Issue description

When printing test patterns or patterns, color ink cannot be printed.

How to determine if a test print is acceptable: If each color block has no more than 5 missing lines, it is considered an acceptable test print.

Possible causes

Occurs when first powered on:

• Print head protective film not removed
• CMYK ink tube clips not released
• Insufficient ink in the CMYK ink damper
• Loose color ink print head connection cable
• Waste ink pump failure (very low probability)

Occurs after extended use or long-term standby:

• Insufficient ink in the CMYK ink tank
• Four CMYK ink clips not released
• Insufficient ink in the CMYK ink damper
• Loose color ink print head connection cable
• Waste ink recovery malfunction (waste ink tube clogged)
• Severe print head blockage

Troubleshooting procedures

Scenario A: No color ink on initial startup

(1) Check whether the print head protective film is peeled off

Move the print carriage to the far left. Using the mirror on the baseplate, look up at the bottom of the print head and confirm the thin plastic protective film has been peeled off.

• If the film is still present, peel it off.

• If the film has already been removed (It's possible that it was peeled off along with the white protective film), proceed to the next step.

(2) Check all ink clips

Ensure all ink clips are in the open/released position. If all clips are confirmed to be open, proceed to the next step.

(3) Check the ink level of every CMYK ink damper

If the ink level of the CMYK ink damper is sufficient, proceed to the next steps.

(4) Check and ensure that the CMYK ink printhead cable is securely connected.

1. Move the print head to the center of the printer: On the LCD control panel, tap: Maintenance > Control, and the Left Arrow button until the carriage is centered inside the printer.

2. (Important! Do not ignore this step) Unplug the printer's power cable.

3. Unplug and replug the CMYK ink print head cable to ensure that the connectors at both ends are securely connected.

If it has already been unplugged and reconnected and the connection is secure, proceed to the next step.

(5) Check whether the peristaltic pump operates properly.

1. Plug in the printer’s power cable to ensure the printer has a normal power supply.
2. Tap the screen to move the print head to the center position.

  Please record a video of the following steps:

3. Follow the steps shown in the image below. First, Fill water, and then Recycle waste ink. While holding down the button, observe the position of the color ink pad.

• If the "water rises and is then drawn back up" (as shown in the video below) appears successively on the color ink pad, this indicates that the color ink clean water pump and waste ink pump function properly.
  
• If no water rises, it indicates that the color ink clean water pump is malfunctioning (this happens very rarely). You can refer to the following video tutorial to locate the color ink clean water pump and replace it.

① Remove the rear panel of the device: Disassemble & Assemble the Casings for xTool Apparel Printer

② Replace the pump: Replace the printer pump

• If "water rises but cannot be pumped out, or is pumped out very slowly", it indicates that the color ink waste ink pump is malfunctioning. You can refer to the following video guide to locate the color ink waste ink pump and replace it:

① Remove the rear panel: Disassemble & Assemble the Casings for xTool Apparel Printer

② Replace the pump: Replace the printer pump

If all of the above checks have been completed and the problem persists, please provide the following information to xTool after-sales customer service to help them quickly analyze and resolve it:

· The troubleshooting conclusion for each step above;

· The information required in the “Still experiencing issues?” section at the end of the article

Scenario B: No color ink after extended use or long-term standby

(1) Check CMKY ink levels in the ink damper and ink tank

Open the printer's lid to check the ink levels.

• If low: Refill with xTool ink.
• If levels are sufficient, proceed to the next step.

(2) Check all ink clips

Ensure all ink clips are in the open/released position. If all clips are confirmed to be open, proceed to the next step.

(3) Check the ink level of every CMYK ink damper

If the ink level of the CMYK ink damper is sufficient, proceed to the next steps.

(4) Check and ensure that the CMYK ink printhead cable is securely connected.

1. Move the print head to the center of the printer: On the LCD control panel, tap: Maintenance > Control, and the Left Arrow button until the carriage is centered inside the printer.

2. (Important! Do not ignore this step) Unplug the printer's power cable.

3. Unplug and replug the CMYK ink print head cable to ensure that the connectors at both ends are securely connected.

If it has already been unplugged and reconnected and the connection is secure, proceed to the next step.

(5) Check whether Recycle waste ink function operates properly.

1. Plug in the printer’s power cable to ensure the printer has a normal power supply.
2. Tap the screen to move the print head to the center position.

  Please record a video of the following steps:

3. Follow the steps shown in the image below. First, Fill water, and then Recycle waste ink. While holding down the button, observe the position of the color ink pad.

• If the "water rises and is then drawn back up" (as shown in the video below) appears successively on the color ink pad, this indicates that the color ink Recycle waste ink function works properly. Proceed to Step 6.
  
• If there is water rising but it cannot be pumped away normally (for example, waste ink cannot be suctioned away or is suctioned away very slowly), it indicates that waste ink recovery is abnormal. Please follow the steps below to further identify the cause:

a. Removing the color ink pad: Please refer to the video.

b. Identify the clean ink inlet and waste ink outlet inside the color ink pad:

Perform Fill water to ink stack for 3 seconds and observe the two openings: the opening from which the moisturizing solution is dispensed is the clean water outlet, and the other opening is the waste ink outlet for color ink.

c. Check whether the waste ink tube is clogged:

Fill a syringe with waste ink or clean water --> use the syringe to inject some clean water into the waste ink tube opening --> press and hold Recycle waste ink for 3 seconds --> observe whether the clean water at the waste ink tube opening is being sucked away (the opening on the right is the waste ink tube opening as shown)

• • If the ink is drawn out, it means the waste ink tube is not clogged. The ink pad needs to be replaced. Follow the tutorial to replace the ink pad.

Note: The ink pad needs to be replaced regularly, generally once every 3 months.

• • If the ink has not been drawn out, it indicates that the waste ink tube is clogged. Please contact xTool customer service to confirm the location of the clog and receive instructions on how to clear it.

(6) Clean the print head

If there is no issue with the above five checks, but color ink still does not print, the color print head may be severely clogged.

Please refer to the video for instructions on cleaning the color print head.

If all of the above checks have been completed and the problem persists, please provide the following information to xTool after-sales customer service to help them quickly analyze and resolve it:

· The troubleshooting conclusion for each step above;

· The information required in the “Still experiencing issues?” section at the end of the article

Still experiencing issues?

Should the issue persist after completing the preceding steps, submit a ticket via the "Submit a Ticket" button in the "Help Ticket" section below. The standard response time for xTool Customer Service is one business day.

For a prompt resolution, please include the following details:

• Issue description: A detailed explanation of the observed problem.
• Video evidence: Attach a video demonstrating the issue, where applicable.
• Troubleshooting performed: Any troubleshooting steps you have already attempted, along with their results.

This information is crucial for xTool technical support engineers to provide timely assistance.

Print test image

Video or photo

Any videos or photos taken during any other troubleshooting process will also be very helpful for our analysis. Please send them to us.

• Ink level in the ink damper

• Ink level in the ink tank

• Video showing the waste ink extraction process

Work log

SN