Mimaki TS500-1800 GEN5 Printhead M022653 (Type-D)

The Mimaki TS500-1800 Gen5 printhead (part number M022653) is a genuine Mimaki printhead built on the Ricoh Gen5 platform. Its model code is MH5420/5440, and it’s the Type-D version. The part number has changed over time — it was originally M014140, then updated to M022653, and some suppliers also label it as N221345D. All three refer to the exact same printhead.

When it comes to compatibility, this printhead is mainly used in Mimaki’s wide-format machines like the TS500-1800, TX500-1800B, and TX500-1800DS. Some MTEX Turbo Sub setups can use it too, so it covers a range of jobs from dye-sublimation to direct printing.

In terms of build and performance, the printhead has 1,280 nozzles in total — four rows with 320 nozzles each. The nozzle spacing is about 0.1693 mm, and the density goes up to 600 npi. It uses a D33 stacked piezo (PZT) drive, with a native drop size of 7 picoliters and variable drops from 7 to 35 picoliters. That means it can handle both sharp four-color printing and smooth grayscale transitions. The jetting frequency reaches up to 60 kHz, and the drops fire at around 7 meters per second, so you get a good balance of speed and image quality.

Inside, the printhead has a built-in heater and thermistor for real-time temperature control, with a working temperature up to about 80°C. This helps keep jetting stable across different inks and conditions. The whole unit measures roughly 89 × 25 × 69 mm (not counting cables). The housing and nozzle plate are made from stainless steel, nickel alloy, and epoxy, with a coated nozzle surface for better durability and corrosion resistance. Under normal use, each nozzle is designed to last around 100 billion firings.

Since this is a high-value, core consumable part, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines closely during installation, and pay attention to ink-line cleaning and static protection.

Printer Compatibility

• Mimaki TS500-1800
• Mimaki TX500-1800B
• Mimaki TX500-1800DS
• MTEX Turbo Sub