To keep the printer in optimal condition it is very important to perform printhead and system maintenance actions regularly. These maintenance actions can be performed at any time to solve print quality problems, for example after a media crash.
You can start the maintenance actions from the operator panel. Depending on the situation there are three different scenario's to choose from:
Automatic maintenance
Manual maintenance
Periodic maintenance
Depending on the chosen scenario a number of maintenance actions will be done automatically by the printer and/or the operator.
For more details see video
Guidelines to maintain the print quality
The maintenance actions are explained in separate maintenance procedure videos.
Click on
Instruction videos or scan the following QR code to visit the instruction videos main page.
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Action |
Procedure |
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Automatic nozzle optimization |
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Clean the nozzles |
Video:
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Clean the maintenance station |
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Clean the matrix plate area and the black protection cover |
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Video:
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Clean the MC Scanner |
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Video:
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Clean the platen |
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Video:
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Clean the buffer plate |
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Video:
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Vacuum the chiller and check the fluid level |
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Clean the ink unit |
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Video:
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Clean the mirrors |
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Video:
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Clean the ruler |
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Video: |
This is the shortest of the three maintenance procedures. Automatic maintenance is performed fully by the printer, the operator only has to start the procedure. Always start with automatic maintenance first in case of print quality problems.
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Action |
Procedure |
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The printer performs a purge and wipe to clean the nozzles. |
Video:
You can select the option [Automatic nozzle optimization]. A test pattern will be printed that will be checked by the system to obtain the best print quality. |
When automatic maintenance has not worked sufficiently then start manual maintenance in case of print quality problems. Manual maintenance is mainly done by the operator. You can also start manual maintenance in case of a paper jam or crash. For more information, see Improve quality.
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Action |
Procedure |
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Clean the maintenance station |
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Clean the matrix plate area. |
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Video:
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Clean the MC scanner. |
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Video:
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Clean the platen. |
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Video:
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Clean the buffer plate. |
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Video:
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The printer performs a purge and wipe to clean the nozzles. |
Video:
You can select the option [Automatic nozzle optimization]. A test pattern will be printed that will be checked by the system to obtain the best print quality. |
Periodic maintenance is a variety of mandatory maintenance actions that have to be performed by the operator. Periodic maintenance has to be done when the operator panel gives a warning. This is al least once a month, and depending on the ink usage, between 7 and 30 days.
IMPORTANT
You must perform all periodic maintenance indicated on the operator panel, to guarantee the print quality.
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Action |
Procedure |
|---|---|
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Clean the maintenance station |
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Clean the matrix plate area. |
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Video:
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Clean the mirrors. |
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Video:
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Clean the MC scanner. |
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Video:
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Clean the platen. |
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Video:
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Clean the buffer plate. |
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Video:
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Vacuum the chiller and check the fluid level. |
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Clean the ink unit. |
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Video:
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The printer performs a purge and wipe to clean the nozzles. |
Video:
You can select the option [Automatic nozzle optimization]. A test pattern will be printed that will be checked by the system to obtain the best print quality. |
For more information on how to start automatic, manual and periodic maintenance, see Start automatic maintenance, Start manual maintenance, Start periodic maintenance.
In all three maintenance procedures the nozzles are cleaned by a purge and wipe action. During the purge actions every nozzle is refilled with new ink. The old ink including any pollution will be pushed out to the printhead nozzle area. Next a wiper removes the ink including the nozzle pollution from the nozzle area. This results in an optimally cleaned printhead.
In all maintenance procedures you can select the option [Automatic nozzle optimization].
During printing the system uses a mechanism called PAINt, to check if all nozzles are functioning. If a nozzle is detected as fail, PAINt will compensate this failing nozzle by a good working nozzle. PAINt can detect the majority of the causes for a failing nozzle during the print.
When you enable [Automatic nozzle optimization] the printer will create a test print on which each individual nozzle will print a pattern. A camera will scan the printed pattern. If the camera detects a missing pattern and PAINt did not detect this nozzle as failing, the nozzle will be switched off permanently. The failing nozzle is compensated by another nozzle for all print jobs, which results in a good print quality.
Use a smooth, white, opaque, non-reflective media when you select Automatic nozzle optimization.