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Screen Print & Inkjet T-Jet BLAZER-EXPRESS TJBEX-1620 User Manual

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BLAZER SERIES
User's Manual
JANUARY, 2009
VERSION 5.5
WRITTEN FOR
BLAZER-EXPRESS
BLAZER-PRO
TJBEX-1620
TJB-1650
Tempe, Arizona USA

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Summary of Contents for Screen Print & Inkjet T-Jet BLAZER-EXPRESS TJBEX-1620

  • Page 1 BLAZER SERIES User’s Manual JANUARY, 2009 VERSION 5.5 WRITTEN FOR BLAZER-EXPRESS BLAZER-PRO TJBEX-1620 TJB-1650 Tempe, Arizona USA...
  • Page 3 Copyright Notices ©2004-2009 U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology, Tempe, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced mechanically or electronically or in any form without the prior written permission of U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology (U.S. Screen). The information in this Manual is for informational use only, is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by U.S.
  • Page 4 Copyright Notices T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...
  • Page 5 A Letter from the Developer Dear Valued Customer, I want to personally thank you for purchasing a new T-Jet Blazer Series Inkjet-to-Garment printer. We have made a major investment in hardware and ink development to make inkjet printing directly onto a shirt a reality. With the T-Jet Blazer Series, 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...
  • Page 6 A Letter from the Developer T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents A Letter from the Developer Basic Safety Instructions xiiii Chapter 1 - Introduction Manual Symbols and Icons About the T-Jet Blazer Series Printers The Basics Maintenance Poor Artwork Important Support Information About the Garment Decorating Business The Book Computer Graphics DVDs Business and Marketing DVD’s Internet...
  • Page 8 Table of Contents Installing the User Interface Placement of the Shirt Boards Environmental Controls and Humidity Final Unpacking Instructions Chapter 3 - SETUP PART 2: The Bulk Ink System Filling the Bulk Ink Cartridges Ink Care Changing Ink Brands Resetting the Bulk Ink Cartridges Non-Genuine Epson Cartridge Message Chapter 4 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer Express 17...
  • Page 9 Table of Contents Powering Off Connecting Your Printer to a Computer Chapter 6 - SETUP PART 4: Printer Driver Installation Epson Printer Driver Installation Determining the Correct Printer Driver to Install Printer Driver Installation Steps Chapter 7 - SETUP PART 5: Learning LCD and User Interface Controls About the LCD Display The LCD Display Buttons...
  • Page 10 Table of Contents Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Shirt Board Height Settings: Blazer EXPRESS Leveling the Shirt Board Adjust the Overall Height of the Shirt Board Shirt Board Height Settings: Blazer PRO Leveling the Shirt Boards Adjust the Overall Height of the Print Bed Assembly Power Cleaning Utility Setting Up for a Power Cleaning Activate the Power Cleaning...
  • Page 11 Table of Contents Printer Setup Send the Alignment Test Print Selection and Entry of the Values Final Printout and Calibration Print Head Calibration Worksheet BLAZER PRO Setup BLAZER PRO Alignment Procedures - LCD Display Selection and Entry of the Values Chapter 10 - Software Overview Graphics and RIP Software FastARTIST and FastRIP...
  • Page 12 Table of Contents Artwork for Light and Dark Garments Refer to the FastARTIST User’s Manual Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Printing Basics Introduction Shirt Boards T-Jet Blazer Express T-Jet Blazer PRO Shirt Board Options Shirt Board Placement and Care Basic Printing Steps When a Printing Job is Finished Curing Your Garments Printing Tips and Tricks...
  • Page 13 Table of Contents Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing with White Ink White Ink Care Beginning of the Day Agitation End of Day Agitation Breather Cap Airflow Pretreatment Basics Applying Pretreatment Types of Pretreatment Proper Pretreatment Application Using a Spray Gun Drying the Pretreatment Printing White Ink File Setup...
  • Page 14 Table of Contents Post-treatment Warnings and Safety Information Non-textile Printing Tips Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly & Monthly Maintenance Releasing the Print Carriage for Access Daily Maintenance Keep Your Encoder Strip Clean Check and Clean the Capping Station Clean the Wiper Blade Check and Clean the Spit Tray Clean the Print Head Area Run Head Cleaning Cycles - Start and End of Each Day...
  • Page 15 Table of Contents Clean Bulk Ink System Computer Chips RAM and Your Computer No Windex on Clear Cover When in Doubt, Unplug Everything Preparing your T-Jet for Downtime 1 to 3 Day Downtime 4 to 9 Day Downtime 9 Days or More Downtime Additional Utilities Regular Head Cleaning Auto Head Cleaning (Optional from FastRIP)
  • Page 16 Table of Contents Appendix A- Operational Guide Notice Standards Compliance Radio Frequency Emissions Compliance Federal, State and Local Laws- Regulations and Standards Summary of Customer Responsibilities Room Preparation Environment Exhaust Ventilation Requirements Room Conditions Electrical Requirements Main Operator Printer Specifications Miscellaneous Information Shipping and Receiving Receiving Inspection...

  • Page 17: Basic Safety Instructions Xiiii

    Basic Safety Instructions Please read this entire Manual before attempting to Print. • Follow all warnings on and about the printer. • Use the proper power source type indicated on the printer’s label and in this manual. • Connect all equipment to grounded outlets. Use the included surge protector power strip included with each machine.
  • Page 18 Basic Safety Instructions Caution: • Do not unplug the printer to turn it OFF. Use the UI Power Button first, then the main breaker switch on the back. • Do not unplug the printer until the Main Power Switch has been turned OFF. •...

  • Page 19: Chapter 1 - Introduction

    Chapter 1 Introduction Manual Symbols and Icons Throughout this Manual you will see four symbols used to notify you of warnings, important facts, procedures and tips. WARNING ICON Where you see this icon, you should take note of the warnings. Failure to follow any of the listed procedures could result in severe damage to your machine, large amounts of downtime and/or costly repairs, or the possibility of severe bodily injury or death.

  • Page 20: The Basics

    Chapter 1 - Introduction The T-Jet is based on standard inkjet technology, with the Epson 4880 being the heart of the system. This means you can expect your printer to be reliable AND versatile. The T-Jet Blazer Series printers are also fast, printing a standard t-shirt-sized image in under two minutes.

  • Page 21: Maintenance

    Chapter 1 - Introduction Maintenance Although the T-Jet is “simply” an inkjet printer, the number one technical issue is a lack of maintenance of the machine. There are three main areas of concern: • Printing on t-shirts is not the same as printing on paper. A shirt gives off much more lint which must be cleaned up regularly.

  • Page 22: About The Garment Decorating Business

    Chapter 1 - Introduction U.S. Screen Support Information Toll Free +1 888-MYTJETS (698-5387) Technical Support +1 480-929-2937 Corp. Office +1 480-929-0640 +1 480-929-0766 E-mail: support@usscreen.com Internet: www.myt-jet.com. Click on the Support tab. Support hours: 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday All times are Mountain Standard Time USA Please Note: Arizona does not observe “Daylight Savings Time.”...

  • Page 23: Computer Graphics Dvds

    Chapter 1 - Introduction Computer Graphics DVDs One of the hardest things to learn for the computer novice is computer graphics. There are a number of excellent DVDs explaining computer graphics and how to use Adobe Photoshop , CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator.
  • Page 24 Chapter 1 - Introduction room for error. Shirt suppliers might not ship on time. You might not have checked your ink inventory and end up running out of a color. And, yes, you will ruin a few shirts! Accept this as a fact of life in the garment decorating industry.

  • Page 25: Chapter 2 - Setup Part 1: Unpacking And Setup

    Chapter 2 SETUP PART 1: Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Save the Crate and All Packing Materials Failure to follow this step will VOID YOUR WARRANTY. Your printer is a very large piece of equipment and it is shipped in a sturdy crate with bracing to hold delicate components in place.

  • Page 26: Placement Of The Blazer Express

    Chapter 2 - SETUP PART 1: Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Placement of the Blazer Express When determining where to set up your printer, keep in mind the T-Jet Blazer Express requires an area of at least 3.5 ft x 5.25 ft (1 m x 1.6 m) for the printer and workspace around it. Additional space is required for drying, pretreating garments, garment staging, etc.

  • Page 27: Blazer Pro Setup

    Chapter 2 - SETUP PART 1: Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Placement of the Shirt Board When placing your Shirt Board within the Pint Bed, take care to align the item carefully. Failure to seat the Shirt Board completely in the four Guide Pins can result in an unsteady print surface and errors in your output.

  • Page 28: Setting The Ground Supports

    Chapter 2 - SETUP PART 1: Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Casters have been built into the cabinet base, allowing for easy movement to a suitable location within your shop. When determining where to set up your printer, keep in mind the T-Jet Blazer Pro requires an area of at least 12 ft x 10 ft (3.65 m x 3 m) for the printer and workspace around it.

  • Page 29: Placement Of The Shirt Boards

    Chapter 2 - SETUP PART 1: Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Placement of the Shirt Boards The Blazer Pro comes with 3 standard-sized and 2 over-sized Shirt Boards. Each Shirt Board is designed to fit on 4 metal pegs. Line two up on one side and then bring the Shirt Board down slowly to line the other side up with the pegs.

  • Page 30: Final Unpacking Instructions

    Chapter 2 - SETUP PART 1: Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer IMPORTANT POINT When using White ink, you must apply a Pretreatment to the shirts before printing. We recommend an affordable sprayer such as a Wagner (available at most hardware stores). DO NOT spray this Pretreatment near your printer.

  • Page 31: Chapter 3 - Setup Part 2: The Bulk Ink System

    Chapter 3 SETUP PART 2: The Bulk Ink System The T-Jet Blazer printers use a specially designed Bulk Ink System with cartridges that hold about 200 ml of ink per color (x8) and allow for easy re-filling as needed. In order to prevent damage or ink leakage, your printer was not shipped with the Bulk System installed.
  • Page 32 Chapter 3 - SETUP PART 2: The Bulk Ink System DO NOT overfill the cartridge. There are hash marks on the front of each cartridge denoting increments of 50 ml, with the top mark referencing 200 ml. DO NOT add ink beyond this mark.

  • Page 33: Ink Care

    Chapter 3 - SETUP PART 2: The Bulk Ink System Ink Care Keep ink tightly capped in a 50-100°F (19-38° C) area. FOR BEST RESULTS, SHAKE THE WHITE INK BOTTLE(S) STORED ON THE SHELF, WEEKLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE TO PREVENT SETTLING.

  • Page 34: Non-Genuine Epson Cartridge Message

    Chapter 3 - SETUP PART 2: The Bulk Ink System the Reset Module to change its status. The module’s light will blink while it resets the chip. The Green light will transition to a SOLID when the reset is complete. The process of resetting the smart chip is demonstrated in the following three images.

  • Page 35: Chapter 4 - Setup Part 3: Interacting With The Blazer Express

    Chapter 4 SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer Express The following steps will cover everything from plugging your new printer in and powering it on to connecting it to your computer as well as learning the LCD buttons and User Interface screens. Refer to Chapter 5 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer PRO for interacting with the Blazer Pro.

  • Page 36: Overview Of Printer Connections

    Chapter 4 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer Express Overview of Printer Connections Power Switch AC Power Cord Plug-In USB Connection Plugging the Unit into AC Power Plug the printer into its own power source. The T-Jet Blazer Express has a dual voltage power converter built in, allowing it to work with 50 or 60 cycle current ranging from 110 volts to 220 volts.

  • Page 37: Powering Off

    Chapter 4 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer Express 2. Power On the User Interface On the User Interface, wait until the virtual LED labeled “Automatic Mode” becomes Red (five seconds) and press Orange Power On button. The Blazer Express will go through a startup cycle that takes a few minutes.
  • Page 38 Chapter 4 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer Express The Universal Serial Bus (USB) method of communication is standard on all newer computers, but a little known fact is that only a certain amount of power is supplied to the entire “bus.” If you have several items (other than a mouse and the FastARTIST Dongle) plugged into different USB ports on your computer, this may cause communication issues with the printer.

  • Page 39: Chapter 5 - Setup Part 3: Interacting With The Blazer Pro

    Chapter 5 SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer PRO The following steps will cover everything from plugging your new printer in and powering it on to connecting it to your computer as well as learning the LCD buttons and User Interface screens. Refer to Chapter 4 - Interacting with your Blazer EXPRESS for interacting with the Blazer Express.

  • Page 40: Overview Of Printer Connections

    Chapter 5 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer PRO Overview of Printer Connections Printer Bed Power Cord DO NOT UNPLUG!!! Circuit Breaker/ AC Power Cord USB Cable UI Serial Port Power Switch Connection Connection Plugging the Unit into AC Power Plug the printer into its own power source.

  • Page 41: Powering The Blazer Pro On And Off

    Chapter 5 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer PRO Powering the Blazer PRO ON and OFF Always Power On and Off as stated below. Your printer requires a proper startup and shutdown cycle that may only run if the following steps are followed correctly. Powering On Power On the Main Power Switch Place the Main Power Switch (located adjacent the AC cord) to...

  • Page 42: Connecting Your Printer To A Computer

    Chapter 5 - SETUP PART 3: Interacting with the Blazer PRO Connecting Your Printer to a Computer You may only connect the T-Jet Blazer Pro to a computer with an available USB 2.0 input. For best results, use the special gold tipped USB cable supplied with the machine. Avoid using a cable that is over 6ft in length and do not use a switch box or USB Hub.

  • Page 43: Chapter 6 - Setup Part

    Chapter 6 SETUP PART 4: Printer Driver Installation Epson Printer Driver Installation A Printer Driver is software needed to make any printer function. For the T-Jet Blazer Express and PRO to operate properly, you will need to install the latest Epson printer driver(s). We have included these on the FastARTIST 2.0 (or previous) compact disc included with your FastARTIST package.
  • Page 44 Chapter 6 - SETUP PART 4: Printer Driver Installation 2. A security warning screen will open. Press Run. 3. Click OK for the Self Extractor Window 4. Another Self Extractor Window opens. Where field named, “Unzip to Folder” should default to your “C” drive or Local disk and unzip in a folder named Epson.
  • Page 45 Chapter 6 - SETUP PART 4: Printer Driver Installation 7. Click Accept to accept the License Agreement. 8. The Utility Setup will begin and will start copying the necessary files. 9. A Software Installation warning screen will appear. Click Continue Anyway. 10.
  • Page 46 Chapter 6 - SETUP PART 4: Printer Driver Installation 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 Epson components will come from U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology.

  • Page 47: Chapter 7 - Setup Part

    Chapter 7 SETUP PART 5: Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls Whether it’s a Head Cleaning, Nozzle Check, Head Alignment or other maintenance, all Utilities can be accessed through the LCD Display Control Panel, located above the white ink cartridges. The LCD Display Control Panel is also used to pause and reset print jobs.

  • Page 48: Pause Button

    Chapter 7 - SETUP PART 5: Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls Pause Button Pressing the Pause Button will pause a print job while printing. Holding down the Pause Button for 3 seconds will cancel a print job. Left/Paper Button This button is used to navigate throughout the LCD screens.

  • Page 49: About The User Interface

    Chapter 7 - SETUP PART 5: Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls About the User Interface Buttons The T-Jet Blazer EXPRESS and the PRO both feature a User Interface (also referred to as HMI). The User Interface (UI) allows power and control of the printer assembly and has 3 main buttons (not counting the touch screen display).

  • Page 50: Manual Mechanism Movement Utility Screen

    Chapter 7 - SETUP PART 5: Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls Pass Select: Press the number of desired passes in the Pass Select area of the Mode Select screen. this will only work when in Auto Mode. Pad Enabled Icon: The Pad Enabled icon will appear on all of the User Interface screens and represents the mode that the Mode Select screen is set to.

  • Page 51: Platen (Print Bed) To Head Clearance Adjustment Screen Blazer Express

    Chapter 7 - SETUP PART 5: Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls JOG - For and Rev Buttons: BLAZER EXPRESS • Pressing the FOR button moves the print bed incrementally towards the back of the printer (if facing printer, the bed will move away from you, towards the Index Position). •...

  • Page 52: System Printer Control Utility Screen

    Chapter 7 - SETUP PART 5: Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls • Pressing the DOWN button lowers the Platen (Print Bed) giving more clearance. The distance of the platen (with the substrate loaded) needs to be set to a minimum of 3mm to a maximum of 5mm in relation to the Printer Assembly.

  • Page 53: Chapter 8 - Setup Part

    Chapter 8 SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities You have the Bulk Ink System in place and the Printer Driver installed, but there are a few more steps to follow before you can begin printing. You must set the Shirt Board to the correct height for printing and perform an initialization process that will get the ink flowing, and ensure the Print Head Nozzles are in proper alignment to output the best possible images.
  • Page 54 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities • 2. The other method is to visually check the gear that controls the Print Head height. This gear is on the left end of the printer opposite of the capping station and can be viewed by lifting the lid.

  • Page 55: Version 5.5 Revised January

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities • Lift the printer cover (if it is not already lifted) and locate the Carriage Release Button (blue) located in front of the Print Carriage on the right side of the printer. •...

  • Page 56: Adjust The Overall Height Of The Shirt Board

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Adjust the Overall Height of the Shirt Board (EXPRESS) Now that the Shirt Board is level, the next step is to adjust the entire height of the Shirt Board (if needed). You may not have to complete this section for the initial setup if you ended up with an accurate measured distance in the previous section.
  • Page 57 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities WARNING: SOME EARLIER MODELS MAY NOT BE EQUIPPED WITH THE HEIGHT SENSOR. IF YOUR MODEL DOES NOT, REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SECTION - SETTING THE OVERALL HEIGHT FOR THE BLAZER PRO MODEL - WHICH ALSO DOES NOT HAVE A HEIGHT SENSOR EQUIPPED.

  • Page 58: Shirt Board Height Settings Blazer Pro

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Shirt Board Height Settings BLAZER PRO It is necessary during setup to check and adjust the Shirt Board to Head Clearance to the proper height for output and to make sure that the Shirt Board is at a safe distance from the Print Head. It is also important that each corner of each Shirt Board being used is level with the Print Head.
  • Page 59 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED A HEAD CLEANING CYCLE OR HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE PRINTER IS IN PRINTING POSITION, CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STEP. 3. Position the Shirt Board You will need to position the first Shirt Board underneath the Print Head so that you can accurately measure the distance between the two.
  • Page 60 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities 5. Measure the Distance Using a ruler or a jig, measure the distance between the Shirt Board and the Print Head. You may need to go to the rear of the printer to see; you may also need a flashlight.

  • Page 61: Adjust The Overall Height Of The Print Bed Assembly

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Adjust the Overall Height of the Print Bed Assembly (PRO) Now that the Shirt Boards are level, the next step is to adjust the entire height of the Platen. In addition, should you need to raise or lower the entire Print Bed Assembly to accommodate different garment thicknesses or other items, the following procedure would be used.
  • Page 62 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities 7. Set the Platen to a safe clearance Use the Platen to Head Clearance Adjustment Screen on the User Interface to set the clearance of approximately 3 mm (1/8”) and no less. •...

  • Page 63: Power Cleaning Utility

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Power Cleaning Utility To initialize the ink, a utility called Power Cleaning will need to be performed. The Power Cleaning Utility will pull the ink through the lines and into the Print Head. It can also be utilized if you have serious nozzle clogs, however, it will consume a large volume of ink.

  • Page 64: Activate The Power Cleaning

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities • Press the LEFT ARROW once more and the PAPER OUT LCD Display will read “PAPER OUT” and displays a “roll of paper with a scissors” icon. This mode is called PAPER OUT/ ROLL CUT mode.

  • Page 65: Nozzle Check Utility

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Nozzle Check Utility The next step in the setup process is performing Nozzle Check. The Nozzle Check Utility is necessary to confirm that the ink is flowing and that the Print Head is performing properly. NOTE: Later in this chapter are instructions on completing the Nozzle Check Utility using the Epson LFP Remote Panel.

  • Page 66: Activate The Nozzle Check Utility

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Activate the Nozzle Check Utility A Nozzle Check Utility can be activated through the LCD Display Control Panel or the LFP Remote Panel (see later section in this chapter). For steps on activating through the LCD Display Control Panel, carefully follow the steps below.

  • Page 67: Remote Panel

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Nozzle Check and Power Cleaning Utilities from the LFP Remote Panel The Nozzle Check procedure can also be completed by using the Epson LFP Remote Panel. The LFP Remote Panel is a stand alone application designed to give you several utility functions, including the Print Head Alignment and Power Cleaning utilities, right from your computer.

  • Page 68: Important Note

    Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities 3. From the main Window, select your printer from the drop down menu. Use the table below to determine your Epson print engine model. EPSON Stylus Pro 4800 EPSON Stylus Pro 4800 EPSON Stylus Pro 4880 EPSON Stylus Pro 4880 Your Serial Number will contain one of...
  • Page 69 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities Once you have obtained a satisfactory Nozzle Check, press the Power button on the UI to turn OFF your printer. After the shutdown process has been completed, turn the power back ON and you may resume normal operations.
  • Page 70 Chapter 8 - SETUP PART 6: Initialization Utilities T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 71: Head Alignments

    Chapter 9 SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments Introduction The Blazer EXPRESS and PRO have different procedures for completing a Print Head Alignment. This chapter has been split into 2 sections. Please refer to the correct section corresponding with your T-Jet Blazer Series model.

  • Page 72: Chapter 9 - Setup Part 7: Print Head Alignments

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS BLAZER EXPRESS ALIGNMENTS This section will cover the execution of Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional Print Head Alignments for the Blazer EXPRESS. For steps on completing these alignments for the Blazer PRO, refer to the later section of this chapter named Blazer PRO Alignments.
  • Page 73 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS test pattern on, before adjusting the distance setting. A DISTANCE OF 3 MM IS REQUIRED. This step is important in the process, because the distance between the Print Head and the “Media” used during the alignment process will need to be the exact distance between the Print Head and the garment that you will later print on.

  • Page 74: Send The Alignment Test Print

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS 3. Send the Alignment Test Print The following steps will cover sending the Print Head Alignment Test Print to the Blazer EXPRESS through the Epson LFP Remote Panel. 1.
  • Page 75 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS 4. From the Media Adjustment screen select the Auto Adjustment icon. In the Auto Adjustment section of the Media Adjustment window, select Bi-Directional or Uni-Directional Alignment from the drop down menu.

  • Page 76: Selection And Entry Of The Values

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS • Select Other for Media Type • Enter 2 for Paper Thickness • Select Standard from the Platen Gap drop-down menu. It is EXTREMELY crucial that you only select ONE Dot Size per WARNING: printout! The Blazer EXPRESS does not have enough bed length to print out all dot sizes in one run.
  • Page 77 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS Bi-Directional Alignment Patterns: If performing a Bi-Directional Alignment, you will see lines for black and individual sets of color swatches for the colors. The black and light black ink colors (Pk/Mk and LK) will have it’s own set of lines like the sample shown here.
  • Page 78 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS 3. Entering in Values - Part 1 - Uni-Directional Below is an example printout of a Uni-Directional Alignment pattern (Figure 1). Throughout the process of selecting the best values, for this example we will use a chart (Figure 2) to keep track of the selections and entries made to help you understand how the process is completed.

  • Page 79: Blazer Pro Setup

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS Prints that Do Not Line Up (Uni-Directional) If in the printout, none of the lines came out close to “good”, you would need to pick the closest and enter in that value multiple times for that particular color.

  • Page 80: Blazer Pro Alignment Procedures - Lcd Display

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS 3. Entering in Values - Part 2 - Bi-Directional Below is an example printout of a Bi-Directional Alignment pattern (Figure 3). Throughout the process of selecting the best values, for this example we will use a chart (Figure 4) to keep track of the selections and entries made to help you understand how the process is completed.

  • Page 81: Selection And Entry Of The Values

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS Prints that Do Not Line Up (Bi-Directional) Observing the Alignment printout on the previous page (Figure 3), the calibration is far from where it needs to be. Figure 4: Bi-Directional Worksheet-Part 1 In the worksheet (Figure 4) we have entered 1 for all 3 dot sizes (columns).
  • Page 82 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS • Third Entries: Third Entries This example allows you to assume Pattern to Enter 9 Pattern to Enter 1 that you needed to enter the After entering in 9 After entering in 1 correseponding number three times, the pattern...

  • Page 83: Final Printout And Calibration

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS 5. Final Printout and Calibration At this point you should have made all of your entries in the LFP Remote Panel and Saved. If you exit this screen without saving your data, it will be lost. If this should occur, return to the correct alignment screen, re-enter your numbers and select Save.
  • Page 84 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER EXPRESS T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 85: Blazer Pro Alignments

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO BLAZER PRO ALIGNMENTS This section will cover the execution of Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional Print Head Alignments for the Blazer PRO. For steps on completing these alignments for the Blazer EXPRESS, refer to the earlier section of this chapter named Blazer EXPRESS Alignments.
  • Page 86 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Check the distance between the Print Head and the Shirt Board. For this procedure you will need the 3 standard-size Shirt Boards loaded onto the Blazer PRO. The Shirt Board must have the media in place (whether it be film, paper or plexi-glass) to print the test pattern on, before adjusting the distance setting.

  • Page 87: Send The Alignment Test Print

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Align the media with the upper left hand corner of the Shirt Board (the bottom right hand corner if facing the front of the printer). Over hang the film 1/2” over the right edge of the Shirt Board. Measure from the end of the platen (where the metal platen handle is attached), 15.5”.
  • Page 88 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO 2. From the main Window, select your printer from the drop down menu. Use the table below to determine your Epson print engine model. Your Serial Number will contain one of the four options after TJBE.
  • Page 89 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO IMPORTANT NOTE: If you notice SEVERE registration issues, we recommend you perform the Uni-Directional Alignment first, followed by a Bi- Directional Alignment. If you only wish to fine tune printer output, you can utilize the Bi-Directional Alignment as a standalone procedure.

  • Page 90: Selection And Entry Of The Values

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Double check that your film (or media) is still setup correctly. Also verify that the printer is still in Index Position and in READY/ROLL Mode. 8. Press the Print button on the LFP Remote Panel Screen. The print process will take approximately 10 minutes.
  • Page 91 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO The 4 white cartridges will each have a white swatch set numbered 1-9 as well, labeled Lk, Lc, Lm, and LLk. NOTE: You will notice that there are two columns of identical groups. The first, or left hand column, will be used for calibration.
  • Page 92 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Figure 1: Uni-Directional Alignment Printout Prints that Line Up (Uni-Directional) Figure 2: Uni-Directional Worksheet Observing the Alignment printout (Figure 1), the calibration is not far off and can observe the dashed lines lining up. In the worksheet (Figure 2) we have entered the best values for all 3 dot sizes.
  • Page 93 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Prints that Do Not Line Up (Uni-Directional) If in the printout, none of the lines came out close to “good”, you would need to pick the closest and enter in that value multiple times for that particular color.
  • Page 94 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO off. For an example, the cyan set may be off to the right (enter 9s) and the magenta off to the left (enter 1s), while the yellow may be perfect (enter 5s). Completing the “estimation” process too many times can “over shoot”...
  • Page 95 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Prints that Line Up (Bi-Directional) Observing the Alignment printout above (Figure 3), the calibration is far off from where it needs to be. If you had swatch options to choose from that looked like the example to the right, select the closest swatch to representing a full box, and enter those values into the LFP remote panel window.
  • Page 96 Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO Enter in the desired values (for all 3 dot sizes) and click the SAVE button. Each time you click the Save button, all of the values will read 5 again. Second Entries •...

  • Page 97: Final Printout And Calibration

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO example, the cyan set may be off to the right (enter 9s) and the Figure 6: Bi-Directional Worksheet-Part 2 magenta off to the left (enter 1s), while the yellow may be perfect (enter 5s).

  • Page 98: Print Head Calibration Worksheet

    Chapter 9 - SETUP PART 7: Print Head Alignments - BLAZER PRO T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 99: Chapter 10 - Software Overview

    Chapter 10 Software Overview Graphic files can be large and the data sent from FastRIP to the printer is sent at a very high speed (high data rate). In order to get the fastest speed and have the fewest communication problems with the printer, you need a fast computer.

  • Page 100: Fastartist And Fastrip

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview FastARTIST and FastRIP Not only do the printer and ink makes the T-Jet Blazer Series Printers so unique, but also the software that drives them. As mentioned earlier, your printer comes with two very powerful programs called FastARTIST and FastRIP. FastARTIST is a complete graphics program much like CorelDRAW and Adobe Photoshop.

  • Page 101: Using Computer Graphics Software

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Using Computer Graphics Software In order to print a good looking image on a shirt, you need a good piece of artwork. The customer typically has no idea about the type or quality of artwork needed so you are often stuck with inferior designs.

  • Page 102: Summary

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Summary If you intend to create your own artwork, then we recommend that you have both a vector and bitmap program (one will work fine but will limit what you can do). The vector program will be used for working with shapes, text and edges, while the bitmap program will be used for any photographic or detailed images.

  • Page 103: A Quick Note About Photoshop

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview A Quick Note about Photoshop As you begin to work with different kinds of images in different formats and resolutions, it is very important to have the proper tools necessary to clean up and make images “print ready.” Even though FastARTIST is a very powerful graphics program, there may be times when a program such as Photoshop is required for specific editing functions.
  • Page 104 Chapter 10 - Software Overview The important point here is to keep the file resolution high enough for the image to remain sharp. It is generally accepted that a file needs to be at 300 dpi at the final size in order for it to remain crisp. In T-Shirt printing, you can get away with file resolutions of 150 to 300 dpi at the final size.

  • Page 105: Check File Saturation

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview IMPORTANT POINT: If the original file is low resolution and not the final size, you need to upsample the file to the final print size with a resolution of 150 to 300 dpi. A resolution of 150 dpi is OK for photos and images without hard edges and resolutions of 300 to 350 are recommended where there is lettering or sharp edges.

  • Page 106: Using The Tone Curve

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Move the Amount slider to 150%. Set the Pixel Radius to 1 and the Threshold to 8. How does the image look? To compare the original to the sharpened version, uncheck the Preview check box (Photoshop). Click it on and off and compare the results.

  • Page 107: Bitmap Editing In Fastartist

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Bitmap Editing in FastARTIST Photoshop is always in bitmap mode because it is a pixel- based editing program. FastARTIST (along with CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator) defaults to vector mode when you launch the program, so you will need to find the bitmap editing tools in these programs.

  • Page 108: Setting Transparent Images In Fastartist

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview You will also notice that your Channels Palette shows four channels: RGB, Red, Green and Blue. Your test file probably only shows one Layer, called Background. For more details on using the Layers Palette in Photoshop, consult the Adobe User’s Manual or the In-Program Help sections.

  • Page 109: Using The Extract Filter

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Click an area in the background and the Magic Wand will make a selection around the image. If the “marching ants” selection goes into the main design, change the Tolerance on the Property Bar. The default is 32. Note: if you are working on a “flattened”...

  • Page 110: Making Your Selection A New Layer

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Making Your Selection a New Layer The goal behind all this is to get your main image on a layer with a transparent background. (This will show as a gray and white checkered pattern throughout the image). With a transparent background, you can add additional elements to the image including text, drop shadows, glows and more.

  • Page 111: Artwork For Light And Dark Garments

    Chapter 10 - Software Overview Artwork for Light and Dark Garments To set up artwork properly, it is imperative to know first onto what color garment the image is to be printed. This will then determine if the image background needs to be transparent, White, Black, or in some cases both Black and White.
  • Page 112 Chapter 10 - Software Overview T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 113: Chapter 11 - Printing Basics

    Chapter 11 Printing Basics Congratulations! You have made it to the chapter - Printing Basics. Its been quite a lengthy process to get here, but since you were patient and read through the entire manual, you will be rewarded with the most brilliant prints in the industry.

  • Page 114: Shirt Boards

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Shirt Boards T-Jet Blazer Express The Blazer EXPRESS includes one Standard Adult and one Large (over-sized) Shirt Board. The EXPRESS model prints one garment at a time. T-Jet Blazer PRO The Blazer PRO model includes three Standard Adult and two Large (over-sized) Shirt Boards, meaning that on the PRO, although you are not required to, can print either 3 standard-sized prints or 2 over-sized prints at a time.

  • Page 115: Basic Printing Steps

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Basic Printing Steps: Power Up Power up your T-Jet (see Chapter 4 or Chapter 5 for proper steps) and allow the machine to go through its startup cycle. 2. Verify Print Status on the LCD Display After powering up, the printer should be in Print Status, but a far too common user error occurs when a print command is sent to the printer without the...
  • Page 116 Chapter 11 - Printing Basics For a more vibrant CMYK print on light garments, refer to Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White and learn about FastCOLOR Pretreatment and the pretreatment process. IMPORTANT POINT DO NOT leave the collar or seam exposed on top of the Shirt Board. Any unnecessary height on the bed may hit the Print Head when printing.
  • Page 117 Chapter 11 - Printing Basics 8. Choose the artwork you wish to print. In the beginning you will need to concentrate on the print placement and getting the image in the graphics program coordinated to the correct location on the shirt. You can print directly to FastRIP from your favorite graphics application (if you are not outputting an Underbase or Highlight White), or you can print from...
  • Page 118 Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Size. Also, make sure that the page size is correct under File>FastRIP Setup under Preferences. 10. Import your Art into the Template Blazer Express Standard Template Blazer PRO Standard (3-up)Template • From the File Pull-down Menu select Import.
  • Page 119 Chapter 11 - Printing Basics From the File Pull-down Menu, select FastRIP Setup. A window will open up letting you adjust all of the print setting and Print Modes. You can also do this by selecting File>Print to FastRIP. The screen will look a bit different and at the top of the window, click the square button with 3 dots in the middle.
  • Page 120 Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Send the Print command (from FastARTIST). • After all Print Modes have been selected, select File>Print to FastRIP The print preview window will open (you may already have this window open if you set the file up in this window). •...

  • Page 121: When A Printing Job Is Finished

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics When a Printing Job Is Finished After your job finishes printing, the Printer Assembly will return to the Home position and the green button on the User Interface will start to flash. At this time it is safe to: •...

  • Page 122: Printing Tips And Tricks

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Printing Tips and Tricks Preventative Maintenance One of the most important tasks in keeping your new printer running smoothly is to keep up on the maintenance of the machine. Although the T-Jet is “simply” an inkjet printer, the number one technical issue is a lack of maintenance of the machine.

  • Page 123: Resolutions, Speed And Quality

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics • Next, deselect anything selected and choose a new color to represent the print area. In this example, we will use yellow. Select the rectangle tool again and trace the safe area of the guide. •...

  • Page 124: Saving A Spooled Print File

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Saving a Spooled Print File You can save a spooled job for later printing. This is most helpful when you want to print a particular job the exact same way or if a customer requests a repeat order by surprise. The spooled file saves as a file called JTB.

  • Page 125: Canceling A Print Job

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics 5. Towards the bottom of the window, where it says Location, click on the box with the three dots. A “Browse For” folder will open. This is where you will name the JTB file and select a save location.

  • Page 126: Emergency Off Switch - Blazer Express

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Emergency Off Switch - Blazer Express The T-Jet Blazer Express is equipped with an Emergency Kill Switch that will cut OFF all power to the printer. After pressing this button, you must shutdown the machine completely, including the Power Switch in the rear of the housing.

  • Page 127: Height Sensor - Blazer Express

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Height Sensor: Blazer Express ONLY The Blazer EXPRESS (only) is equipped with a built-in Height Sensor that will help determine what the height of the platen needs to be set to for printing. The height sensor is a thin laser beam that extends across the Platen if it is at a dangerous height that will damage the Print Head.

  • Page 128: Print Modes And Fastrip

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Print Modes and FastRIP When first starting out, the most versatile Print Mode combination for BOTH photos and cartoons is 720 HS for CMYK and 1440 HS for the Underbase. For images on light garments in which no Underbase is used, a 2 Pass Print Mode will result in better color saturation.

  • Page 129: Eight-Color Print Modes

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Eight Color Print Modes The Fast T-Jet Blazer Express also supports Eight Color Print Modes that utilize the additional colors of Red, Green, Blue and Orange in place of the four White cartridges. 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 130: Humidity Concerns

    Chapter 11 - Printing Basics Poor washability ON LIGHT SHIRTS may be caused by insufficient ink deposit. For best results, print at a minimum of 720 DPI and do two print passes (light shirts only). You can greatly improve the washability of the final print on light shirts that do not have white ink in the image by using FastCOLOR pretreatment.

  • Page 131: Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink

    Chapter 12 Advanced Printing With White Ink This chapter will cover proper care of white ink, pretreatments and the pretreatment process, printing with white ink and how to take the proper steps in being successful with the process. The process of printing white ink onto garments was not easy to develop.

  • Page 132: End Of Day Agitation

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Do not violently shake the ink; only shake mildly! Shaking too severely may cause the formation of small air bubbles that can severely impair printing or create a vapor lock within the ink during the day. End of the Day Agitation At the end of each work day, we recommend you remove each of the White Bulk Ink Cartridges, hold your finger tightly over the breather...

  • Page 133: Pretreatment Basics

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink 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 fibers.

  • Page 134: Types Of Pretreatment

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Types of Pretreatment Currently we offer three types of Pretreatment-FastINK Textile Pretreatment, FastBRIGHT Textile Pretreatment and FastCOLOR Textile Pretreatment: FastINK Pretreatment is specifically designed for use on Dark colored garments, allowing • for extremely bright Whites and vibrant colors.

  • Page 135: Drying The Pretreatment

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Drying the Pretreatment Using a Heat Transfer Press is the best means for drying the Pretreatment. A heat press will flatten out the fibers leaving a flat and smooth print surface. You can use a conveyor dryer or even a hair dryer, however, other methods of drying will not flatten the fibers and may result in a lower print quality.

  • Page 136: File Setup

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Top off ALL of your White Ink cartridges to the 150ml mark at the beginning of each day and DO NOT allow the ink levels to drop below the 100ml mark or you risk ink starvation issues. DO NOT overfill above the 200 mL mark or overflow may occur.

  • Page 137: Cure The Print

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Cure the print Carefully remove the shirt from the Shirt Board and cure. Keep in mind, White ink will need to be cured longer than standard colors. Cure in a conveyor dryer or Heat Press. Refer to Chapter 11 - Printing Basics - Curing Your Garments for more information.

  • Page 138: Washing Directions

    Chapter 12 - 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 a delicate cycle. If possible, include washing directions to customers along with the finished prints. 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 139: You Should Perform Daily Cleaning Of These Items

    Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Solution 3: The Highlight White settings in FastARTIST are wrong. You may actually be printing white ink ON TOP of the CMYK colors. Reload the image into FastARTIST and run the Underbase/Highlight Wizard again. Try not applying a Highlight or toning down the Highlight.
  • Page 140 Chapter 12 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Solution 5: The Print Head is permanently clogged or damaged from lack of maintenance. Before contacting us for a replacement or for other instructions, check the print head to see if there is any visible ink or lint stuck to it.

  • Page 141: Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items

    Chapter 13 Printing Other Items The T-Jet can print on almost any fabric or material and you usually don’t need a clamping device. FastINK is a water- based textile ink designed to work not only on natural fabric materials, but also on non-textile items such as unfinished wood, mouse pads, golf balls, metals, plastics and more.

  • Page 142: Adjusting The Platen Height

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items FastARTIST Page Size – Go to Layout > Page Size FastRIP Setup – Go to File > FastRIP Setup For more information about printing on caps or Non-Textile, such as golf balls, there is a downloadable PDF available at www.screenprinters.net.

  • Page 143: Non-Textile Printing

    Chapter 13 - Printing 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 fine bristle brush Optional materials may be required: Non-Textile Primer a holder for object(s) (i.e. Golf Ball Holder) an extra brush or two Non-Textile Print Modes and Templates: utilize the latest Non-Textile Print Modes by downloading the most recent Printer Package from...

  • Page 144: Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items 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 T-Jet Brand Non-Textile Pretreatment. DO NOT print directly onto this product. Protect your work surfaces with newspaper.

  • Page 145: Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items 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 146: Setting Up An Image For Printing

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items Setting up an Image for Printing To setup an image for print you may use an application such as Photoshop, Illustrator or CorelDRAW, however we recommend using FastARTIST. If you will be printing White ink, you MUST use FastARTIST.

  • Page 147: Printing On Golf Balls

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items Printing on Golf Balls To print golf balls you will need a Golf Ball Holder (optional), T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment, and Post-Treatment (T-Jet Non-Textile Primer is not necessary). For more information, refer to the literature that came with your Golf Ball Printing Kit Load the Golf Balls into the Holder and place the Over-spray Shield on top of the balls.

  • Page 148: T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items Choose a Print Mode (Non-textile Print Mode). For a list and description of the available Print Modes, please refer to your FastARTIST User’s Manual. Print to FastRIP. T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment This Post-Treatment is a protective coating used for prints on non-textile surfaces. Using the post- treatment will prevent fading of ink colors, extend the life of the image as well as waterproofing and acting as a UV protectant.

  • Page 149: Non-Textile Printing Tips

    Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items and pilot lights and turn off stoves, heaters, electric motors and other sources of ignition during use and until all vapors are gone. Prevent buildup of vapors by opening all windows and doors to achieve cross ventilation.
  • Page 150 Chapter 13 - Printing Other Items T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 151: Chapter 14 - Maintenance

    Chapter 14 Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Your T-Jet Blazer Series Printer should work trouble free IF you take the time to understand and perform the necessary maintenance. 95% of our Technical Support calls come from people who have not maintained their machines properly. While it may appear to be “just” an inkjet printer, it is a VERY SPECIAL inkjet printer.

  • Page 152: Check And Clean The Capping Station

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance dirt can interfere with the exchange of data between the Print Head and the Encoder Strip. Manually move the carriage to the left and right throughout the cleaning process to allow you reach and clean the entire Encoder Strip.

  • Page 153: Clean The Wiper Blade

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance 3. Clean the Wiper Blade The Wiper Blade is a part of the capping station (above the capping station) that wipes off left over residue after printing large volumes of jobs. The wiper blade is an important component and needs to be kept clean in order to reduce other maintenance issues.

  • Page 154: Run Head Cleaning Cycles - Start And End Of Each Day

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance 6. Run Head Cleaning Cycles - Start and End of Each Day After turning ON the machine at the start of the day, perform 1 or 2 Head Cleaning Cycles. Press and hold the Right/Clean button on the LCD control panel, for three seconds to initiate.

  • Page 155: Weekly Maintenance

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Weekly Maintenance Weekly Maintenance is also very important to practice in order to keep the best results in daily printing as well as preventing any future issues. The amount of weekly maintenance required depends on how many garments were printed that week.

  • Page 156: Agitate Your Stored White Ink

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance • Next, gently slide the metal cowling free and the Waste Tank will be easily accessible. To remove the Waste Tank, slide if from its bin. • Always r eplace the Waste Ink Tank or Pad •...

  • Page 157: Monthly Maintenance

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Monthly Maintenance You will need to lubricate the Bed Rails and Rail Guides on a Monthly basis to facilitate the Print Assembly moving smoothly during image output. This procedure will help prevent banding as well as several other image quality concerns.

  • Page 158: Lubricate The Bed Rails

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance A Grease Gun and Lithium-based grease can be purchased from most major Auto Parts stores. Connect the Grease Gun to the Zerk fitting pictured here to lube the Rail Guides. There are 2 Rail Guides per side, 4 total.

  • Page 159: Maintenance Schedule Checklist

    Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Maintenance Schedule Checklist Use this Checklist as a guide to ensure critical maintenance is performed on a regular basis. DO NOT SKIP A DAY, WEEK OR MONTH! The Checklist may also be downloaded from www.screenprinters.net Version 5.5 Revised January, 2009...
  • Page 160 Chapter 14 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 161: Maximize Print Quality

    Chapter 15 Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality This section will cover basic and “not so basic” tips and utilities to help keep your printer and your printed images the best that they can be. Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts When you perform a Head Cleaning, ink is forced through the Nozzles and the Print Head is cleaned and wiped by the printer.

  • Page 162: Humidity And Environmental Control

    Chapter 15 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality Humidity and Environmental Control Controlling the environment in which your printer “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! They prefer humidity levels of 40% to 60%.

  • Page 163: When In Doubt, Unplug Everything

    Chapter 15 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality When in Doubt, Unplug Everything Sometimes inkjet printers just get “confused,” especially if you stop them in the middle of a run. If the printer is suddenly acting abnormally, turn everything OFF and unplug the power cord. Make sure to disconnect the USB cable between your Fast T-Jet Blazer Express and the computer to end data transmission that still may be occurring.

  • Page 164: Additional Utilities

    Chapter 15 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality Additional Utilities A typical print problem that can occur is when lines are missing in the final image. This is called banding and can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons for banding are a dirty or clogged Print Head, or dirty Encoder Strip.
  • Page 165 Chapter 15 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality Setup in FastRIP • Click on the Queue pull down menu and select properties. • Select Printer status from the left of the Queue Properties Window. • Put a check mark in the Head Clean check box.

  • Page 166: Print Head Replacement

    Chapter 15 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality everything is set to Never be turned off except for the monitor; your monitor may still be set to turn off whenever you would like. • Make sure you leave the printer and computer turned on and that FastRIP is open at all times.

  • Page 167: Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting

    Chapter 16 Troubleshooting This chapter was written to help you find solutions for what has been considered common problems. Through years of research and development, there is still common concerns and areas that may be difficult to resolve especially with inkjet-to-garment being such a new technology. Although we have the best technical support in the industry, we recommend skimming through this chapter with any problems or concerns you may have.
  • Page 168 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting 2. Underbase and Color Do Not Line Up for Subsequent Images The first printed image is great, but the Underbase and Top Color registration is off for either the second and third Shirt Board for the PRO or images on the next run for the Express. Causes: You are using a Page Size greater than the maximum printable area •...
  • Page 169 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting • The Print Head may need special cleaning if not damaged. Order a replacement Print Head and replace following the instructions. Preventions: • Clean the Capping Station on a regular basis. • Clean debris from the Print Head daily. •...
  • Page 170 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting • The temperature of the Heat Press was not correct Make sure the Heat Press is heating up evenly and reaching the correct temperature of 330º F. You can test this with a touch-less infrared thermometer or heat testing strip. Too much Pretreatment was applied •...
  • Page 171 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Preventions: • Usually when a color prints with an incorrect hue, it is because a Nozzle is clogged. If you are Orange image but it appears more Yellow, that means the Magenta trying to print an is clogged and the pigments can’t mix to produce Orange.
  • Page 172 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Preventions: • Double check the settings in FastRIP prior to sending a Print command. • Clean the Encoder Strip more often. • Always make sure images are the same size when using the Underbase Wizard in FastARTIST. •...
  • Page 173 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Preventions: • Keep it simple. Do not overload the printer port. • When in doubt first try turning everything off and unplugging things such as the USB cable from the computer to the printer. • Pay close attention to page sizes and LCD display modes. 9.
  • Page 174 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting • If the white ink is uneven, be sure to pretreat the entire printable area evenly. • Use 100% Pretreatment. Try not diluting it with water to see if prints improve. Preventions: • Practice is the only way to master the art of pretreating a shirt. Eventually you will develop your own style for applying Pretreatment.
  • Page 175 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Solution: Replace the Print Head. In the event that you find your Print Head permanently clogged or damaged, follow the instructions on replacing the print head included with a Print Head purchase. View the video online covering the steps in replacing a print head. Refer to Chapter 17 - Product Support for instructions on logging on to the support site and viewing videos and accessing technical documents.
  • Page 176 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Solution: The following may prevent you from replacing the clogged print head. Follow the instructions in Chapter 13 on releasing the print carriage. Check the print head for excess ink drops or lint. If the print head is visibly dirty, with an Isopropyl Alcohol wipe, carefully, in one direction, wipe the print head using little pressure.
  • Page 177 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting File resolution is too high. • A resolution of 150 to 300 DPI (at the final print size) is all that is necessary for inkjet-to-garment printing. If you receive a larger file resolution, resample the file to a lower resolution. Doing this will speed up ripping and printing times.
  • Page 178 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting • When printing a large volume run, clean the Encoder Strip often to prevent communication errors from ruining shirts during a printing cycle. 15. White Underbase Box Over Entire Image When you print a White Underbase you get a White box over the entire image. Cause: Check your Underbase setup within FastARTIST.
  • Page 179 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting The 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. Check to make sure it hasn’t been crimped or pinched.
  • Page 180 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting If you are NOT using your printer on a regular basis, the ink may partially dry within the Print Head, causing a clog. Solution 1: 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.

  • Page 181: Lcd Error Warnings And Codes

    Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting LCD Error Warnings and Codes The following section of this Troubleshooting chapter will cover popular Error Messages and codes that may appear in the LCD Display and ways to correct them. For a complete list of Error Codes, visit our support site.

  • Page 182: What You Will Need

    Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Error Code: 10000 The fuse is blown (Express model) causing the print bed to sit on the index sensor. Solution: You will need to replace the 5 amp fuse on the DC Motor Control Board. Follow the instructions below.

  • Page 183: Tools Needed

    Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting In most cases, you can visibly determine if the fuse is bad. This may require removing it first. Replace the fuse. Be sure the clips are pressed securely around the fuse after replacement. Put the side panel back on. Note: It is a good idea to put all the screws in place before tightening.
  • Page 184 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting 1. Using the 4 mm Allen Wrench, unscrew the two screws holding the front plate to the upper back plate. 2. Next remove the four screws holding in the upper back plate. 3. Pull out the upper back plate. 4.
  • Page 185 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting 5. Lean the back plate back. Be careful not to unplug or damage any of the wiring to the breaker switch. 6. The Belt Tension Roller is mounted on a shaft with two screws on either end. Using the 5 mm Allen Wrench, loosen the screws slightly.
  • Page 186 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Binding Solution for the PRO: Adjusting the Lead Screw Bracket The Lead Screw Bracket (or front Drive Screw Mount) should be vertical, not at an angle. Drive Screw If the Lead Screw Bracket is only slightly angled, gently tap it to Lead Screw straighten.
  • Page 187 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Error Code: 1001D Print Carriage Obstruction. Something is preventing the Print Carriage from moving correctly. Solution: A 1001D error code typically denotes an obstruction of carriage movement. The two most common causes are the capping pad and the carriage home sensor. Capping Pad The capping pad should freely move to the right, however, dried ink can build up in the rails that guide the pad.
  • Page 188 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting If you have questions, or your problem persists after completing these instructions, please call Technical Support at 888-698-5387 or send an e-mail to support@usscreen.com. Remember to include your serial number and repair record(s) when emailing or have them ready when calling. Error Code: 1001E Blazer Express Cause 1: The Height Sensor has been tripped too many times.
  • Page 189 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting Error: TOP COVER OPEN The Height Sensor has been tripped too many times. Solutions: • Lower the Shirt Board (Increase the Platen to Head Clearance) Error: RELOAD PAPER The Epson settings on the main circuit board have been changed or reset. The point in which you get the SERVICE ERROR should be right after the machine has finished the start up process and returned to Home Position.
  • Page 190 Chapter 16 - Troubleshooting • Press the far right button or MENU button to get into the menu. • The very first option on the screen should be PRINTER SETUP. Press MENU again to enter into the PRINTER SETUP configuration. •...

  • Page 191: Chapter 12- Product Support

    Chapter 17 Product Support Support Policy T-Jet Blazer Series Printer support is free. Since the machines are 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.

  • Page 192: Hour Emergency Support

    Chapter 17 - Product Support Emergency Support In the event that you must have support and cannot wait until our normal support schedule, an Emergency 24-Hour Support Technician can be reached. Call our toll free 1-888-MYTJETS support line and follow the prompts.
  • Page 193 Chapter 17 - Product Support 5. On this page, enter your information in the spaces provided, then click “Sign Up”. 6. On the next page, enter your product information, then click ‘Add Products.’ Note: All printer serial numbers can be found on a sticker on the back of the printer near the power cord.

  • Page 194: Webcam Video Support

    Chapter 17 - Product Support 7. On the left-hand navigation bar, click ‘My Support Home.’ You will now see several gray boxes, each of which pertains to a product that you own. Note: this photo shows all of the products US Screen supports.

  • Page 195: Show Off Your Work

    Chapter 17 - Product Support Show off Your Work If you want to brag about the things you’ve printed on your T-Jet Blazer Series Printer, or are looking for some inspiration, we have a Gallery where you can view or upload pictures of jobs completed with these remarkable printers.

  • Page 196: Re-Crating The Blazer Express

    Chapter 17 - Product Support Re-crating the Blazer EXPRESS Follow these instructions to re-crate your Blazer EXPRESS for any time the machine will need to travel or be shipped. If you have any questions or problems, call our support department for assistance. Preparations: For this procedure you will need all of the original crate supplies, a power drill equipped with a phillips- head drill bit, 2 1/2”...
  • Page 197 Chapter 17 - Product Support Step 3: Fasten the walls of the crate. You should have 6 long wood screws that hold the walls to the crate. There will be 3 screws for each of the longer sides of the crate. Do not over tighten or you may strip the wood out.

  • Page 198: Re-Crating The Blazer Pro

    Chapter 17 - Product Support Re-crating the Blazer PRO Follow these instructions to re-crate your Blazer PRO for any time the machine will need to travel or be shipped. If you have any questions or problems re-crating, call our support department for assistance. Preparations: For this procedure you will need all of the original crate supplies and bracers, 3 assistants to help lift, long 2 1/2”...

  • Page 199: Version 5.5 Revised January

    Chapter 17 - Product Support After the first set of bracers are fastened, a second set of bracers (30” in length) will go right over the top of them. These will hold the printer from moving front to back. NOTE: If you have the protective plastic cover, place it over the Blazer PRO.
  • Page 200 Chapter 17 - Product Support Step 5: Attach the first side plate wall. Attach the first wall using 4 screws that will fasten into the bottom of the crate and 2 screws that will fasten to each vertical bracer. NOTE: It will help to have an assistant...
  • Page 201 Chapter 17 - Product Support Step 7: Attach the remaining front/ back plate. Use the same steps and methods used for the first front/back plate wall. Step 8: Attach the remaining side plate wall. Attach the last wall. 4 screws will fasten to the bottom plate, 3 screws on each vertical end plus the 2 to hold the vertical bracers (shown below).
  • Page 202 Chapter 17 - Product Support Step 9: Attach the padded bracers to the top of the PRO. Attach the 2 padded bracers to the top of the PRO. A padded bracer will sit on the front and back side of the printer assembly and will fasten from the outside of each side plate wall.

  • Page 203: Appendix A- Operational Guide

    Appendix A Operational Guide Notice The material in this Manual is believed to be accurate and complete with respect to the normal and intended operation of the Fast T-Jet Blazer Express Inkjet-to-Garment printer. U.S. Screen makes no warranties or other representations, express or implied, with respect to the material in this Manual. Neither U.S.

  • Page 204: Summary Of Customer Responsibilities

    Appendix A - Operational Guide lack of compliance with such Federal, State and local laws, regulations and standards on the part of a Customer. It is the Customer’s responsibility to ensure that the room and equipment exhaust, makeup air supply, flooring, air, water, waste and electrical services meet all applicable codes and ordinances.

  • Page 205: Room Preparation

    Appendix A - Operational Guide 4. Receive the equipment properly. Use appropriate personnel and equipment to off-load and move the shipping containers to a storage area or directly to a staging area. The printer ships in a single crate that is large and must be handled with the use of a forklift, lift gate or pallet jack.

  • Page 206: Exhaust Ventilation Requirements

    Appendix A - Operational Guide Exceeding the environmental specifications can cause the printing of substandard images due to misfiring of Print Nozzles and ink prematurely drying on the surface of the Print Head. This misuse may void the warranty. Exhaust Ventilation Requirements Exhaust ventilation and air-conditioning of your T-Jet Blazer Series printer is REQUIRED for proper machine function.

  • Page 207: Main Operator

    Appendix A - Operational Guide Main Operator Both the T-Jet Blazer Express and PRO model printers require one main operator who will be responsible for the operation and routine maintenance of the printer. In order to fulfill this job, the candidate chosen will need certain skills.

  • Page 208: Miscellaneous Information

    Appendix A - Operational Guide Electrical: 110 - 240v AC 60/cycle 4 amps. Computer Connection: USB 2.0 Additional Machinery: Heat press/dryer, powerful PC computer for FastARTIST and FastRIP Print Resolutions: 2880 x 1440dpi; 1440 x 720dpi; 720 x 720dpi; 360 x 360dpi Maximum Printable Surface: Blazer Express: 16”...

  • Page 209: Staging Area

    Appendix A - Operational Guide remove your printer from the truck with a forklift. If possible, request a truck with a lift gate so you can use a pallet jack to move the equipment securely. Staging Area Provide a sheltered area for receipt of the shipment. This area should be close to the intended area of operation to facilitate unpacking and preparation of the equipment for set up.
  • Page 210 Appendix A - Operational Guide T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 211: Appendix B- Requirements And Notices

    Appendix B Requirements and Notices Windows Operating System Requirements Minimum: • PC with a Pentium 4 - 1.8 GHz and Windows XP, 2000 or Vista Operating System (Windows ME is not supported) • A minimum of 2 GB of RAM. •...

  • Page 212: Declaration Of Conformity

    Appendix B - Requirements and Notices can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. •...

  • Page 213: European Union Declaration Of Conformity - Ce

    Appendix B - Requirements and Notices 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 - Fast T-Jet Blazer Express from U.S. Graphic Arts, Inc., dba U.S.
  • Page 214 Appendix B - Requirements and Notices This warranty does not extend to the Print Head, dampers or expendable parts such as fuses. This warranty does not cover a Unit that has been subject to misuse, neglect, negligence, accident, or Unit that has been operated in any way contrary to the operating procedures specified in this manual.

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