Maintaining Sublimation Printers

Inkjet sublimation printers have opened up a world of opportunity for entrepreneurs wanting to start up a low-cost, personalized product business, and for existing companies that want to add personalized gifts to their product offerings. Even though printers are arguably the most important part of the sublimation process, they unfortunately go unchecked and unmaintained. In order to keep operations running smoothly and profits high, it is imperative that regular printer maintenance is performed to keep the quality of sublimated products at the highest possible caliber. The following will prove valuable in helping you maintain your printer easily and thoroughly.

Keeping Your Printer Powered On

No matter which sublimation printer you have, it is important to keep your print heads clear. Generally speaking, regular printing will keep the print heads clean. However, if you go through slow seasons or have a lot of down time between print jobs, the ink can potentially dry inside the heads and cause blockage. The Virtuoso and Epson printers, which can be found on our main page under "dye printers", have integrated systems that perform maintenance checks automatically to clean the heads, but you must leave your printer on. I know you hear us repeatedly say this, but these checks will not occur unless your printer is powered on to do them.

Taking Care of Your Ink

The key factor for sublimation is the ink, so it is crucial to treat your ink with the utmost care. Temperature is an essential factor for managing the ink, with most printers recommending conditions be kept between 59°F and 77°F. In addition, humidity should be maintained above 35% because dry air can dehydrate ink cartridges. That said, be sure that you do not allow the environment to be too humid; condensation or absorption of humidity by our paper and substrates will ruin the outcome of products.

Also, be sure to carefully monitor your printer's waste tank. When your printer completes a head cleaning, even automatic cleanings, the waste ink accumulates in the tank and eventually needs to be disposed of. Some printers have a removable tank that you dispose of entirely while others have a built-in tank that drains the waste into an external container. Whichever one your printer has, be sure to keep a watch on it and refer to your printer’s user manual for the best practices. A full waste tank will often trigger the printer to stop printing, so be sure to keep a spare on hand.

Cleaning Your Workspace

Cleanliness creates an environment that yields precision, so be sure to keep the area around your printer clean of dust and debris. A cluttered and dusty workspace makes it harder to work efficiently and can ruin the quality of your images. Dust can also clog your print heads, damaging the cartridges' ability to deliver the ink to the paper.

If you use a printer that requires cartridges to be filled manually, make sure to do so in a controlled area so particles of debris do not enter the cartridge. Understanding and following the correct procedure to change your ink will help prevent air bubbles in the cartridge, which can have devastating effects on your prints.

Though sublimation printers are relatively easy to maintain, the key is to head off possible issues before they occur. Keep the ink flowing, take care of your components, and keep your printer clean. If your printer has issues that you cannot resolve, contact Condé Tech Support and for further assistance and diagnosis. We are always here for our clients!