How to Troubleshoot and Fix Ink Flow Issues in Your ET15000 Printer

Question:

I need help with the ET15000 ink buffers—the white plastic pieces where the ink collects before entering the printhead. When I let the printer sit for a day and then run a nozzle check, the black ink is only about 80% effective. However, after a cleaning cycle, the black ink almost completely disappears. Could this be due to an air leak in the buffer? Thanks, Larry.

Answer:

Thank you for reaching out to us, Larry! At BCH Technologies, we appreciate your engagement and support, especially regarding our YouTube channel BCH Technologies on YouTube. Your feedback is invaluable in enhancing our technical expertise.

Firstly, the component you're referring to is known as "dampers". To diagnose the issue, you should start by inspecting the damper. If you find that the damper contains about half its volume in ink, it’s functioning as expected—dampers typically have 50% air in them and this does not indicate a leak.

Your description suggests the possibility of a "floating clog" within the printhead. This type of clog can settle when the printer is idle, obstructing the nozzles and appearing to resolve after a period of non-use. However, during printing or cleaning cycles, the movement can dislodge the clog, causing intermittent blockages. To test for a floating clog, try printing several pages using the highest resolution setting available. If the issue temporarily resolves but then reoccurs, it's likely you're dealing with a floating clog.

To address this, I generally advise against aggressive cleaning methods due to the associated risks. Instead, a safer approach is to gently draw ink back from the intake using an unclogging syringe, which can help dislodge the clog. It’s crucial not to push ink forward, as this may force the clog deeper into the nozzles.

If you determine that the damper is the problem and needs replacement, you have a couple of options:

• For used dampers, visit BCH Technologies used dampers.
• For new dampers, which will require modifying the fitting slot, check here: BCH Technologies new dampers.

Addressing printer issues can indeed be complex. For example, a simple clog might seem straightforward to resolve, but it often requires a detailed understanding of the printer's ink system, especially if the printer was inactive for a period. "Paper jam" errors can be notoriously diverse in their causes, often becoming a running joke about their unpredictability in office settings. As such, while we offer extensive advice and guidance through our YouTube channel, remote troubleshooting for specific hardware issues can be limited.

For hands-on support, we provide an in-person evaluation and repair service at our local diagnostic facility. You can learn more and arrange for service on our repair page BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service. Due to high demand, our services are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take some time before we can address your printer's needs directly.

Thank you once again for your question, Larry. We're here to assist and encourage you to explore further solutions through our videos on our YouTube channel.