After prolonged use, it is common for ink to accumulate on the surface of UV flatbed printer printheads. If left unaddressed, this can eventually lead to printhead clogging. There are generally five main causes of this issue. Depending on the specific printer design from different manufacturers, the number of causes may vary (some may have 4, others up to 7), but understanding the following five reasons can help resolve over 90% of ink accumulation problems.
1. Ink Dripping Caused by Low Negative Pressure
When the negative pressure is too low, it can cause ink to drip from the printhead. The solution is to restore the negative pressure to the proper range, either through software or manual adjustment.
Note: Different printer manufacturers may use different negative pressure values, so it’s best to consult the original equipment supplier before making changes.
2. Ink Mist Caused by Excessive Print Height
Different printhead models have varying ejection forces. For example, in production mode, some printheads operate at a height of 3 mm, others at 2 mm. If the print height is too high, ink misting may occur. Lower the print height appropriately to resolve the issue.
3. Foreign Objects on the Printhead Surface
Dust or other debris from the workshop environment may settle on the surface of the printhead. In such cases, simply clean the surface thoroughly to remove any foreign matter.
4. Normal Phenomenon Due to High Ink Output
When printing high-coverage or heavily saturated designs, a small amount of ink may accumulate on the printhead surface. This is considered normal and can be resolved by cleaning the printhead after the print job is complete.
5. Damaged Print Control Software File
If the issue is caused by a corrupted control software file, restore it from a backup if available. If no backup exists, contact the original printer manufacturer to request a replacement control file.