Mimaki is using Viscom Italia this week to introduce a 1.8m belt-type printer for short run textile printing. The Tx300P-1800B can run with five different ink types: the Sb420 Sublimation Dye Ink, designed to work with polyester-based textiles, either direct to fabric or to a sublimation paper; Dd400 Dispersion Dye Ink for high light-fastness and build-up on polyester and micro-polyester;
the TP400 Textile Pigment Ink for printing onto to a variety of textile types - and which removes the need for steaming or washing; the Rc400 Reactive Dye Ink, suitable for printing on natural fibres; and the Ac400 Acid Dye Ink which is similar to Reactive Dye Ink in that pre/post-treatment of the fabric is needed.
The Tx300P-1800B is capable of printing at up to 50m2/hr, and has a top print resolution of 1,440dpi. An adjustable high head gap has been designed to prevent head strikes and enable printing on thick, woven or fabrics with ‘raised’ fibres. The belt conveyance system incorporates a “crumple-free roller” and “paste roller” to ensure stable print results.
A waveform control function allows each ink to be jetted according to its own specific gravity and viscosity, for precise placement of ink droplets onto the fabric. Uninterrupted continuous operation is catered for by the inclusion of a Nozzle Control Unit to automatically detect and recover clogged nozzles with reduced wastage - and the machine also uses 2l ink packs.
Mimaki believes that the upturn in online shopping brings with it a growing demand for the creation of custom products, and that accordingly, enterprising garment makers are looking for cost-effective solutions that will help them meet the demand for sample production, short runs and bespoke prints.