Need to Register?

BadMoodMoose · October 26th, 2009

I know this topic has been discussed quite a bit but I still don't have a solution and rather than hijacking someone else's thread, please read my madness....

I have been printing all day and then after the first couple of passes on a new shirt, the error eject and LEDs are fast blinking.

Things I Have Tried:
Cleaning Encoder Strip
Replacing Encoder Strip
Compressed Air Back of Head
Cleaning the Yellow Board under the Bed
Cleaning the Capping Station
Waste Ink Counter Reset
Cleaned and Oiled the Rails
Unplugged Machine for 5 minutes from Power & Computer
Emptied Printer Cues & Restarted Computer

NOTHING HAS WORKED! Am I missing something else??? I really dont want to lug this thing in for repair but I think I may have exhausted all my options at this point...

Anyone have any ideas other than throwing it off the balcony which I am REALLY close to doing?

vinyl signs · October 26th, 2009

Have you tried to reset the ink counter the old way?

From under the control panel? There was another user that was havinfg this same issue and when I had them try this it corrected the issue. Might have a bad switch to reset the ink counter.

BadMoodMoose · October 26th, 2009

I had high hopes...but it didnt work.

I will say that when I had the black casing off, right before it hosed up, I heard a odd noise. It kind of sounded like when the bed normally feeds, but it was more pronounced...louder...a bit. Hard to describe I guess....

UGH!

All I can say at the moment.....

Steeletec · October 26th, 2009

As it sits right now when do the lights start to flash and what exactly is the printer doing or trying to do. Unfortunately the lights are a general error and can be a number of things. Does it initialize normally at startup?

BadMoodMoose · October 26th, 2009

Startup works as it should yes.

When the error pops up, it is normally in the middle of printing. The last time it came up, it made probably 10 passes on the shirt laying down the base then the error pops on. Sometimes it doesnt take that long....

anewbeginning · October 26th, 2009

could be a broken tooth on one of the gears..happened to my wiper once...

Steeletec · October 26th, 2009

If you let it sit for a longer period of time can you get further along in the print before it errors out? Maybe getting progressively worse?

Don-ColDesi · October 27th, 2009

Moose,

What did technical support suggest that you do/what the problem was?

BadMoodMoose · October 27th, 2009

First time I called, we spoke about the way I was printing the shirts...more specfically the settings. But I have printed over 500 shirts in the past 3 months and this is the first time there was a problem so that couldnt be the issue.

Second time I called, I was told to change the encoder strip.

Third time, yesterday, I bit the bullet and called again and now its loaded in the car waiting to be taken in for service.

I will let you know the verdict tomorrow assuming it gets fixed tomorrow....cross your fingers!!

BadMoodMoose · October 28th, 2009

So apparently I have the worst luck ever.

Took the machine in for service at 8am and they immediately started working on it. 9 hours later, I'm told they have never seen a DTG printer do what mine is doing.

Great.

We'll see how tomorrow goes....

moffett8 · October 29th, 2009

Your probably getting the error because something is binding or dragging. Could be something as simple a lubrication with silicon grease. Check the bar the head rides on and the feed mechanism. Something is grading probably because it needs lubrication. Wouldn't that be horrible is you picked it up from the shop and you got a big bill for greasing some moving parts.

Philip

Steeletec · October 29th, 2009

You may want to have them take a look at the pf motor or the motor that moves the bed in and out. I have had a couple of cases that were just like this. It is rare but it does happen from time to time. While you're at it if that doesn't work have them look at the cr or carriage motor as well. That is as long as all of the moving components are clean and lubricated properly.

BadMoodMoose · October 29th, 2009

Well after worrying I wouldnt be able to get my Halloween orders out, I went down to the shop and asked if I could get a loaner. They were going to try one more thing and then Id be on my way.

Well as luck would have it, this last thing fixed it! The motor that pulls the yellowish colored belt that resides behind the head was going bad. Replaced it and boom! Working machine.

They said it was an extremely rare part to go which is why they thought I was crazy when I said it wasnt the encoder strip.

Thanks to all who gave suggestions!

sunnydayz · October 29th, 2009

Glad to hear they got you up and running again. Thanks for posting what the problem was

Steeletec · October 29th, 2009

Good to hear that you are up and running. That's what I thought the problem was. To possibly avoid this in the future, make sure to keep the yellow fiberglass bed drive plate clean on the top and bottom side. Usually these motors go bad when they have to work too hard to move it into place. Also make sure that the printer is sitting level.

Need to Register?

Resources

T-Shirt Sites

[DTG Kiosk] Error Eject / LEDs Blinking - Ready to Get Rid of This Thing!