Bn-20 is toast. What’s next?

[gepinniw]

I’m a graphics teacher who was using a BN-20, but the print head is toast, so I’m moving on. I already purchased a Graphtec CE7000-40 15” and it’s working great, but I’d like a new printer that can produce water resistant stickers like the BN-20 made. With the Graphtec Printmaster 5 plugin, I’ve been printing on my Epson T-3270 inkjet, but that machine uses pigment inks that can’t print on vinyl and don’t stand up in the rain the way the Bn-20 eco solvent inks can.
I don’t want to get into laminating. What I’d like is an eco solvent printer that can print on vinyl rolls, but without the pain in the neck maintenance of the BN-20.
Does such a printer exist?
The closest thing I’ve been able to find is the MUTOH ValueJet 628MP.
Anyone with experience with this machine?
Bear in mind, price is a limiting factor as well. My budget is around $7000 USD max.

 

[hybriddesign]

Hi, just a note on the mutoh. Maintenance wise I doubt that it will be much different. Must solvent based printers are pretty similar in that regard.

We had a (still have but don’t use) vj628 which is the sublimation variant of the Mutoh. It was simple to use and well made but at least at the time we bought it it lacked a display and we found it frustrating to use with everything being controlled by the rip.

Between the two I’d vote for another Roland. I do wonder if they’ll refresh it soon though

 

[Joe House]

That's the nature of solvent inks. It's one of two technologies currently popular for outdoor durable graphics. The other is latex. You might want to check that out but the smallest I know of is 54" wide. Why not just replace the head on your bn-20?
It's tough for schools that take a 2 or 3 month break every summer. If you're not going to be around to do the maintenance, you should flush the inks out and re-ink it upin the fall. It's an expense, but cheaper than a head replacement.

 

[cornholio]

The only technology to print on vinyl with less maintenance is thermal transfer like Durachrome or Gerber Edge.
That comes with the price of more expensive and specialised consumables and less resolution.

 

[premiercolour]

628MP is well over $20,000. I would buy another BN-20. They are on sale for $4,500 new with warranty. Happy to help if you are in S. California.

 

[balstestrat]

HP Latex 115. I don't believe you can have any less maintenance than that in the low price range.

 

[damonCA21]

All solvent printers will need maintenance. The BN20 is not very well made though, and is really a home hobby machine. Solvent printers are designed to be in use every day to keep ink flowing through the heads, which keeps them in good condition. Look at one of the older Roland 300 models. They are much better made and maintenance is much easier. As long as you leave them plugged in so they can run the cleaning cycles, and print something out once a week or so they will last for years.
I can see it being a problem in a school anyway as they can't really be left completely unattended for days at a time. You need someone to make sure the cleaning is working, empty the waste bottle, check there are no leaks etc...

 

[Gene@mpls]

If you can find a Roland VP-300 [30"] it would be a good bet. Have probably had 7-8 rolands and no issues that we did not cause.

 

[netsol]

The only technology to print on vinyl with less maintenance is thermal transfer like Durachrome or Gerber Edge.
That comes with the price of more expensive and specialised consumables and less resolution.

i love the edge, (we have 3 of them) but, it starts to lose it's charm at the price of the foils, unless you can do process color.
that being said, you can't beat 8 years without fading

i remember seeing the snapple trucks that were the first time i saw that technology in widespead usage
(when they sold that contract to snapple, didn't 3m call it "scotchprint" or something like that?)

 

[Jburns]

Roland did refresh your printer! It's faster, fits your budget, has a cutter.

 

[netsol]

Roland did refresh your printer! It's faster, fits your budget, has a cutter.
View attachment 171795

well, it would HAVE TO BE FASTER!

 

[Jburns]

well, it would HAVE TO BE FASTER!

yeah no doubt. old model was slow as heck

 

[netsol]

I liked the bn-20 when it was brand new technology
it was as slow as the monks who spent 3 days drawing the ornate first letter