Troubleshooting Ink Flow Issues with ET-8550 Nipple Conversion Printhead and V2 Dampers
- By Kevin Day
- On Oct 31, 2024
- Comment 0
Question: I recently installed a nipple conversion printhead upgrade and V2 dampers on my printer. After priming the dampers and using a syringe to pull ink through, I’ve tried both Power Cleaning and regular cleanings, but it doesn’t seem like any ink is flowing during these cleanings. What should I do next to get the ink flowing?
Answer: Thank you for contacting us, and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I know printer issues are time-sensitive, and I want to ensure that your concerns are addressed with the detail and attention they deserve. At BCH Technologies, we truly appreciate your support, especially your engagement with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback is invaluable in helping us continue to improve our technical guidance.
Now, let’s walk through how to resolve the issue you're experiencing with the nipple conversion printhead and V2 dampers.
After a Power Cleaning, per Epson's advice, you should wait 12 hours before performing another. Doing it too frequently can waste ink and won’t solve the issue of getting ink into the printhead nozzles.
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For this reason, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting or support for printer repairs. However, our local diagnostic facility offers in-person evaluation and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks to get your printer serviced. We can repair either the whole printer or specific parts, and we offer clear instructions for mail-in or local drop-off options.
If you’d prefer to explore self-help resources, we recommend starting with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search icon next to the "About" tab to look for specific topics that may help with your particular issue. This will show you our videos and suggest other helpful content from the broader community.
Thank you again for reaching out. I hope this guide helps you get your printer up and running. If you have any further questions or need more guidance, feel free to ask—we’re always here to assist!
Answer: Thank you for contacting us, and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I know printer issues are time-sensitive, and I want to ensure that your concerns are addressed with the detail and attention they deserve. At BCH Technologies, we truly appreciate your support, especially your engagement with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback is invaluable in helping us continue to improve our technical guidance.
Now, let’s walk through how to resolve the issue you're experiencing with the nipple conversion printhead and V2 dampers.
Step 1: Avoid Using Power Cleaning for Priming
First, it's essential to understand that Power Cleaning is not meant to prime the printhead after installing a new ink system like the nipple conversion printhead and dampers. Power Cleaning is designed to fix print quality issues and consumes a lot of ink, which isn't practical when you need to fill the printhead nozzles for the first time after installation.After a Power Cleaning, per Epson's advice, you should wait 12 hours before performing another. Doing it too frequently can waste ink and won’t solve the issue of getting ink into the printhead nozzles.
Step 2: Proper Printhead Priming Process
Since you've already installed the system, the goal is to prime the printhead properly. Here’s how you can do that without wasting ink through unnecessary Power Cleanings:- Park the Printhead at the Capping Station: Turn the printer on and allow it to naturally rest at the capping station (where the printhead goes when idle). This will help ensure the printhead is sealed, which is crucial for the next step.
- Use a Syringe to Draw Air from the Waste Tube: Using a syringe, gently pull about 3 ml of air from the waste tube connected to the capping station. For a visual guide on how to do this, check out this YouTube video at the 8:00 mark (https://youtu.be/_pyLQsfn4mQ).
- Slowly Draw Air and Balance Pressure: Draw the air slowly, and hold the syringe in place for about 30 seconds. This process helps the ink flow into the printhead by balancing the pressure. When you feel the pressure has equalized, remove the syringe.
- Run a Regular Cleaning Function: Once the printhead is primed, run a regular cleaning cycle using your printer's built-in cleaning function (not Power Cleaning). This should help pull the ink through the nozzles into the printhead.
Step 3: Monitoring the Ink Flow
After priming the printhead and performing regular cleaning, check the waste tube to see if the ink flows through. If ink comes through the waste tube but you still see blank prints, there might be a deeper issue related to a printhead malfunction or mainboard failure. These problems can sometimes arise when the ink system or components haven’t been appropriately primed, or the mainboard is not sending the correct signals to the printhead.Additional Tips
For some printers, I use strong cleaning at the beginning and end of the day (yes, we print 12+ hours a day) to maintain the ink flow. However, intense cleaning should not be used to prime the printhead, as it consumes too much ink and may not help in initial ink filling. Regular cleanings are more effective for this purpose.
Also, once you start printing, the top of white ink channels clogs immediately. Please see this video for the reason: https://youtu.be/Ey3wsy9V4zs. Therefore, I do a regular cleaning (either from the RIP software's cleaning function, or the printer's built-in function) every 4 designs or 6 feet. Those mild cleanings won't damage your printer if you do it at this kind of interval.
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For this reason, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting or support for printer repairs. However, our local diagnostic facility offers in-person evaluation and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks to get your printer serviced. We can repair either the whole printer or specific parts, and we offer clear instructions for mail-in or local drop-off options.
If you’d prefer to explore self-help resources, we recommend starting with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search icon next to the "About" tab to look for specific topics that may help with your particular issue. This will show you our videos and suggest other helpful content from the broader community.
Thank you again for reaching out. I hope this guide helps you get your printer up and running. If you have any further questions or need more guidance, feel free to ask—we’re always here to assist!