Just to give an idea of maintenance required on a garment printer ( this is using DTGInks- different inks may require different cleaning solutions.)
MONTHLY: Taking a lint free cloth or sponge wet with diluted cleaning solution, clean the encoder strip thoroughly until the cloth comes away clean (it is the plastic strip that the print head moves along inside the printer at the back). Clean the rotary encoder ( in 4800 based machines it is under the left cover. Clean all the cartridges. It is a good idea to flush out the whole printer with distilled water every month or two.
WEEKLY: Change the spit station pad (if used) with a lint free pad and wipe the printer interior and exterior clean. Clean around the capping station and the wiper blade with a sponge tipped swab wet with cleaning solution. Slosh the ink in each cartridge and bottle to prevent separation of pigments. Tip cartridge to remove air bubbles in the feed area before reinserting. Oil the rails and screw drive.
DAILY: Add diluted cleaning solution to the capping station, lift the levers by the ink cartridges. Shake all white ink daily. The printer prefers 50% humidity and 60-90 degrees F.
Re: Maintenance on a garment printer
Another important thing to know- if you ever need to change the print head- flush the printer out thoroughly with cleaning solution and then distilled water - also clean the cartridges, wiper blade and capping station thoroughly. Otherwise you might end up with the new print head clogged as well.
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