DTF Printing Problems and Solutions

DTF printer is becoming more and more popular, and more and more printing business come up, at the same time, there are some problems frequently asked, and here gives some solutions to see.

Does DTF Printing Require a Lot of Maintenance?

This is frequently asked, many businessman worry about maintenance of DTF printer over their budget. DTF printing still requires the same maintenance that DTG needs. Just not as often. DTG ink does not clog up as bad and when clogs do happen, they are a lot easier to clean. DTF white ink still separates and will need a daily shake. Best form of maintenance is regular printing. If you print every 2 days, all you will need to do is shake the ink and run an automatic print head clean before printing.

What Happens If I Leave My DTF Printer Inactive for a Long Time?

It will clog up just like a DTG or a regular inkjet printer. If you plan on leaving your printer off for a few weeks or months, you will need to flush the lines, clean your print head and leave it soaking in cleaning solution.

Can I Put DTF Ink into My DTG Printer?

Yes, you can print shirts on your DTG printer using DTF ink. It’s not as good as specialized DTG ink but it will work fine. You will still need to pretreat your garments using your preferred pretreatment solution.

Does Not Print White Ink or Any Colour?

This is a common problem. Usually, this is caused by white ink sedimentation, the main source of all the issues. Here are the solutions:

Tank stirring: Before performing any printing or maintenance action, you should shake the tanks to avoid sedimentation. It’s a simple but effective method that will prevent many problems. Some current printers already include this feature.

Print Head Cleaning: Before printing, run a simple print head cleaning. If you normally use the printer, this will be enough. Go to “Printing Preferences”, “Utilities” and select “Print Head Cleaning”. Do a nozzle check to make sure all the colors are coming out correctly.

Power cleaning: If you don’t see improvement after the head cleaning, you should run a power cleaning. This cleaning will empty the circuit and the dampers. It will then refill them by releasing pressure and unclogging the nozzles.

Shaking or replacement of the dampers: Shake the dampers at least once every 15 days. Turn on the printer and when the print head unblocks, unplug it. Tip! Use a power strip to avoid damaging the connection when pulling. Bring the print head to the working position. Remove the screw from the cover, and loosen each damper with the help of a flat screwdriver. Now shake them to prevent sediments. Make sure there is no air in them. If there is any, you can suck it out using a syringe. If the dampers have a lot of sediment, you may need to replace them. Detach the hose and place it in the new one. Reassemble everything, and you’re all set.

Flushing: This consists in flushing the cleaning solution through the nozzles of the print head. There are two types of flushing, one without removing the head and the other by disassembling it completely.

Film Feeding Problems

One of the most common issues is film feeding. Either because the printer fails to grab it or because it spits it out. One of the most effective solutions is to place a board or a few sheets of paper in the paper support to stiffen the film. This will help the printer load the film correctly.

There may also be a problem of dirt on the paper feed rollers located on the right side facing the front of the printer. To clean them, use kitchen paper soaked in alcohol. Place it against the roller and press the ‘Paper Feed’ button. Clean the lower roller by rolling it.

Finally, if nothing has worked, put some masking tape on the back of the bottom corner of the transparency film to prevent it from slipping when feeding.

When to Replace the Print head?

If you notice a loss in print quality, it may be a sign that you need to replace a print head. Unfortunately, it may also be a sign that your print head needs to be cleaned. How do you know which is needed?

Clean the print head first. Your printing system could just be clogged and in need of a good thorough cleaning. Try using one of our approved cleaning systems to unclog your print head. Run one or two cleaning cycles to clear out any dried ink. If you’ve done that and you’re still not seeing an improvement, the next step is to replace the ink cartridge. These two steps should resolve most print head problems, but if they don’t, it’s likely time to replace your print head.

Some printers make it even easier to diagnose a problem with the print head—they state that there’s an issue with the print head on their LCD screens. Naturally, this is also a sign that it’s time to replace a print head.

Above problems is not all the problem, If you have any more questions or we have left anything out, please leave us a comment so that we can help you and other users too.