Epson ET-8550 DTF Conversion: White Ink Flow and Recommended Upgrades

Question:

I have transformed my Epson ET-8550 into a DTF (direct-to-film) printer. However, I am having some issues. At first, the prints had white ink-printing on DTF film, but after two prints, the witness darkened, and the ink faded out, leaving spotty patterns and stripes. I think I had something wrong with my RIP software (Digital Factory V11), as I’ve only done a basic setup.

Now, my printer prints nothing—no ink at all—on film or paper. I suspect that we have a clog in the pump system, but I don’t know where to locate the pump or how to clear it. I have seen several cleaning tutorials, including yours. I have also detached the OEM ink tanks and reel and fitted a CISS with a standalone white ink tank and stirring motor.

Because we are just starting and working on a budget, I would like advice about:

• The absolute minimum needed for converting from the mesh intake to a nipple system
• A list of intermediate upgrades after minimum setup.
• A pro upgrade list to get the most out of your printer before moving to a dedicated DTF printer.

Thanks again for your guidance, and I look forward to hearing your recommendations!

Answer:

Your problem is not specific to your RIP software but is most likely related to the ink supply. The faint white ink, pockmarks, and banding all indicate that air is trapped in the ink system.” This happens when:

1. Dampers have not been physically primed, and ink is not flowing consistently.
2. Nozzles have a blocked section of air, creating gaps in the print.
3. If not addressed, these blockages begin to harden into permanent clogs, most often in the white ink channels.

How To Prime The Printhead For DTF Printing

Before you run cleaning cycles, you need to do the above to avoid excessive cleaning, which can worsen clogging when proper ink flow is not established throughout the system. Here’s how to prime your printer manually:

Park the Printhead Properly

• Power on the printer and allow the printhead to park naturally at the capping station.
• Don’t try to push the printhead back into place manually — allow it to find its own home.

Get Some Air Out of the Waste Line With a Syringe

• Connect the printer’s waste ink line to a syringe and tube.
• Drawback 1.5 ml of air (you should feel slight resistance).
  • If you solely draw air, the capping station isn't correctly sealing, or there's a leak.
  • If you encounter full resistance and no movement, the capping station is clogged and needs clearing.
• Gently draw up to 2 ml of ink and keep on hold for 10 seconds.
• If you hear the damper membrane crinkling, ink is flowing.

Run Controlled Cleaning Cycles

• After priming, run a normal printer cleaning cycle.
• Don’t run intense cleaning cycles for 12 hours—this may inundate the printhead with air and exacerbate blockages.
• Run back-to-back cleanings without letting the printer rest.

Lists of Recommended Materials for DTF Conversion

Essential Components (Bare Minimum)

You will need to move from a mesh intake to a nipplet system:

Nipple conversion kit – This is a kit that allows you to modify the ink intake system.

DTF Compatible Dampers – Prevents ink backflow and helps keep pressure.

Waste Ink Tank — Critical for handling white ink waste without boring a hole through the internal sponge.

Intermediate Upgrade List

Once you've set up the basics, you can make these upgrades that can improve the quality of your prints:

An external circulation ink system — It helps reduce settlement of white ink to prevent clogging.

High-flow dampers – Reduces clogging risk through enhanced ink flow.

Improved capping station – Which creates a complete seal around the printhead, allowing better cleaning.

DTF Cleaning Aftermarket – Helps keep nozzles clear between uses.

Advanced Upgrades List (Best Performance Before Transferring To Dedicated DTF Printer)

Reinforced long-term feel like these upgrades will optimize performance transitioning to a commercial DTF printer:

Pressurized ink delivery system – Consistent ink pressure, no air pockets.

Professional White Ink Mixing Motor – Uniform and consistence white ink distribution.

Third-party RIP software – Better color management / ink stacking with third-party RIP software.

Spare Printhead – White ink is notorious for clogging so by having a spare printhead you can ensure less downtime.

External waste pump system — Further extends maintenance intervals by directing build-up of excess ink away from the printer.

This white ink problem of yours is likely because there is air in the system and/or the white channels are clogged, and has nothing to do with the RIP software. After the manual priming operation, the ink should start to flow regularly again. Making critical improvements, such as an upgraded damper system and ink circulation setup, will also be time well spent to ensure consistency between prints.

Troubleshooting printers can be a mess because of the tactile nature of the problems. We are unable to assist you with remote troubleshooting, advice or support for printer repairs. As we have a local diagnostic facility, BCH Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), we provide this service in-house with a very high demand first-come-first-serve process. So it may take several weeks before we can send your printer to drop it off. We would like to mention that we handle our services in a way that either your entire printer or your specific parts are repaired and instructions are given accordingly. That said, our rates are not the cheapest. So we strongly encourage you to try self-help through internet research. At first, go to YouTube or our Homepage on YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), use the search icon next to "About" (on the RIGHT SIDE of the menu bar) to look for specific videos. Every day I get dozens of questions asking where the video for this specific topic is. So this is not the first video I've made in the past nine years, and actually, it's hard to keep track. In that case, using YouTube search will be the more efficient way. Additionally, YouTube may recommend related videos from other channels that can help you.

Thank you for your contact and thank you for your support! We can’t wait to see your journey with DTF continue—happy printing!