 Quick start garment printer guide
NOTE: This information is compiled from user posts for the Flexi-jet- but much of it is adaptable to other dtgp.
QUICK SET UP:information collected from many user posts and personal notes
RIP and Epson driver: First install the Epson driver, then the newest RIP version. Validate your RIP or it will print a watermark on everything! Instructions are in the RIP pdf manual. If you want to change computers or reformat- follow RIP manual instructions to REMOVE the validation,first.Configure the RIP to hold prints in the print queues 4-8 hours, overloading the queues will cause error messages.
LEVEL EVERYTHING: Level the base and the print bed, and printer as you set up. Plug in the printer and use the rocker switch to lower the bed fully, then raise 1/2" before moving printer. Oil the rails the printer rides on.
LOADING INK: Turn on the printer AFTER the cartridges are filled with distilled water. Run a power clean by using the LFP panel on the utility page of the Epson 4800 printing preferences. Then remove the water or use another set of cartridges, 2/3 full of ink. Tip the ink cartridge to make sure there is no air in the feed area (where the spring is) and do another power clean to load the ink (power clean uses 96.4 ml of ink). CMYK on the left. White or CMYK (same order as on left) or distilled water on the right. Do a nozzle check.
NOZZLE CHECK: Use the green button to bring the printer forward. Place Plexi-glass or transparency film under the print head-all the way to the right across the rails. Click on printers/faxes,Epson 4800,printing preferences, utility tab and go to Nozzle check. Click on PRINT (Don't click on AUTO here or anywhere in the Epson 4800 print driver utilities.) Examine the nozzle check. If it is good you are ready to print! It is difficult to see the yellow and white patterns so tilt the print under a light or place paper behind it. If the nozzle check isn’t good click on clean (a simple clean using 4.6 ml of ink)
PLATENS: Use a level, a square, and a straight edge to make sure the platen, is level and square. Level multiple platens to each other. It is worth it to take the time before trying to level everything. Add the black plastic squares under the platen legs as needed.
3.FIRST PRINT: Set printer to "pause" in home position. Use a Belkin active USB extension ( amplifier) if the USB cord is more than 6'. Remove plugs from top of ink cartridges while printing! Set the page size in your graphics program -17x21 for the S or 17x54 for the L model. Download templates. Place a graphic (150 dpi at print size) on the template and click print. Select the correct flexi-jet printer for your application (4800 w white, dual cmyk, etc.). Click on the advanced tab- set the RIP to the settings ( example 360 E, one color layer, RGB colormatch, etc.) Set printer rollers two business card's thickness from printing surface. Cure prints at 350 for 60 seconds per ink layer. Print again by highlighting all layers in pages to printer, click restart. Or use production run.
CENTERING PRINTS: Before printing, follow the instructions in the set up video for placing your platen under the print head and mark the print bed so you can place the platens in the same place each time you move them.
Print the center line from your template right onto the platen to make sure your template center is aligned with the platen center. Move the line on the template until it prints on the center of the platen.Move your guidelines on the template to mark the center of the platen. Mark your center line on the platen with tape or grind a groove at the exact center line top and bottom to aid in lining up shirts.
You can even print your design on the platen and use it to line up the shirts.Clean the platens with Windex.
CLOGGED NOZZLES: Do a nozzle check from the utility tab(click print not auto) and if needed click on clean for a simple clean. During a production run or even the middle of a print if you see banding, hold the menu button down 3 seconds to do simple clean. Do this anytime except when it is parked at home position and it will clean and then continue printing.
For stubborn clogs (since a power clean uses 96 ml of ink) use this economical method. Empty the ink cartridges and rinse. (Or use extra cartridges) Fill cartridges 2/3 with distilled water. Run three power cleans and then print a large 14 by 19 print at highest resolution.Then slosh ink, and tip cartridges full of ink to eliminate air bubbles in channel and spring area and reload ink with a power clean. Ground yourself and use the chip re-setter if needed.
PRINT AWAY SOME CLOGSrint a file up to 14" x19" , pure yellow, cyan, magenta, and pure K (and white if needed) at highest resolution-this is big enough to print most of the ink that is in that line. As an economical way to clean one line, replace ink cartridge with distilled water or cleaning solution and print 100% of that color 14'x19" several times to empty the lines- then do the same to reload ink.
TURKEY BASTER METHOD: Use a turkey baster or baby ear/nose syringe by putting the tip into the cartridge top hole with a finger over the air hole and creating some backward suction by pumping it while doing a simple clean.
Note: When the printer automatically asks you to perform a power clean,“Just say no.” with the left arrow. Do a nozzle check instead.
RESET OR REBOOT
Reset: Hold down the pause button for three seconds until the display says reset. Do this twice. This clears the printer buffer data. Use when encountering errors or ending a production run or deleting data that has been sent to the printer- like when you are getting unwanted partial prints.
Reboot: Turn off the printer, then the base at the switch and unplug the base. While waiting one minute check all cable connections including the USB connection and the cable between the print bed and the base. Also release the print head and leave it in the center. Wipe down all surfaces with anti-static spray. Restart the computer if needed. Then turn on the base and idle 30 seconds. Turn on the printer and idle 30 seconds. Push the green button, then send printer back home. Useful sequence to deal with error codes or errors such as printing in one place,printer refusing to move, or bed not moving properly.
7. MAINTENANCE:View all videos/photos in the printer maintenance documentation area.
MONTHLY: Taking a lint free cloth or sponge wet with distilled water, clean the encoder strip thoroughly until the cloth comes away clean (it is the plastic strip that the print head moves along inside the printer at the back).Clean cartridges and spit station-see printer maintenance section of forum. Either use no pad in the spit station and wipe occasionally or use a lint free sponge pad. If pad is used, change often.
WEEKLY: Wipe the printer interior and exterior clean. Clean around the capping station and the wiper blade with a sponge tipped swab wet with cleaning solution. Slosh the ink in each cartridge and bottle to prevent separation of pigments. Shake white ink vigorously. Tip cartridge to remove air bubbles in the feed area before reinserting. Oil the rails and screw drive.
DAILY: Add diluted cleaning solution to the capping station, lift the levers by the ink cartridges or the ink might siphon out. Shake white ink daily including cartridges. The printer prefers 50% humidity and 60-90 degrees F.
8. WASTE TANK: If the waste tank reads full, first look at it. It pulls out like a drawer on the right side of the printer. Sometimes it says full when it really isn’t. Ground yourself by touching steel base, then use the chip re-setter to set it to empty.
To empty waste tank: Pull the top loose by pushing out the little tabs which are in slots to hold it on. Remove the padding (a Ziploc bag would be a good place to put it to throw away) and replace with cotton padding 1/3 full. Ground yourself and use the chip re-setter. Messy but saves you about $100!
9.Ground yourself: TURN OFF PRINTER. Ground yourself by touching steel base or another ground. Do not touch cartridges or
print head unless you are grounded.
10. TROUBLESHOOTING:
Keep a log near the printer. Write down any error codes completely. Then use the reboot sequence to see if the error code disappears. Make note of what the printer was trying to do just before the error code. If unresolved, call your distributor. Record the solution in your log in case error recurs.
Michele | 
