EFI Rastek T1000 is 4x8’ improved version of Raster Printers Daytona T600

EFI purchased Raster Printers and renamed it Rastek.

The Rastek T1000 (seemingly minus the name Daytona) is a 4x8’ update of the smaller Daytona T600.

The original version of the T600 and T1000 use high quality Spectra M Class printheads (MEMS technology). But MEMS printheads are a new and complex technology. Unfortunately MEMS printheads have two issues, best and first known from the X2 printhead of HP Scitex. The MEMS heads of Specta, although different, have similar problems. So most printers that started with MEMS heads are gradually switching to other printheads.

The beta version of the EFI Rastek T1000 UV-cured flatbed inkjet printer uses high quality Spectra M Class printheads (MEMS technology). But the production model will switch to a different printhead. SGIA 2008.

Rastek T1000 offers impressive print quality

The print quality of the EFI Rastek T1000 and the InkTec Jetrix were the two printers at SGIA that had the absolute best quality.

The Oce Arizona 350 GT is also among the best quality at SGIA ‘08. Various Durst Rho combo style UV flatbed printers have the highest quality of any combo printer at SGIA ’08. The L&P Virtu HD8, which also uses MEMS printheads, was not at SGIA. The HD8 is a remarkable engineering feat, but has more banding that should be allowed for a printer of its price class.

There is presently no FLAAR Reports on the EFI Rastek T1000 because we prefer to do the evaluation at the factory and main demo room, and would need to check the newer printheads also. Since Raster Printers already has plenty of experience with Toshiba Tec printheads, it is not complex to switch from MEMS to Toshiba Tec (if that is the direction that they decide to move).

But in the meantime I can say that the beta version of the Rastek T1000 offers remarkable print quality for photographic images and small fonts.

The Rastek T1000 showed some samples at SGIA 2008.

 

First posted November 4, 2008.