StarFire SA-2C vs MA-2C vs MA Printhead Guide

Dimatix StarFire heads all share the same family name, which makes it easy to assume they're interchangeable variations on one part. They're not. The StarFire SG1024 platform alone covers several distinct variants — SA-2C, MA-2C, and MA among them — that look nearly identical from the outside but aren't always drop-in substitutes for each other.

What the StarFire family shares

Every SG1024-series head uses VersaDrop technology (multiple drop sizes in binary and grayscale modes from one printhead) and RediJet continuous ink recirculation, which keeps ink moving through the head so it's always ready to fire rather than settling between print runs. They're built for demanding high-speed scanning and single-pass industrial systems — textile, wide-format, and commercial decorating applications, generally compatible with solvent, UV-curable, and aqueous inks.

SA-2C

The SG1024/SA-2C is a two-color, dual-path head at resolutions up to 200dpi — this is the variant we carry, priced around $3,110. It's built on the same core architecture as the MA-2C below, with two separate ink paths in one nozzle plate for two-color operation in a single head.

MA-2C

The SG1024/MA-2C is closely related: also two-color, also up to 200dpi, with 1024 total nozzles split across two independent 512-channel paths. Published specs put its nominal drop size at 30 picoliters, adjustable from 30–80pL via VersaDrop, with firing frequency up to 30kHz at the smaller drop size.

SA-2C and MA-2C share nearly identical published specs and application profiles. In practice, the distinction between them typically comes down to a specific manufacturing or electrical revision rather than a difference you'd notice in output — which is exactly why you shouldn't assume one is a safe substitute for the other. Always confirm the exact suffix on your printer's documentation or the head's own label before ordering.

MA (single-path)

Without the "-2C" suffix, MA denotes a single ink path version rather than the dual-color configuration — built for single-color industrial applications where a two-color head isn't needed. It is not interchangeable with the -2C variants, since it's a different physical channel configuration, not just a firmware or color setting.

Why this matters for ordering

Fujifilm Dimatix maintains a wide sibling family under the StarFire name — beyond SA-2C, MA-2C, and MA, there are also LA2C, MC, LC, XSC, and the higher-resolution SG600 line, each aimed at different applications from ceramics to sand-casting to high-speed graphics. "StarFire printhead" alone isn't enough to order the right part. Get the full model number — including the dash suffix — from your printer's parts documentation or the label on your existing head before you order.

If you're not sure how to find that on your machine, see our printhead identification guide. If you're still not certain which variant you need, send us your printer's make and model and we'll confirm before you order.

Dimatix StarFire Printhead Variants: SA-2C, MA-2C, and MA Explained