How to Add a Roll Control Module to an Epson P600 for DTF Printing

Question:
I watched your video #1 DTF Secret Tip: Avoid Daily Maintenance - Do THIS Instead! and had a question. Could you make a tutorial on how to add a roll control module to an Epson P600? Most of your tutorials seem to focus on the L1800 or 1400 models. I used to run an L1800, which was a real workhorse, but I've since moved on from it and would like to adapt my P600.

Answer:

Adding a Roll Control Module to the Epson P600

The Epson P600, unlike the L1800 or 1400, was not designed for continuous roll feeding out of the box. To adapt it for DTF roll printing, you'll need to address two main challenges:

1. Mechanical Roll Feeding

   • You will need a roll control module or roller adapter that physically mounts to the printer to guide the film smoothly. Since the P600 doesn't have a factory-supported roll feeder, this will require either sourcing an aftermarket kit or fabricating one yourself.

   • Many users design their own brackets and feeding spindles using 3D printing or modified roll holders from other printers. Stability is key to prevent skewing during long prints.

2. Electronic Control / Driver Board

   • To get the roll to advance consistently, you'll also need to integrate or build a driver board. This board synchronizes roll feeding with the printer's print cycle.

   • In some setups, people adapt third-party roll feeder driver boards originally intended for wide-format printers, while others design custom electronics. Building your own is possible if you're experienced with microcontrollers and stepper motors.

   • Without a proper driver board, the roll may not feed evenly, leading to banding, misalignment, or wasted film.

Differences from the L1800 / 1400

• The L1800 and 1400 are more commonly adapted for DTF because parts, tutorials, and community support are abundant. The P600 can work, but since it's less common for DTF roll mods, you may need to do more custom fabrication and experimentation.

• One major advantage of the P600 is its higher print resolution and pigment ink handling, but modification is less "plug-and-play" compared to the L-series printers.

Recommendation

If you're committed to adapting your P600, your main task will be finding or making a driver board to control the roll feed. This is the hardest part, but once solved, you can adapt a physical roll holder to suit your setup. For many users, it comes down to a balance of whether to invest time and effort into building the module or consider a printer model with established aftermarket roll feed support.

Addressing printer issues and modifications can be complicated because of the hands-on nature of the work. For this reason, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting, detailed modification instructions, or technical support for custom roll feed builds. However, we do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), which operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that it may take several weeks before your printer can be accepted for service due to high demand. We can handle either complete repairs or part-specific work, depending on your needs. That said, we know our rates are not always the most economical, which is why we encourage exploring self-help and community-driven solutions. A great place to start is our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), where you can use the search function to look for relevant modifications and techniques, or explore other creators' tutorials that YouTube may recommend alongside ours.

Thank you again for your question and for supporting our work. Your engagement helps us continue developing content that addresses advanced topics like P600 roll feeding for DTF, and we hope this guidance helps you evaluate your next steps.