Do’s and don’ts for the maintenance and upkeep of your printers

You may have purchased a printer from us, but as it is said, things will not work for you unless you do.

Our technicians are here to repair, refurbish and maintain all of your printers at the ring of a phone call, with no question which you have going unanswered. However, not every issue that you face with your large format printer requires a specialist’s attention. You can ensure that your printer runs as smoothly as possible for as long as possible by performing the correct care procedures regularly.

Be aware that when you purchased your printer, it came with an owner’s manual. This is a guide for any type of maintenance for your specific model of printer. The manufacturer of the printer that you have purchased would have given you a specific maintenance schedule for your model. The book should contain yearly, monthly and daily maintenance procedures. It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

However, this quick list will provide you with some of the basics concerning the care of your printer. Below are some of the fundamental do’s and don’ts for the maintenance and upkeep of your printers:

Do’s

• Ensure that you have the correct cleaning equipment like industrial wipes for cleaning ink spills, print swabs to clean the print head of your wide-format printer and an appropriate cleaning solvent as per the instruction of the manufacturer’s manual. It is also recommended that you wear gloves and eye protection to avoid direct contact with the chemicals such as the ink and cleaning solvents.

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  Set out a consistent cleaning schedule. In order for you to make sure that your printer operates at its optimum for a reasonable period of time, it’s important to have a consistent and disciplined cleaning plan. Establish either a daily or weekly routine. Cleaning the nozzle and print head should be carried out on a daily basis, while other intricate cleaning activities should be conducted weekly.

• You should be familiar with calibrating the printers besides general maintenance. If any printing defects continue to be there even after thorough maintenance and cleaning, make the necessary adjustments. The instances of printing defects like clogged nozzles decrease exponentially when maintenance is done regularly.

• Keep your printer up to date. Print problems can be caused by out-of-date software. Occasionally a manufacturer will update the software that controls your printer, to add extra features to remedy a problem. Check with your manufacturer to make sure your driver is up to date.

Don’ts

• Do not store your printer in places that contain heat and dry air as it can cause problems to your printer, potentially leading to the print head clogging with inkjets and toner degradation with lasers. Keep it away from heat sources.

• Don’t grease the wiping unit chain. The grease might end up getting onto the print heads, and subsequently clog up the nozzles.

• Do not use water or any other liquid except wiper cleaning liquid on the wiping unit. The ink is chemical based and when combined with water, you may damage the printer head.

• Similarly, do not use any other liquid when performing the cap clean. Ensure that you use only approved cap cleaning liquid.

Taking extra precaution can save you time and money in the long run, and ensure that your printer operates optimally. As always, we’re just a ring away, but we would also like to help you keep your machinery at its best without encountering any unforeseen problems. At Sytech, we care about your services as we do our own.