How many print heads does an iPF755 require? Surprisingly, only one. The entire Canon iPF 5-color technical plotter only utilizes one durable print head to produce all colors.

 

This is a far cry from the HP model of using multiple print heads. The Canon PF print heads are designed for long use. Canon offers a print head warranty on each new plotter for 1-year or one trillion dots, whatever comes first. But, to truly appreciate the Canon print head and ink technology, let's explore it a bit.

 

Each Canon iPF technical and general-use printer has these attributes.

• 5-color C,M,Y, gloss BK (dye), MBK (pigment)
• Reactive Ink Technology
• +/- 0.10% Line accuracy, 0.2mm line width
• High Resolution Output, up to 2400x1200dpi
• 2 Channels of pigment Matte Black for high productivity
• Durable print head with 15,360 nozzles

 

Canon also incorporates a reactive ink technology in its inking systems. This ensures proper adhesion of the black pigment particles to the printing substrate.

 

Reactive Inks

Here's something to think about. How often have you been working on that big project with a tight deadline only to find out that your plotter is about to run out of ink? Traditionally, you would potentially have to sacrifice that job to replace the ink.

 

This is where the Canon R&D guys earn their pay. Each Canon iPF printer utilizes a sub-ink system consisting of an intermediary reservoir. This sub-ink unit will allow you to change ink tanks "on the fly" without stopping the machine or interrupting your print job. Pretty cool, eh?

 

Here's a tip to keep your ink system healthy and prevent failures...keep your printer "powered on". That's it! The iPF printers are intelligent enough to run a self-diagnostic check to ensure that ink flows and the print nozzles stay in good working order.

 

Some people will want to turn the unit off during idle times because it is thought to conserve ink. But don't believe the hype. You will be much better off consuming a little ink to keep your system healthy!

Kevin Vaughan
Post by Kevin Vaughan
December 15, 2010
Kevin Vaughan is the Vice President of TAVCO and heads up Sales, Digital Marketing, and E-Commerce channels. With over two decades of experience, he has received various awards for sales performance and channel growth. Published articles focus on AEC technologies including laser scanning, 3D cameras, CAD software, and large format plotters. When he is not geeking out on new technologies, you can find him hanging with his wife and kids, playing guitar, or Scuba diving.

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