Why Is My Procolored L1800 DTF Printer Printing Blank Pages? How to Diagnose and Fix the Problem

Question:

My Procolored L1800 DTF printer is suddenly printing blank pages. I’ve already checked and confirmed that the F1 fuse and driver chip are working. I even swapped the mainboard with a known working one from another L1800 DTF printer. I’ve also flushed the ink tubes, changed the dampers and ink, replaced the printhead cables and even installed a new printhead—but still no luck. What else should I check?

Answer:

Thank you for contacting us at BCH Technologies, and we truly appreciate your support. We’re sorry for the delay in responding to your printer issue—these matters always feel urgent, and we understand the frustration when you're stuck. Our team aims to provide thoughtful, detailed assistance, and your questions help us sharpen our technical guidance.

We also want to say thank you for your engagement with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your input plays a huge role in helping us grow as a resource for the DTF and printing community.

Now, let’s take a closer look at your issue.

Diagnosing Blank Pages on the Procolored L1800 DTF Printer

Given all the components you've already replaced—the mainboard, printhead, ink system, and cables—the next critical component to inspect is the capping station.

1. Capping Station Problems

If the capping station is clogged or malfunctioning, it cannot create a proper seal over the printhead to draw ink during priming or cleaning cycles. This often results in the printhead firing blanks even if it’s new or in good shape.

We recommend starting with the following instructional videos:

• Removing and Installing the Capping Station (https://youtu.be/_cZEkmgIZYc)

• Unclogging the Capping Station (https://youtu.be/WbY_6O1-w2c)

• Capping Station Maintenance Best Practices (https://youtu.be/5yjq3ZN0qv8)

• Repairing Common Capping Station Problems (https://youtu.be/5UC2IMu9V90)

• Rewiring Capping Station Tubes (https://youtu.be/J9im3s8UJfo)

If you're looking for an even more in-depth breakdown, we offer an exclusive video guide on how to fully disassemble and reassemble the capping station, down to the gears and seals. You can find that here: Capping Station Assembly/Disassembly Video Guide (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/video-capping-station-assemble-disassemble-guide-for-l1800-1390-artisan-1430-and-1400).

2. Priming the Printhead Correctly

Once you've confirmed the capping station is functional, the next step is to manually prime the printhead.

Here’s a safe and effective method:

• Power on the printer to allow the printhead to settle naturally on the capping station.

• Use a syringe with tubing attached to the waste line.

• Draw 1.5 ml of air slowly. At this point, you should feel some resistance.

  • If you only pull air: the printhead isn’t sealed correctly or the cap has a leak.

  • If you can’t pull anything: the capping station is likely clogged.

• Once you hear the membrane inside the damper crinkle, draw up to 2 ml total and hold for 10 seconds to ensure the system is fully primed.

After priming:

• Run a normal cleaning cycle through the printer’s utility software.

• Avoid doing strong cleanings for at least 12 hours and do not run back-to-back cleanings.

This priming method is especially crucial for DTF inks, which are thicker and require more effort to get flowing initially.

3. Don’t Overlook Other Mechanical Symptoms

If you’ve heard grinding or screeching sounds, those may also point to mechanical resistance in the printhead assembly or capping area. We've also produced videos covering these specific noises:

• Grinding or Screeching Noise 1 (https://youtu.be/MjArYM-QnfU)

• Grinding or Screeching Noise 2 (https://youtu.be/TNOG_1TtN6g)

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able 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 before we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either 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 highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel 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.

Thank you once again for reaching out and for your continued support of BCH Technologies!