Epson Fast T-Jet 3 PLUS User Manual
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Epson Fast T-Jet 3 PLUS User Manual

Epson Fast T-Jet 3 PLUS User Manual

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User's Manual
JULY, 2008
VERSION 1.1
Tempe, Arizona USA

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  • Page 1 User’s Manual JULY, 2008 VERSION 1.1 Tempe, Arizona USA...

  • Page 3: Basic Safety Instructions

    Basic Safety Instructions Please read this entire Manual before attempting to Print. d d t t h h i i s s e e n n t t i i r r e e M M a a n n u u a a l l b b e e f f o o r r e e a a t t t t e e m m p p t t i i n n g g t t o o P P r r i i n n t t . . •...

  • Page 4: Safety Instructions For Ink Cartridges

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Safety Instructions for Ink Cartridges: • Always keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. • While handling ink, be careful not to spill it on your skin. If ink does get on your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, fl...

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Basic Safety Instructions e e t t y y I I n n s s t t r r u u c c t t i i o o n n s s v v i i i i Cautions Safety Instructions for Ink Cartridges: Legend of Symbols...
  • Page 6 Setting Transparent Images in FastARTIST Removing Backgrounds with Photoshop Making Your Selection a New Layer Fixing Bad Line-Art in Photoshop and FastARTIST Artwork for Light and Dark Garments Epson Driver Installation Disabling the Status Monitor Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...
  • Page 7 - Table of Contents Chapter 4 - Printing Basics Control Panel Overview Power Button Passes Ink Button Load Button/Load Light Eject Button Error Button Low Ink Indicator lights Power Light Load Light All Ink Lights Flashing + Ink Button and Error Light Ink Light and Error Light (synchronous) Flashing Ink Light and Error Light (alternating) Flashing Fast Basic Steps for Printing a Shirt...
  • Page 8 Loading Golf Ball Template (FastARTIST Only) Finish with Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment Post Treatment Warnings and Safety Information Chapter 7 - Maintenance Utilities to Improve Print Quality 81 Epson Adjustment Program Head Angular Adjustment Auto Bi-Directional Adjustment PF Roller and Eject Roller Adjustments...
  • Page 9 - Table of Contents Print With the Lid Closed Preparing your T-Jet 3 for Downtime Flushing the Ink System Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts Clean Bulk System Chip Blocks Have A Lot of RAM for Your Computer When in Doubt – Unplug Everything Clean Drive Belt and Roller Shake Shirts or Preheat to Minimize Lint Keep Excess Ink from the Ribbon Cable...
  • Page 10 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...

  • Page 11: Chapter 1 - Introduction

    Pretreatment to the item before printing and Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Series Post- Treatment to the item after printing. Since the T-Jet3 PLUS is based on standard inkjet technology, with the Epson 1800 being the heart of the system, you can print from any graphics application like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, CorelDRAW, Macromedia Freehand or QuarkXPress.

  • Page 12: Maintenance

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual The T-Jet3 PLUS prints best on 100% cotton. Printing on dark colored 50% cotton/50% polyester blends with White ink is NOT recommended. You will notice a discoloration of your image. garments will turn your Whites Pink and even Yellow Yellow...

  • Page 13: Important Support Information

    Chapter 1 - Introduction Support Hours Technical Support E-mail: support@ .com Internet: Extended Support hours: :00am to :00pm Monday through Friday About the Garment Decorating Business and Where to Learn More You are entering a fantastic business, one where you can make a lot of money in a short period of time.

  • Page 14: The Book

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual trade magazines, books, videos and trade shows. The Book One of the most valuable books on the industry is How To Print T-Shirts for Fun and Profi t. Written by Scott and Pat Fresener, it is the “Bible” of the industry. Even though this book is geared toward learning the screen printing process, it also contains excellent sections on the business aspects of garment decoration, including marketing and selling your creations,...

  • Page 15: Trade Shows And Trade Magazines

    Chapter 1 - Introduction Our Advice When starting a business, it is often easy to think nothing will go wrong. You need to be positive about your venture, but in the beginning, expect the worse. If you take orders for printed shirts before you have even received your machine, you might fi...
  • Page 16 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...

  • Page 17: Chapter 2 - Unpacking And Setup

    Chapter 2 Unpacking and Setup Please read all of the unpacking and setup instructions FIRST before attempting to setup or use your printer. DO NOT plug your T-Jet3 PLUS into AC Power until you are told to do so in this Manual. Unpacking Your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS If the instructions on the outside of the box were followed, you have already checked the outside of the box for any shipping damage.

  • Page 18: Main Box Contents

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Save the box and all of the packing material! Save the box and all of the packing material! Please retain all shipping materials, bags, boxes, and directions. Pl Plea ease se r r et etai ain n al all l sh ship ippi ping ng m m at ater eria ials ls ba bags gs bo...

  • Page 19: Waste Bottle

    Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup • 2 – Chip Blocks / 2 Chip Block Supports • 1 – Cartridge Removal Tool • 8 – Ink Cartridge Caps (for cartridge storage) • 16 – Ink Line Caps • 1 – Syringe •...

  • Page 20: Install The Maximum Height Bar

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual maintain machine integrity. Move the Print Bed back and forth to ensure smooth movement and then return the Print Bed to its Eject position. The Maximum Height Bar You have received a metal bar with a magnetic strip attached to one side. Place this bar under the chrome T-Jet logo on the front of the printer.

  • Page 21: Removing The Packing Tape

    Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup Removing the Packing Tape Remove the packing tape that is currently holding the low profi le access lid down and open it. DO NOT try to move the print carriage off of the capping station as the T-Jet3 PLUS locks the print carriage onto the capping station.

  • Page 22: Plug Unit Into Ac Power

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Encoder Strip is a thin piece of clear plastic with data that is read by the Print Head as the unit operates. The Encoder Strip tells the Print Head exactly where to print an image. If the Encoder Strip becomes dirty or damaged, the printer will get confused, resulting in the printing of multiple images, strips of solid ink and other irregular printing patterns.

  • Page 23: Connecting Your T-Jet3 Plus To A Computer

    Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup switch box (which can often cause communication problems). Including your printer, mouse and Dongle, you will need 3 free USB ports. Your computer must use a Windows based Operating System if you will be printing with White ink. For best results you should use a computer with at least 512 MB of RAM.

  • Page 24: Installing The Bulk Ink System

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Important Note: When fi rst installing the Adjustable Shelf, secure it at its lowest position. (Make sure you remove the White protective tape covering the shelf) All T-Jet’s utilize the effects of gravity to pull ink through the Print Head.

  • Page 25: Filling The Ink Bottles

    Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup Filling the Ink Bottles When initially setting up your T-Jet3 PLUS, we recommend fi lling the CMYK ink bottles to approximately the ¾ mark (the Full line being 100%) and the White ink bottle approximately ½...

  • Page 26: Changing Ink Brands

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Installing the Bulk Ink Cartridges With the cleaning cartridges installed, power ON your T-Jet3 PLUS using both the Main Power Switch and the Power button. The printer will cycle through the initialization process (Load light will fl ash), then the Print Carriage will dock with the Capping Station.
  • Page 27 Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup After the Chip Block is in place, use a Chip Block Support to secure it. The Chip Block Support has arrows in the center bar, pointing upward. Use these arrows for orientation and place the single end of the Chip Block Support into the Chip Block.

  • Page 28: Connecting Ink Lines To The Ink Bottles

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Attach the Yellow Yellow Ink Cartridge (indicated by the sticker) to the far left (Yellow Yellow) Ink Line as shown below. This is accomplished by removing the far left Ink Line from the Ink Line Guide and twisting the two connectors together. Connecting Ink Lines to the Ink Bottles Connect the Yellow...

  • Page 29: Resetting The Bulk Ink Cartridges

    Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup Repeat steps 10 through 13 for each of the remaining seven cartridges. With all of the Ink Lines connected, ensure that Bulk Ink Bottles’ tops and the Ink Lines are secure, including the Waste Ink Tube running into the Waste Ink Bottle.

  • Page 30: Load And Eject Positions

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual When an Ink light (or multiple lights) start fl ashing, press the Ink button once to raise the Print Head from the Capping Station. Then press the Ink button again to lower the Print Head. The fl ashing Ink light(s) should stop. If the Ink lights still indicate an error condition: Press the Ink button once (do not hold in).

  • Page 31: Graphics And Rip Software

    Chapter 3 Software Overview The T-Jet3 PLUS is a high performance inkjet printer. Graphic fi les can be large LUS S i i s s a a hi high gh p per erfo form rman ance ce i ink nkje jet t pr prin inte ter. r. G Gra raph phic ic fi...

  • Page 32: Fastartist And Fastrip

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual how to print the Underbase and Highlight and how much ink to lay down. To do all of this for you, we have included with your printer package our own very special RIP program called FastRIP. For best results, turn OFF all Screen Savers when printing to your T-Jet3 PLUS.

  • Page 33: Using Computer Graphics Software

    Chapter 3 - Software Overview Note: It is important to have a basic knowledge of both FastARTIST and FastRIP. Although the manuals may seem very large, don’t be concerned by the size. You do not need to know everything to get started. Using Computer Graphics Software In order to print a good looking image on a shirt, you need a good piece of artwork.

  • Page 34: Image Types

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Image Types Vector Currently there are two types of graphics programs – Vector and Bitmap. FastARTIST, CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand are called vector programs. Vector programs create images based on shapes somewhat like a coloring book. They typically have hundreds or even thousands of typefaces and many have extensive “coloring book”...

  • Page 35: Editing Bitmap Artwork In Fastartist/Photoshop

    Chapter 3 - Software Overview CorelDRAW and Photoshop, those already familiar with other graphics programs can quickly master FastARTIST. Editing Bitmap Artwork in FastARTIST/Photoshop The following sections gives Tips and suggestions for creating artwork suitable for printing on your T-Jet3 PLUS. Remember, if you are profi cient in a graphics program other than the new FastARTIST- create the images where you are most comfortable.

  • Page 36: File Types And Resolutions

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual learning graphics programs, the process may seem a bit overwhelming, but don’t get frustrated. Just keep in mind the 80/30 rule: You use 30% of the program 80% of the time. But, in this case, it’s actually more like a 90/10 rule.

  • Page 37: Check File Mode

    Chapter 3 - Software Overview the right shows a magnifi ed view of a fi le that is 300 DPI (bottom) and one that is 72 DPI (top). Obviously, the 72 DPI fi le will be softer. Check File Mode This is step that most new users will over look when opening a fi...

  • Page 38: Check File Saturation

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual If you have an image that is very low resolution, your only real choice is to change the image size and resolution. This is often referred to as “Upsampling.” Photoshop upsamples the image, but in doing so, it must make calculations where to place the extra pixels and what color to make the pixels.

  • Page 39: Sharpening Images

    Chapter 3 - Software Overview Color Adjustments > Hue Saturation (FastARTIST) or Image > Adjustments > Hue Saturation (Photoshop). Sharpening Images Typically, an image can be made sharper. Even if the fi le came from an agency or large licensed job, don’t assume that their artist knew your needs. Images that are printed not only get darker, but also get softer.

  • Page 40: Using The Tone Curve

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Using Tone Curves Whether you are Screen Printing, heat transfer printing or Inkjet-to-Garment printing, a common dilemma is that images tend to get a little “muddy.” If you have a fi le with lots of detail in the shadow areas, this will probably be lost when printed so you need to adjust the “density levels”...

  • Page 41: Selecting Areas

    Chapter 3 - Software Overview Selecting Areas In FastARTIST, if you want to apply a Tone Curve adjustment or Unsharp Masking to specifi c areas, you must double-click on the object to make the bitmap tools available. You then click on the Lasso tool (Hint: It looks like a lasso) and hold down the mouse button while drawing around the area you wish to modify.

  • Page 42: Setting Transparent Images In Fastartist

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Setting Transparent Images in FastARTIST To set transparent backgrounds in FastARTIST, double-click on the image to enter the bitmap edit state. Using the Eyedropper tool, click on the background and then click on the Add Color button in the Color Selection dialog box.

  • Page 43: Making Your Selection A New Layer

    Chapter 3 - Software Overview change the Tolerance on the Property Bar. The default is 32. Depending upon the variations and gradients in the background, it may require some trial and error with Tolerance settings and several selections before the background is completely removed.

  • Page 44: Fixing Bad Line-Art In Photoshop And Fastartist

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Fixing Bad Line-Art in Photoshop and FastARTIST You may also use a bitmap editing program to improve the quality of line-art. Earlier we covered fi le resolution, noting how a low resolution fi le will have very jagged edges. By simply upsampling a fi...

  • Page 45: Epson Driver Installation

    Operating System, NOT your processor. These drivers are NOT interchangeable. The T-Jet3 PLUS is a highly modifi ed version of the Epson 1800 with hundreds of additional parts not provided by Epson. As a result, the T-Jet3 PLUS and any driver software is NOT supported by Epson.
  • Page 46 Epson. Do not change anything here unless it defaults to a different location. If it reads a different location, press browse and make a folder named “Epson” on your local disk. Click Unzip. 5. This window confi rms that the fi...
  • Page 47 10. The last screen is a screen that will auto-detect your printer. Make sure that your T-Jet is connected to the printer using the USB cord. • Power on the printer and the Epson Printer Utility will auto detect it and fi nalize the installation process. •...

  • Page 48: Disabling The Status Monitor

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual The T-Jet3 PLUS is a highly modifi ed versions of the Epson R1800 with hundreds of additional parts not provided by Epson. As a result, your T-Jet and any driver software is NOT supported by Epson. All support for the Epson driver and internal...

  • Page 49: Chapter 4 - Printing Basics

    Chapter 4 Printing Basics Your T-Jet3 PLUS is very Your ur T T-J -Jet et3 3 PL PLUS US i is s ve very ry easy to use. Simply create easy sy t to o us use. e. S Sim impl ply y cr crea eate te an image in your favorite...

  • Page 50: Passes

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Passes The Passes button selects the number of Underbase print passes or double passes of color that are to be made. The desired number (1-7) may be selected by repeatedly pressing the button until the required setting is reached. The appropriate number will then be displayed by the LED just to the left of the Passes button.

  • Page 51: Error Button

    Chapter 4 - Printing Basics This completes the process of clearing the Print Bed from the printer. Only in this position is it safe to Load or Unload a garment from the Shirtboard. Error Button This button is for Technical Support use only. Low Ink Indicator lights The Low Ink Indicator lights identify the status of corresponding ink cartridges.

  • Page 52: Ink Light And Error Light (Synchronous) Flashing

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Ink Light and Error Light (alternating) Flashing Fast The printer thinks the Waste Tank is Full. This will only happen after the printer reaches approximately 15,000 prints. Open FastRIP and go to Printers > Printer Properties, or click on the last icon in the toolbar that says Print status and settings.

  • Page 53: Loading A Garment Onto The Shirtboard

    Chapter 4 - Printing Basics • Power ON your T-Jet3 PLUS. The Print Bed should be fully extended ( Eject 2). DO NOT move the Print Bed by hand. (Refer to Chapter 2 for images of the Eject and Load positions) •...

  • Page 54: Check Garment Height Clearance

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Check Garment Height Clearance Use the Maximum Height Adjustment Bar as a guide to ensure your garments do not exceed the minimum Print Head clearance. Adjust the Shirtboard height as necessary to prevent a head strike. Use this Bar as a reference, but remove before printing.

  • Page 55: Prepare Your Artwork For Printing

    Chapter 4 - Printing Basics Prepare Your Artwork for Printing Create or choose the artwork to print from within your favorite graphics application (FastARTIST preferred). • Make sure the image is the correct physical size and that you have placed it in your graphics program on a Page that is the same size as the Shirtboard you will be using.

  • Page 56: A Word About Resolutions, Speed And Quality

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual A Word about Resolutions, Speed and Quality The resolution you choose will not only determine print quality, but print speed as well. If you use a lower resolution Print Mode, you will achieve a much faster print speed, but may not get the quality needed for photo images.

  • Page 57: Color Print Modes

    Chapter 4 - Printing Basics Eight Color Print Modes The T-Jet3 PLUS also supports Eight Color Print Modes that utilize the additional colors of Red, Green, Blue Orange in place of the four White ink. This confi guration of inks cannot be used to print on dark garments, however when printed on light garments, the additional colors create vibrant hues that add an exciting dimensionality to your fi...

  • Page 58: When A Print Job Is Finished

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Because Underbasing is such a crucial part of image quality, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the different Print Modes to get better understanding of the uses for each one. For a complete list of the various CMYK, Eight Color and Underbase Print Modes available, please refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User’s Manual.
  • Page 59 Chapter 4 - Printing Basics Dark Garments (Using FastINK Pretreatment solution) Cure Time: Approximately 180-240 seconds with medium to heavy pressure. Cure Temp: 330°F (166°C) For areas of greater humidity or where shirts are very damp after printing, try increasing the curing temperature to 350°F and curing time to 120 seconds.

  • Page 60: How To Use The Print Pass Counter

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual How to Use the Print Pass Counter The Print Pass Counter makes it easier to make multiple passes of the Top Colors when printing on dark shirts. Without the Counter you would need to stay by the machine and press the Load button each time a print pass is completed.

  • Page 61: Printing From Coreldraw

    Chapter 4 - Printing Basics The arrows in this second example show that the background is set to RGB 255,255,255, making the background transparent when printing with FastRIP. Color Management must be turned OFF before sending the image to print. Color Management is found in the Print with Preview window.

  • Page 62: Printing From Illustrator

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual pass. This means an Underbase will be applied and then Highlight White will printed in conjunction with the Top Colors. In this example, the arrow is identifying the use of spot White. Printing from Adobe Illustrator When designing in Adobe Illustrator, set areas where no Underbase is desired as pure White (RGB 255,255,255 or CMYK 0,0,0,0).

  • Page 63: Quick Printing Tips

    If you have been printing a lot of shirts, you may have to manually wipe the bottom of the head to remove cotton lint. • The best way to check print quality is to do a Nozzle Check from the Epson Adjustment Utilities Program. Refer to Chapter 7 for more information. •...
  • Page 64 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...

  • Page 65: Production Rates And Ink Cost Chart

    Chapter 4 - Printing Basics Production Rates and Ink Costs The chart on the following page shows the average production rates and ink costs you can expect when using your T-Jet3 PLUS. Each image is different and the Print Mode and resolution you choose will also have an effect on these fi...
  • Page 66 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...

  • Page 67: Chapter 5- Advanced Printing With White Ink

    Chapter 5 Advanced Printing with White Ink This Chapter of the Manual is designed to provide a brief r r o of f th the e Ma Manu nual al i is s de desi sign gned ed t to o pr prov ovid ide e a a br brie ief f Overview of the process for printing White ink th the e pr proc...

  • Page 68: Pretreatment Basics

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Pretreatment Basics The Pretreatment solution is a milky colored, odorless and non toxic liquid. A chemical reaction between the Pretreatment and the White ink causes the ink’s pigments to stay on top of the garment and not be absorbed by the textile fi...
  • Page 69 Chapter 5 - Advanced Printing with White Ink include the control sprayer. These guns are fairly inexpensive ($70 USD at home improvement stores.) However, these are not designed for high volume work, therefore you should keep an extra gun handy as backup.
  • Page 70 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual You don’t want the shirt to be soaking wet. Move the spray gun from side to side in even strokes. Light shirts only require a misting back and forth, but Black and other dark colors will need a slightly heavier application.

  • Page 71: Printing White Ink

    Chapter 5 - Advanced Printing with White Ink Printing White Ink Reminder: If the printer has been unused for a few days, perform two or three regular Head Cleaning cycles to get the White ink fl owing properly. When printing with White ink, it is very important you set up the fi le correctly in FastARTIST.
  • Page 72 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Garments for specifi c details) If using a Heat Press, place a silicone treated piece of parchment paper (a common baking pan liner) over the print and close the press. When you open the press, peel the paper immediately.

  • Page 73: Washing Directions

    Chapter 5 - Advanced Printing with White Ink Washing Directions For the longest lasting print, the shirt should be turned inside out, washed in COLD water and dried on delicate. If possible, include washing directions with the fi nished print. When you apply the Pretreatment correctly and choose the proper Print Modes, you will get very detailed bright prints like these! White Ink Troubleshooting &...
  • Page 74 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Solution 4: Dry ink may be causing the Print Head to not seal properly. Due to the nature of the White ink pigment, it will build up faster on the capping station and on the wiper blade. Dry White ink around the rim of the Capping Station will interfere with the printer pulling ink out of the cartridge during a Head Cleaning cycle.

  • Page 75: Chapter 6 - Printing On Other Items

    Chapter 6 Printing on Other Items Printing on General Items n n G G e e n n e e r r a a l l I I t t e e m m s s The T-Jet3 PLUS can print LUS S ca can n pr prin int t on almost any fabric...
  • Page 76 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual program. You can make a Template or Custom Page Size to match the size of your Shirtboard. FastARTIST allows you to adjust the Page Size to match your items in the Page t t AR ARTI TIST ST ll ll dj dj t t th th P P S S i i a a tc tch h yo...

  • Page 77: Adjusting The Bed Height

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Adjusting the Bed Height When printing on non-textiles that require a special holder, you may need to purchase the Non-Textile Height Adjustment Board in order to raise the specialty holder closer to the Print Head. For the best prints, the printing surface should set to 1/8inch (3mm) below the Print Head.
  • Page 78 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Since a cap may not fi t in a Conveyor Dryer or Heat Press for curing, a hair dryer or industrial heat gun will also work to cure the fi nal print. You may also remove the holder with the cap still in place and lay both under a standard Heat Press.

  • Page 79: Non-Textile Printing

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Non-Textile Printing Required Items and Overview You must have the following to successfully print on Non-Textile items: Non-Textile Pretreatment Non-Textile Post-Treatment (2) Fine Bristle Brushes Optional materials may be required: Non-Textile Primer A Holder for object(s) (i.e. Golf Ball Holder) Non-Textile Print Modes and Templates (You can utilize the latest Non-Textile Print Modes by downloading the most recent Printer Package for your T-Jet3 PLUS from www.screenprinters.net)

  • Page 80: Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer is designed to be used on high gloss, non-porous surfaces as a primer coat prior to the application of our standard Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment. DO NOT print directly onto this product. Protect your work surfaces with newspaper.

  • Page 81: Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment is designed for use as an inkjet ink receptive base coat when printing directly onto non-textile materials such as plastic, metal and wood. For increased durability of the fi nal print use our Fast T-Jet Post-Treatment on top of the fi...

  • Page 82: Setting Up An Image For Print

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Since the pretreatment process can take some time to dry, we recommend you pretreat as much of the production run as re re possible to avoid delays due to drying time (Do this only after becoming profi cient with the Non-Textile Primer/Pretreatment). Setting up an Image for Print To setup an image for print, you must use a graphic application such as FastARTIST, Photoshop, or CorelDRAW.

  • Page 83: Printing To Fastrip Using Adobe Photoshop

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Import your image for printing and position the image as you would like it to print on the non-textile item. For further details, please refer to your FastARTIST User’s Manual. Select File > Print to FastRIP > Position the image and click on the printer icon located in the Printer Toolbox.
  • Page 84 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Within FastARTIST select File > FastRIP Setup. From the Setup window, select Page Setup. In the Page Setup window, select Custom under the Page option. Enter the Height and Width of the Non- textile item you have measured. After entering the values, click OK to return to the workspace.

  • Page 85: Setting Up Fastrip

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Now that the total print area has been set, you must now determine the location for each individual image that will be printed. Using the fi rst non-textile item that is closest to the upper left hand corner of the print bed, measure from the left side of the print bed to the center point where the image is to be located (X axis).

  • Page 86: Printing Golf Balls

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Double-click on the fi le in the Queue window. This will bring up the Job Ticket Properties window. Within the General tab, select Max Ink. Check the Overwrite Print Mode Max Ink Data box and change the Max Ink Level from 400 to 300.

  • Page 87: Additional Instructions For Printing Non-Textiles Using A T-Jet3 Plus

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Additional Instructions for Printing Non-Textiles using a T-Jet3 PLUS The FastARTIST Golf Ball Template for the T-Jet3 PLUS is designed to print 1” offset from the top and bottom of the Golf Ball Holder. Do not place golf balls in the fi...

  • Page 88: Finish With Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Finish with Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment is a protective coating used for prints on non-textile surfaces. This post treatment will prevent fading of ink colors, extend the life of the image as well as waterproofi ng and acting as a UV protectant. DIRECTIONS: Shake the can before each use and apply to non- textile, printed surfaces only after all ink has dried...

  • Page 89: Post Treatment Warnings And Safety Information

    Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items Post-Treatment Warnings and Safety Information Use Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment only in a well ventilated area. Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment VAPOR is HARMFUL and MAY AFFECT THE BRAIN OR central NERVOUS SYSTEM, CAUSING DIZZINESS, HEADACHE OR NAUSEA. It may CAUSE NOSE, THROAT IRRITATION and LUNG IRRITATION.
  • Page 90 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...

  • Page 91: Chapter 7 - Maintenance Utilities To Improve Print Quality

    Head Cleaning. Try these fi rst! These Utilities are accessed through the Epson Adjustment Program software that is available for download from the Support section of www.

  • Page 92: Head Angular Adjustment

    (Setting) will ask you to select the Port to which your printer is connected. Scroll through the list and select Epson Stylus Photo 1800. This is your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS. You will then be taken to the Main Selection Screen.

  • Page 93: Auto Bi-Directional Adjustment

    Chapter 7 - Utilities to Improve Print Quality Once you have entered data on this screen you must click on the Input button FIRST and then click on Finish. If you do not follow this In In sequence, or you click on any other buttons in between Input and Finish, your data will not be stored properly and you must rerun this calibration process.

  • Page 94: Head Cleaning Utilities

    ON, but not printing, and all of the Ink lights are off. Load the Epson Adjustment Program and select Particular Adjustment mode. From the main selection screen choose Head Cleaning. From the Head Cleaning window press Cleaning and follow the on- screen instructions.

  • Page 95: Check The Spit Tray On A Regular Basis

    Chapter 7 - Utilities to Improve Print Quality Screen. Follow the on-screen prompts. After the Nozzle Check Pattern has printed, check to see if the lines have any gaps or bands in them. If the Nozzle Check Pattern has no gaps or bands, click on Finish. If the Nozzle Check Pattern has gaps or bands, click on the Cleaning button to clean the Print Head again.

  • Page 96: Resetting Waste Ink Counter

    Open the Epson Adjustment Program and select Particular Adjustment Mode. Setting window will appear. Locate your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS (Epson Stylus Photo 1800) and click on Scroll down and select Waste Ink Pad Counter from the Maintenance section and click on OK.
  • Page 97 Chapter 7 - Utilities to Improve Print Quality The Waste Ink Pad Counter window will still be present. Click on the Initialization button as shown on the right. Another Information pop-up will appear, indicating that the Waste Ink Counter has initialized properly. Click on OK. Click on the Read button once more to record the initial value of 1777.

  • Page 98: Print Head Replacement

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Turn ON your printer, using the Power switch, but this time DO NOT hold down the Power button. Press the Power button and allow the printer to go through its start-up cycle. Print Head Replacement In the event that you damage the Print Head by means of a head strike, the Head will probably need to be replaced.

  • Page 99: Chapter- 8 Preventative Maintenance/Problem Solving

    Chapter 8 Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving Your T-Jet3 PLUS should work trouble free if you take the time to understand and PLUS US s sho houl uld d wo work rk t tro roub uble le f fre ree e if if y you ou t tak ake e th the e ti time me t to o un...

  • Page 100: Clean The Encoder Strip Daily

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Clean the Encoder Strip DAILY Press the Ink button to move the Print Carriage off of the Capping Station. Manually move the carriage to the center of the print bed. This will allow you to clean the Capping Station side of the Encoder Strip.

  • Page 101: Cleaning The Wiper

    Chapter 8 - Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving Note: When cleaning the Capping Station, be careful to NOT dislodge it out of position or the Print Head will not seat properly. If you push down on it too hard it will move off of the mount.

  • Page 102: Humidity And Environment Control

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Humidity and Environmental Control Controlling the environment in which your T-Jet3 PLUS “lives” is a must! During the cold winter months, dry heat is often pumped into a room. This is not a good thing for inkjet printers.
  • Page 103 Chapter 8 - Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving will not read as full. Refer to Chapter 7 - Maintenance Utilities to Improve Print Quality - Resetting the Waste Ink Counter for instructions. 2. Press the ink button. This will release the carriage off of the capping assembly.
  • Page 104 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Fill two 500 ml bottles (supplied) with HD cleaning solution. 12. Loosen one of the ink lines attached to the bulk ink system bottles and connect it to one of the fi ttings on the cleaning solution bottle. HINT: Completing this one ink line at a time will reduce spillage from any left over ink still in the ink lines.

  • Page 105: Eliminating Ink Drops On Shirts

    Chapter 8 - Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts When you perform a Head Cleaning, the Head itself is cleaned and wiped by the printer. On occasion, this may not clean away small pieces of shirt lint that can collect around the bottom.

  • Page 106: Clean Drive Belt And Roller

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Clean Drive Roller and Belt During normal operating conditions, lint that is coated with pretreatment can get caught in the Print Head Belt Gear located in the right rear inside of the machine. This lint will start to clog the belt gears and the belt will slip, causing the bed to jerk and not complete print jobs.

  • Page 107: Five Minute Daily Maintenance

    Cleanings. A shortcut is to press and hold the Ink button for three seconds to initiate this process. The preferred method is to use the Epson Cleaning Utility in the Epson driver. Perform Head Cleanings at the end of a shirt run and defi nitely at the end of each day.

  • Page 108: Weekly Or Monthly Maintenance

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual receive the data through the strip, it will get “confused” and print in the wrong location, dumping ink where it should not be. Clean the Encoder Strip with a swab and glass cleaner or Isopropyl Alcohol pad. Check ink levels Visually check the ink levels of the bulk ink bottles for the following conditions: •...

  • Page 109: Auto Head Cleaning (Optional From Fastrip)

    Chapter 8 - Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving Auto Head Cleaning (Optional from FastRIP) A new feature of FastRIP 9.0 is the ability to schedule an Auto Head Cleaning session. One of the most common problems with printing white ink is the ink’s tendency to clog the Print Heads.

  • Page 110: Daily And Weekly Maintenance Schedule Checklist

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Daily and Weekly Maintenance Schedule Checklist The following checklist can be used as a guide to ensure critical maintenance is performed on a regular basis. The check lists can be downloaded from www. screenprinters.net – Click on Support > T-Jet3 PLUS > Downloads. Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008...

  • Page 111: Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting

    Chapter 9 Troubleshooting Problem: Problem: After printing an image, the color looks great, but after curing, the print looks Afte ter r pr prin inti ting ng a an n im imag age, e, t the he c col olor or l loo ooks ks g gre reat at, , bu but t af afte ter r cu curi ring...
  • Page 112 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Head carriage Gently clean the bottom of the Print Head to remove any debris, dried ink and fi bers. Also check the Capping Station to ensure it is clean and free of debris and lint. ▪ The ink is not feeding properly to the Print Head Your Adjustable Ink Shelf may be at an incorrect height.
  • Page 113 Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting ▪ Too much Pretreatment was applied Avoid soaking the garment with Pretreatment. Do not print on shirts where the Pretreatment may still be wet. You can use a Heat Press to dry the Pretreatment prior to printing. ▪...
  • Page 114 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual ▪ You have an ICC profi le checked in CorelDRAW. Go to File > Print and select the Misc. Tab. Uncheck Apply ICC Profi le. ▪ The Capping Station is not working properly. Clean the Capping Station. Prevention: Usually when a color prints with an incorrect hue, it is because a Nozzle is clogged.
  • Page 115 ON and try again. Make sure you are using the correct port. Open FastRIP and select Printers/Manage Printers. Make sure the Epson Stylus port Control Panel box has a check mark in it. You may also be using insuffi cient or incorrect cables. We highly recommend using a USB cable for the best connection.
  • Page 116 The computer is not communicating with the printer. Check the port settings in FastRIP. In the FastRIP window go to Printers/ Manage Printers. The port should be set to Epson stylus pro 4800_usb00*. Check the Control Panel box on the right. Make sure there are no other jobs already in the print queue.
  • Page 117 Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting Problem: Problem: The color of the shirt is showing through the Underbase. Th The e co colo lor r of of t the he s shi hirt rt i is s sh show owin ing g th thro roug ugh h th the e Un Unde derb rbas...
  • Page 118 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Problem: Problem: There is horizontal banding across print (in one or all colors). Th Ther ere e is is h hor oriz izon onta tal l ba band ndin ing g ac acro ross ss p pri rint nt ( (in in o one ne o or r al all l co colo lors rs).
  • Page 119 Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting fi le may not print or may take a long time processing. Ways to reduce this include exporting the fi le in a JPEG format, then bringing the fi le back into CorelDRAW using the Import function. If the bitmap was created with a high resolution, try lowering the resolution to around 200 DPI.
  • Page 120 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Problem: Problem: When you print a White Underbase you get a White box over the entire image. When en y you ou p pri rint nt a a W Whi hite te U Und nder erba base se y you ou g get et a a W Whi hite te b box ox o ove...
  • Page 121 Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting become clogged or closed. The cartridges need to breathe as ink fl ows through the lines. • Ribbon cable to the Print Head is damaged. If you accidentally splash/drip ink or cleaning fl uid on the gray Ribbon cable that connects to the Print Head, it can short out.
  • Page 122 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual within the Print Head, causing a clog. We have found the best solution to this issue is to turn your printer ON everyday, even if you don’t intend to print anything. When the printer is turned ON, it primes the Print Head during startup.
  • Page 123 Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting will start to print again. Prevention: Get in the habit of turning the printer ON and OFF between print jobs that use a lot of ink or need a large number of prints. Problem: Problem: Ink lights are fl ashing or solid and the printer will not print. In Ink k l l ig ight hts s ar are e fl...
  • Page 124 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual Problem: The quality of the printed output is unacceptable when printing bitmap images. Th The e qu qual alit ity y of of t the he p pri rint nted ed o out utpu put t is is u una nacc ccep epta tabl ble e wh...
  • Page 125 Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting Causes: The Load Light indicates the status of the printer either by fl ashing of remaining solid. ○ Flashing – Printer is currently in use or processing an image for print. ○ Solid – Printer is ready and awaiting a print task Note: The Load Light will remain on except when processing an image or printing.
  • Page 126 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual everyday, even if you don’t intend to print anything. When the printer is turned on, it primes the Print Head during startup. This process is suffi cient to prevent head clogs if done regularly. You DO NOT have to do a Head Cleaning unless you want to.

  • Page 127: Chapter 10- Transporting The Printer

    Chapter 10 Transporting the Printer If your T-Jet3 PLUS will be experiencing an extended period of downtime (2 or 3 3 P PLU LUS S wi will ll b be e ex expe peri rien enci cing ng a an n ex exte tend nded ed p per erio iod d of of d dow...
  • Page 128 T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual 4. Using a pair of pliers or a nut driver, carefully loosen (do not fully remove) the nut that attaches the black chain to the metal carriage bracket. Do not place too much force on the carriage bracket. The print carriage is delicate and if not careful, you can cause damage to it.

  • Page 129: Secure The Print Bed And Ink System

    Chapter 10 - Transporting the Printer 13. Repeat step 12 for all of the ink lines so that each line is connected to one of the cleaning solution bottles (CMYK for one and white for the other). NOTE: Take care not to let the lines tangle up.

  • Page 130: Pack The Printer In Its Original Box

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual 3. Place a piece of tape across the bulk ink bottles (having the cleaning solution in them) and adjustable shelf bracket to secure in place. In the example to the right, the red dotted line identifi es proper tape placement.

  • Page 131: Shipment Checklist

    Chapter 10 - Transporting the Printer ▪ Syringes ▪ Gloves ▪ USB printer cable Proper Packing – Please note, the example to the right does not contain any loose items that could damage the printer during shipping. Improper Packing –Major damage to the printer can be a result of loose items and/or missing side supports as pictured below.

  • Page 132: Important Shipping Requirements

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual procedures described herein for the preparation and packing of your T-Jet may result in additional charges for cleaning and/or maintenance being incurred. EVEN if the repair is authorized under warranty, YOU will be responsible for any charges that are a result of a failure to follow packing and shipping procedures.

  • Page 133: Request For Return Authorization

    Appendix A Requirements and Notices Windows OS System Requirements for T-Jet3 PLUS Operation O O S S S S y y s s t t e e m m R R e e q q u u i i r r e e m m e e n n t t s s f f o o r r T T - - J J e e t t 3 3 P P L L U U S S O O p p e e r r a a t t i i o o n n Minimum System Requirements y y st stem em R Req...

  • Page 134: Fcc Compliance

    T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual FCC Compliance This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

  • Page 135: European Union Declaration Of Conformity - Ce

    Appendix A - Requirements and Notices Type of Product: Factory Refurbished Inkjet Printer Model: T-Jet3 PLUS European Union Declaration of Conformity - CE A sample of this equipment has been tested against the Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the Machinery Directive. Based on conformity with the Machinery Directive, the Equipment Under Test - T-Jet3 PLUS from U.S.

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