Konica Minolta KM512 SHX 4PL Printhead

The KM512 SHX is the 4PL (small-droplet) model in Konica Minolta’s KM512 series of industrial piezo printheads. The whole series uses shear-mode, piezo on-demand technology — basically, it fires ink by applying an electric field to tiny ink chambers made of piezoelectric material, which makes them flex and push out droplets. The “S” in SHX stands for Small, meaning the smallest 4-picoliter droplet size.

In short: it’s tough and reliable, shear-mode piezo on-demand, runs in binary mode only, and has 512 nozzles with a 4pl droplet size. On the ink side, it works with oil-based, solvent, and UV inks.

About the series

The KM512 family comes in three types — L, M, and S — with droplet sizes of 42pl, 14pl, and 4pl. The SHX is the S type (4pl), which is the highest-resolution, finest-droplet version, so it’s the one you want when you need sharper detail and better image quality.

Both the M and S types can run in 4-level grayscale mode for smoother tones and higher-quality images. Thanks to its special internal design, the KM512 series handles a wide range of inks, including the aggressive solvent inks often used in super-wide-format printers.

Need to buy one or grab the official datasheet?

Check the official Konica Minolta printhead page: konicaminolta.com/global-en/inkjethead/products/inkjethead/512/

The Konica Minolta KM512 SHX 4PL printhead is a durable shear-mode piezoelectric drop-on-demand head, designed specifically for binary mode operation. With 512 nozzles, a native resolution of 360 dpi, and an ultra-small 4 picoliter droplet size, it delivers fine detail and high-quality output.

This model is fully compatible with oil-based, solvent, and UV inks, making it versatile for different industrial printing applications. Also known as the Konica KM512 SHX 4PL, it is a 100% genuine Konica Minolta original printhead.

Printers that use the KM512 SHX (4PL)

This compatibility list is put together from various third-party supplier sources, not official Konica Minolta documentation, so details may vary between sources — please use it as a reference only. To avoid picking the wrong part, just send me your printer model before you order or install, and I’ll help you double-check. And whether or not you end up buying from us, I’m happy to help you confirm the right part for your machine.

Item	Specification
Technology	Piezoelectric Drop-on-Demand
Native Resolution	360 dpi
Droplet Size	4 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
Country of Origin	Japan