Anser Smart Printhead (SPH)1/2" TIJ Printhead
The compact 0.5" (12.7mm) thermal inkjet (TIJ) printhead — Anser’s current-generation Smart Printhead (SPH). It carries its own message engine and web console, so it runs on the Anser X1, on the X1 Lite, or entirely on its own. Ideal for small products and tight line spaces where you need clean date, lot, and batch codes.
Anser Smart Printhead (SPH) — 1/2"
SKU: PH-05-001
Anser's current-generation 1/2" (12.7mm) thermal inkjet printhead, and our standard 1/2" offering. The Smart Printhead is self-contained — it carries its own message engine and web console, so it runs on the Anser X1 controller, on the X1 Lite, or on its own. Networked over RJ-45 with Modbus, and it stitches up to four heads for a taller band — 2" (50 mm) on 1/2" heads, or 4" (100 mm) on 1" heads. Takes the Odyssey 1/2" cartridges. (Anser also builds the T2 Standard, the X1 Lite's everyday printhead for 0.5" and 1" cartridges — ask us if that is the better fit for your line.)
- • Up to 600 dpi resolution
- • Print height: 1/2" (12.7mm)
- • Line speed up to 300 m/min at 60 dpi
- • RJ-45 ×1, USB 2.0 ×1, Mini-DP to DB9 I/O cable (RS-232/485, photocell, encoder)
- • Built-in photocell; 5-LED status indicator bar
- • 204.5 × 38.5 × 73.3 mm — 320 g (0.71 lb)
- • Operating temp: 0°–40°C (32°–104°F)
When the 1/2" head is the right choice
The half-inch print band suits compact codes and small products, fits into tight line spaces, and keeps ink cost per code low — a great fit for single- or double-line dates and lot numbers.
Need taller or bolder codes, or more lines of text? Step up to the 1" TIJ printhead.
Spec it for your line
Tell us your product, substrate, and available space and we’ll recommend the right setup.
Contact usSmart PrintHead Expansion Kit
The SPH grows with your line. A set of add-ons turns one compact printhead into a mobile coder, a large-format stitched array, or a synchronized multi-head line — all on the same unit.
Mobile Kit
Turns the SPH into a handheld coder — mark cartons, pallets, and drums anywhere on site. Mark anywhere, anytime.
WiFi Dongle
Instant wireless connection to NexLink or Xonnect — no cables to run.
ZShape Stitching Bracket
Stitch multiple SPH heads for up to 4" of print height, with clean alignment and consistent large-format quality.
I/O Box
Synchronizes multiple SPH units on one line — one encoder, one sensor, less cabling. Required to use the SPH’s encoder, sensor, and light-tower I/O.
Plus the free NexLink app — control every Anser NexGen printer from your phone and make line-side adjustments in seconds. Ask us to spec the right expansion set for your line.
See it in action
Smart Printhead — embedded industrial coding
A screenless, self-contained coder that embeds into tight machinery — no controller cables, which also makes robotic-arm integration practical. Runs from a browser web console or the NexLink app.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 1/2" TIJ printhead?
A 1/2" (12.7mm) thermal inkjet printhead prints a compact half-inch band of high-resolution coding — dates, lot and batch numbers, and small barcodes. Ours is Anser’s Smart Printhead (SPH): it is self-contained, carrying its own message engine and web console, so it runs under the Anser X1 controller, under the X1 Lite, or on its own.
Should I choose the 1/2" or the 1" printhead?
Choose the 1/2" head for compact codes, tight mounting spaces, and lower ink cost per code — ideal for small products and single- or double-line date and lot codes. Choose the 1" head when you need taller, bolder codes or more lines of text.
Which cartridges does the 1/2" printhead use?
The 1/2" Smart Printhead runs industry-standard HP 45 / 45A / 45si format cartridges — the Odyssey 1/2" line in water-based, solvent, and color inks, at up to 600 dpi.
What can the 1/2" printhead code?
Best-by and expiration dates, lot and batch numbers, counters, and small barcodes — on cartons, paper, films, and many rigid surfaces, with ink chemistry matched to the substrate.
Is the 1/2" printhead the same as the Anser Smart Printhead (SPH)?
Yes. Our 1/2" printhead is Anser’s Smart Printhead — self-contained, and what we ship as standard. Anser also builds the T2 Standard, and it is a current printhead rather than a superseded one: it is the everyday head for the X1 Lite and takes both 0.5" and 1" cartridges. The two suit different setups — the SPH runs on the Anser X1 or on its own, the T2 Standard runs on the X1 Lite — so tell us about your line and we will point you at the right one.
Can the Smart Printhead be used as a handheld or expanded for large-format?
Yes — the SPH Expansion Kit adds a Mobile Kit that turns the printhead into a handheld coder for cartons, pallets, and drums; a ZShape Stitching Bracket to stitch heads up to 4" of print height; a WiFi Dongle for cable-free connection to NexLink or Xonnect; and an I/O Box to synchronize multiple SPH units on one line. Ask us to spec the right set for your application.