15
Oct
Epson print heads have made their mark in the digital printing industry thanks to their accuracy, efficiency, durability, and eco-friendliness. Epson offers various printhead options that are compatible with most printers out there. The two most popular Epson printheads in the industry presently are the I3200 and the S3200 printheads. Both printheads have optimal performance, the only difference is their application and suitability to different requirements.
Let's take a look at the advantages these printheads offer:
1. Cutting Edge Technology
Epson’s MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) manufacturing process and thin-film components enable high-precision nozzle arrangement, making the print head fast, high-quality, and durable.
The unique MEMS technology enables the ejected ink droplets to come out as a perfect circle while accurately positioned.
2. Variable-Sized Droplet Technology
Epson’s Variable-Sized Droplet Technology can control the size of the ink droplets. This feature allows the print head to reduce the grain in the picture. The prints are more detailed and smoother with high saturation.
3. High Resolution
The I3200 Print Head can achieve up to 4 color outputs due to its high-resolution capabilities.
4. Durability
The I3200 print head is very durable because of its high-precision technology. It has been specially developed for commercial and industrial applications with a fast turnaround and top-quality printing.
1. PrecisionCore Technology
The S3200 uses the same MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) manufacturing process and thin-film components as the I3200. This technology enables high-precision nozzle arrangement, making the print head fast, high quality, and durable.
The unique MEMS technology enables the ejected ink droplets to come out as a perfect circle while accurately positioned.
2. Variable-Sized Droplet Technology
Epson’s VSDT (Variable-Sized Droplet Technology) controls the size of the ink droplets. This technology makes the prints more detailed and saturated.
3. Productivity
The S3200 print head has a printing width of approximately 120 mm allowing for high production efficiency.
4. Space Saving
The S-shaped design of the S3200 makes it compact, thus your printing operation can be scaled to fulfill larger orders.
5. Easy to Maintain
The S3200 has high-precision positioning holes making replacement and installation convenient.
6. Durability
The S3200 print head is very durable because of its high-precision technology. It has commercial and industrial applications with a fast turnaround and top-quality printing.
Both the print heads, the I3200 and the S3200, are developed by EPSON and both use the same PrecisionCore Technology. What differentiates them is their physical design and sharpness. The S Shape of the S3200 saves more space making the printer compact. Moreover, good ink circulation capabilities allow the printer to run heavier inks smoothly.
Let’s take a look at the differences between the two print heads:
The I3200 has a Micro Piezo head type while the S3200 has Precision Core Tech.
Both the print heads use Aqueous or Water-based inks.
The I3200 is 69.1 x 59.4 x 35.6mm and the S3200 is 150.4 x 30 x 52.0mm in size.
The number of nozzles is the same in both print heads i.e. 3200. The I3200 has 8 nozzle rows whereas the S3200 has 2.
I3200 supports 4 colors and the S3200 supports 2 at 300 dpi.
The I3200 prints at a speed of 8-10 m²/h and the S3200 has a printing speed of 8-12 m²/h.
The print width of the I3200 is 33.8 mm and the print width of the S3200 is 120.2 mm.
Both the print heads under discussion are industrial, but the Epson i3200 printhead size specification is larger. The S3200 Print head nozzle is 4 inches whereas the I3200 nozzle is 1 inch. This means that 1 unit of S3200 equates to about 3.6 unit of I3200.
Epson S3200 print heads are better than the I3200 in compactness, printing speed, and accuracy. On the other hand, the I3200 print head takes the lead in cost reduction, durability, and stability. The S3200 print head usually falls under the high-end customer category whereas the I3200 is in the middle and low-end category.
Low setup cost with good print quality.
Versatile Ink Compatibility
Ideal for Small and Medium Printing Operations
Faster printing due to high nozzle count.
Lacks in ultra HD printing.
Slower printing speeds than the newer, more expensive models like the S3200.
Very High-Resolution prints up to 1200 dpi.
Fast turnaround due to large nozzle count
Detailed Prints
Suitable for industrial use.
Cons:
Higher setup cost makes it unaffordable for small and medium enterprise owners.
Choosing between different print heads can be confusing, especially similar ones. Keep in mind that it is more a matter of suitability than capability. Your choice of the print head depends entirely upon your specific requirements and budget. If you are a small business owner or a hobbyist who wants a decent printer with low setup and running costs, the I3200 print head is more suitable.
On the other hand, if you have an industry-scale setup, you should choose the S3200 due to its high-resolution capabilities and quick printing speed. The quality of the prints and the fast production speeds will make up for the high setup costs making your business versatile and increasing your production capacity.
