Why Your DTF Printer Isn’t Spraying Ink After Cleaning: Understanding the Causes and Fixes

Question:

I resolved an encoder issue with my DTF printer thanks to your resources. However, the printer still won’t print. I performed physical and power cleaning, but no ink was sprayed during the power cleaning. What could I be missing?

Answer:

Possible Reasons for No Ink Spraying During Power Cleaning

The answer to your question largely depends on what model your DTF printer is based on. The two common Epson-based DTF platforms are the 1390 and the L1800, and they behave differently when it comes to flushing and self-cleaning.

1. Understanding the "Spray" During Cleaning

• For Epson 1390-Based Printers:
  If you're using a printer based on the Epson 1390 engine and by "spraying" you mean that the printhead is doing a flash clean on the left side of the platen (over the secondary waste pad), then that's a good sign. This means your printhead is attempting to eject ink, and you should be able to proceed to troubleshoot the RIP software side of things. In such cases, mechanical ink flow is likely functional, and software or driver misconfigurations could be to blame.

• For Epson L1800-Based Printers:
  The L1800 does not perform the left-side flash clean behavior. Instead, when you initiate a power clean, you'll typically see a white ink mark or splatter on the capping station pad, indicating that ink is being ejected during the cleaning cycle. If this mark is present, then it's unlikely the printhead is clogged.

2. If There’s No Ink on the Pad (No Spraying):

Even after cleaning cycles, if you see no ink deposition on either the left waste pad (1390) or the capping station pad (L1800), then the printer is failing to push ink through the printhead. Here are the following things to inspect:

• Check the F1 Fuse on the Mainboard:
  If the F1 fuse is blown, it will cut off power to the printhead entirely. This is one of the most common causes when the printer behaves normally but produces no ink output.

• Inspect the Printhead Driver Chip (IC):
  The driver chip controls the firing of ink nozzles. If this chip is damaged, the printhead won’t spray even during a cleaning cycle. Electrical shorts or power surges can damage this component.

• Examine the Ink Path:
  Air bubbles or blockages in the ink lines, or a malfunctioning damper, could also prevent ink from reaching the printhead even if it's technically operational. You can try using a syringe to gently pull ink through the printhead to see if it flows freely.

• Capping Station and Pump Unit:
  If the capping station doesn’t seal properly or the pump mechanism isn’t drawing ink out effectively during cleaning, ink won’t be flushed through the nozzles. Check for dried ink or mechanical failure here.

• Ink Cartridge Recognition or Chip Issues:
  Ensure the printer correctly recognizes the cartridges. If the printer doesn’t detect ink (or thinks the cartridges are empty), it may inhibit cleaning cycles from functioning correctly.

Important Note:

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 arrange for your printer to be dropped off. Our services are structured to repair either the 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.

Thank you again for reaching out to us. We genuinely appreciate your support and hope this helps get your printer back in working condition!