The independent supplier of electronics and software to drive industrial inkjet printheads said its new DropWatcher range of products are turnkey systems for evaluating and optimising printhead and ink combinations, using proven electronics that can be transferred straight from the lab to manufacturing.
Driven by a single Windows 10 PC, Meteor said DropWatchers are “an essential tool for printhead waveform characterisation and development”.
Incorporating easily interchangeable printhead mounts, printhead drive electronics and intuitive software with Meteor’s existing user interface, DropWatchers support all major industrial inkjet printheads from Fujifilm Dimatix, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Ricoh, Seiko Instruments, Toshiba TEC and Xaar.
“Ink manufacturers and print system developers will now benefit from a cost-efficient way to visualise and measure drops in flight while adjusting printhead waveform parameters in real time,” said Meteor product manager for DropWatching Systems Matthew Pullen.
Separately, the company has augmented its software portfolio with the integration of Harlequin Host Renderer and ScreenPro, both of which were developed by Global Graphics Software – the business that acquired Meteor in 2016.
Harlequin Host Renderer is said to enable seamless, high-speed printing of a wide variety of native file types, including PDF and PostScript. The Harlequin RIP can be used in markets including packaging, coding, books, transpromo, commercial print, labelling and decor.
With this integrated RIP, formats such as PDF, PostScript, EPS, TIFF, JPEG, PDF/X and PDF/VT can be printed using any industrial inkjet printhead powered by Meteor’s electronics.
Finally, Meteor said the integration of ScreenPro, an ultra-high-speed screening engine, enables the company to adapt contone data so that ink does not clump, coalesce, chain or produce streaks on the media. Advanced Inkjet Screens are available for different substrates including ‘Pearl’ for absorbent media and ‘Mirror’ for non-absorbent media.
In October Meteor launched the HDC-SG600 head driver card (HDC), printhead evaluation kit and waveform development kit for Fujifilm’s Dimatix SG600 printheads.
Earlier in the year it had announced its support for Xaar’s High Laydown (HL) technology for the company’s 2001+ and 1003 printheads and introduced the HDC-GMA99 head driver, for use with Fujifilm Dimatix Samba GMA 99 printheads.
The 35-staff business relocated to a new, larger office at the Harston Mill complex in Harston, near Cambridge, in May and held an official opening event in September.
