[cmpaggie03]

I just recently ran across what I thought was a good deal on a used DTG Kiosk HM1 (bought it off a guy that had acquired it when he bought out his competition). It comes with the manual, CDs (drivers, maintenance program, RIP Pro V03, instructional DVD). I am new to DTGs, but am pretty tech savvy so thought it couldn't be that hard to get this thing going. Just buy some replacement parts and be up and running, right? Had I known the headache it was going to be to get this thing going, I would have passed!

So I bought this HM1 and start researching replacement parts...find everything I need....decide to replace the entire ink delivery system (printhead, dampers, ink lines, etc) and convert to bagged ink. Jerid Hill over at Belquette was very helpful by the way and quick to respond to all my emails. Equipment Zone; however, for almost a week now has never responded to any emails or to the form filled out in their contact us section. So I figure I am going to be into this thing for another $1200 and should have it up and running good. No problem.

At some point, I realize that I never got a security device or dongle to run the maintenance program. So I start doing a little research only to find that the printer is going to cost me quite a bit more to get going. I contact Coldesi and explain to them the situation. I get a response this morning saying that I need to contact tech support because the rip software I have is also non-transferable and that I need to upgrade. So now I need the maintenance program and an upgrade on the RIP.

So my question is....How much more time and money is it going to cost me to get this stupid machine going? All I wanted to do was replace some parts on it, install the software, and start printing shirts. Now I am a week into this and more confused than ever. I am in the offset printing business and have probably 3 or 4 RIPs for different devices (CTP, digital presses, etc.) at my plant...most of which the RIPs themselves cost more than the entire DTG HM1 unit and RIP Pro software combined and are attached to machines that are $100,000+....and I have never encountered these issues with any of those RIPs.

If I don't get this resolved, I will have a used DTG HM1 on the market in the very near future if anyone is interested.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[1clickprint]

There are quite a few printers that are based on the Epson - 2400 but unfortunately the HM-1 uses custom firmware and so may or may not work with other RIP software.

Sorry, I'm guessing you'll have to pay quite a bit as they have you between a rock and a hard place.

 

[JeridHill]

Thanks for the kind words. Did you ever get this worked out?

 

[cmpaggie03]

No...I haven't really had much time to devote to it lately. I think in the next couple days if things settle down a little I am going thave one of my employees sit through the hours of waiting and call DTG customer service to see what a new RIP, USB dongle, and maintenance program are going to cost. It isn't even the money that irks me through this whole deal....it is just the hassle of all of it, and I HATE those stupid USB dongles!

I have been meaning to email you to see if the bagged inks can be used on anything other than shirts. I know DTGUNI inks can be used on rigid materials....do you guys offer anything similar in the bagged inks? Or do you guys sell any specific pre-treatment for printing on metals, woods, etc.?

 

[JeridHill]

We do have coatings for non-textiles. There should be some on our site to look over.

 

[Don-ColDesi]

Hi CMP

Our tech support should be able to help you with both the software and maintenance program. The original software license is a single user license and is non-transferable (most dongle-less softwares are that way). Our current RIP comes with a dongle so it is transferrable - simply transfer ownership of the dongle. The only other parts you may need would be ink chips for the CMYKW channels.

Hope this helps!

 

[jfish]

I feel ya I have been having issues with the ink chips cycling very fast and after speaking with mesa again today sounds like just to replace the contents of the stupid device which is actually put on the machine to simply keep making the users pay for nothing... Other DTG printers with the same R2400 platform have auto resetting chips and cost nothing on a monthly basis but DTG chose to add the inkchip system which mine is being funky and turns out is nearly $1000-1200 in parts with the boards needed to replace!!! I about sh*t my pants...

I can assure you this is not a user error either. And somehow im supposed to pay 1200 to just activate the inkchip system for replacement parts... I SHOULD be provided replacement parts at little to no cost as this system is only for their benefit for continuous fees on my end... If this were a honda they would cover this, if it happened 2x they would replace the whole ink chip assembly and 3x they would replace the whole machine. But its not and im supposed to pay nearly 1200 for parts. Which im not going to do.

But if you need some help fixing yours message me I know a few things about it which I have been through over the life of ownership and can help you out. Wish we could exchange some parts but at this point I have too many thousands investested, consider contacting me if you ever decide to sell some parts off too.

But either way message me I can help you with a few small things your having problems with, -J

 

[cmpaggie03]

There are quite a few printers that are based on the Epson - 2400 but unfortunately the HM-1 uses custom firmware and so may or may not work with other RIP software.

Sorry, I'm guessing you'll have to pay quite a bit as they have you between a rock and a hard place.

1clickprint,
Thanks for the response! Is your website your username with dot com added? If so, I LOVE your website! Those colors really pop off the black background and create a fun yet professional site. This is kind of the direction we are trying to go with our printing busiess...your one stop print shop.
cmpaggie03