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Equipment Zone Fast T-Jet 3 User Manual

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User's Manual
Fast T-Jet 3
SDT-1300
A Product of
December 2007 Version 3.

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Summary of Contents for Equipment Zone Fast T-Jet 3

  • Page 1 User’s Manual Fast T-Jet 3 SDT-1300 A Product of December 2007 Version 3.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Main Box Contents Box 2 Industrial Bulk Ink System Parts Waste Bottle Exhaust Fan Lifting Your Fast T-Jet 3 Unit From the Box Preparations Remove Hold Down Clamps Install the Maximum Height Bar Check the Adjustable Shirtboard Height Removing the Packing Tape...
  • Page 4 Chapter 2- cont’d Connecting Your Fast T-Jet 3 to a Computer Installing the Bulk Ink System Mounting the Adjustable Ink Shelf Waste Bottle Installation with Shelf Bracket Filling the Ink Bottles Changing Ink Brands Installing the Bulk Ink Cartridges Connecting Ink Lines to the Ink Bottles...
  • Page 5 Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 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...
  • Page 6 Printing Multiple Items on the Print Bed Setting up FastRIP Golf Ball Holder Placement Additional Instructions for Printing Non-Textiles using a Fast T-Jet 3 Finish with Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment Warnings and Safety Information Chapter 7- Maintenance Utilities to Improve Print Quality...
  • Page 7 Shipping Procedures Acknowledgement Shipment Checklist Contact Information Chapter 11- Product Support Support Policy Support Hours Appendix A- Requirements and Notices Windows OS System Requirements for Fast T-Jet 3 Operation FCC Compliance Declaration of Conformity European Union Declaration of Conformity - CE...
  • Page 9 With the Fast T-Jet 3, FastINK and readily available software technology, you will be able to print high quality, vibrant images on T-Shirts and other garments in a matter of minutes.

  • Page 11: Basic Safety Instructions

    Basic Safety Instructions Please read this entire Manual before attempting to Print. • Make sure to follow all warnings on the printer. • Use the proper power source type indicated on the printer’s label. • Connect all equipment to grounded outlets. Do not use the same outlet for any other system, such as a copy machine or an air conditioning unit that turns ON and OFF.

  • Page 12: Safety Instructions For Ink Cartridges

    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, flush them immediately with water.
  • Page 13 User’s Manual Fast T-Jet 3 This manual contains the latest and most accurate information at the time of printing. We reserve the right to make product changes and improvements at any time. Some product photos in this Manual may vary slightly from the currently shipping machine.

  • Page 15: 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 Fast T-Jet 3 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 16: Maintenance

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual The Fast T-Jet 3 prints best on 100% cotton. Printing on dark colored 50% cotton/50% polyester blends with White ink is NOT recommended. You will notice Pink a discoloration of your image. garments will turn your Whites...

  • Page 17: Important Support Information

    Support Hours Technical Support http://support.equipmentzone.com Office +1 201-797-1504 +1 201-797-1505 E-mail: support@equipmentzone.com Support hours: 9:00am to 8:00pm EST 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 18: The Book

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual trade magazines, books, videos and trade shows. Please visit www.screenprinters.net for the latest “How To” training materials. The Book One of the most valuable books on the industry is How To Print T-Shirts for Fun and Profit. Written by Scott and Pat Fresener, it is the “Bible”...

  • Page 19: Trade Shows And Trade Magazines

    Chapter 1- Introduction Trade Shows and Trade Magazines There are a number of good trade magazines and dozens of trade shows around the world for garment decorating. Two of the more popular resources for the “When’s” and “Where’s” are the website www.screenprinters.net and the book How To Print T-Shirts for Fun and Profit.
  • Page 20 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 21: Chapter 2- Unpacking And Setup

    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 Fast T-Jet 3 into AC Power until you are told to do so in this Manual.

  • Page 22: Main Box Contents

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Save the box and all of the packing material! Please retain all shipping materials, bags, boxes, and directions. You will need these items should you ever have to return the unit for repair or for transportation. DO NOT return or ship a Fast T-Jet 3 without using the original shipping carton or you may void your warranty.

  • Page 23: Waste Bottle

    Exhaust Fan • 1 - Split power cord Lifting Your Fast T-Jet 3 Unit From the Box WARNING! DO NOT lift alone. Lift with your legs, not your back! Lift from SIDES ONLY With an assistant, lift your Fast T-Jet 3 from...

  • Page 24: Install The Maximum Height Bar

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Print Bed. You must remove these, but replace the screws to maintain machine integrity. Move the Print Bed back and forth to ensure smooth movement and then return the Print Bed to its Eject position.

  • Page 25: Removing The Packing Tape

    Note: You may find a small amount of ink on the Waste Pad and/or Capping Station during setup. This is normal and there is no need to be alarmed. Each Fast T-Jet 3 is run through a series of print cycles before shipping to ensure it is operating properly. Environmental Controls and Humidity This is a Hi-Tech inkjet printer that does NOT like being in a hot or cold shop or garage without proper environmental controls.

  • Page 26: Plug Unit Into Ac Power

    Insert the AC cord in unit and plug into a power strip with surge protection. Avoid plugging multiple items into the power strip. The Fast T-Jet 3 has a dual voltage power converter and will work on 50 or 60 cycle current that ranges from 110 volts to 220 volt.

  • Page 27: Connecting Your Fast T-Jet 3 To A Computer

    The Adjustable Ink Shelf hangs off the right side (opposite the Control Panel) of your Fast T-Jet 3. The wing nut in the center of the shelf and two guides allow the shelf to be raised and lowered to compensate for the effects of gravity on the ink.

  • Page 28: Installing The Bulk Ink System

    Waste Bottle Installation with Shelf Bracket The Waste Bottle Shelf Bracket must be installed to hold the Waste Ink Bottle. The Shelf Bracket is positioned behind the Fast T-Jet 3 where the Ink Line Tubes exit. To install the Shelf Bracket, remove the two screws Shelf Bracket Screws from the side of the Print Bed as identified on the right.

  • Page 29: Filling The Ink Bottles

    Adjustable Shelf as needed. Changing Ink Brands Your Fast T-Jet 3 is shipped with FastINK Textile Ink. With a normal inkjet printer, it is a very common practice to change from the manufacturer’s brand of ink to third party inks.

  • Page 30: Changing Ink Brands

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Installing the Bulk Ink Cartridges With the cleaning cartridges installed, power ON your Fast T-Jet 3 using both the Main Power Switch and the Power button. The printer will cycle through the initialization process (Load light will flash), then the Print Carriage will dock with the Capping Station.
  • Page 31 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 32: Connecting Ink Lines To The Ink Bottles

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Yellow Attach the Ink Cartridge (indicated by the sticker) to the far left (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.

  • Page 33: Resetting The Bulk Ink Cartridges

    Full, but if you print all day long, the chip may still believe the cartridge is low on ink when in reality it is not. Should this occur, the Fast T-Jet 3 Low Ink Indicator lights will warn you that you are low on ink by either flashing or remaining solid.

  • Page 34: Load And Eject Positions

    Load and Eject Positions Throughout this Manual, and in the various Technical Updates we publish, you will notice references to the Load and Eject positions of your Fast T-Jet 3. The images below illustrate these positions. The Fast T-Jet 3 in Load position...

  • Page 35: Graphics And Rip Software

    RAM on board your computer is essential. Ideally you should have a dedicated computer for use with the Fast T-Jet 3. While sending data to the printer using a USB cable, do not plug in any other USB devices other than a mouse.

  • Page 36: Fastartist And Fastrip

    RIP program called FastRIP. For best results, turn OFF all Screen Savers when printing to your Fast T-Jet 3. Note: For information about installing and using FastARTIST and FastRIP, consult the FastARTIST User’s Manual.

  • Page 37: Using Computer Graphics Software

    Recommended graphic programs for this purpose are FastARTIST (included you’re your Fast T-Jet 3), CorelDRAW (any version), Adobe Photoshop (version 7.0 or higher), Adobe Illustrator (version 7.0 or higher) and Macromedia Freehand (any version). Contrary to popular opinion, great images can be created and manipulated on a Windows based PC as well as the Mac platform.

  • Page 38: Image Types

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual improve the quality of the file. 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 39: Editing Bitmap Artwork In Fastartist/Photoshop

    Generally, a short run of photorealistic images is not profitable when Screen Printing. However, should a customer want a picture of the entire team on a shirt - no problem! One of the Fast T-Jet 3’s major strengths is the ability to print short runs of photorealistic images. A common problem in the T-Shirt business is that customers need high resolution images, yet often all they have is artwork that is small and low resolution.

  • Page 40: File Types And Resolutions

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual best looking images possible. When first 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 41: Check File Mode

    This is step that most new users will over look when opening a file. It is very important to note the file attributes when first opening a file as well as determining the file mode. Note whether it is CMYK or RGB and make changes if necessary. Files must be in RGB because the Fast T-Jet 3 does not print spot color. If the file is CMYK from another application, FastARTIST will Open/ Import it as RGB. However, FastARTIST will open the file at a larger resolution than normal, drastically increasing the file size.

  • Page 42: Check File Saturation

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 43: Sharpening Images

    Chapter 3- Software Overview check the file to see if it needs a saturation boost by going to Bitmap > CMYK Color Adjustments > Hue Saturation (FastARTIST) or Image > Adjustments > Hue Saturation (Photoshop). Sharpening Images Typically, an image can be made sharper. Even if the file 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. You must make them as sharp as possible.

  • Page 44: Using The Tone Curve

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 file with lots of detail in the shadow areas, this will probably be lost when printed so you need to adjust the “density levels” of the image. In FastARTIST, go to the Bitmap dropdown menu, and then select CMYK Color Adjustments >...

  • Page 45: Selecting Areas

    Chapter 3- Software Overview Selecting Areas In FastARTIST, if you want to apply a Tone Curve adjustment or Unsharp Masking to specific 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 46: Setting Transparent Images In Fastartist

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 47: Making Your Selection A New Layer

    Chapter 3- Software Overview around the image. If the “marching ants” selection goes into the main design, 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 48: Fixing Bad Line-Art In Photoshop And Fastartist

    White, Black, or in some cases both Black and White. For Light colored garments, the Fast T-Jet 3 will print the image just as it appears, but it does not print the White. Printing in color without an Underbase is the easiest form of garment printing.

  • Page 49: Epson Driver Installation

    Driver. A Printer Driver is the basic software needed to make any printer function. For your Fast T-Jet 3 to operate properly, you will need to download the most current version for the Epson Stylus Pro 1800 available at www.epson.com.
  • Page 50 Fast T-Jet Blazer User’s Manual 2. Right-click on the printer icon and select Monitoring Preferences. In the dialogue box that appears, uncheck everything in this window. You will now no longer see the printer icon within the taskbar. The Status Monitor has been disabled.

  • Page 51: Chapter 4- Printing With The Fast T-Jet

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 Chapter 4 Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 Your T-Jet 3 is very easy to use. Simply create an image in your favorite graphics program, load a shirt on the printer, choose...

  • Page 52: Passes

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 53: Error Button

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 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.

  • Page 54: Ink Light And Error Light (Synchronous) Flashing

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 55: Loading A Garment Onto The Shirtboard

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 • Power ON your T-Jet 3. 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 56: Check Garment Height Clearance

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 57: Prepare Your Artwork For Printing

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 obstruction. 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...

  • Page 58: A Word About Resolutions, Speed And Quality

    2 Pass Print Mode will result in better color saturation. CMYK Cartoon and Photo Print Modes The Fast T-Jet 3 has three basic modes for printing – Cartoon, Photo, and Underbase. The Cartoon and Photo Print Modes will print the image in color when printing from FastARTIST or any other graphics program.

  • Page 59: Color Print Modes

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 Eight Color Print Modes The T-Jet 3 also supports Eight Color Print Modes that utilize the additional colors of Red, Green, Blue Orange in place of the four White ink. This configuration 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 final output.

  • Page 60: When A Print Job Is Finished

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual general understanding of the difference between each one. 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.

  • Page 61: Important Point

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 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 62: How To Use The Print Pass Counter

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 63: Printing From Coreldraw

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 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.

  • Page 64: Printing From Illustrator

    Fast T-Jet 3 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 65: Quick Printing Tips

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 For more information on designing and printing vector or bitmap images, Spot Colors and gradients, consult your FastARTIST User’s Manual and the Help sections of your graphics application. Quick Printing Tips •...
  • Page 66 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 67: Production Rates And Ink Cost Chart

    Chapter 4- Printing with the Fast T-Jet 3 Production Rates and Ink Costs The following chart shows the average production rates and ink costs you can expect when using your T-Jet 3. Each image is different and the Print Mode and resolution you choose will also have an effect on these figures. Ink costs might...
  • Page 68 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 69: Chapter 5- An Overview Of Printing With White Ink

    A revolutionary Pretreatment that allows the ink to set on top of the garment and remain White. Warnings and Cautions Your Fast T-Jet 3 is shipped with the latest innovation in textile ink- FastINK Bright White. This ink is the best in the industry at producing bright Whites and brilliant Highlights.

  • Page 70: Pretreatment Basics

    FastINK Pretreatment. However, we strongly suggest the use of a Control Spray Gun (commonly used to paint a porch deck or furniture et al). Your Fast T-Jet 3 kit includes a Wagner Control Spray...

  • Page 71: Proper Pretreatment Application Is Critical

    Chapter 5- An Overview of Printing with White Ink Gun. (If you purchased your printer outside of the USA, your machine may NOT 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 72 Fast T-Jet 3 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 73: Printing White Ink

    Chapter 5- An Overview of 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 flowing properly. When printing with White ink, it is very important you set up the file correctly in FastARTIST. When Underbasing solid, Spot Color images, generally you’ll print solid White ink and then follow that print with the colors.

  • Page 74: Important Point

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual colors. Cure in a conveyor dryer or Heat Press. (See page 59- Curing Your Garments for specific 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.

  • Page 75: Washing Directions

    Chapter 5- An Overview of 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 finished print. When you apply the Pretreatment correctly and choose the proper Print Modes, you should get very detailed bright prints like these!

  • Page 76: White Ink Troubleshooting

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual White Ink Troubleshooting Concern: White prints seem dull Solution 1: You may not be applying enough Pretreatment or not using a 1440 DPI print mode. Solution 2: The Print Head may be clogged. If you had bright White prints before and they now seem dull, you probably have clogged nozzles.

  • Page 77: Chapter 6- Printing On Other Items

    Chapter 6- Printing on Other Items Chapter 6 Printing on Other Items Printing on General Items The T-Jet 3 can print on almost any fabric or material and usually you don’t even need a clamping device. FastINK for your T-Jet 3 is a water-based textile ink designed to work not only on natural...
  • Page 78 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual If you are facing your T-Jet 3, the outer right edge is “zero” in your graphics 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 Setup window.

  • Page 79: 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 80 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Head replacement as well as ensure better images. Since a cap may not fit in a Conveyor Dryer or Heat Press for curing, a hair dryer or industrial heat gun will also work to cure the final print. You may also remove the holder with the cap still in place and lay both under a standard Heat Press. If you choose the latter method, DO NOT clamp down on the cap and be...

  • Page 81: 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 Fast T-Jet 3 from www.screenprinters.net)

  • Page 82: Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer

    Fast T-Jet 3 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.

  • Page 83: 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 final print use our Fast T-Jet Post-Treatment on top of the final print.

  • Page 84: Setting Up An Image For Print

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Since the pretreatment process can take some time to dry, we recommend you pretreat as much of the production run as possible to avoid delays due to drying time (Do this only after becoming proficient with the Non-Textile Primer/Pretreatment).

  • Page 85: 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 86 Fast T-Jet 3 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 87: 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 first 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 88: Golf Ball Holder Placement

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual print job. Double-click on the file 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 89: Additional Instructions For Printing Non-Textiles Using A Fast T-Jet 3

    Chapter 6- Printing on Other Items Additional Instructions for Printing Non-Textiles using a Fast T-Jet 3 The FastARTIST Golf Ball Template for the Fast T-Jet 3 is designed to print 1” offset from the top and bottom of the Golf Ball Holder.

  • Page 90: Finish With Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment

    The maximum printable area of a Fast T-Jet 3 is 13” x 22”. To maximize production, you can position multiple items next to each other to print more then one item at a time.

  • Page 91: Warnings And Safety Information

    Chapter 6- Printing on Other Items 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 92 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 93: Chapter 7- Maintenance Utilities To Improve Print Quality

    There are four Utilities that may be run to calibrate Print Head Alignment and ensure your Fast T-Jet 3 will print the best quality images possible. In fact, should you have banding or mis-registration issues, these utilities may solve the problem without the need for a strong Head Cleaning. Try these first!

  • Page 94: Head Angular Adjustment

    Shirtboard to perform this procedure. Once the paper is loaded, press Print and the Fast T-Jet 3 will print two groups of parallel lines labeled Band Pass Incline 0 > > 80 and Band Pass Incline 0 < < 80. These groups of lines will be assigned numbers from -6 to 6.

  • Page 95: Auto Bi-Directional Adjustment

    Chapter 7- Simple Maintenance and 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 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 96: Head Cleaning Utilities

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual or OVERLAP between them. Place a check mark next to Eject in the Input & Read section and input the box you just selected into the data field. Click on Input and then click on Finish. You have now completed the necessary initialization procedures for your Fast T-Jet 3 and you may close the Adjustment Program.

  • Page 97: Check The Spit Tray On A Regular Basis

    Chapter 7- Simple Maintenance and Utilities to Improve Print Quality Check section of the Head Cleaning Utilities 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.

  • Page 98: Resetting Waste Ink Counter

    Resetting Waste Ink Counter You may reset the Waste Ink Counter through FastRIP if you have downloaded Printer Package Update 4.5 for the Fast T-Jet 3. You may also reset the Waste Ink Counter using the Epson Adjustment program. Open the Epson Adjustment Program and select Particular Adjustment Mode.
  • Page 99 Finish from the bottom of the Waste Ink Pad Counter window and exit the Adjustment program. Turn OFF your Fast T-Jet 3 by using the Power button and Power switch, located on the rear of your printer adjacent the power cord.

  • Page 100: Print Head Replacement

    Fast T-Jet 3 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...

  • Page 101: Chapter- 8 Preventative Maintenance/Problem Solving

    Chapter 8- Preventive Maintenance and Problem Solving Chapter 8 Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving Your T-Jet 3 should work trouble free if you take the time to understand and perform the necessary machine maintenance. 95% of our technical support calls come from people who have not maintained their machines properly. While your T-Jet 3 may appear to be just an inkjet printer, it is a VERY SPECIAL inkjet printer.

  • Page 102: Clean The Encoder Strip Daily

    Capping Station Fast T-Jet 3 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 103: Cleaning The Wiper

    Chapter 8- Preventive 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. Cleaning the Wiper The Wiper is concealed within the Capping Station and is designed to clean the bottom of the Print Head during a Head Cleaning.

  • Page 104: Print With The Lid Closed

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Humidity and Environmental Control Controlling the environment in which your T-Jet 3 “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 105 Chapter 8- Preventive Maintenance and Problem Solving Use the Cartridge Removal Tool and insert it into a cartridge, turn it 90º and pull the cartridge out. Repeat this process for all eight cartridges. Upon removal, store the Bulk Ink Cartridges in a cool, dark environment. When each ink cartridge is removed, we recommend that the bottom of the ink cartridge be taped and placed in an individual plastic zip lock bag, upside down.

  • Page 106: Execute Several Head Cleaning Cycles

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Ensure the Ink Lines are aligned within the Ink Line Guide for proper storage. By design, the Ink Lines rest on top of the refillable cleaning cartridges. Execute Several Head Cleaning Cycles Before running a Head Cleaning, ensure the bottom rubber plugs are removed.

  • Page 107: Clean Bulk System Chip Blocks

    Chapter 8- Preventive Maintenance and Problem Solving nozzles are located and they can be easily damaged. Clean Bulk System Chip Blocks The bulk cartridges chip blocks can sometimes get dirty and not make good contact. If you get erratic red lights on certain colors, clean the chips with a foam-tipped swab and Isopropyl Alcohol.

  • Page 108: Shake Shirts Or Preheat To Minimize Lint

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual 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. Periodically check this gear and if necessary, clean it with a brush or computer vacuum.

  • Page 109: Weekly Or Monthly Maintenance

    Chapter 8- Preventive Maintenance and Problem Solving Perform Head Cleanings Every Morning and at the End of Shift ¾ After turning on the machine at the start of the day, perform 3 to 4 Head Cleanings. A shortcut is to press and hold the Ink button for three seconds to initiate this process.

  • Page 110: Rs232 Cable

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual (sewing machine oil). Give it a few drops every other week. Clean Belt and Drive Gear ¾ Remove drive belt and clean with clean cloth and glass cleaner or Isopropyl Alcohol. You may have to use a sharp object such as a needle or small wire brush to “Pick” the garment fibers from the drive gear.
  • Page 111 Problem Solving DO NOT LUBRICATE THE DRIVE SCREW The Fast T-Jet 3 Drive Screw MUST NEVER be lubricated or wiped off with a chemical solvent. A special coating has already been placed on the Drive Screw to prevent dust buildup that could potentially hinder the movement of the Print Bed.

  • Page 112: Daily And Weekly Maintenance Schedule Checklist

    Fast T-Jet 3 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-Jet 3 > Downloads.

  • Page 113: Chapter 9- Troubleshooting

    Chapter 9- Troubleshooting Chapter 9 Troubleshooting Problem: After printing an image, the color looks great, but after curing, the print looks dull. Causes: The temperature is set too high on the Heat Press ▪ Test the temperature using a “touch-less” infrared thermometer or heat testing strips.
  • Page 114 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Head carriage Gently clean the bottom of the Print Head to remove any debris, dried ink and fibers. 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. If the Bulk Ink System sitting too high, too much ink will be drawn through the Print Head.
  • Page 115 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. An insufficient amount of Pretreatment may have been applied ▪...
  • Page 116 Orange. The most important part of your Fast T-Jet 3 is the Capping Station. Make sure this ALWAYS stays clean. The Print Head “docks” here when not in use to ensure it does not dry out. The Capping Station is also used during Head Cleanings.
  • Page 117 Chapter 9- Troubleshooting Manager. If you do, delete them. Power down your printer, unplug the power cord and leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds. Power back ON and try again. Make sure you are using the correct port. Open FastRIP and select Printers/Manage Printers.
  • Page 118 You do not have the correct printer selected in FastRIP. Open FastRIP and navigate to Printers/Manage Printers and make sure your printer is setup as a Fast T-Jet 3. If it is NOT setup as a 3, FastRIP doesn’t know that it needs to use the White ink.
  • Page 119 Chapter 9- Troubleshooting Problem: The color of the shirt is showing through the Underbase. Causes: There was not enough Pretreatment applied to the shirt. ▪ ○ Use a good spray gun such as the Wagner Control Sprayer to lay down an even coat of Pretreatment.
  • Page 120 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Problem: There is horizontal banding across print (in one or all colors). Causes: Ink in the Nozzle has dried out • Do Head Cleanings and Nozzle Checks until the problem is resolved. Use a cleaning cartridge and run Head Cleanings until the problem is resolved.
  • Page 121 Chapter 9- Troubleshooting file may not print or may take a long time processing. Ways to reduce this include exporting the file in a JPEG format, then bringing the file back into CorelDRAW using the Import function. If the bitmap was created with a high resolution, try lowering the resolution to around 200 DPI. Save this file and Import it back into CorelDRAW. Try to print from a different program like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. These graphic programs do not create such large spool files. File resolution is too high.
  • Page 122 You can try upsampling the image to a larger resolution, but the image still will be “soft” when printed. Problem: When sending a print command to the Fast T-Jet 3, the Print Head moves like it is printing but no ink is dispensed. Causes: Ink is not flowing from the Bulk System.
  • Page 123 Chapter 9- Troubleshooting become clogged or closed. The cartridges need to breathe as ink flows through the lines. Ribbon cable to the Print Head is • damaged. If you accidentally splash/drip ink or cleaning fluid on the gray Ribbon cable that connects to the Print Head, it can short out. Check for burn marks on the Ribbon cable connectors.
  • Page 124 Fast T-Jet 3 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 125 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: Ink lights are flashing or solid and the printer will not print. Causes: The Maintenance Tank Counter may need to be reset. ▪...
  • Page 126 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Problem: The quality of the printed output is unacceptable when printing bitmap images. The images seem soft and are not clean and sharp. Cause: The resolution of the image is too low. Resolution at 72 DPI is for viewing the image on a computer monitor only.
  • Page 127 Chapter 9- Troubleshooting Causes: The Load Light indicates the status of the printer either by flashing 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 128 Fast T-Jet 3 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 sufficient to prevent head clogs if done regularly. You DO NOT have to do a Head Cleaning unless you want to.

  • Page 129: Chapter 10- Transporting The Printer

    Chapter 10 Transporting the Printer If your Fast T-Jet 3 will be experiencing an extended period of downtime (2 or more days), if you will be transporting your printer from one location to another, or if you will be shipping it for repair, you will need to install the Cleaning Cartridges.
  • Page 130 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Locate the Cartridge Removal Tool and insert it into a cartridge. Turn it 90º and pull out the cartridge. Repeat this process for all eight cartridges. Upon removal, store the Bulk Ink Cartridges in a cool, dark environment.

  • Page 131: Execute Several Head Cleaning Cycles

    Chapter 10- Transporting the Printer DO NOT fill cleaning cartridges with solution while they are in your machine. DO NOT attempt to run a Head Cleaning while any cleaning cartridges are empty. Ensure the Ink Lines are aligned within the Ink Line Guides for proper storage.

  • Page 132: Pack The Printer In Its Original Box For Transportation

    Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual Place the Waste Ink Bottle in an upright position within the Print Bed and secure it to the T-Jet 3 with a piece of adhesive packing tape. Place a piece of tape across the bulk ink bottles and adjustable shelf bracket to secure in place.

  • Page 133: Shipping Your Fast T-Jet For Repair

    Chapter 10- Transporting the Printer Shipping Your Fast T-Jet for Repair If you are shipping your printer to another location, or returning it to U.S. for Warranty or Non-Warranty repair: Pack only the Printer in the original box DO NOT include: ▪...

  • Page 134: Shipment Checklist

    Shipment Checklist When shipping your Fast T-Jet to us for repair work, whether Warranty or Non-Warranty, the following procedures MUST be followed. Prior to receiving a Return Authorization, BOTH pages of the Shipping Procedures Acknowledgement must be signed by the Original Purchaser or party responsible for billing.

  • Page 135: Do Not Return The Following Items

    • Your Fast T-Jet must be shipped to us in the original Fast T-Jet boxes AND with the proper box inserts. DO NOT return the following items: (You may be responsible for additional charges for clean-up or damage repair if you fail to follow these procedures.) ▪...
  • Page 136 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 137: Request For Return Authorization

    Chapter 10- Transporting the Printer Request for Return Authorization and Shipping Procedures Acknowledgement The following Checklist and Contact Information Sheet (2 pages) must be completed and faxed to our Support Department PRIOR to receiving a Return Authorization. Failure to comply with these procedures may result in a refusal of your shipment and/or additional charges to repair your printer.
  • Page 138 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 139: Contact Information

    Chapter 11 Product Support Support Policy Support for Fast T-Jet 3 is free. Since the machine is designed to be intuitive and very easy to use, most support questions have to do with using FastARTIST, FastRIP or printing from specific graphics applications. For the quickest support, visit http://support.equipmentzone.com.

  • Page 140: Webcam Video Support

    You can purchase an inexpensive web cam for your computer and talk LIVE to one of our support technicians. More information about how to use this amazing support technology is on the Fast T-Jet 3 Support page at www.screenprinters.net. Free Personalized Internet Web Support...

  • Page 141: Chapter 11- Product Support

    Epson Support The Fast T-Jet 3 is a highly modified version of an Epson 4800 with hundreds of additional parts not provided by Epson. As a result, the Fast T-Jet 3 is NOT supported by Epson. Additionally, we provide the Epson 4800 Printer Driver and LFP Remote Panel (for Utilities) as a convenience, however Epson will not support these applications.
  • Page 142 Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual...

  • Page 143: Windows Os System Requirements For Fast T-Jet 3 Operation

    Appendix A- Requirements and Notices Appendix A Requirements and Notices Windows OS System Requirements for Fast T-Jet 3 Operation Fast T-Jet 3 Minimum System Requirements • PC with a Pentium 4 - 1.8 GHz and Windows XP, 2000 or Vista Operating System (Windows ME is not supported) •...

  • Page 144: Fcc Compliance

    Fast T-Jet 3 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.

  • Page 145: Appendix A- Requirements And Notices

    Requirements of the Machinery Directive. Based on conformity with the Machinery Directive, the Equipment Under Test - Fast T-Jet 3 from U.S. Graphic Arts, Inc., dba U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology in Tempe, Arizona USA is deemed in compliance with the Machinery Directive (98/37/EC) and the Council Directives amending the Machinery Directive (91/368/EEC) and 93/44/EEC).

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