How to Resolve Light Printing Issues on White Ink Channels for DTF Printers

Question:
I’m experiencing issues with the white ink channel in my printer, which appears to be clogged. The colours are printing perfectly, but the white ink is coming out very faintly. As shown in your videos, I’m hesitant to open the printhead. Could you advise on what steps I can take to address this issue? I’ve included some pictures to give you a better idea of the problem.
 
Answer:
Thank you for contacting us! I’m sorry I couldn’t get back to you sooner. I understand how urgent printer issues can feel and am committed to providing detailed and specific guidance. At BCH Technologies, we’re grateful for your engagement and support, especially on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback is vital in helping us refine our technical expertise and resources.
From the information and pictures you’ve shared, the white ink channel does not appear wholly clogged, which is good news. Some white ink is still coming through, albeit faintly, and the other colours are printing beautifully. Based on this, here’s a detailed process to address the issue:

Step 1: Rotate Colors in the Ink Channels

To allow the white channel to recover, I recommend a colour rotation:

1. Swap the Dampers: Exchange the dampers connected to the white ink channel with those for colour ink. This will allow the white ink to be replaced with colour ink, which can help flush the channel.
2. Redefine the Color Sequence in RIP Software: Update your RIP software to reflect the new colour sequence.
3. Perform a Park and Prime: This ensures proper printhead priming and clears residual clogging.

Step 2: Park the Printhead and Perform Priming

To safely park and prime the printhead:

1. Park the Printhead: Turn the printer on and let the printhead settle naturally onto the capping station. It’s safe to do this while the printer is powered on.
2. Connect a Syringe: Attach a syringe and tube to the printer’s waste line.
3. Draw Air Gently: Gradually draw 2 ml of air from the capping station. Begin with 1.5 ml—you should feel some resistance here. If you only draw air, the printhead may not be parked correctly, or there could be a leak in the capping station’s seal. If you encounter complete resistance, the capping station itself might be clogged.
4. Observe the Dampers: Listen for the damper’s membrane crinkling as you draw the syringe, indicating the nozzles are open. Slowly draw up to 2 ml and hold for 10 seconds.
5. Perform a Cleaning Cycle: Use the printer’s regular cleaning routine, but avoid running back-to-back cleanings or strong cleaning settings within 12 hours.

For a more in-depth explanation of the theory and operation, please watch our detailed video here (https://youtu.be/Ey3wsy9V4zs).

Step 3: Continue Using the Printer

Once the above steps are complete, keep using the printer as usual. The white channel should gradually recover as the colour ink flushes out any residue.
 
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren’t the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel’s homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it’s challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube’s search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.
Thank you again for reaching out, and we appreciate your continued support!