Time to buy a printer and need advice.

[Darren Beddow]

Speaking from my own experiences id say pick up a second hand hp latex 26500, Theyre pretty much idiot proof (aside from getting the profiles correct), I looked into solvent but was put off with the longer drying times and apparent waste ink… don’t quote me on that tho as i’m just going from what ive been told. I’m a newbie and thats what i use.

[Graham Scanlan]

Hi Aaron

First of all please don’t invest in the older later hp technology, the printers will be cheap as chips but they are soon to be unsupported so a 26500 should be a no go.

The new generation on hp latex machines are great and do offer many benefits overs eco solvent machines however if your stuck for space Mimaki and Roland do an all in one solution. A separate printer and plotter are more productive. But if your stuck for space….

But food for thought. Your biggest out lay will be the cost of your ink.
A typical price foe OEM ink here in the northwest is between £82 – £90 for a 440 ml cartridge for Roland / Mimaki
And from memory a 775mil cartridge will be a similar price. So more bang for your buck

You will be able to buy third party eco solvent inks for 440ml £50 or cheaper, but all your colour management will be out of the window so a more hands on approach for you.

I’ve sold all the above machines and all will make you money but I feel latex has a lot more to offer ove eco solvent

[Darren Beddow]

Wish i’d known that when i bought mine :shocked:

[Hugh Potter]

Arron,

Nothing wrong with the 315/360/560 latex etc. depends what you’ll be printing for (end use) but with latex you do not need to leave it 24hrs to out-gas before laminating.

Keep in mind you’ll need a laminator and separate cutter – Roland on board cutters are all well and good but for me, I’m keen to be taking latex prints, running through the laminator and chucling hem in the cutter while the printer gets on with printing the next job!

quote Darren Beddow:

Wish i’d known that when i bought mine :shocked:

When did you buy it?

I bought my L26500 four years ago, has served me very well indeed and still prints great, I’m struggling to justify replacing it but realise I’ll have to in time!

Inks will be available fomr some time, 3rd party inks are also available now and will be more common, as much as HP don’t like it, there are still many thousands of L26500 printers (UK alone) so someone will pick up the task of making pattern parts!

[David Rogers]

I know it a horses for courses thing but I’d never have another 54" or smaller.

For the last 8 years I’ve ran 64" (1600mm) and it gives the flexibility to flood up 10×5 sheets with edge wraps, do more with less joins and less wastage.

[Bernard Gallagher]

Hp latex all the way. Had a mimaki before great machine as well. For solvent you have to be busy all the time or you waste time cleaning them.

[Darren Beddow]

Hugh, bought it about 6 months ago and so far very impressed with it. Hopefully as you say aftermarket inks and consumables will be produced for a good while yet

[Aaron patterson]

Hi guys thanks for the replies.

This has certainly thrown a spanner in the works as I was pretty set on the mimaki 150-130.

Having looked at the HP latex printers I has got me thinking. I’m guessing unlike the mimaki these can be turned off and not damage it ink drying etc?

Much easier to maintain? Although the ink is cheaper does it use less?

Thanks again

[Hugh Potter]

quote Aaron patterson:

Hi guys thanks for the replies.

This has certainly thrown a spanner in the works as I was pretty set on the mimaki 150-130.

Having looked at the HP latex printers I has got me thinking. I’m guessing unlike the mimaki these can be turned off and not damage it ink drying etc?

Much easier to maintain? Although the ink is cheaper does it use less?

Thanks again

I just leave mine on 24/7, it goes into standby after a couple of hours, does head cleans as it needs to I guess! I’ve left it idle for two week holidays with no adverse effects, usually just do a quick head clean and print check prior to working..

[Myriam Garrido]

Not sure if Mimaki offer their own RIP as I’ve only really used Roland (Versaworks which is free) but naturally with HP you’ll have to factor the cost of this in too which can be fairly expensive and generally pretty much specific to the printer (give or take a model or two). i.e if you buy a RIP for an LP26500 it won’t be suitable for much later models

[Jamie Wood]

Mimaki gives Rasterlink RIP with their printers. I’ve never used it, but know people who do, and they seem to get decent results. You may be able to get a second user version of Onyx to drive the HP.

[Graham Scanlan]

Another way to think of it is. Your inks saving will pay for your rip, the bought RIPs tend to offer a far better work flow than free RIPs, giving more versatility on ripped images etc .Also another tip is if you don’t have a laminator already don’t be tempted to buy smaller than your printer to save money. Buy a laminator that fits your printer.