Precautions for using DTF in winter

As the weather gradually gets colder, the temperature of the working environment is very important for digital printing equipment. In winter, the environment of inkjet printers is relatively bad, which will have a certain impact on the printing nozzle, the core component of inkjet printing equipment, and there will be oblique spray, flying ink, drawing and other phenomena. If the operator does not pay attention to maintenance, it will affect the normal operation of inkjet printing equipment and cause unnecessary losses.
Therefore, we must pay attention to what factors will affect the nozzle in winter when the temperature is very low, and what methods can be used to reduce the impact and damage of these factors on the machine.

1. Temperature

When the temperature drops, the nozzle is prone to "false clogging", which is manifests as "disconnection" of some nozzles. That's because when the temperature drops, the viscosity of the DTF ink will increase. If the viscosity is too high, "line disconnection" will easily occur during high-speed printing. After you clean the nozzle, this problem will be temporarily solved. However, when the nozzle is used for a period of time, the disconnection phenomenon will occur again. At this time, the ink sac heating on our EVO series DTF printers can show its talents. Turn on the ink sac heating switch and it will automatically start heating when the ambient temperature is lower than 25℃. The power will be cut off when the ambient temperature reaches 25℃, which can ensure that the ink is always at a suitable temperature. In addition, if the temperature is too low, it is not conducive to the absorption of ink by the inkjet coating, nor is it conducive to the volatilization of the ink solvent, which can easily cause "ink accumulation". In this regard, you can appropriately increase the temperature of the front and rear heating of the platform.

2. Humidity

The temperature and humidity in winter are relatively low and the air is dry. Dry air will cause the ink left on the printhead to dry up on the nozzle, causing the illusion of "blocking the nozzle". In addition, a dry environment is more likely to cause DTF film to warp, especially paper-based consumables. The material may touch the nozzle after the wrapping, in a serious case will cause damage to the nozzle and motor. The humidifier can be used appropriately to improve the indoor humidity.

3. Static electricity

Winter is easy to produce static electricity, excessive static electricity will increase the damage to the digital printing machine, and affect the life of the nozzle, but we can reduce static electricity according to the following three skills:

(1) You can use the humidifier to increase the air humidity. The humidity is better kept at 35% -65%. The humidifier should keep a distance from the main board of the digital printing machine to avoid condensation of water droplets and short circuits of the main board.
(2) The digital printing machine is connected to a ground wire and buried in the ground with a depth of not less than 2 meters. Salt water can also be poured into the buried area to enhance conductivity.
(3) Pay attention to controlling the printing speed to prevent excessive static electricity.

4. Dust

Dust makes it easy to plug the nozzle, resulting in printing image disconnection, so we should pay attention to cleaning the nozzle regularly to prevent dust from blocking the nozzle.

Therefore, we must take good measures. The following is a guide for DTF printer maintenance and care.

DTF Printer Maintenance and Care

● Daily maintenance

1. Whether the waste ink tank is full
DTF printers will produce some waste ink during the printing process, so the waste ink cartridges must be cleaned in time.
2. Whether there is air in the ink cartridge into the ink tube
This must be noted. If air enters, the ink will clump and the ink will not flow smoothly. In this case, the ink cartridge and ink tube should be cleaned in time.
3. Ink tube
Before production, it is necessary to check whether the condition of the nozzle is good. If the test line is discontinuous, please clean it, otherwise, the printed product can not reach the expected effect.

● Inspection and maintenance every 2 weeks

1. Oil on the belt
This is recommended to put some grease on the belt. At the belt position at both ends of the printer, the grease can be passed through the belt to the run-in position of the gear and the belt.
2. Ink stack cleaning
First, move the printhead carriage out of the ink stack, then turn on the test function of the ink pump, and then slowly pour the prepared water into the ink stack for cleaning. If the ink stack is dirty, you can use a scraper to clean it, or you can use a wet wipe or swab dipped in water or cleaning fluid and wipe it clean.

● Inspection and maintenance every 3 months

1. Grating cleaning
In general, the grating is checked once every three months. When cleaning, you can use wipes dipped in alcohol to wipe and then clean up. And if the environment is poor, it is recommended that you clean it up once a month or less.

● Annual inspection

1. Power supply inspection
This is to check whether the power cord and socket have aging phenomenon, if there is aging phenomenon is must be replaced in time.
These periodic inspections and maintenance above are for the normal operation of the digital printing machine. When the equipment is not working for a long time, if not working for one month, it is recommended to perform the nozzle cleaning work every two weeks; for three months or more, it is recommended to empty the ink road, remove the nozzle and store it separately.
The specific operation is still based on the actual use.

Vacation Maintenance

● 1-3 days of non-use (short term)

1. Print a test strip check to ensure that the printhead status is normal, if there is an anomaly, cleaning and recovery (printhead does not need to be dismantled from the device);
2. Keep the printhead surface clean (if there is ink or other dirt, you can use a non-woven cloth or ink wipe stick to wipe clean).
3. Keep the ink stack moist to ensure that the ink stack is sealed with the printhead during shutdown and shutdown normally.

● Non-use for more than 3 days (long term)

1. Printing test strip check to ensure that the printhead state is normal, if there is anomaly, cleaning and recovery (print head without removing from the equipment);.
2. Drain the ink inside the printhead.
3. Wash the printhead with a cleaning solution and drain the cleaning solution.
4. Wipe the surface of the printhead with a clean wipe using a non-woven cloth or an ink wipe stick.
5. The ink stack cap below the two ink tubes with a card husband, at the same time the ink stack cap drops into some dispersion of special cleaning fluid, to ensure that the printhead surface is wet and not dry;
6. For some of the ink stack machines, with cleaning fluid soaked nonwoven wrap the printhead, and then use plastic wrap or other materials will be nonwoven and the printhead fixed sealing preservation;
7. Long downtime is recommended that the printhead be disassembled and injected with moisturizing fluid moisturizing storage, and then injected with moisturizing fluid on the printhead on the folded non-woven fabric, pouring moisturizing fluid in the printhead on the non-woven fabric, be sure to fully moisten to ensure that the surface of the printhead and the non-woven fabric to be fully immersed in the moisturizing fluid; (humidifier can not be poured too much to ensure that the surface of the printhead can be just moistened).