CET Color Q5 Series Ricoh GEN5 MH5420 Printhead – 500mm Cable | Q5-250 / Q5-500 / Q5-1000

The Ricoh GEN5 MH5420 (N221414L) is the genuine original Ricoh replacement printhead for CET Color Q5-series UV flatbed printers — covering the Q5-250, Q5-250h, Q5-500, Q5-500h, Q5-1000, and Q5-1000h. With 1,280 nozzles across 4 rows and 600 dpi native resolution, this industrial printhead is the production workhorse behind CET's commercial UV print platform, delivering the throughput and image quality that high-volume commercial print shops depend on.

This is the 500mm total length version (400mm head cable) — the exact cable specification used across the current CET Color Q5 series. Every MH5420 we sell at Digiprint USA is 100% genuine original Ricoh, backed by manufacturer warranty.

This print head is also called N221414R.

Why CET Color Production Shops Choose Digiprint USA

• 100% genuine original Ricoh GEN5 MH5420 / N221414L — manufacturer warranty included

• 500mm total length confirmed — 400mm head cable, the correct version for all current CET Q5-series flatbeds

• In stock in Doral, Miami FL — same day shipping before 2PM EST, minimizing CET downtime

• Volume pricing available for multi-head CET Q5-500 / Q5-1000 replacement orders

• Net-30 PO terms available for established commercial print accounts — request account setup

• Direct technical support from operators who know the CET Q5 platform, not just the printhead

Compatible CET Color Q5 Series Printers

This Ricoh GEN5 MH5420 500mm cable printhead is the correct replacement for all of the following CET Color UV flatbed printers:

CET Color Model	Configuration	Cable Length
CET Color Q5-250	Entry-level commercial UV flatbed	500mm ✓
CET Color Q5-250h	High-speed Q5-250 variant	500mm ✓
CET Color Q5-500	Mid-range commercial UV flatbed	500mm ✓
CET Color Q5-500h	High-speed Q5-500 variant	500mm ✓
CET Color Q5-1000	Production-grade UV flatbed	500mm ✓
CET Color Q5-1000h	High-speed Q5-1000 variant	500mm ✓

Running an older CET Color model not listed above, or unsure which cable length your production unit requires? Contact our technical team with your printer model and serial number — we'll confirm the correct printhead version before you order.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
Model / Part number	MH5420 (N221414L)
Generation	Ricoh GEN5
Nozzles	1,280 nozzles (4 rows × 320 nozzles)
Native resolution	600 dpi
Drop size	Variable 7 to 35 picoliters (greyscale)
Max frequency	60 kHz
Max colour channels	4 colours
Ink compatibility	UV-curable, solvent
Cable length	400mm head cable / 500mm total length including connectors
Integrated heater	Yes
Condition	100% genuine original Ricoh, manufacturer warranty included

Replacing the Printhead in Your CET Color Q5 Flatbed

The CET Color Q5 platform was engineered around the Ricoh GEN5 protocol, which is why the 500mm cable variant of the MH5420 is the consistent replacement across the entire Q5-series lineup — from the entry-level Q5-250 through the production-grade Q5-1000h. Replacement on Q5-series machines is straightforward when the standard procedure is followed: power down the unit, allow the carriage to cool, disconnect the existing head from the carriage data ribbon, purge the ink line with compatible UV-curable or solvent ink, install the new MH5420, and run the CET startup nozzle test. The most common preventable failure on CET Q5 machines is installing a new head without fully purging old ink from the line, which leads to clogged channels within 50 hours of operation. Following CET's documented purge protocol is critical.

Multi-Head Replacement Strategy for High-Volume CET Production

Commercial CET Color operators running Q5-500, Q5-500h, Q5-1000, or Q5-1000h configurations face a unique decision when one printhead fails: replace just the failed head, or replace all heads as a set? Single-head replacement keeps capital cost lower per incident but introduces colour-density mismatches across the carriage when the new head's nozzles are firing at full strength alongside heads with months of wear. For production shops printing colour-critical work — backlit displays, packaging, retail signage — full-set replacement at the actuation midpoint (typically 60–70% of expected service life) is the better economic decision once downtime costs are factored in. Contact our team for volume pricing on 4-head and 8-head MH5420 sets.

Signs Your CET Q5 Printhead Needs Replacement

• Persistent banding or missing nozzle rows that don't recover after CET's deep clean cycle

• Colour density mismatch between heads in multi-head Q5-500/Q5-1000 configurations

• Heater fault codes on the CET control interface

• Print speed degradation at the same DPI and pass settings

• Visible damage to the head face during scheduled inspection

• Failed nozzle test patterns repeating in the same colour channel across multiple cleaning attempts

If your CET Q5 is showing any of these signs and standard cleaning has not resolved them, the MH5420 is likely at or past its actuation limit. See our printhead troubleshooting guide for full diagnostic procedures before ordering.

Ricoh GEN4 vs GEN5 vs GEN6 — Which Generation Does Your CET Use?

All current CET Color Q5-series flatbeds (Q5-250, Q5-250h, Q5-500, Q5-500h, Q5-1000, Q5-1000h) are configured for Ricoh GEN5 printheads. Older CET machines from earlier production years may use GEN4. Always verify against your printer's service documentation or contact our team with your machine serial number before ordering.

Feature	GEN4 MH2420	GEN5 MH5420	GEN6 MH5320
Nozzles	512	1,280	1,280
Resolution	300 dpi	600 dpi	600 dpi
Drop size	7–35 pl	7–35 pl	5 pl minimum
Max frequency	30 kHz	60 kHz	50 kHz greyscale
Service life	Standard	Standard	2× GEN5
Used in current CET Color Q5 series?	No (legacy CET only)	Yes — all Q5 models	Some industrial variants

GEN4, GEN5, and GEN6 are not interchangeable — each requires specific printer board and firmware support. See our Ricoh GEN4 MH2420 and Ricoh GEN6 MH5320 listings if your CET machine uses a different generation.

Printhead Lifespan in CET Q5 Commercial Production

The Ricoh GEN5 MH5420 is rated by Ricoh for approximately 100 billion actuations per nozzle. For CET Q5 operators, real-world service life depends heavily on production duty cycle. Single-shift commercial print shops running CET Q5-250 or Q5-500 machines typically achieve well over a year of head life. Multi-shift production facilities operating Q5-500h or Q5-1000h units at high throughput reach the actuation limit faster — typically 7–10 months. Strict adherence to CET's documented maintenance schedule, use of CET-approved UV inks, and consistent heater monitoring all extend service life significantly. See our printhead lifespan guide for replacement cycle data across all industrial UV printhead models.

View our full range of genuine Ricoh industrial printheads including the GEN4 MH2420, GEN6 MH5320, and TH5241 GEN5i for other CET Color and industrial UV configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the right Ricoh GEN5 printhead for my CET Color Q5 series flatbed?
Yes — the MH5420 500mm cable variant is the correct printhead for all current CET Color Q5 UV flatbed printers: Q5-250, Q5-250h, Q5-500, Q5-500h, Q5-1000, and Q5-1000h. If you operate an older CET model not listed above, contact our team with your machine serial number to confirm.

How many printheads does my CET Q5 use?
That depends on your configuration. The Q5-250 and Q5-250h use 4 heads, the Q5-500 and Q5-500h use 8 heads, and the Q5-1000 and Q5-1000h use 12 heads. Commercial operators typically replace heads in matched sets at the actuation midpoint rather than individually — contact us for volume pricing on multi-head replacement orders.

Do you offer Net-30 PO terms for established CET production shops?
Yes — we offer Net-30 PO terms for qualified commercial print accounts. Contact our team to request account setup. We routinely supply multi-head MH5420 replacement orders to CET Q5-500h and Q5-1000h production facilities.

Is MH5420 the same as N221414L?
Yes, this Ricoh GEN5 UV printhead is commonly referenced as MH5420 and N221414L (sometimes written as N221414R).

What's the difference between the Q5-500 and Q5-500h, and do they use the same printhead?
The "h" suffix designates the high-speed variant — same printhead (MH5420 500mm), but configured for higher throughput. Both Q5-500 and Q5-500h use the identical Ricoh GEN5 printhead, so this listing is the correct replacement for both. The same applies to Q5-250 / Q5-250h and Q5-1000 / Q5-1000h.

Does the Ricoh GEN5 MH5420 come with a manufacturer warranty?
Yes — every MH5420 we sell is 100% genuine original Ricoh and comes with the manufacturer warranty included. We do not sell refurbished or gray market units, which is critical for CET commercial production where head consistency directly impacts billable output.

What's the difference between Ricoh GEN5 and GEN6 for CET machines?
The GEN5 MH5420 and GEN6 MH5320 both have 1,280 nozzles at 600 dpi, but the GEN6 has a smaller 5pl minimum drop size and roughly double the service life. They are not interchangeable — your CET machine's main board and firmware must specifically support the generation installed. All current CET Q5-series machines are configured for GEN5; verify before ordering a GEN6 head.

Can I install just one MH5420 in a multi-head Q5-1000 configuration, or should I replace the full set?
Single-head replacement is mechanically straightforward, but it can introduce subtle colour-density mismatches against neighboring heads with significant wear. For production-critical work, replacing the full set at the actuation midpoint is the better economic decision once downtime and reprint costs are factored in. For non-critical signage work, single-head replacement is generally acceptable.

Do you ship Ricoh GEN5 printheads for CET Color printers to Latin America?
Yes — same day shipping from our Doral, Miami FL warehouse. Our Miami location is ideal for Latin American CET Color operators and resellers using freight forwarders in the Doral area. We regularly ship multi-head orders to commercial print facilities across Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, and the broader LATAM region.

Tags: Cet color q5-500h