price, maintenance is about the same on both. Dampers are more expensive on the Mimaki as they use compression type. Other than that, you’re going to do well out of either. But just to throw you out a bit, have you considered a Mutoh ValueJet at all?

Post any questions you have and I’ll give you my experience of both, but I can only really answer technical questions about them. There are plenty of other on hear who would be able to give you better answers on any usage questions.

Best of luck
Stafford

Hello Stafford, i’m new to this forum and i have a problem and i’d like to know if you guys can help me.
I have a mimaki JV33-160BS and i have to replace the printhead and i’ve been having some problems finding one, i know its a Epson DX5, but i’ve read on the internet that it has to have a green connector, some say that it has to be locked, some unlocked, i’m pretty confused about it all…
i need a solvent print head o don’t i?
can i simply change the print head and start using "eco-solvent"?
i read somewhere that this mimaki uses the same print head as the Epson R1900/R2000/R2880, is that true?
(it’d be lovely, because it costs about 10% of the original mimaki one. the mimaki is about 1500 euros and the other is about 350 euros here in Chile (yes, i live in Santiago, Chile / South america xD ) )
if you could help me it’d be amazing…

thank you very much in advance, take care…

Tarek Jara Clarke