Three Checks before Printing

On this machine, ink affixed on the surface of the print heads might be cured by the reflection of the UV-LED lamp light and by ink mist (ink splashing during printing). If ink affixed on the surface of the print heads is cured, dot drop-outs may occur. Continued use of the product in this state may cause a failure that requires the replacement of the print heads.

While daily cleaning is important to prevent dot drop-outs, there are also three important points to check before printing.

1. Do not use objects that easily reflect light.

Materials that are likely to reflect the UV-LED lamp light, such as mirrors and stainless steel, promote the curing of the surface of the print heads and therefore cannot be used as the object to be printed on.

2. Shorten the distance to the print heads.

As the distance between the print heads () and the surface of the object to be printed on () increases, the likelihood of ink mist increases. When setting the height of the object to be printed on manually, make the distance as short as possible. When the height () is automatically set, the distance is about 1 mm (39.4 mil).


3. Consider whether a jig is necessary.

  • As the distance between the object to be printed on and the print heads increases, the likelihood of ink mist increases. Therefore, a jig might be required according to the size and shape of the object to be printed on. Prepare a jig if one of the following conditions is met.

    • With just the object to be printed on, no margins can be obtained in the areas 40 mm (1.57 in.) to both the right and left of the portion (width) of the data to be printed.




      		 Print heads

      		Data area


      		Object to be printed on

      		Margin: 40 mm (1.57 in.) or more


      		Jig

      		Less than 2 mm (78.7 mil) in height difference from the actual print surface
    • The variation in height of the surface of the object to be printed on is 2 mm (78.7 mil) or more.




      		 Print heads

      		Data area


      		Object to be printed on

      		Margin: 40 mm (1.57 in.) or more


      		Jig

      		Less than 2 mm (78.7 mil) in height difference from the actual print surface

  • When considering a jig, also consider that a hole will be drilled in the jig and the head refresher will be attached on top of the jig. This affects the work efficiency of head refreshing and the print quality.

    Objects to be printed on with thickness up to 100 mm (3.9 in.) can be loaded. However, if the jig thickness is 55 mm (2.2 in.) or more, the installed height of the head refresher will exceed 100 mm (3.9 in.), which is outside the height adjustment range of the head refresher. In this situation, it is necessary to remove the jig before performing head refreshing.

    • Head refresher standard position




      		 Print heads

      		Head refresher


      		Object to be printed on    
    • Jigs for which head refreshing is possible with the jig installed




      		 Print heads

      		Jig that can be used by changing the height of the head refresher


      		Jig that can use the head refresher in the standard position

      		55 mm (2.2 in.) or less
    • Jigs for which head refreshing is not possible with the jig installed




      		 Jig that is taller than the head refresher

      		Jig that makes the head refresher installation position 55 mm (2.2 in.) or more higher than the standard position