BCH V3 Top-load White Ink Dampers: How to Solve the Ink Flow Problem?

Question:

I’ve just bought BCH’s new ink dampers (V3 Top-Load White Ink Damper for DTG/DTF (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/v3-top-load-white-ink-damper-for-dtg-dtf-fits-most-models-xp-15000-nipple?_pos=3&_sid=d85f827c2&_ss=r)) and configured them with your nipple kit. Yet I have a problem. It seems that the gray rubber piece in the damper is sealed and that there is no hole to allow ink to penetrate. When I force ink through, the membrane fills up, creating a vacuum without passing any ink or air. Extracting ink with a syringe creates the same vacuum effect. How can I get the ink to flow through these dampers?

Answer:

Ink Is Not Flowing Through the New Dampers

The behavior you describe—where ink does not pass through the damper, and the membrane inflates and creates a vacuum—is typical for new dampers. The damper contains a thick, solid disc of gray rubber inside, so you must manually break the rubber seal before each use. This is a built-in feature to stop leaks before they're installed.

This process ensures that the ink pushes through and recharges the ink damper, allowing the ink to flow.

Since the rubber seal has not been punctured, you have to punch a hole before your ink will flow. Here’s how to do it:

Method 1: Use a Sharp Object

Use the point of a pen, needle or similar fine-pointed tool to pierce the membrane.

No need for a giant hole just a hole large enough for the ink to pass through

Using the Manifold Nipple Itself Method 2

For the nipple conversion, force the damper onto the manifold nipple.

The sharp edge at the tip of the nipple should effortlessly tear through the membrane, creating an opening allowing ink to pass through.

Method 2: Perforate the Seal With a Refill Needle

And if you want to ensure you don't get a crooked hole from the gas needle you can use a plastic refill needle like these:

(4 PCS plastic refill needle tip for quick ink transfer and priming| ciss| bchtechnologies)

Push the needle through the top rubber seal to ensure proper ink flow, only enough to puncture a small surface hole.

Other Ways to Get the Ink Flowing Good

Make sure the damper is seated tight on the manifold. If it is loose, air pockets may form, preventing ink from travelling.

Inspect the ink lines for clogs. If the membrane’s perforation prevents ink from flowing, a blockage in the ink lines leading to the damper may be present.

Guess a prime- test – Once the hole is made, try to pull the ink through the damper using a syringe to check for flow.

Need Further Assistance?

We cannot offer real-time physical repairs because of the tactile component of printer troubleshooting. But should you need professional assessment, we do provide in-house diagnostics and repair in our BCH Technologies repair center (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, services are provided on a first come, first served basis and wait times may vary.

If you’re into troubleshooting, we suggest you browse YouTube for solutions to problems. Explore our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), and click on the search bar next to the "About" tab to see what you can watch. This is the fastest way to find ink damper installation/ troubleshooting guides.

Thank you once again for your patience and support. We hope this answer helps you fix your issue. Please reach out if you have additional questions!