What is a Mimaki Chip Emulator?

Good question — those black bits with the little red lights sticking out are replacements for Mimaki chips, or MikaChip chip emulators attached to each ink cartridge!

• Chip emulators tell the printer important information about each ink cartridge, like the color, type, ink level, and compatibility.

• The red light on emulators usually means the chip emulator is active and communicating with the printer correctly — like a "status OK" signal.

These chip emulators are super important because without them, the printer might refuse to print, even if there’s physically ink inside.

Chip emulators are used when:

• People use non-original inks (like cheaper third-party ink)

• They refill the cartridges themselves

• They override ink restrictions (such as expiration date locks)

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Where can I find those black long chip emulators?

MikaChip chip emulators are pretty common in the printing aftermarket world! You can usually find them in places like:

• eBay (sometimes listed as "MikaChip emulator" or "Mimaki chip emulator") eBay Link

• In Our store LFP Repair Service Link

• Chinese suppliers like Made-in-China Made-in-China Link

You might want to search with keywords like:

• "MikaChip chip emulator"

• "Mimaki chip emulator"

• "MikaChip printer chip resetter"

• "Mimaki printer chip emulator"

Important: Make sure you match the ink data file for the chip emulator to your ink type (like LUS120, LUS150, TP400, etc.) and printer series. Otherwise, it might not recognize correctly.

How do I load an ink data file into the MikaChip chip emulator?

For the MikaChip Mimaki chip emulator, here’s the basic procedure for how to load an ink data file:

Steps to Load an Ink Data File into MikaChip Emulator:

1. Install the MikaChip Software

   • Install the MikaChip software on your Windows computer (it comes with the device, or you can download it via a link provided by the supplier).

2. Connect the Programming Cable

   • Plug the MikaChip programming cable into your computer using a USB cable.

   • Install any required drivers if needed.

3. Connect the MikaChip Emulator

   • Connect the MikaChip emulator to the programming cable.

     
     

     

     Mimaki chip replacement MikaChip emulator

     
     

4. Launch the Software

   • Open the MikaChip application.

   • Select the required COM port and press the Connect button.

5. Load the Ink Data File

   • In the software, select the option like “Load File”.

   • Browse and select your ink data file.

6. Program / Write the MikaChip Emulator

   • After loading the file, click “Write”.

   • The software will flash or display a progress bar.

7. Wait for Confirmation

   • It usually takes 30–40 seconds.

   • You should get a success message like "Completed Successfully".

8. Remove and Install

   • Safely remove the chip emulator.

   • Install it into your printer where the original chip would normally go.

Important Notes:

• Make sure you load the correct ink type (for example: LUS120, SB54, BS4, etc.) that matches your printer’s settings.

• Do not unplug the programmer during writing — it can corrupt the chip.