[andyzee65]

hi everyone,
I'm a newbie to the DTG printing process, recently having acquired a T-Jet 2 printer. It came from EQ originally, so it has all the usual upgrades. When I first used it every print was perfect, every time. I've been printing for about 5 weeks now, and a peculiar problem has developed with the white ink.
This is more apparent on images that use a lot of white ink in one block, like a large solid shape for example. Nozzle pattern is perfect before the printing starts. The print starts of very bright for the first few passes, then it fades slightly but is still acceptable, then half way through the print it will fade again to less than 50%. On the odd occasion will go through ok, but then the next print will fade. Nozzle check reveals that usually the first and second white pattern bars are very bad, the 3rd is usually acceptable 90%+. So a couple more head cleans and nozzle check is again 100%. I print again and same thing happens. If I don't do any head cleans then the rint will fade almost totally after 3 or 4 prints.

I have now changed the white ink to a different supplier, changed the ink lines and changed the white ink cartridges, also changed the capping station. The problem persists.



btw: colour (without white) printing is no problem, 100% everytime.


I have a new printhead coming next week, but since I am getting a good nozzle check after a few cleans could the head still be the problem?

DTG printing was great and really enjoyable, until now, that I've hit these problems and now I'm at a whits end as to what the problem might be.

I would really appreciate if someone had some idea what to do next, or how to solve this problem.

many thanks in anticipation
Andy

 

[equipmentzone1]

Hi Andy,

What is the height of your bulk system shelf? You might want to try raising the height of your shelf (or just the height of the white inks) and seeing if your issue goes away. Raise it in slight increments, maybe a half-inch to start, then a quarter-inch at a time.

-Alex

 

[JeridHill]

Andy, what you are experiencing is called ink starvation. It's one of the issues with a taller bulk system. The problem is your ink is too low to the printhead and when you print, the force is greater on the ink side and causes almost a siphoning effect. If you raise your ink reservoirs higher, you will still need to try and keep your ink inside of the tanks at a more consistent height. The more ink you use, the more the ink level changes, effecting your print. Finding the right height can be tricky, but once you find it, make a mark on your tanks and try to keep your ink filled to that line.

Your print head is fine, now you have a backup.

 

[equipmentzone]

hi everyone,
I'm a newbie to the DTG printing process, recently having acquired a T-Jet 2 printer. It came from EQ originally, so it has all the usual upgrades. When I first used it every print was perfect, every time. I've been printing for about 5 weeks now, and a peculiar problem has developed with the white ink.
This is more apparent on images that use a lot of white ink in one block, like a large solid shape for example. Nozzle pattern is perfect before the printing starts. The print starts of very bright for the first few passes, then it fades slightly but is still acceptable, then half way through the print it will fade again to less than 50%. On the odd occasion will go through ok, but then the next print will fade. Nozzle check reveals that usually the first and second white pattern bars are very bad, the 3rd is usually acceptable 90%+. So a couple more head cleans and nozzle check is again 100%. I print again and same thing happens. If I don't do any head cleans then the rint will fade almost totally after 3 or 4 prints.

I have now changed the white ink to a different supplier, changed the ink lines and changed the white ink cartridges, also changed the capping station. The problem persists.





btw: colour (without white) printing is no problem, 100% everytime.


I have a new printhead coming next week, but since I am getting a good nozzle check after a few cleans could the head still be the problem?

DTG printing was great and really enjoyable, until now, that I've hit these problems and now I'm at a whits end as to what the problem might be.

I would really appreciate if someone had some idea what to do next, or how to solve this problem.

many thanks in anticipation
Andy

I would suggest replacing the capping assembly.

 

[JeridHill]

I would suggest replacing the capping assembly.

I wouldn't go this far yet, it may be completely unnecessary. If the capping assembly isn't working correctly, this could happen, but making the changes to the ink system is the quickest, simplest and least expensive. My guess is, the capping assembly is functioning correctly, after the changes to ink system as suggested above see how it performs.....

 

[lazographics]

If everything is fine with the ink levels then it is your print head. I have seen this many times and have experienced it myself many times over 6 years. Even getting a perfect nozzle check doesn't always mean that your print head is still good. Try printing a nozzle check after printing an underbase and experiencing the fade. If the nozzle check is bad then you know your print head is going bad. Your nozzle check should be perfect or close to it if its good.

One good piece of maintenance to do that will help from this happening again is emptying your white bottles and washing them out with hot water once every 2 weeks to a month to wash out the build up. Over time the white settles at the bottom of the bottles turning into a glue type form which can get into your system creating clogs. This builds up over time. This still happens even if your agitating the ink daily. This has to be done especially if your using the EZ bulk system since it draws ink from the bottom of the bottles (which is best), compared to the US Screen bulk system which draws ink from about the middle towards the bottom. Which ever bulk system your using this should still be done and will help fresh ink flow into your system rather then build up.

 

[andyzee65]

Guys!
thank you all for the advice.
My t-Jet 2 is now sorted and everyting is working fine.
I just wanted to let you know what the problem was so that anyone else experiancing similar problems may gain something from this.
The shelf position was in the wrong place, thanks Alex, but it was actually way too high, So I was getting all sort of dripping issues, and perhaps that's why the first few passes were always much brighter than the rest. The capping station and assembly were all ok.

The problem was the printhead in the end. I decided to replace the printhead, as everything else was already replaced and problem persisited. After fitting new head, actually it was a secondhand head from an old 2100 epsom printer, the problems dissapeared.
So as Lazographics said, it was the prinhead, and even if you are getting a perfect nozzle check it does not mean that the printhead is OK.

Many thanks again.
Andy

 

[equipmentzone]

Andy,

Glad to hear you're working fine. Make sure to also keep the humidity level in the room you have the printer in at around 50%. This is one of the most important factors in insuring trouble free performance from any brand direct to garment printer.

Harry

_

 

[JeridHill]

even if you are getting a perfect nozzle check it does not mean that the printhead is OK.

I disagree. If you are getting a perfect nozzle check, then the printhead is functioning the way it ought. Now if you do a nozzle test and all the lines are there but they are faint, then you probably have build up in the head and a good flush of the head will clean it out. I have been in this industry since the beginning (with the first Tjet) and have yet to see anything contrary to what I just said. It's not a vainglorious comment, it's an observation....

Also let me clarify, if you are getting a "perfect" nozzle check, that doesn't mean you will have all lines with mixed colors. Perfect means each color is in it's place and all the lines are printed. A delaminated head will allow ink from one channel flow into another and even though the print is there, the colors are mixed, this is not perfect.

 

[dazzabling]

I second Jerid, ink starvation is very common with bottled ink and makes you think it's everything but the ink.
Hence the reason why you needed to move the shelf and worry about humidity.

I wouldn't have replaced the printhead had the correct colors been in place. I would have replaced the ink. you shouldn't have to consistly waste ink because of starvation.

Also, properly priming your carts is necessary too. Think about the flow of how your ink goes especially with a head clean..think of the places it needs to go in order to get to the waste ink tank.

It's should always be clear and properly flowing in order to have successful prints and less headaches.

 

[lazographics]

Glad you are up and going. When experiencing issues like ink starvation it is always best to check the easiest and least expensive parts first that belong to the ink system, such as the ink, bottles, lines, cartridges, and capping and pump assembly. When all these parts are ok then replacing the head is what its going to come down to. Flushing the head may also help, but most times its just a temporary fix. Like I mentioned in the post before, even though your nozzle check is fine, doesn't always mean that print head is fine. You have to know that when you do a nozzle check that the printer uses a very low amount of ink to print this pattern. Almost comparable to a 360 print mode. When your printing your underbase your using a 1440 print mode which requires the head to print a large amount of ink. If you see the underbase print nicely in the beginning and then start to fade, the best thing to do is do a nozzle check. If you see a bad nozzle check then 9 times out of 10 it is going to be the print head. The head is good enough to print a light amount of ink but not a heavy amount that we need it to. What is happening is that it is in the stages of clogging and not allowing the proper pressure to stay built up in the ink system.

One other thing to keep in mind is that the cleaning cartridges are your friend. What you want to do is make sure they are always filled, replace the ink cartridges with the cleaning ones and then run 2 ink charges (initial charges) in the adjustment program. Do this when your not going to use your printer for more then 2 days to ensure that your printhead and capping/pump assembly are completely flushed out of any ink sitting in it that can clog your system.

Hope this explains more in detail and helps others that read this post in the future.

 

[weave]

I just have a couple of questions. I have a DTG Kiosk. About a month ago I started experiencing ink starvation in all the lines. I of course raised the ink levels to the point of being approximately 2" above the print head which still did not fix the problem. I have the bulk system. I then replaced the capping station (twice). I replaced all the cartridges. I changed from bagged ink back to bottled ink. (According to service tech). The print head is about 1 1/2 years old. I get perfect nozzle checks. During a print head cleaning the ink does get pulled into the lines towards the print head. I use a syringe to prime the cartridges. Then it will print a perfect shirt. The ink stays in the lines. Then when it sits on the capping station it slowly moves up the lines about 3 inches. Sometimes all the colors including white and sometimes just 2 or 3 lines. The black ink started dripping like crazy so I now have the black lowered about 2 inches below the print head. This is crazy. If I hold down the ink fill button the ink will move through the lines. The capping station is clean and appears to be working. I am at a complete loss had have spoken to two different service techs and they are stumped too. You guys seem to know what you are doing. Do you think it is the print head. Could I have a clog in the the black only in the print head itself. Please help if you can. Thanks in advance.

 

[weave]

Also, how does humidity affect the machine? I should have also told you when I come in to work in the morning (I leave printer on so it can go through the head cleanings at night) all the ink is back in the lines where it is suppose to be until I start printing again. Thanks again.

 

[lazographics]

I just have a couple of questions. I have a DTG Kiosk. About a month ago I started experiencing ink starvation in all the lines.

What bottle system did you switch to? Is it Equipment Zone's system? If so do you make sure to have the caps on the bottles popped open?

Sounds like some issue in the bottles or lines if the ink is working its way back up. You need to make sure that all of the ink levels are at the same level always. Its ok to fill the white ink a bit higher because the ink is much more dense and this will help it flow better. Then adjust the height of the tray till the top of the ink level is leveled with the bottom of the print head. Then run a head cleaning to pressurize. If your still seeing an ink starvation issue raise about a 1/2 inch and run head cleaning till it goes away. If ink is dripping from the head then you've gone to high. Also make sure to rinse out your white bottles with hot water, about every 2 weeks to once a month, of any ink that could be built up at the bottom. Just empty out the bottles and rinse in the sink. This could clog up the connections to the lines and create this problem with the white.

 

[weave]

Yes, it is Equipment Zones. I had been on the bags for about a year and then started having problems. I have owned the printer for about 5 years so have adjusted the ink heights in the past. I went back to the bottles when I started having problems to see if that would fix the problem. Just when I think I have the height right I can print 5 to 6 shirts and then the ink starts moving back up into the lines. Not all the colors at the same time. I was having issues with the black dripping so it is now 2 inches below the print head which I have never had to do. I live in Iowa so right now the humidity in my shop is about 55 to 58%. Wondered if that had something to do with this mess. As I stated before, I can leave my shop at 5:00 and the ink is up in the lines. Then at 7:30 am it is where it is suppose to be. Have never had this. Also I have never had to play with all the ink heights (except white) like I am having to do now with the black. The bottles were very clean before I started using them again. Thanks

 

[equipmentzone]

I just have a couple of questions. I have a DTG Kiosk. About a month ago I started experiencing ink starvation in all the lines. I of course raised the ink levels to the point of being approximately 2" above the print head which still did not fix the problem. I have the bulk system. I then replaced the capping station (twice). I replaced all the cartridges. I changed from bagged ink back to bottled ink. (According to service tech). The print head is about 1 1/2 years old. I get perfect nozzle checks. During a print head cleaning the ink does get pulled into the lines towards the print head. I use a syringe to prime the cartridges. Then it will print a perfect shirt. The ink stays in the lines. Then when it sits on the capping station it slowly moves up the lines about 3 inches. Sometimes all the colors including white and sometimes just 2 or 3 lines. The black ink started dripping like crazy so I now have the black lowered about 2 inches below the print head. This is crazy. If I hold down the ink fill button the ink will move through the lines. The capping station is clean and appears to be working. I am at a complete loss had have spoken to two different service techs and they are stumped too. You guys seem to know what you are doing. Do you think it is the print head. Could I have a clog in the the black only in the print head itself. Please help if you can. Thanks in advance.

Your printhead could be the problem.

 

[weave]

That is what I was wondering. But why do I have all good nozzle checks. They are perfect and in the right order etc. First thing in the morning they work perfectly. Thanks for any help.

 

[lazographics]

Try doing a nozzle check after you start seeing the starvation issue. If the nozzle check is bad then it is possible that the head is going bad if you already ruled everything else out. You can try flushing the head but the issue may come right back the same day. If your white is printing bad you may also get by printing 2 passes of white if your not ready to fork over hundreds of dollars for a new head.

 

[weave]

Do I flush the head by running cleaning solution through all the lines?

 

[lazographics]

Yes. You can try using your cleaning cartridges first and doing ink charges using the adjustment program. If that doesn't help then you can manual doing it using a syringe. If you go that route you want to pull on the plunger first to get the build up out. Then clean out the syringe of what ever you pulled out. Then you can push on the plunger to push solution through the head. Try not to push to hard though. Also, move the head away from the capping assembly before doing this so your not drawing waste into the head. Becareful if you do it manually. Try not to get the cables to the head wet. This can create a short and damage your head, cables, and even blow the fuse on the mainboard.