Konica Minolta KM512 LH 42PL Printhead

The KM512 LH is the “large-drop + heated” model in Konica Minolta’s KM512 series (the L stands for Large drop, and the H stands for Heater). It’s a shear-mode, piezo on-demand printhead that works only in binary mode. It’s a classic printhead, widely used in wide-format industrial inkjet printing

The KM512 series uses piezo on-demand inkjet technology — it ejects ink droplets by applying an electric field to tiny ink chambers made of piezoelectric material, causing them to deform. The shear-mode piezo design with a shared-wall structure both lowers power consumption and allows for a high-density nozzle layout. This high-density design of 360 nozzles per inch is what makes it possible to fit 512 nozzles into one compact printhead.

KM512 LHX is simply a newer name for the same printhead previously labeled KM512 LH — they are the same product. The core specs (512 nozzles, 42 pl, 360 dpi, 7.6 kHz, heated to 55°C) are identical. Some printer manuals and service documents still use the original “LH” name, while newer Konica Minolta documentation uses “LHX.”

The KM512i is a completely different, higher-performance platform from the original KM512. For example, the KM512i uses an independent drive system that can fire all nozzles simultaneously, reaches a maximum firing frequency of 30.4 kHz, has a wider print width, and delivers over 4× the throughput of the KM512 LH. However, the KM512i usually has no heater and is mostly solvent-ink only, so it is not directly interchangeable with the LH.

The Konica Minolta KM512 LH printhead is a robust shear-mode piezoelectric drop-on-demand head built for durability and stable performance. Designed for binary mode operation, it features 512 nozzles, a 42 picoliter droplet size, and a native resolution of 360 dpi.

Equipped with an integrated heater (up to 55°C), the KM512 LH is an excellent choice for oil-based and UV inks, while also being compatible with solvent inks. Its heating capability ensures consistent ink flow and stable jetting performance, even under demanding production conditions.

This is a 100% genuine Konica Minolta original printhead, manufactured in Japan, ensuring long-lasting reliability.

Printers compatible with the KM512 LH

Item	Specification
Technology	Piezoelectric Drop-on-Demand
Native Resolution	360 dpi
Droplet Size	42 pl
Total Nozzles	512 (256 nozzles × 2 rows)
Nozzle Pitch	70.5 µm
Print Width	36.1 mm
Jetting Frequency	7.6 kHz
Ink Compatibility	Oil-based, solvent, and UV inks
Heater	Integrated (up to 55°C)
Country of Origin	Japan