Discussion, tips, pictures, reviews and peer to peer support for current and future owners of Belquette manufactured machines, including the MOD-1 DTG machine and the Flexi-Jet set series of printers.
I am wondering if some of my problems may be windows vista related. Has anyone had window vista compatability issues with flexi rip, and flexi jet? Please post them here so I and all may know.
What exactly are the problems that you are having? Is the RIP crashing? Are you getting different results on an XP computer?
I use the same basic code on a Vista laptop for other printers for over a year now. Your RIP is made by company that writes RIPs for other OEM manufacturers as well. So I am sure that the problem would be posted in either the private dtg forums or on here. Let us know and maybe someone can help you out.
Mark
P.S. Sometimes it has more to do with your antivirus program rather than your operating system. Stay away from Kapersky as it will not allow you to install the software correctly.
What exactly are the problems that you are having? Is the RIP crashing? Are you getting different results on an XP computer?
I use the same basic code on a Vista laptop for other printers for over a year now. Your RIP is made by company that writes RIPs for other OEM manufacturers as well. So I am sure that the problem would be posted in either the private dtg forums or on here. Let us know and maybe someone can help you out.
Mark
P.S. Sometimes it has more to do with your antivirus program rather than your operating system. Stay away from Kapersky as it will not allow you to install the software correctly.
I purchased a used repoed machine and have not gotten it to work yet. One problem is I want to print as example a 8X8 picture, the printer (not printing ink yet) goes into print mode but imitates it is printing a picture that may be 40 inches long. Really I just started this thread for anyone to inform if they have had any problems using Vista with flexirip. Also which 4800 driver should be used with vista, because I am having an issue that the remote LFP (allows to use control panel from computer) does not work. I just want to eliminate the vista as an issue.
My current issues are twofold. After cleaning lines, replacing print head, cap station, dampers, and cartridges I do not get ink to print, though the ink colors are showing on white sponge of capping station.
The second issue is as mentioned above the what seems to be attempt at printing does not seem to be what is being sent to the rip. I think I made a boo boo and hit default on the 4800 control panel. I am thinking the 4800 default settings are not what they should be for running a flexi. Anyone know the difference in settings that Belquette makes so it works correctly with the flexi?
I am told the motherboard may be also bad causing printhead not to print. But that probably does not explain the oversize printing motions.
Thanks for any information.
Hmmmm, seems like you have your hands full on this one. Let's start one step at a time.
1. You want to make sure that you have the correct Epson 4800 driver installed. I would just install the driver by delete the print queue in Printers & Faxes Folder and then in the same folder, go File Menu --> Run as Administrator --> Server Properties. Then go to the Drivers tab and find the Epson 4800 driver. Remove the entire package. Restart your computer - do this ever time you add/delete a driver. Then go to Epson's website and download the latest version of the 4800 driver. After download, install it. Then make sure that your PowerRIP Output Queue (or whatever it is called) port is set to the same as the Epson 4800 port.
2. The RIP is not going to be responsible for the ink firing out of the nozzles. The way it works is you print from a graphic program to your Flexi-Jet RIP printer... to a Hot Folder that the RIP checks every 3 seconds or so and RIPs the job... sends it to an Output Queue that is linked to the same port as the Epson queue (thus, why they need to both be on the same port as stated above). If you double click on the file name in the Processed Job tab and select the #1 on the left side of the window, you will see what the graphic the RIP is sending to the printer. If it is incorrect there, then there is a problem with either your settings or the RIP. If not, then it could be a problem with either the Epson driver or the hardware on the printer.
3. I have heard of people getting graphics that are distorted from what is being printed because they have an older version of the driver that uses a different spot size. Thus, you need to make sure that you are running the correct driver as stated in #1.
4. I am not sure what you mean by the default settings in the 4800? You will make all your settings in the Flexi-Jet RIP printer and from there... it will send all the information in the correct way to the 4800 driver to convert it into an SPL/PRN file format that is read by the printer. Thus, you don't change any of the 4800 driver settings.
Based on what you have wrote above, not sure if anyone can tell you the motherboard is bad or not (i.e. not enough info and the wrong driver could be the problem). I serious doubt that Vista is your issue though.
Not sure if any of this is going to resolve your issues or not. Best wishes,
Thanks for the reply. About the set to default, I did this on the epson 4800 control manual. I think I hit menu button twice, then the cleaning choices can be accessesed. WhileI was in the I did press the printer default settings, and had to get the printer to acknlowledge paper size before could use again as an error kept showing. I had to place paper under the print head carriage assembly for the light to detect paper. Which took some doing. Then Renee had me turn off the auto paper detect, and a couple other auto detect choices in the menu. But makes me wonder if some of my issues may be that Belquette changes the default settings besides the ones for suto detect. Bo you know or anyone know how the initial settings should be for the flexi jet? Or exactly which settings are changed from epson default.
Thanks
The best ones to know what the exact settings are for the Flexi would be Belquette. I would try to get Mark or Brett on the phone. You might also want to try contacting Dan Salgado at www.dtginks.com as he was one of the first Flexi owners and does support for several current Flexi owners.
You might want to see if there is a way to set the printer back to the original factory setting and then go through the steps again. By going back to the default settings first, you will be starting from scratch and any changes you might have made before will be erased. This is all assuming that Epson made a way for you easily to reset the settings back to factory default.
I still feel based on the limited info you have provided that the problem is not likely Vista or the RIP. Hope you figure this out.
The best ones to know what the exact settings are for the Flexi would be Belquette. I would try to get Mark or Brett on the phone. You might also want to try contacting Dan Salgado at www.dtginks.com as he was one of the first Flexi owners and does support for several current Flexi owners.
You might want to see if there is a way to set the printer back to the original factory setting and then go through the steps again. By going back to the default settings first, you will be starting from scratch and any changes you might have made before will be erased. This is all assuming that Epson made a way for you easily to reset the settings back to factory default.
I still feel based on the limited info you have provided that the problem is not likely Vista or the RIP. Hope you figure this out.
Mark
Thanks I will hopefully talk to one of them on monday.
I agree with DAGuide. The problems you describe have nothing to do with Vista or PowerRIP. Having said that... the first version of PowerRIP FlexiJet was NOT Vista compatible as Vista did not exist yet. While you're refurbishing your machine, you should update the RIP to the latest version. You can get the link to the latest version from Belquette, the Flexi User's forum or DTGInks.com.
Now, on the hardware side.... I do believe that setting the printer back to original factory settings is NOT the recommended thing to do. There are cetain settings that have to be modified from default. My guess is you'll be printing by tomorrow after you get a hold of Belquette.
I agree with DAGuide. The problems you describe have nothing to do with Vista or PowerRIP. Having said that... the first version of PowerRIP FlexiJet was NOT Vista compatible as Vista did not exist yet. While you're refurbishing your machine, you should update the RIP to the latest version. You can get the link to the latest version from Belquette, the Flexi User's forum or DTGInks.com.
Now, on the hardware side.... I do believe that setting the printer back to original factory settings is NOT the recommended thing to do. There are cetain settings that have to be modified from default. My guess is you'll be printing by tomorrow after you get a hold of Belquette.
-- Fred
Thanks Fred, I have the newest rip, and newest driver for the 4800 loaded. Yes I think the settings will need to be corrected, and I hoep that takes care of all problems, but we will see as the not printing ink part is still a mystery. Can you explain to me why ink can flow during the cleaning process, but not during printing process. This would help me eliminate somethings. To me it seems if the ink comes out the same way during cleaning, or during printing then this would mean printhead should be ok. Thus a signal telling the printhead to print is missing. Possibly motherboard as Dan mentions, or a setting being wrong. But not familiar with this printing method my theory may be incorrect. It just does not make sense if the printhead works during cleaning that it will not work during printing unless the ink flows in a different manner. Anyone know why?
If I understand what Randy was stating above, he accidently changed a setting in the control panel on his printer. If he is not sure exactly what happened, it might take Mark or Brett longer to go through all the options rather than starting fresh and do their standard procedure. Thus the reason why I mentioned it. Either way, he needs to contact Belquette and at least let them know that there might be another setting that is different. This will give them the option as to which way to proceed.
If I understand what Randy was stating above, he accidently changed a setting in the control panel on his printer. If he is not sure exactly what happened, it might take Mark or Brett longer to go through all the options rather than starting fresh and do their standard procedure. Thus the reason why I mentioned it. Either way, he needs to contact Belquette and at least let them know that there might be another setting that is different. This will give them the option as to which way to proceed.
Randy, let us know what the solution is.
Mark
I will let you know all when I am finished. I know Dan makes suggestions to replace motherboards so someone must have instructions on changing settings because if you change motherboard I would assume the settings are stored on the motherboard. And some people are swapping motherboards from epson 4800 printers so they will need to know what settings need to be changed. Currently I cannot be sure if I have more than 1 problem because the unit was repoed, and do not know what was wrong with it before. Wish I did know if it was working prior to repo as that would eliminate some issues. But not knowing the problems it had before I purchased, and never owning one of these before really opened up a large can of whoop arse Beans. Soon I hope to be looking back on this, and printing.
Thanks Fred, I have the newest rip, and newest driver for the 4800 loaded. Yes I think the settings will need to be corrected, and I hoep that takes care of all problems, but we will see as the not printing ink part is still a mystery. Can you explain to me why ink can flow during the cleaning process, but not during printing process. This would help me eliminate somethings. To me it seems if the ink comes out the same way during cleaning, or during printing then this would mean printhead should be ok. Thus a signal telling the printhead to print is missing. Possibly motherboard as Dan mentions, or a setting being wrong. But not familiar with this printing method my theory may be incorrect. It just does not make sense if the printhead works during cleaning that it will not work during printing unless the ink flows in a different manner. Anyone know why?
Randy,
The ink you see in the capping station comes from two different methods:
1) the periodic spitting that is from all the nozzles done according to the Epson firmware. This is similar to how the print head puts ink on the garment.
2) there is a pump in the maintenance / capping station that pulls ink out of the print head. There is more suction from the pump on the ink in the print head than what the print head can push out on its own. This is how a head cleaning will clear clogs that regular printing will not.
The ink you see in the capping station could have come freom either way. Hope this helps you better understand just part of the way your printer works.
Can you explain to me why ink can flow during the cleaning process, but not during printing process.
The ink delivery is very different from printing to cleaning. To put it simply, the cleaning cycle uses a pump to "suck" the ink from the print head. Printing, on the other hand, is accomplished by sending pulses to the print head to fire the piezo elements which in turn spit very small drops of ink. It is quite possible for a printer to show ink in the capping station from cleanings but not print a thing. I have seen a bad printer motherboard cause that. I'm not saying that's what's wrong with your printer... but that certainly a strong possibility. Dan has a good bit of experience with this type of issue. Definetely contact Belquette also as there is no substitute for talking with the guys who invented and designed the unit.
Now it making sense. during cleaning it is sucked out, during the printing it is electrical pulses. I found more info. about it in a search. Thanks Fred, I am sure Santa will be good to you this year! Piezoelectric inkjets
Most commercial and industrial ink jet printers use a piezoelectric material in an ink-filled chamber behind each nozzle instead of a heating element. When a voltage is applied, the piezoelectric material changes shape or size, which generates a pressure pulse in the fluid forcing a droplet of ink from the nozzle. This is essentially the same mechanism as the thermal inkjet but generates the pressure pulse using a different physical principle. Piezoelectric (also called Piezo) ink jet allows a wider variety of inks than thermal or continuous ink jet but the print heads are more expensive. Piezo inkjet technology uses s tationary heads, which are built with robust construction and are designed for high volume production, faster print speeds, and lower costs. There is a drop-on-demand process, with software that directs the heads to apply between zero to eight droplets of ink per dot and only where needed. As of November 2008, the fastest cut-sheet inkjet printer on the market is the RISO HC5500, which prints 120 full-color pages per minute and utilizes ComColor color management technology. The RISO HC5500 printer uses six pico litres per ink droplet.[1] 12[2]
This is very frustrating, I have removed, inserted, undone, done, looked, hooked, cleaned, washed, dried, inserted, plugged, screwed, unscrewed, replaced, loaded, downloaded, ordered, shipped, called, been called, and still nothing not one print. Having worked with some people on this forum and the dtgforum, belquette, all american still not one print. Purchased 2 new print heads, a motherboard, cable, dampers, cartridges, ink, damper unit, software rip, heat press, air tank, air sprayer, t-shirts, and ..... but still missing one thing INK TO COME OUT THE PRINTER!
At this time I have replaced print head (second one), motherboard. After replacing found out need to put back (motherboard) in because BELQUETTE told me the board would be programmed before arrived, but was not so now have to take back out and program NVRAM. Great but the adj. wiz has a problem it will not recognize the printer during the run mode of reading the old board. Even though it displays the epson 4800 on the very first step for selection of INDIVIDUAL. Anyone have any ideas?
Windows Vista 
