What You Need to Know About Changing Dampers, Printheads, and the Difference Between C2 and C3 Tubing in Printer Conversions

Question:

I recently replaced the dampers and printhead in my printer, including the nipples. I'm trying to figure out what else is necessary to ensure everything works correctly after this replacement. Also, I’ve seen references to C2 and C3 tubing, but even after watching all the videos, I’m still unsure about their differences. Can you clarify?

Answer:

Thank you for contacting us at BCH Technologies. First and foremost, we want to thank you for your patience—I’m sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I completely understand that any disruption in your printing workflow can be urgent and frustrating. At the same time, I want to ensure each question receives the attention and detail it deserves.

We sincerely appreciate your engagement with our content, especially through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback helps us refine our tutorials and guides so they can better serve the community. Now, let’s get to your question.

Ensuring Proper Functionality After Changing Dampers and Printhead

When you change the printhead and the dampers, you're addressing two of the most critical components in your ink delivery system. However, for these parts to work correctly and efficiently together, you’ll also want to ensure the following:

1. Tubing Compatibility
   If you're installing new dampers and a new printhead, the ink tubing connecting everything must be compatible in diameter and connector type. This brings us to your question about C2 vs. C3 tubing, which we’ll explain below.

2. Proper Connectors (Fittings)
   You must use matching connectors for the type of tubing you're using. Mismatched connectors will lead to poor seals or even ink leakage. A typical setup includes L-connectors or straight barbs that match the tubing grade (C2 or C3).

3. Air-Tight Ink Flow
   Ensure there are no air leaks in your system. Every junction between cartridge, tubing, damper, and printhead must be tightly sealed. Even a small leak can result in inconsistent ink flow or printhead starvation.

4. Prime and Flush
   After installation, always prime the dampers and flush the printhead. This ensures that ink fills the system evenly and eliminates air pockets, which can cause missing lines or dropouts.

5. Waterproofing (Optional but Recommended)
   If you're working on a converted system or modifying hardware, waterproof exposed electrical points near the printhead area. This prevents damage in case of a leak or accidental ink spray.

Difference Between C2 and C3 Tubing

Your confusion is understandable, especially since tubing compatibility isn’t always visually obvious in videos.

• C2 Tubing:
  This tubing type is slightly smaller in inner diameter and is designed to fit C2 connectors. It’s most commonly used in older or simpler ink delivery systems. If your fittings are labeled or sized for C2, this is what you should use.

• C3 Tubing:
  This tubing is slightly wider and must be paired with C3 connectors. It’s often used in higher-flow or upgraded setups, especially where ink viscosity or color density is higher (e.g., pigment or DTF setups).

Important Note: You cannot cross-connect C2 tubing with C3 connectors and vice versa. Doing so may cause poor seals, air leaks, or even damage to fittings by forcing mismatched parts together.

Suppose you're unsure which one your system uses. In that case, we recommend removing a section of tubing and comparing it against our tubing listings or contacting us directly with a photo or model reference.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're unable to 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. So, it might take a few weeks to 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 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.

Thanks again for reaching out. We hope this detailed breakdown helps you confidently complete your printer setup. Please don’t hesitate to follow up if you need more clarification—we’re always here to help within our capabilities.