LFP - Large-Format-Printing
Integrated printing and cutting device for apparel Printer Cutter TPC-600
Tuesday 05. August 2008 - Mimaki brings another print & cut solution for on-demand business in apparel market with two kinds of ink for transfer printing, which helps establish new apparel business.
Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutting machines for the sign/graphics, industrial and textile/apparel markets, is pleased to announce the new Printer Cutter TPC-600. This unique model is designed by uniting Mimakis legendary and state-of-the-art inkjet and cutting technologies.
Mimaki announced its Printer Cutter line CJV30 series which uses two types of solvent ink (SS21 and ES3) early July. The TPC-600, print width of which is up to 60cm (24″), has been developed based on the CJV30 series which can use two types of ink for apparel: Solvent ink: SS21 and dye sublimation ink: Sb51. Printing on rubber sheets with SS21 solvent ink makes for numbers, team names and marks of sportswear, caps and casual ware. Dye sublimation printing with dye sublimation ink, which has high density and wider gamut, enables print of sportswear, swimsuits and eco-bags. The printing and cutting can meet requirements for variable data, short run orders quickly. In addition, dye sublimation prints can be made on fabrics with 60cm (24″) width and long lengths for tapestry, etc. After printing the sheet can be cut leaving a little bit of half connecting points, which can be easily detached and the necessary parts can be transferred. This enables differently designed print jobs to be executed promptly and helps establish a new business type in the apparel market.
The TPC-600 cuts consecutive contours soon after printing to increase productivity dramatically. A newly developed Auto Media Clamp function varies clamp conditions for printing and cutting: Printing requires several pinch rollers to securely hold the media in place when cutting – this requires two pinch rollers and wider media requires 3 pinch rollers. Four levels of clamp pressure (strong, medium, week and off) are selectable according to the type of media. These conditions can be set from the RIP software and are automatically switched during print and cut. This automatic function eliminates operator guess work and allows for long and continuous operation without additional operator actions.
The Continuous Crop Mark Detection function can deliver high productivity. When substrates are re-set for lamination after printing, an optical sensor enables automatic consecutive detection of crop marks and precise contour cutting can be made aligning each image automatically.
As described in either case of cutting, soon after printing or by re-loading media after printing for lamination, long-time consecutive contour cutting is made possible. This shortens job turnaround times and meets mass production needs.
The TPC-600 uses state-of-the-art technologies already employed in the JV33 series:
The White Ink Overlay Print function uses high density white ink and offers simultaneous white and full color printing. It creates vivid full color images on both opaque and transparent substrates. This expands Mimakis range of applications for print & cut.
With Mimakis UISS (Uninterrupted Ink Supply System), the TPC-600 can utilize two cartridges per color in 4-color mode for continuous printing. When the ink cartridge runs out, another cartridge begins supplying ink and helps prevent the running out of ink. Ink cartridges can also be changed during printing.
To achieve high quality print & cut and fastest throughput using the above new technologies, Mimakis unique RIP software, Raster LinkPro4 SG, and cutting software plug-in for CorelDraw and Illustrator, FineCut ,are bundled. Simple Studio, another included application software, can easily create print & cut data to generate stickers and labels.
“Based on already successful solutions, Mimaki offers a great print & cut solution to make fashionably designed apparels on demand. This is a powerful tool to express their creativity in the apparel business,” says Yukio Ando, General Manager of TA Division.