A Digital Printing Network

Silicone Wipers

Hi! I'm new to this forum. I am from the Philippines and I own a Versacamm VP-540i. Has anyone heard of Silicone Wipers. I came across some suppliers of replacement Roland parts. They are all selling Silicone Wipers. I am wondering though if I should start using this type instead of original but pricey wipers. Also, I am wondering how often should one change cleaning wipers?

Tags: Cleaning, Silicone, VP-540i, Versacamm, Wipers

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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on November 30, 2011 at 7:48am

No familiar with the silicone wipers. I feel they should work, but if they do not how much did you save if you have to replace 4 heads at 1k each. As for replacement, I still have my originals and if you take care of them and clean them when you do your manual clean inning as well as put cleaning solution in the captop you will extend the life with oem parts and have little worries. Some like yo save money now and use third party parts and supplies which cost them more in the long run. I do not have a dog in this fight so give it a try and keep an eye on it.

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Permalink Reply by Butch on November 30, 2011 at 2:34pm

Silicone wipers were designed for the Mimaki JV3 printers. Although they should work doesn't mean they will. If you want the best service from your machine use OEM parts. Case in point, on one of the other forums an owner was complaining about changing dampers and the machine not flowing ink properly. The reason was the Chinese knockoffs did not fit the manifold properly.This would not allow the pump to pull ink.

I'm sure there are aftermarket parts that would work but why risk the headache.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Lo on December 1, 2011 at 1:44am

Thanks guys! I guess you are right about using OEM parts that in the long run, I won't be saving anyway.

But mainly my question is whether silicone can clean better. It is not mainly about the savings. So far, I am still using OEM parts. It is kind of dumb of me to think and ask whether 3rd party parts can perform better. However, while using OEM parts, it did not give me guarantee that my printer head will last longer. I am suspecting that the wipers may have caused the damage. This is why I am asking around about this.

@Mr. Humphrey, you mentioned that Mimaki printers use wipers made from this material. Could it be that Mimaki has stumbled upon a better technology?

Again, thanks for your inputs! Really appreciate it. Learned from it still.

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Permalink Reply by Butch on December 1, 2011 at 7:36am

The Mimaki head is the same style head used on the VC - DX4. They both use a silicone rubber wiper, the VC wipers I use have a felt strip on one side.

Some of the Chinese knockoffs do not have this felt and will curl and harden when cleaned with Roland or other types of cleaning fluid. Looking from above they will look like a quarter moon.

The previous owner of my machine had used non OEM wipers and advised me against it. He said he had problems with ink drops right out of the gate.