Ink dripping from your printheads is usually caused by an air leak in one or more connections. This allows air to enter the gravity-fed ink system. Normally, the dampers act as check valves to prevent this, but when they fail, ink can leak.
Here’s how to diagnose and fix it safely:
If you haven't already - Stop printing immediately
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Wipe away any dripping ink with a lint-free cloth
Solution:
Replace the faulty damper and make sure it is properly seated on the printhead. Next, move the head carriage to the left side of the machine and gently wipe the printheads with a lint-free cloth. Pay attention to the ink color—if all four channels are leaking, the air leak might be farther upstream.
If the dripping stops after wiping, the issue may have been excess capping fluid mixing with the ink. In that case, reduce the amount of fluid in the cap. (For binterjet users) Using exactly 3 ml of capping fluid is typically enough to keep the nozzle plate moist without pushing fluid up into the printhead or dampers.
If the issue persists
It could be:
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A damaged printhead
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A failed damper seal.
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Ink contamination or wrong ink viscosity (DTF ink too thin or expired) Never switch inks without doing a complete purge of the system.
- Need help...reach out to DTF Tech Gurus, they often can help you solve the issue remotely.
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Article written by DTF Tech Gurus our official installer and service technicians of the X5 DTF Production Printer.
DTF Tech Gurus is an employee-owned company dedicated to delivering expert technical support for Direct-to-Film printing systems—without the high costs and slow service often associated with corporate distributors.
DTF Tech Gurus eliminates the frustration of slow or unhelpful support. Their Remote Service Support ticketing system ensures fast, efficient troubleshooting—handled by experts who genuinely understand the technology and urgency of keeping your production running.