HM1-C half of head not firing?

2292 Views 8 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Encantero, Jul 2, 2020

tankueray

Discussion Starter · Jul 2, 2018

I have a strange problem, the white half of my head will not fire. Details:

I was getting very poor nozzle checks on white, but the other lines were clear. I did a few head cleanings and it wasn’t getting any better. The WIMS motor was starting to fail, it would only kick on and run for a second or two before overheating.

We’re all familiar with the next few days of cleaning, cursing, praying and begging….

More cleanings and pulling fluid through the head and I got 2 white channels unblocked, then the cyan went out. I pulled the head, soaked it, pulled solution through it and completely unblocked it. Put it back in and had all CMYK channels, but no white at all.

In the last week I have replaced the WIMS motor, filter, capping station, all ink lines, white ink dampers, head cables, and wiper blade.

It’s pulling through the capping station fine, but will not print or spit white, CMYK is fine. It’s like that half of the head isn’t firing at all. When I removed the head to change the ribbon cables, the white ink I pulled through while cleaning it had turned gray, not like it was contaminated with black though, like it was getting dirty like grease does from friction.

I have not replaced the head carriage (but it needs to be done, I noticed the screw holes are split) or encoder strip. The encoder wheel was replaced two years ago. CMYK prints are fine with no errors or registration issues.

I’m using Image Armor Inks and GarmentPrinterInk.com brand cleaning solutions. Also windex and ammonia to flush the capping station and to clean non-printhead parts outside of the machine. The Image Armor white was removed from the machine when the WIMS motor started going out and shaken every day, it was added back after the line, filter, damper, and motor replacement.

I’ve thought about, but haven’t yet, switched the white and CMYK to test the half head burnout theory. I’m already wasting enough ink as it is.

What am I missing? Can only one side of the head burn out? Could it be a motherboard fuse? (If so, please elaborate, most of the old posts’ photos aren’t working.)

I might have a head from a newer machine to put in, assuming my machine can read it, they're 10 years apart on technology. That's my next step after any cable or fuse advice I receive here.

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tankueray

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 3, 2018

Well, when pulling off the white dampers, the screws gave out, so I replaced the carriage, cables, and belt.

I also pulled the motherboard and checked the fuses, they are good. F1 reads 0.3 ohms and F2 reads 1.0 ohms.

So now I'm back to the printhead. I only have one untested spare so wish me luck.

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TABOB

· #3 · Jul 4, 2018

What type of print-head do these printers have? DX7 or DX5?
In any case, my guess is that you've destroyed the tiny ink passages behind the nozzle plate. Especially if it is a DX5 print-head.

You have to be really careful with ammonia, and even windex which is an ammonia solution.

Using strong ammonia will clear clogs fast, and you may think that you've discovered the miracle liquid. What it does is dissolving the clog, along with some of your print-head.

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tankueray

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 4, 2018

TABOB said:
In any case, my guess is that you've destroyed the tiny ink passages behind the nozzle plate. Especially if it is a DX5 print-head.

It is a DX5. What do you mean by destroy them? I can draw liquid (bonafied cleaning solution) through and get a good waterfall.

I did swap the color and white before removing the head and found that the left side would still not spit or print. With the white dampers on the right side, I get spitting and printing.

I'm putting in a replacement head shortly.

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TABOB

· #5 · Jul 4, 2018

tankueray said:
It is a DX5. What do you mean by destroy them? I can draw liquid (bonafied cleaning solution) through and get a good waterfall.

I did swap the color and white before removing the head and found that the left side would still not spit or print. With the white dampers on the right side, I get spitting and printing.

I'm putting in a replacement head shortly.

Unfortunately you cannot waterfall a DX5, like you can do the DX7. If you have, then you've definitely destroyed it.

The nozzle plate is glued on top of another plate with tiny ink channels. It looks OK from the outside, but the channels are now broken.
Be very careful with these print heads.

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tankueray

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 4, 2018

The replacement head is a no go. It pulls through fine, but does not print. I assume it is because it's from a new p400 and has different voltage requirements. The head ID is too long and the wrong number for either adjustment program I have to recognize it. I'll check the fuses again, but I'm betting they're not the problem.

@ TABOB - I learned to waterfall from All American, who used DX5 heads on their Neoflex machines. I have waterfalled my heads successfully many times. That being said, I didn't attempt to waterfall this one until much later in the process, all I did was pull through. I have delaminated a head and it's no fun, but I've also fixed a partially delaminated one (2 channels) by removing all liquid and putting a weight on it for a few days.

I have two more sacrificial printers coming next week. I'll take their heads and see what I can do. Worst case, I swallow my pride and call Epson for a head, I have plenty of serial numbers now. (My HM1 has no Epson serial no.)

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TABOB

· #7 · Jul 5, 2018

tankueray said:
@ TABOB - I learned to waterfall from All American, who used DX5 heads on their Neoflex machines. I have waterfalled my heads successfully many times. That being said, I didn't attempt to waterfall this one until much later in the process, all I did was pull through. I have delaminated a head and it's no fun, but I've also fixed a partially delaminated one (2 channels) by removing all liquid and putting a weight on it for a few days.

I have two more sacrificial printers coming next week. I'll take their heads and see what I can do. Worst case, I swallow my pride and call Epson for a head, I have plenty of serial numbers now. (My HM1 has no Epson serial no.)

You can get away with it a couple of times, but not many. The DX5 is very fragile.

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Encantero

· #8 · Jul 2, 2020

Wheres f2 fuse located i found f1 and its good but cant find f2 my dtg hm1 is going through the printing motions but no ink comes out it wont printa nozzle check i do a head cleaning and no ink also someone help me plea see

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Encantero

· #9 · Jul 2, 2020

Wheres f2 fuse located i found f1 and its good but cant find f 2 my d t g hm 1 is going through the printing motions but no ink comes out it wont print a nozzle check i do a head cleaning and no ink also someone help me plea see

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