Japan’s Konica Konica head, the company first focused on video and was involved in the production of piezoelectric heads. It has also been successful in hardware facilities. It entered the country earlier and is a mature head.
There are three main types of KM 512 print heads: (UV, solvent, oil-based ink, and water-based ink can be used) The printing width is 36mm
1. The ignition frequency of KM 512 LN (LH) 42PL is 7.60KHZ
KM512LNX 35PL
2. KM 512 MN (MH) 14PL ignition frequency is 12.8KHZ
3. KM 512SN (SH) 4PL ignition frequency is 23.0KHZ
KM512 water-based head:
KM512i MAB 14PL ignition frequency 20KHZ
KM 512 LAX 30PL
KM512 MAX 14PL
KM1024i MAE is the upgrade head of KM512i
There are two main types of heads for KM 256: a printing width of 36mm
KM 256LN 42PL Ink drop size 42PL
KM 256MN 14PL drop size 14PL
The main heads of KM 1024 are: (grayscale 8 levels) printing width 72mm
KM 1024MNB/14PL Droplet size 14PL for solvent and oil-based inks
KM1024SHB/6PL Ink drop size 6PL applied UV ink
KM 1024MHB/14PL Ink drop size 14PL applied UV ink
KM 1024LHB/42PL Ink drop size 42PL applied UV ink
KM 1024i MHE 14PL four rows of 256 Nozzles, ink droplet size 14PL, ignition frequency 35KHZ. For high-speed industrial printing, single printing, 75m/min, 360dpi, and 3-level grayscale, the launch of this head is mainly used in industrial variable data codes, textile printing, ceramic inkjet printing, and other emerging industries, such as rapid industrialization.
KM1024i LHE 30-210PL, suitable for glaze in the ceramic industry. Similar to the function of the Dimatix SG1024LC.
KM1800i printhead: new high-speed printing inkjet head
1776 Nozzles, printing width of 75mm, high density of 600npi, maximum ignition frequency of 84KHZ, 8-level grayscale, 3.5PL ink droplets, compatible with UV ink, this inkjet printhead is a competitor of the same level as xaar1001, Kyocera KJ4 printhead, At present, the Truepress Jet L350UV label printing machine of the Japanese screen company has adopted this print head.
KM 216 DPN/15PL Ink drop size 14PL Printing width 36mm
KM 206 DPN/6.5PL Ink drop size 6.5PL Printing width 36mm
KM128SNG-MB, the new head
In fact, it is an upgraded version of KM206/216DPN. The ink droplet is only 1PL, the printing width is 38mm, 128 Nozzles, the Nozzle spacing is 300um, the ignition frequency is 15KHZ, and the applicable ink viscosity is 1-5mPa per second. It is used for the first time in the Nozzle plate processing. Silicon MEMS technology. The application targets of the new head are the circuit (Patterning) of organic EL displays, thin film coating of organic EL lighting, and new products such as display screens for smartphones that require high definition.
Features of Konica Sprinklers:
1. The head is a double-row ink inlet tube with uniform flow and pressure. Guaranteed print quality. Some brands are single row.
2.512 Konica head is a fully enclosed head, waterproof, and anti-aging. Some brands of sprinklers are semi-naked or exposed.
Technical Analysis of Konica Minolta KM512 Series Printheads
1. Basic Printhead Parameters
Number of Nozzles: 512 (256 × 2-row arrangement), resolution 360 dpi (180 dpi × 2 rows)
Print Width: 36.0 mm, suitable for narrow-format high-precision printing
Nozzle Pitch: 70.5 μm (141 μm × 2 rows), supporting high-density inkjet printing
Driving Method: Piezoelectric drop-on-demand ink supply, compatible with oil-based, solvent-based, and UV-curable inks
2. Model Comparison and Characteristics
Model | Droplet Volume (pl) | Firing Frequency (kHz) | Grayscale Capability | Application Scenario |
KM512L | 42 | 7.6 | Single drop (binary) | High-viscosity UV inks, coarse-line printing |
KM512M | 14 | 12.8 | 4-level grayscale | Balanced speed and precision (e.g., labels, packaging) |
KM512S | 4 | 23 | 8-level grayscale | High-resolution images (e.g., photos, artworks) |
3. Technical Highlights
Multi-ink Compatibility
Supports UV, solvent, and oil-based inks. Some models are equipped with built-in heaters to accommodate high-viscosity inks.
Grayscale Control
The M and S models achieve smooth tonal transitions through 4-level and 8-level grayscale control, improving image depth and layering.
High-Frequency Driving
The S model supports a firing frequency of 23 kHz, making it suitable for high-speed printing, though it requires balancing droplet volume and resolution.
4. Application Recommendations
KM512L
Suitable for industrial UV printing, such as signage and rigid material printing, but its grayscale capability is limited.
KM512M
Recommended for labels and flexible packaging, where both speed and print quality are important.
KM512S
Suitable for high-precision textile printing or fine art reproduction, but it should be used with low-viscosity inks.
5. Notes and Precautions
Ink Compatibility
UV inks require verification of printhead corrosion resistance, while solvent inks require attention to evaporation speed.
Maintenance Cost
High-frequency operation (such as with the KM512S) may increase printhead wear, so regular calibration and maintenance are required.
Konica Minolta MEMS Array Printhead Technology Analysis
1. Core Parameters and Design Features
- Nozzle Configuration: 1024 nozzles supporting 1200 dpi (high-precision mode) or 600 dpi (high-speed mode). Printing width is 21.65 mm for a single printhead or 43.3 mm for dual printheads in parallel.
- Drive Technology: Silicon piezo MEMS top-plate mode, achieving high-density nozzle layout via micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Firing frequency ranges 80–100 kHz (high precision) or 55–65 kHz (high speed).
- Droplet Control: Supports 2–3.5 pL (high-precision) and 5–7 pL (high-speed) droplet volumes to accommodate diverse application requirements.
2. Ink Compatibility and Industrial Adaptation
- Multi-type Ink Support: Compatible with solvent-based, oil-based, UV-curable, and aqueous inks (viscosity 3–10 cP), covering mainstream industrial printing needs.
- UV Ink Optimization: MEMS structure offers strong corrosion resistance, ensuring stable ejection of high-viscosity UV inks with curing times as fast as 0.1 seconds.
3. Technical Advantages and Industry Applications
- Resolution and Speed Balance: 1200 dpi mode is suitable for artwork reproduction, while 600 dpi mode supports high-speed production such as labels and packaging.
- Compact Design: The 21.65 mm narrow-width printhead allows easy integration into compact devices, reducing overall printer design complexity.
4. Comparison with Traditional Printheads (e.g., KM512 Series)
- MEMS vs. Piezoelectric: MEMS technology achieves higher nozzle density (1024 vs. 512) via silicon microfabrication but requires verification of long-term durability.
- Energy and Cost: MEMS printheads may reduce driving power consumption, though initial manufacturing costs are higher.
5. Potential Challenges
- Maintenance Requirements: High-frequency operation (100 kHz) may increase wear, requiring regular calibration.
- Ink Adaptation: Aqueous inks need verification for stable ejection at low viscosities (3 cP).
6. Recommended Applications
- High-Precision Scenarios: Artwork reproduction, medical labeling (1200 dpi + 2–3.5 pL droplets).
- High-Speed Production: Packaging printing (600 dpi + 5–7 pL droplets, UV-curable).