Neoflex question

Thanks NeoFlexExpert! I actually purchased the machine and have had it a little over a month. So far everything has worked like a charm, couldn't be happier! The only thing I've had to do was replace the chip on the waste tank. To be an old machine, I'd say it still prints as if it were brand new! Print quality is excellent!

I do have one question you might can help me with. After a print, the machine goes to the "back" position as it should, then displays "Load Paper Suction". I have to hit the "home/Start" button which brings the printer up to the "home" position and does a quick clean and gets the printer back to "Ready" mode. This seems to be the only way to get rid of the "Load Paper Suction" display. It's not a big problem at all, just seems to be a waste of ink. Is there any way around this?

Hi,

Yes on Neo1/4880 system the printer has to go all the way to rear
which is "end of print" mode and printer will show Load Paper Suction.
Well, from home button (lower left) to bring up front not start since that
will turn printer on/off and waste ink.

So sequence should be:

1) base ON
2) press START to turn printer on, it will move to rear
3) bring printer up front - HOME button (lower left)
4) wait til Ready on printer
5) Base should show "Clean in xx:xx" - this is auto clean. It is reset after each print.
6) Print from RIP
7) Once print complete Printer will move to Rear.
8) Remove T's
9) load new T's
10) Press HOME to bring back up front and repeat.

Note you cane move bed up/down while printing. Also, you can do multiple copies of a print, printer will keep cycline as you load new shirts to print.

Good luck, good buy for you. Let me know if you have questions.

I have another situation. Ok so it was time to do a print head cleaning. So I took off the head and did a "waterfall" clean, tested dampers and replaced everything. Upon putting the carriage back on tracks, i accidentally knocked the encoder strip off. I put it back on and cleaned it. Turned the printer back on and this is the situation:

Both printer and base are in ready positions. Printer is in "back" position as usual. Set up to do a print. Bring printer in "home" position, send print job. Printer prints as should and in correct position on shirt according to RIP.

Problem 1) I now notice a bad branding issue with red.

Problem 2) After print, printer does not return to "back" position but instead sits at the back of the platen and displays "Ready" while the base still displays "Printing" and the light above the Reset button flashes. I press and hold reset but nothing happens. Just shows "Printing". I have to turn the base completely off and back on to reset.😡

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi,

Sorry for delay in getting back. So after you water falled head - why did you do that, because nozzles
were blocked or did believe you should water fall every ... days?

As for issue you now have after cleaning/encoder, the printer comes to ready which would generally
indicate the encoder is working O.K however it could have a scratch or something on it
giving incorrect readings. If you turn system off, unlock the head, move all way to left then turn
on again and press start - make sure head moves all way back to capping station without any jerking
movement.

Let me know what you find

Thanks for getting back on this. I've grown frustrated... anyway. Yes, when I was printing white, it was coming out grey at first, then became fainter and fainter until almost nothing was coming out. So I took head off and waterfalls and tested white dampers. It looked like black or blue ink was mixed in. Pulled ink until it was white only coming into syringe. (Added 8 dampers to shopping cart at AA.) Put everything back together and this is what happened.

1. Startup ran clean. Printer stated ready.
2. Moved printer to "home" position
3. Sent print from RIP
2. Printer printer white under base. White ink looked better as it printed.
3. Under base finished. Printer moved to back position and states "Set Paper Lever"
4. Moved printer to home position. Printer said "Press Pause". Pressed paused, printer did a clean and proceeded to color layer. The color layer was out of alignment.
5. Finished color layer, printer stopped at end of platen and said "Ready" while the base still said "Printing". Reset light flashes but will not reset. I have to turn the base and printer off to reset.

I unhooked everything. Moved printer half way down the bed and moved the printer carriage opposite end of capping station. Hooked everything back up and turned everything on. Printer moved to "Back" position smoothly and the printer carriage moved to capping station smoothly as well. Did the startup cleaning and "Ready" again. Did another print, same thing happened.

Just finished flushing the system until I can figure this out. Flushed lines and replaced the 4 white dampers (I had only 4 new dampers, going to order 8 from AA). Printer saying "Set Ink Cartridges", I'm hoping this is just because of the bulk ink cartridges I'm using filled with cleaning fluids.

I'm almost to the point of giving up 😭😭

Hi,

Sorry for this frustrating situation - DTG can test ones self control

So, on ink in lines, an initial fill would probably be best after a major flush to system - do you know
how to do this?

As for "Load Paper Suction" - during a print you should not have to move printer to front in
order to print 2nd (colour) layer - the printer electronics will do this for you to get correct alignment.
If you say prints white layer find then waits at rear position - something is wrong with communications
to printer control board. This can be several things but I want you to try this first to verify what is
going on.

1) Turn everything on (power -> start button-> printer/base ready)
2) Unlock head and move to center - transport should say "Printing"
3) Inside printer, left side you will see paper wheel axle/shaft - rotate this by hand and verify printer
moves as you turn shaft. Rotate shaft to move printer away from front towards rear a couple of inches.
4) Now, move head ALL THE WAY to right - to stop - and hold for exactly 2 seconds (say out loud one, 1000, two, 1000)
then let go of head
5) printer should move by itself to front.
6) Now repeat 2) and 3) but this time move head all the way to right and HOLD for 3 seconds (say out loud, one, 1000, two,1000, three,1000) then let go of head
7) printer should move all way to rear and show "Load Paper Suction"

Let me know where/if it fails to do any of the above. This is an easy fix once we know what is wrong.
Usually it is the DB15 cable that plugs in rear of printer/base.

Hi,

Sorry for this frustrating situation - DTG can test ones self control

So, on ink in lines, an initial fill would probably be best after a major flush to system - do you know
how to do this?

As for "Load Paper Suction" - during a print you should not have to move printer to front in
order to print 2nd (colour) layer - the printer electronics will do this for you to get correct alignment.
If you say prints white layer find then waits at rear position - something is wrong with communications
to printer control board. This can be several things but I want you to try this first to verify what is
going on.

1) Turn everything on (power -> start button-> printer/base ready)
2) Unlock head and move to center - transport should say "Printing"
3) Inside printer, left side you will see paper wheel axle/shaft - rotate this by hand and verify printer
moves as you turn shaft. Rotate shaft to move printer away from front towards rear a couple of inches.
4) Now, move head ALL THE WAY to right - to stop - and hold for exactly 2 seconds (say out loud one, 1000, two, 1000)
then let go of head
5) printer should move by itself to front.
6) Now repeat 2) and 3) but this time move head all the way to right and HOLD for 3 seconds (say out loud, one, 1000, two,1000, three,1000) then let go of head
7) printer should move all way to rear and show "Load Paper Suction"

Let me know where/if it fails to do any of the above. This is an easy fix once we know what is wrong.
Usually it is the DB15 cable that plugs in rear of printer/base.

So, this is a good sign. It means that the printer/base are communicating correctly and everything seems
to be operational!

Printer in rear after testing is correct, this is condition after a good print (single or dual pass). You would
then press Front to bring printer back up front for another print but NOT the colour layer, the
printer/base electronics do this. When RIP sends a two layer file (white/colour) the first layer
is printed as you see, then the printer should move the head to the far right for 2 seconds only.
This tells the base to bring printer up front because there is another layer to print. If on your machine
the printer, rather than coming up front it goes to the back, it can be several things. We know fro your testing that electrically is is working which is a good thing. Ii could be that the head sensor might
need a little adjusting - it can be sticky/covered in goo or the head is a bit sticky at that point. When
you push head all way to right end let go, does it spring back quickly? When you push head far right, does it go easy or do you have to push a bit - this timing is rather critical and any delay (goo, stiffness)
will cause odd results

Hi,

Sorry for delay in getting back. That is good, so def prob with head going back to home position.

1) remove right side cover (remove maint tank first, remove cover, replace tank)
2) move head over to left - is capping station clean, no goop laying on top etc
3) is rail (part that head moves on) clean, no dings, dents etc. A lot of ink is in this area and it can
build up over time if not cleaned
4) check head sensor area - just above right where head goes when far right, it is small black sensor
with slot. Make sure no ink or goop in there.
5) When you move head all way to left notice by gears on right side of frame by head, a small white
plastic rod moves out as head moves in - this is a gear selector. Make sure it moves freely, clean if
required with alcohol
6) lithium grease only, no petroleum based oil - can destroy plastic parts.

I'll try and get some pic's for you of areas to check/clean shortly