Why Is My Uninet DTF 1000 Printing Blank? Common Causes and Fixes

Question:

My Uninet DTF 1000 suddenly stopped printing—it's not even a year old. The printhead isn't clogged, and I can see ink being pulled into the waste tube during cleaning cycles. However, it runs the print job as usual, but no ink is laid on the film. I also had a similar issue with a Procolored printer, and someone mentioned it could be a motherboard failure. Could that be the issue?

Answer:

1. Ink System Behavior Is Not Always Diagnostic of Output

It's a good sign that ink is reaching the waste tank during head cleanings, as this suggests that at least the pump system and cap station are functioning correctly. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that ink is being delivered to the media during an actual print job. It simply confirms suction and fluid movement—not successful printing.

2. Check the F1 Fuse on the Mainboard

A very common cause for a DTF printer (like the Uninet DTF 1000 or Procolored printers) to run jobs normally but print nothing is a blown F1 fuse on the mainboard. This tiny fuse protects the printhead circuitry from voltage surges. If it’s blown, your printer will act as if everything is working fine (motors move, data processes, etc.), but the printhead receives no firing signals, and nothing gets printed.

You’ll need to:

• Locate the F1 fuse on the mainboard. This is often marked clearly on most controller boards.

• Use a multimeter to test continuity across the fuse.

• If it’s open (no continuity), it’s blown and needs to be replaced or jumped—though jumping fuses carries its own risks and should only be done with caution.

3. Inspect the Printhead Driver IC (Integrated Circuit)

If the fuse is intact, another possible culprit is the printhead driver chip. This chip is responsible for sending precise electrical signals to the nozzles to eject ink. A damaged or burned-out driver chip can lead to the exact symptoms you're seeing: the printer believes it's printing, but no ink is deposited on the film.

Signs of a faulty driver chip include:

• Slight burn marks or visible damage near the IC.

• Unusual heat in the printhead area.

• Intermittent printing before total failure.

Unfortunately, once these chips are damaged, they usually require board-level repairs or a full replacement of the mainboard.

4. Motherboard Replacement or Repair Services

You're right to suspect a motherboard-related issue. If you're not comfortable testing or replacing fuses or chips yourself, BCH Technologies does offer repair services for mainboards. You can send the board in for diagnostics, and we’ll inspect it for fuse damage, failed chips, or other electronic faults. This could potentially save you the cost of an entirely new board.

5. Avoid Repeated Head Cleanings Until the Root Cause Is Fixed

Repeated cleanings may seem helpful, but in this case, they won’t resolve the root issue. Worse, they may flood the waste tank and overwork the suction system.

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'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 appreciate your trust in BCH Technologies and your engagement with our content. Your feedback helps us continue building better solutions for the DTF printing community.