Required Consumables
- AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution
- Lint free cloths
- Swabs
This guide is extremely important to follow on a day to day basis by the customer. It outlines how to manage the inks on a daily, weekly, and longer basis, which includes shutting down of the machines during these periods.
Daily:
Start up, all COLOURS, WHITE & CLEAR:
- Switch printer ON and let machine condition for +15 minutes to allow ink to warm up (sub tank and print head).
- Purge heads (x2) and wipe with lint free cloth – DO NOT use flush on cloth.
- Perform nozzle status.
During the day, if required, all COLOURS & CLEAR:
- Purge heads and wipe with lint free cloth – DO NOT use flush on cloth.
- Perform nozzle status.
During the day, WHITE:
- Purge heads and wipe with lint free cloth – DO NOT use flush on cloth.
- White ink must be purged during start-up in the morning every day.
- NOTE: Do not close white ink line valves and do not de-activate spitting or other automated standby or maintenance functions.
- NOTE: White ink line must be purged every day at 4 hourly intervals, even if white is not being printed.
- Perform nozzle status.
NOTE: It is important to maintain a good nozzle status. If nozzles are missing, ensure they are recovered immediately. If this is not done, nozzles may become permanently blocked. If you are unable to recover the nozzle status, contact our support immediately.
Shut Down:
NOTE: AM.CO.ZA does not recommend the use of capping systems that have direct contact with the nozzles on the face plate of the print heads, e.g. incorporating cling film/sponges/foam rubber/lint-free cloth, for UV printing systems. Some capping systems only seal around the perimeter of the face plate, without coming into contact with the nozzle area – in these cases the capping system can be used.
Overnight, all COLOURS, WHITE & CLEAR:
- Purge heads and wipe with a clean lint free cloth – DO NOT use flush on cloth.
- Ensure nozzle status is good before switching printer off.
- Ensure valves are correctly closed, allowing no air or any leaks to occur during shut down.
- Ensure the carriage is lowered in the park position.
- Switch OFF power to the machine.
NOTE: AM.CO.ZA does not recommend the use of built-in flushing systems for overnight storage. Do not fill the print heads with flush.
Weekend – up to 1 week for COLOURS & CLEAR:
- Purge heads and wipe with a clean lint free cloth – DO NOT use flush on cloth.
- Ensure nozzle status is good before switching printer off.
- Ensure valves are correctly closed, allowing no air or any leaks to occur during shut down.
- Ensure the carriage is lowered in the park position.
- Switch OFF power to the machine.
NOTE: AM.CO.ZA does not recommend the use of built-in flushing systems for overnight storage. Do not fill the print heads with flush.
Weekend – up to 4 days for WHITE:
- Use AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution.
- Heads must be stored with flush inside. Purge and fill the heads with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution, either using the built-in purge system, or manually flush the heads. If it is not possible to manually flush the heads, the complete ink line must be flushed (refer “More than 4 day for WHITE” guidelines below).
- Ensure valves are correctly closed, allowing no air or any leaks to occur during shut down.
- Ensure the carriage is lowered in the park position.
- Switch OFF power to the machine.
- Note: It is recommended to check for sedimentation in the subtank once per month. If anything observed, clean the subtank by sucking out with a syringe and cleaning with a lint free cloth.
Removal of flush:
- Purge heads and wipe with lint free cloth – DO NOT use flush on cloth.
- Perform nozzle status.
More than 4 days for WHITE:
- Use AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution.
- Remove the ink from the main ink tanks.
- NOTE: Ensure the main ink tanks are cleaned properly with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution and lint free cloth.
- Fill the main tanks with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution.
- Purge WH ink line completely with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution, from the main tank through the print head until flush is transparent.
- Ensure valves are correctly closed, allowing no air or any leaks to occur during shut down.
- Ensure the carriage is lowered in the park position.
- Switch OFF power to the machine.
Removal of flush:
- Remove the AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution from the main ink tanks and replace with ink.
- Purge minimum 300ml of ink through ink lines to ensure no influence on curing and nozzle stability because of residual flush.
- Install new print head filter.
- Remove air from the Ink Delivery System using the machine ‘bleed’ functions.
- Purge as per “Daily Start-up” above.
More than 1 week for COLOURS and CLEAR:
- Use AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution.
- Remove the ink from the main ink tanks.
- NOTE: Ensure the main ink tanks are cleaned properly with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution and lint free cloth.
- Fill the main tanks with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution.
- Purge COLOURS & CLEAR ink lines completely with AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution, from the main tank through the print head until flush is transparent.
- Ensure valves are correctly closed, allowing no air or any leaks to occur during shut down.
Removal of flush:
- Remove the AM.CO.ZA Hybrid Cleaning Solution from the main ink tanks and replace with ink.
- Purge minimum 300ml of ink through ink lines to ensure no influence on curing and nozzle stability because of residual flush.
- Remove air from the Ink Delivery System using the machine ‘bleed’ functions.
- Purge as per “Daily Start-up” above
