briandorsett
New Member
I thought I would chime in here. I am a complete newbee to printing. However, I am very experienced and knowledgeable with regard to microcontrollers, electronics, etc. Especially with regard to high security microcontrollers. I have very in-depth knowledge of delayering the integrated circuit itself, and reverse-engineering the chips at the gate level using a scanning electron microscope. I was responsible for most all of the DirecTV smartcard hacks between 2001 and 2005. I was subsequently prosecuted and did my time. I personally owned the SEM, and sadly it was confiscated by Homeland. (I'll get to my point, I'm just establishing a bit of credibility here)
I recently became interested in printing, because I ended up with two old Mimaki printers. Specifically, the models JV3 160SP & JV3 160S. It is a long story, and I only intend to use them for my own use. I am not a sign shop, nor am I in the business, I just like to tinker with things. I also have a need to print a few signs for my father's business.
Anyway, as you may know, the JV3 printer uses the DX4 heads. Along with the printers came about twenty heads in various conditions. Some of them had been improperly cleaned, and of course were pretty much ruined. Others were scratched, dinged up, etc. I took the liberty of completely disassembling the DX4 to understand it's full operation.
Upon initial examination I assumed, just as you all have, that the heads are "dumb" since they appear very basic at the board level. However, on the Kapton that connects the head itself to the board, inside the head block and sandwiched between metal plates, you will discover a silicon chip on each channel of the head. I have not removed the chip and examined it yet, and on this old head it may be a simple multiplexer, switching circuit, driver, etc. I don't know yet. However, there is absolutely nothing stopping Epson from putting a VERY complex, and HIGHLY secure processor on that innocent looking slab of silicon. Extremely powerful processors today take up very little real estate on silicon and can be a complete "system-on-chip" generating and managing it's own power, clock, crypto-engine, etc. I can pretty much assure you, this is what they are doing with the new heads. Don't let the simple circuit board fool you. They have a chip buried inside the head, even in the DX4.
Now, with all of that said, there is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from reverse-engineering even the most secure head they currently produce, or any new product they will produce in the future. You just need to know how to do it, and have the proper equipment. In addition, one will need to research the criminal and civil liabilities that may be involved in such activities. I will note though, many laws and other loopholes do allow such things, especially with regard to companies that intentionally "lock" their products limiting their use by the full and legal owner of the purchased end-product.
I am very interested in this subject and would like to learn more about what heads are out there, what security is involved, and the benefits you all would gain from "understanding" their technology and having the ability to communicate with these print heads without any restrictions, limits, encryption, etc.
Feel free to reply here, PM, or email me if any of this interests you guys. I am not making a sales pitch at all, I am just tinkering and would like to learn more about what is out there, and how we can use it. Maybe even build an "open-source" printer for all of us to take advantage of.
-Brian
brian.dorsett@gmail.com
I recently became interested in printing, because I ended up with two old Mimaki printers. Specifically, the models JV3 160SP & JV3 160S. It is a long story, and I only intend to use them for my own use. I am not a sign shop, nor am I in the business, I just like to tinker with things. I also have a need to print a few signs for my father's business.
Anyway, as you may know, the JV3 printer uses the DX4 heads. Along with the printers came about twenty heads in various conditions. Some of them had been improperly cleaned, and of course were pretty much ruined. Others were scratched, dinged up, etc. I took the liberty of completely disassembling the DX4 to understand it's full operation.
Upon initial examination I assumed, just as you all have, that the heads are "dumb" since they appear very basic at the board level. However, on the Kapton that connects the head itself to the board, inside the head block and sandwiched between metal plates, you will discover a silicon chip on each channel of the head. I have not removed the chip and examined it yet, and on this old head it may be a simple multiplexer, switching circuit, driver, etc. I don't know yet. However, there is absolutely nothing stopping Epson from putting a VERY complex, and HIGHLY secure processor on that innocent looking slab of silicon. Extremely powerful processors today take up very little real estate on silicon and can be a complete "system-on-chip" generating and managing it's own power, clock, crypto-engine, etc. I can pretty much assure you, this is what they are doing with the new heads. Don't let the simple circuit board fool you. They have a chip buried inside the head, even in the DX4.
Now, with all of that said, there is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from reverse-engineering even the most secure head they currently produce, or any new product they will produce in the future. You just need to know how to do it, and have the proper equipment. In addition, one will need to research the criminal and civil liabilities that may be involved in such activities. I will note though, many laws and other loopholes do allow such things, especially with regard to companies that intentionally "lock" their products limiting their use by the full and legal owner of the purchased end-product.
I am very interested in this subject and would like to learn more about what heads are out there, what security is involved, and the benefits you all would gain from "understanding" their technology and having the ability to communicate with these print heads without any restrictions, limits, encryption, etc.
Feel free to reply here, PM, or email me if any of this interests you guys. I am not making a sales pitch at all, I am just tinkering and would like to learn more about what is out there, and how we can use it. Maybe even build an "open-source" printer for all of us to take advantage of.
-Brian
brian.dorsett@gmail.com
New batch of Epson DX5 printheads don't work anymore, only the older version would work, and eventually they will run out of stock. Each "older" DX5 head is valued at $1,200 right now and it's so hard to buy.
