Hi, I am one of the last in South Africa to use the DTG machines, the HM1-C. I have no support to call here and have a huge problem. I would like Don's number if possible, and if not anyone that can help.
Thank you.
Colin
+27829286983 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Last edited by ColinF; September 5th, 2009 at 01:50 PM.
Re: I need international support, now please call me!
Thank you!
There was no reply, I am sure it’s Saturday there so maybe not working today?
In any case, this is the problem if anyone can help:
Last week, the Magenta stopped working, and we resolved it was the damper that was old and faulty. We replaced it, but then noticed nothing was printing, but the machine worked as if it was, but no ink was coming out.
We then noticed the machine all of a sudden started spewing ink and not going to the far left of the machine. As we encountered that problem before, we checked the cables where they plug into the heads, and there was ink on them, and the cables were fried.
We replaced the cables. The printer would print as if it was printing the image, but no ink would come out. We then replaced the head with a brand new one from Epson, and the exact same problem. Then, we replaced the board and the fuse, and still the same problem, the printer would print as if it was printing the image, but no ink would come out.
Finally today, we had an old school technician come in, and he double checked the cables and the current with a meter and confirmed that the board and cables were good.
Strange thing is that we replaced the head, board, fuse and cable, and we still have the same problem as from the beginning after we replaced the damper.
If anyone can help, please do so. My business is in deep trouble because of this, and we do not have any support in South Africa, so if anyone can call me from DTG to guide us from here, or post your comments here, it will be greatly appreciated. My business is on a time fuse unfortunately and I have to resolve this by Monday if possible.
Re: I need international support, now please call me!
...it is 22h30 here, but I will be online all night if need be to discuss this problem, and I also have Skype and Windows Live so if you want to chat there about this problem, please send me a private message for my details, anyone in DTG support's mobile number if possible.
I am not with the machine right now though (at home), but if anything comes to mind to fix this, I will be willing to try it tomorrow morning, or even go in to my shop and try now if need be.
Thank you!
Last edited by ColinF; September 5th, 2009 at 01:44 PM.
Re: I need international support, now please call me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinF
Thank you!
There was no reply, I am sure its Saturday there so maybe not working today?
In any case, this is the problem if anyone can help:
Last week, the Magenta stopped working, and we resolved it was the damper that was old and faulty. We replaced it, but then noticed nothing was printing, but the machine worked as if it was, but no ink was coming out.
We then noticed the machine all of a sudden started spewing ink and not going to the far left of the machine. As we encountered that problem before, we checked the cables where they plug into the heads, and there was ink on them, and the cables were fried.
We replaced the cables. The printer would print as if it was printing the image, but no ink would come out. We then replaced the head with a brand new one from Epson, and the exact same problem. Then, we replaced the board and the fuse, and still the same problem, the printer would print as if it was printing the image, but no ink would come out.
Finally today, we had an old school technician come in, and he double checked the cables and the current with a meter and confirmed that the board and cables were good.
Strange thing is that we replaced the head, board, fuse and cable, and we still have the same problem as from the beginning after we replaced the damper.
If anyone can help, please do so. My business is in deep trouble because of this, and we do not have any support in South Africa, so if anyone can call me from DTG to guide us from here, or post your comments here, it will be greatly appreciated. My business is on a time fuse unfortunately and I have to resolve this by Monday if possible.
Thank you kindly!
Colin,
You said you replaced the board. Are you referring to the main board of your HM-1? If you changed the original main board on your HM-1 to a new regular Epson main board then you will have a problem. The boards that come with the HM-1's are burnt with special firmware from Mastermind, the manufacturer of the printer. Unfortunately you must get a replacement main board from your DTG distributor for the printer to work properly.
Re: I need international support, now please call me!
Thanks Harry. I got this board from the same person that has successfully replaced a board on another HM1 machine before, so this was from the same HM1 stock. I did not get it from Epson.
Quote:
Unfortunately you must get a replacement main board from your DTG distributor for the printer to work properly.
I wish I had a local distributor, but it seems everyone who was selling and maintaining these machines in South Africa have given up and no longer support DTG or T-Jet machines. Strange enough, I am the last person in my area (Johannesburg) to have an operational machine. All the other people that own these machines have packed them up and are trying to sell them.
This leaves me in an awkward situation where am now stranded and forced to deal with international people for support like I am doing now.
If anyone can help me import my inks and spare parts, please let me know.
Re: I need international support, now please call me!
Also, if the same problem persists from the old board to the new one (the printer would print as if it was printing the image, but no ink would come out), on both boards, then surely this could not be the problem? Also, if the main board is faulty, surely the machine will not even attempt to print, or at least show different “symptoms” with the different boards, where in my case it does not.
Re: I need international support, now please call me!
Colin,
I had the main board go out on my machine, and it was the exact symptoms you are describing. It would go to print, move over the platen as though it is printing, but no ink. It really does sound like either a bad board or bad cable. These are the only two things that I know of that would cause this.
Since you replaced the cables first, I am wondering if maybe, just maybe the board was bad, and that could have again shorted a cable. Then when you replaced the board, it would still not have worked due to damaging the new cable. Look at the end of your cables for any little brown scorch marks, to see if there are any burned areas at all. I hate to say it, but I would try again to replace the cables. This problem you are having is a communication between the cables and the board. Something is not working right between them.
Again I have to say, these symptoms were exactly the same on mine, when my main board went out. The only other thing I can think of is that your replacement board is faulty.
__________________
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Re: I need international support, now please call me!
Thanks for the reply sunnydays. Your answer makes sense to me.
Now what is the next logical step for me? A new cable and a new board? Keeping my current situation in mind, is there a quick fix of any kind that I can do to help me test this without having to get another cable and board? Also, is there a way for me to find any quick / temporary solution to get me going again for now?
I need international support, now please call me! 
Re: I need international support, now please call me! 
