CDR Sam

Epson Discpublisher PP-100

July 28, 2008 | Duplication Systems

Epson has introduced a new auto-loading duplicator and printing system that promises lower cost per print and better disc picking technology.

The Epson Discproducer PP-100 is a fully enclosed DVD publisher which features 2 multi-format drives for CD and DVD duplication.  The Discproducer holds up to 100 discs in it’s multi bin input/output disc caddies.  Three bins hold 50 discs each (and can be configured in just about any configuration including CD and DVD bins) and also features a Kiosk bin that allows access from the outside of the Epson Discproducer for single disc (up to five discs) output.

The Epson Discproducer features a Epson patented “AcuGrip” robotics disc picker technology that makes sure only a single disc is placed into the disc drive even if two discs are stuck together. the AcuGrip arm has a guide that inserts the picker in the center of the disc and then three independently powered gripers extend to separate the disc on the top from the rest of the stack. A kicker lever lifts the top disc for placement into the drive. If more then two discs are lifted, the PP-100 senses this and removes the discs and places them in the reject stacker.  This helps protect against interruptions in unattended production runs due to sticky discs.

Another major feature of the Epson Discproducer is the ink-jet technology that Epson has incorporated into the system.  Instead of using the standard thermal ink-jet technology that heats up the ink in the cartridge to create a bubble of ink (creating an individual dot) Epson uses a patented technology called MicroPiezo®.  MicroPiezo (somewhat like the joy buzzers at novelty stores) uses crystals that vibrate tens of thousands of times per second.  This forces the ink droplet out of a tiny nozzle in a very controlled manner that creates a perfectly round dot. MicroPiezo technology ensures uniform, stable ink droplets with virtually no satellites or misting.  Thermal inkjet technology tends to create an oval or in the worse case a teardrop shaped dot.

The Epson Discproducer has three publishing modes, External output, Standard output and Batch mode.   External output can produce up to five discs of ether DVD or CD.  Two of the internal stackers are used to hold the discs (50 discs per stacker) which can be DVD or CD or one stacker of each.  Standard mode can output up to 50 discs using the two input stackers to hold CD-R or DVD-R/+R blank discs.  Batch mode can output up to 100 discs.

The disc mastering, duplication and label printing software is developed as a single application although third party label software can be used also.

How much does the Epson Discproducer cost?  A street price of $2995  which includes a set of full ink cartridges.

What’s in the Box? • Epson Discproducer disc publisher • One set of six Epson high capacity ink cartridges • One package of five Taiyo Yuden WaterShield CDs • CD-ROM containing application software, printer driver and User’s Guide • Set-up Guide • USB cable • AC power cord Discproducer Specifications Publishing Speed (burn and print) CD Up to 30 discs/hour, Epson specified CD-R 600 MB data volume, writing speed: Drive max speed 40x DVD Up to 15 discs/hour, Epson specified DVD-R 3.8 GB data volume, writing speed: Drive max speed 12x Publishing Modes External output 1-5, 2 stackers & pick-up tray used (number of copies) Standard mode 1-50, 2 stackers used (autom.) Batch mode 1-100, 3 stackers used (autom.) Print Specifications Print speed Speed mode up to 60 discs/hour, bidirectional Quality mode up to 40 discs/hour, bidirectional Print head Black ink 180 nozzles, color ink 180 nozzles x 5 colors Print direction Bidirectional or uni-directional Print resolution Speed mode 1440 x 720 dpi Quality mode 1440 x 1440 dpi Ink pad life* Approximately 30,000 discs Ink Cartridge Ink type Dye ink Colors Cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, light magenta, black Yield** 1000 discs or more 45-116mm, 16.7% color sharing, continuous printing, mode setting: quality Print Area Standard setting for outside diameter: 116mm Outside diameter setting range: 70-119.4mm Standard setting for inside diameter: 45mm Inside diameter setting range: 18-50mm Guaranteed print area: 45-116mm CD/DVD Drives CD/DVD drives 2 drives Writing speed CD: maximum 40x DVD-R, DVD+R: maximum 12x DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL: maximum 8x Supported Media Size Outside diameter: 120mm ± 0.3mm Inside diameter: 15mm +0.1/-0mm Thickness: 1.2mm + 0.3/-0,1mm Form Supports common 4.7 inch (12cm) discs Does not support specially-shaped discs Type CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL Surface Inkjet printable External Dimensions Width 14.84 inches (377mm), Depth 18.30 inches (465mm), Height 13.70 inches 348mm) excluding AC and USB cables Weight Approximately 52.9 lbs (24Kg), including stackers and ink cartridges, excluding AC cable and discs Software Total Disc Maker – Installed to user’s PC to publish discs Total Disc Monitor – Displays status of jobs and devices Total Disc Setup – Installed to user’s PC to make settings of Discproducer PP-100 TD Bridge System – Incorporation tool to use with other companies’ applications Adjustment Tool for PP-100 System Requirements OS: Windows XP Home/Professional SP2 or later Windows 2000 Professional SP4 or later CPU: Pentium 4, 1.4 GHz or higher, Memory: 512 Mbytes or larger, HDD capacity: 10 Gbytes or larger, 7200 rpm or more Graphic environment: XGA or more, 65536 colors or more Sound environment: a sound device and a supported driver must be installed for music media Interface USB 2.0 (High-speed) USB port: This product cannot be used in a USB port of a PC equipped with some ATI chipsets as follows: ATI’s Southbridge IXP (SB)460 or earlier Expected Lifetimes** Ink pad life Approximately 30,000 discs Burner life Approximately 16,000 to 40,000 discs Warranty 1 year limited warranty * The printer’s ink pad is estimated to become saturated and need replacing after about 30,000 discs. Based on printing 2,000 discs per month, bi-directional. Actual results will vary based on such factors as images printed, print settings, media type, frequency of use and temperature. ** Cartridge yields vary considerably based on images printed, print settings, media type, frequency of use and temperature. For print quality, a variable amount of ink remains in the cartridge after the “replace cartridge” indicator comes on. Discproducer ships with full cartridges and part of the ink from the first cartridges is used for priming the printer. See discproducer.epson.com for more information about cartridges.