Choosing a suitable DTF ink printing solution according to the production scale can be considered from the following aspects:
I. Small-scale production
1. Equipment selection
• For small-scale production, such as personal studios or small custom shops, you can choose an entry-level DTF printer. This type of printer is relatively cheap, usually ranging from a few thousand yuan to ten thousand yuan, which can meet the needs of small orders.
• For example, some desktop DTF printers are small in size and do not take up too much space, making them suitable for use in limited working environments.
2. Ink performance
• Choose cost-effective ink. Small-scale production consumes relatively little ink, so you can choose ink that is moderately priced but reliable in quality to reduce costs.
• Pay attention to the color vividness and stability of the ink to ensure that the printed pattern is of good quality. Since small-scale production may not be able to afford a high scrap rate, the stability of the ink is particularly important.
3. Consumables considerations
• Purchase an appropriate amount of consumables such as transfer film and hot melt powder to avoid a large amount of inventory backlog funds. Reasonable purchases can be made according to the order volume to ensure that there is enough consumables supply without causing waste.
• Consider choosing a lower-cost transfer film, such as a PET film made of ordinary materials. Although the quality may not be as good as high-end films, it can reduce costs to a certain extent for small-scale production.
4. Ease of operation
• Small-scale production usually has limited staff, so it is very important to choose a printing solution that is simple to operate and easy to use. The control software of the printer should be intuitive and easy to understand, and it does not require too much professional technical knowledge to operate.
• For example, some printers are equipped with a simple operation interface and intelligent printing settings, which can help users complete printing tasks quickly.
2. Medium-scale production
1. Equipment upgrade
• Medium-scale production requires higher-performance equipment. You can choose mid-to-high-end DTF printers, which usually have faster printing speeds, higher resolutions, and better stability.
• Consider purchasing a printer with multiple nozzles to improve production efficiency. At the same time, the reliability and durability of the equipment are also important to reduce equipment failures and maintenance time.
2. Ink quality
• Choose higher-quality ink to ensure the stability and consistency of print quality. High-quality ink can provide brighter colors, better adhesion and durability.
• You can work with ink suppliers to customize and optimize inks to meet specific production needs. For example, according to different fabrics and application scenarios, adjust the ink formula to improve the adaptability of the ink.
3. Consumables management
• Establish a reasonable consumables inventory management system to ensure a stable supply of consumables. According to the production plan and order volume, purchase an appropriate amount of consumables such as transfer film, hot melt powder and ink in advance.
• Consider establishing a long-term partnership with a reliable consumables supplier to obtain better prices and services. At the same time, pay attention to the quality and performance of consumables and choose high-quality consumables suitable for medium-scale production.
4. Personnel training
• Medium-scale production requires a certain number of operators, so it is very important to train personnel. The training content includes aspects such as printer operation, ink use, equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Equipment suppliers or professional technicians can be invited to conduct training to improve the technical level and operation ability of employees and ensure the smooth progress of production.
3. Large-scale production
1. Industrial-grade equipment
• Large-scale production requires the selection of industrial-grade DTF printers, which have higher printing speeds, larger printing formats, and stronger stability.
• Consider purchasing highly automated equipment, such as printers with automatic feeding, receiving, and drying functions, to improve production efficiency and reduce manual operations.
• At the same time, the scalability of the equipment is also important, and more nozzles can be added or the performance of the equipment can be upgraded according to production needs.
2. Ink supply
• Large-scale production requires a large amount of ink, so it is necessary to ensure a stable supply of ink. Cooperate with large ink suppliers and sign long-term supply contracts to obtain preferential prices and reliable supply.
• Establish an ink inventory management system to monitor the use and inventory levels of ink in real time, replenish ink in time, and avoid affecting production due to ink shortages.
3. Quality control
• Large-scale production requires a strict quality control system to ensure the stable quality of products. Establish quality inspection standards and processes, and inspect each batch of products to ensure that the printing quality meets the requirements.
• Professional quality inspection equipment, such as color detectors, adhesion testers, etc., can be used to conduct comprehensive inspection and evaluation of products.
4. Production management
• Large-scale production requires an efficient production management system to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. Adopt an information management system to comprehensively monitor and manage the production process, including order management, production planning, equipment maintenance, and consumables management.
• Optimize the production process, reduce waste and unnecessary links in production, and improve production efficiency. At the same time, strengthen the control of production costs, reduce raw material procurement costs, equipment maintenance costs, and labor costs, etc.