If you're planning extended time away where your printers will be out of action you'll need a plan of attached to avoid printer issues upon your return.
The following points are a general rule of thumb based on the type of printer. Always refer to your printer's manual for specific requirements.
If still unsure please call Graphic Arts Supplies to discuss 1300 939 854.
Aqueous Printers (Photographic)
- Turn the printer on at least once every two weeks to prevent the print head from clogging.
- When the printer is turned on, it will automatically perform a clean. Do not turn off printer until the cleaning is complete or the print head may not be capped properly, which will cause it to dry out.
- Remove any media still in the printer before storing the machine. Leaving media inside the printer for long periods of time may cause pinch roller to malfunction and can also damage the media.
- Ensure the print head is capped and in the right position over the capping station. Failure to do so can result in poor quality printing and malfunction.
- Close all covers and put an anti-static cloth or cover over the printer to prevent dust from entering the printer. The print heads are very small and even the finest dust can cause problems.
When returning from the break, power on the printer and wait for the printer go through any cleans as it starts up. Print a nozzle pattern and clean print head if required.
Solvent Printers:
- Leave your printer powered on. It will do necessary cleans and ink circulation to keep it functioning.
- Adequate ink must be left in the ink cartridges (this includes your maintenance cleaning cartridge if you have one in your model) to ensure automatic maintenance cycles can be performed.
- Empty your printers waste bottle. As the printer does it's ink circulation it will dump cleaning solution and waste ink. If you start with the bottle near full then you may run into issues with an overflowing bottle, empty it to avoid a nasty mess.
- Make sure to perform a manual clean before going on holidays, as described in the user manual, using the recommended cleaning sticks and cleaning liquid to ensure the print heads will be well protected.
- If your machine contains special colours such as white or metallic replace these cartridges with cleaning cartridges if your printer allows this. This ensures that your lines don't clog up from inactivity.
UV Printers:
These printers by nature are high maintenance machines, due to running White ink. Requirements are different depending on your Brand and model. Please refer to your Printer's manual for specific requirements.
- Leave your printer powered on. It will do auto cleans and ink circulation to keep it functioning.
- Make sure your inks are all almost full. This will allow your printer to be able to run the Automated cleaning cycles and ink circulation.
- Ensure the waste tank/bottle is empty. As a part of any auto cleans it will expel waste ink. Ensuring the bottle is empty before you go will avoid a messy overflow.
- Make sure to perform a manual clean before going on holidays, as described in the user manual, using the recommended cleaning sticks and cleaning liquid to ensure the print heads will be well protected.
- If your printer has a sleep option available, use it. Follow the manual for putting the machine in sleep mode, do this on the last day prior to leave at the end of the day. Before waking the machine up upon your return shake the inks and then take out of sleep.
- If you do not have sleep mode then check the manufacturers specific requirements. Some will require no more than the above steps of leaving powered on and shaking the inks upon your return.
- Extended breaks of more than two weeks may require you to drain the lines and run cleaning solution in a long term storage mode. Please check the manufacturers requirements.
DTG Printers
These printers by nature are quite high maintenance machines. How you leave the machines for your shutdown will depend on the time you will be away.
Regardless on the time you going to be away the following applies:
- Leave your printer powered on. It will do necessary cleans and ink circulation to keep it functioning.
- Adequate ink must be left in the ink cartridges (this includes your maintenance cleaning cartridge if you have one in your model) to ensure automatic maintenance cycles can be performed.
- Empty your printers waste bottle. As the printer does it's ink circulation it will dump cleaning solution and waste ink. If you start with the bottle near full then you may run into issues with an overflowing bottle, empty it to avoid a nasty mess.
- Make sure to perform a manual clean before going on holidays, as described in the user manual, using the recommended cleaning sticks and cleaning liquid to ensure the print heads will be well protected.
Additional to the above:
1-2 Weeks Downtime: Replace your white inks with cleaning cartridges to prevent the lines clogging up due to inactivity. Leave the printer powered on so it can continue to do maintenance cycles on the colour lines. Upon return go through the reverse process to flush the lines and then prime with the white inks ready to go.
2+ Weeks Downtime: Put the machine into Storage mode. This requires cleaning cartridges in all lines. Once the process is complete you are safe to switch off the printer. Once you are returning it is a reverse process to flush the lines and prime the lines with the inks.
When you return to work remove and give your inks a gentle shake. Change out the cleaning cartridges for white inks if you've done this. Run nozzle checks and head cleans as required.
Even if you aren't lucky enough to get a break over the Christmas period be mindful that those who supply you probably will be closed. In this case make sure your inks, maintenance parts and media are all in stock and will get you through this time.
The team at Graphic Arts Supplies are ready to take you holiday orders and offer further advise on shutting down your printers if required. Please call us on 1300 939 854.