How to Get Your DTF Printer Ink Flowing Without Major Modifications

If you want to print on garments you can wear, DTF (Direct to film) is becoming popular for its versatility and colourful prints. However, configuring your DTF printer and ensuring a smooth ink flow can be difficult, especially if you want to maintain the original design with no significant changes. Here’s our guide for getting ink into your printer and flowing correctly. If you prefer to see how each step is executed, a video below shows it all in action.

How to Fill Ink Tanks in the General Way

First, you want to get the ink into your printer’s tanks. Instead of modifying the printer bottles, you can repurpose an OEM bottle (cut it and it will serve as a funnel). Be aware of the tabs at the bottom of the bottle, which help identify colors and models. If you discover that a bottle does not fit perfectly, you can cut off the excess plastic using a razor blade, so you can use one bottle for several colors.

The damper must be installed after the ink has been loaded in the tanks. If you see the damper is empty and has no ink, don’t panic—this is normal. At this point, it’s critical that the ink can run freely through all the tubes.

That ink flows smoothly through the tubes.

This ensures a consistent flow of ink, which is essential to achieving good quality DTF prints. Flow Test: Use an adapter with a syringe (for computability reasons) A 100ml syringe is overkill but an adapter will allow you to suck up a bit of ink and confirm things flow into the syringe nicely.

If you notice any sputtering or skipping with the ink, inspect the tubing for pockets of air that can be fixed. As a preventive measure, ensure the ink always flows smoothly to prevent a clog that can cause poor print quality later.

Placing the Printer on the Capping Station

The printer needs to be on the capping station when not in use. For example, parking is vital because it seals the printer head securely and prevents the ink from drying out and clogging the nozzles. You can use a pressure gauge to measure the internal pressure. This is where the waste tube comes into play—you’ll need to extend it a little to gently suck air out of the capping station using a 10ml syringe. As a threshold, the pressure measurement must not exceed 10 kPa.

This means that the dampers aren't filled, but they do help prime the printer for operation. They also help remove minor clogs, which improves the next printhead cleaning cycle.

Executing a Cleaning Cycle for the Printhead

Fill the dampers partially. Use the printhead cleaning cycle to pull ink through the system. This should cause the ink to advance through the dampers. The ink is slowly pulled into position, clearing any leftover air pockets.

The over-up would have had an internal discussion or approval process to obtain guidance on pursuing this evil plan. The pressure in an ideal capping station should be kept below five kilopascals. If you have consistently high readings, you may need to replace the capping station.

After that, until the ink fills the dampers, you will see a steady bar of colors (e.g., white, blue, and yellow) in each damper to show that the ink is progressing through it.

Dealing with Clogs & Pushing Ink Through the Dampers

If ink does not reach dampers, a clog can be present. The first thing to check is whether the tubes are blocked so ink cannot flow freely.

One of the spare tubes from BCH Technologies can help with this. You're instructed to buy an expensive replacement tube designed for your Epson EcoTank ET-8550 but you can use the cheaper stuff, like the tubing from an Epson EcoTank 2750. And if you own multiple printers, consider reclaiming tubes from older ones before tossing them in the trash.

Once you have the right tube, feed it into an ink syringe. Pulling, releasing is the best air bubble removal technique. By pulling on and then releasing the syringe, you’ll feel and see air bubbles moving into the syringe. Continue repeating this process until no more air bubbles surface and the ink flow has stabilized.

Setting Quality Control Final Steps

After the ink has settled into the system correctly, another printhead cleaning cycle is performed to distribute it properly. A solid ink bar should form at the top of the dampers, indicating that the system is completely primed.

If the ink doesn’t flow correctly, check again for air pockets, clogged tubes, or problems with the capping station. With minor modifications, your printer is now ready for DTF printing.

For the full demonstration, all our videos are below. For quality printer supplies (such as spare tubing, etc.), you can visit BCH Technologies, they offer quality parts at a reduced price.