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Fast T-Jet 3 User’s Manual

Summary of Contents for Fast T-Jet 3

Page 1: ...User s Manual Fast T Jet 3 SDT 1300 A Product of December 2007 Version 3 ...

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Page 3: ... The Book 4 Computer Graphics DVDs 4 Business and Marketing DVD s 4 Internet 4 Trade Shows and Trade Magazines 5 Our Advice 5 Chapter 2 Unpacking and Setup 7 Unpacking Your Fast T Jet 3 7 Main Box Contents 8 Box 2 8 Industrial Bulk Ink System Parts 8 Waste Bottle 9 Exhaust Fan 9 Lifting Your Fast T Jet 3 Unit From the Box 9 Preparations 9 Remove Hold Down Clamps 9 Install the Maximum Height Bar 10...

Page 4: ...RIP 22 FastRIP 22 Using Computer Graphics Software 23 Image Types 24 Vector 24 Pixel Based Bitmap 24 Summary 24 Editing Bitmap Artwork in FastARTIST Photoshop 25 File Types and Resolutions 26 Check File Mode 27 Check File Size and Resolution 27 Check File Saturation 28 Sharpening Images 29 Using the Tone Curve 30 Bitmap Editing in FastARTIST 30 Selecting Areas 31 Channels and Layers 31 Setting Tra...

Page 5: ...2 Prepare Your Artwork for Printing 43 A Word about Resolutions Speed and Quality 44 Print Modes and FastRIP 44 CMYK Cartoon and Photo Print Modes 44 8 Color Print Modes 45 Underbase Print Modes 45 Windows Underbase 45 When a Print Job is Finished 46 Curing Your Garments 46 How to Use the Print Pass Counter 48 Printing From Various Graphic Programs 48 Printing from Adobe Photoshop 48 Printing from...

Page 6: ...Treatment 76 Warnings and Safety Information 77 Chapter 7 Maintenance Utilities to Improve Print Quality 79 Epson Adjustment Program 79 Head Angular Adjustment 80 Auto Bi Directional Adjustment 81 PF Roller and Eject Roller Adjustments 81 Head Cleaning Utilities 82 Check the Spit Tray on a Regular Basis 83 Emptying the External Waste Bottle 83 Resetting Waste Ink Counter 84 Print Head Replacement ...

Page 7: ...Execute Several Head Cleaning Cycles 116 Secure the Print Bed 117 Pack the Printer in its Original Box for Transportation 118 Shipping Your Fast T Jet for Repair 119 Shipment Checklist 120 Important Shipping Requirements 120 DO NOT return the following items 121 Other Warranty and Packing Issues 121 Request for Return Authorization 123 Shipping Procedures Acknowledgement 123 Shipment Checklist 123...

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Page 9: ... reality 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 Fast T Jet printers are ushering in a new level of sophistication for the garment decorating industry I appreciate any comments or feedback you have on our machine and hope you enjoy using it as much as I have e...

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Page 11: ... debris or dust Leave enough space around the printer for proper ventilation Do not leave the printer near heat sources such as radiators or heat vents Do not leave the printer in direct sunlight Place the printer on a stable surface that extends beyond the length and width of the printer supports The printer will not work properly if it is tilted or leaning When packing and moving the printer do ...

Page 12: ...ove the ink cartridges make sure to place them in individual bags and keep them away from dust dirt and debris Legend of Symbols Throughout this Manual you will see three symbols used to notify you of important facts or procedures This icon is used to denote important points that may affect the proper operation of your machine or the viability of its output Think of this as more than just a helpfu...

Page 13: ...ost 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 User s Manual Fast T Jet 3 ...

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Page 15: ...on textiles by applying Fast T Jet Non Textile 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 Freeh...

Page 16: ... favorite graphics application they will just have to transfer it to a PC for printing Every image must print to FastRIP for final output FastRIP works as the Queue and Print Manager allowing you to not only select different Print Modes and other attributes but also archive print jobs for future reprints Maintenance Although the Fast T Jet 3 is simply an inkjet printer the number one Technical Sup...

Page 17: ...ic business one where you can make a lot of money in a short period of time But like any business there will be ups and downs You will need to learn about the industry such as trade standards copyright and trademark laws how to price your work how to deal with customers and much more Learning the business and marketing side is often harder than the actual printing of shirts There are many valuable...

Page 18: ...ovice is computer graphics There are a number of excellent DVDs explaining computer graphics and how to use Adobe Photoshop CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator These DVDs focus mainly on the Screen Printing process however they also feature excellent sections on how to create designs how to deal with poor quality artwork and more Business and Marketing DVD s Since the business and marketing side is oft...

Page 19: ...g curve and unexpected problems The garment business is one of deadlines such as event shirts shirts for special occasions and shirts with dates on them You must always give yourself 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 dec...

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Page 21: ...ter DO NOT plug your Fast T Jet 3 into AC Power until you are told to do so in this Manual Unpacking Your Fast T Jet 3 If the instructions on the outside of the box were followed you have already checked the outside of the box for any shipping damage If you see obvious damage please contact the freight carrier immediately so you can schedule a freight inspection 7 ...

Page 22: ...the original shipping carton or you may void your warranty Main Box Contents Software Training Manual Waste Ink Pads Power Cable USB Cable Maintenance Kit Adjustable Shelf Bracket Low Profile Access Lid Height Adjustment Bar Box 2 FastARTIST Package Adjustable Shirtboards Industrial Bulk Ink System Cleaning System Inks Pretreatment Sprayer Parchment Paper Industrial Bulk Ink System Parts 5 Easy fi...

Page 23: ...h an assistant lift your Fast T Jet 3 from the box and place it on a firm level surface that supports the entire printer base including the Print Bed If any part of the Fast T Jet 3 base is hanging over the edge or not supported in this manner stress will be placed on the Print Bed causing poor functionality For best results place the unit on a table with extra room for a computer replacement ink ...

Page 24: ...ollision with the Print Head A head strike could permanently damage the Print Head resulting in down time and costly repairs Use this Bar as a reference for loaded garments adjusting the Shirtboards etc but remove before printing Check the Adjustable Shirtboard Height Place an adjustable Shirtboard within the Print Bed and use the adjustment knob to raise or lower its surface to the proper height ...

Page 25: ...as of excessively high humidity The printer must be in an environmentally controlled room with humidity levels between 40 and 80 non condensing Since you will be handling wet ink to refill the bulk system ink bottles you should protect any carpet or floor covering with mats Place the Fast T Jet 3 close to a Heat Press or small conveyor dryer to cure the ink If you have two or more printers at a pr...

Page 26: ...nt that ranges from 110 volts to 220 volt To prevent power surges from damaging your unit and or ruining shirts during a production run plug the unit into a UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply DO NOT plug other high power use items into the same circuit such as a Heat Press The Press will cycle on and off causing power fluctuations and potentially ruining shirts NEVER shut off your Fast T Jet 3 at th...

Page 27: ...se communication issues with the Fast T Jet 3 Use a dedicated computer to control your printer and do not plug anything else into the extra USB ports when printing Failure to adhere to the recommended environmental power maintenance and operating conditions you can void the warranty of your Fast T Jet 3 The printer does NOT like to be in a hot dry shop with excess dust as well as being plugged int...

Page 28: ...vation When Ink migrates completely back into the bottles When ink levels drop below 1 4 of the bottle print quality is starts to diminish Solution Raise the Adjustable Shelf slightly and continue to raise the shelf as the ink level drops from use You can raise the Adjustable Shelf as far as possible as long as ink doesn t start dripping from the Print Head Waste Bottle Installation with Shelf Bra...

Page 29: ...hipped 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 However this can result in serious issues when using specially formulated textile inks All textile inks are NOT created equal and they must not be mixed Should you decide to try another brand of textile ink in your printer before doing so you ...

Page 30: ...ction will automatically unlock the Print Carriage from the docking station and move the Print Carriage up and to the left making the following steps easier Remove all the cleaning cartridges taking care not to 3 allow any of the ink lines to come out of the ink line guide Unpack your Bulk Ink System cartridges including the two Chip Blocks and 4 two Chip Block Supports The two Chip Blocks are col...

Page 31: ...as well adjacent to the previously installed Chip Block Secure this Chip Block into the Print Carriage with the 7 second Chip Block Support Located on the bottom of the Print Carriage is an 8 Ink Line Guide that currently holds 8 ink lines DO NOT remove any of the 8 lines from the guide until you are ready to connect the bulk ink cartridges Before proceeding to the next step ensure all of the ink ...

Page 32: ...ted you must 12 prime the Ink Cartridge Locate the syringe included with your Fast T Jet Kit and insert it into the bottom of the cartridge Slowly draw the ink from the bottle through the tube and into the cartridge During priming we recommend you unscrew the top of the Ink Bottle slightly to dissipate any vacuum that may form during this process Ensure you draw ink through the cartridge and into ...

Page 33: ...lk System Bottles you will probably need to add more ink after this process is complete Don t be alarmed normal printing does not use as much Resetting the Bulk Ink Cartridges Each Chip Block contains smart chips that are designed to count the number of ink drops dispensed After a certain amount of ink has been used a typical inkjet cartridge chip tells the printer it is out of ink However this sy...

Page 34: ... Blocks This will completely disconnect the smart chips from the system and automatically reset them Reinstall the Chip Blocks the Chip Block Supports and the Ink Cartridges 3 Press the Ink button once more to reseat the Print Carriage onto the Capping Station and all Low Ink Indicator lights will now be cleared Before resuming printing operations ensure all of the Ink Line Clamps have 4 been dise...

Page 35: ...cur In order to run FastARTIST you MUST use a Windows based Operating System MAC users can create their artwork in their favorite program and simply network or copy the files over to the PC workstation Graphics and RIP Software Your Fast T Jet 3 includes the latest versions of both FastARTIST and FastRIP FastARTIST is a Windows based graphics application that will make preparing an image for print...

Page 36: ...IST and FastRIP FastARTIST is a complete graphics program much like CorelDRAW and Adobe Photoshop You can use it for all of your graphic image creation or you can create images in CorelDRAW or Adobe Photoshop and import them into FastARTIST to take advantage of the one click Underbase Wizard or simple clipping options FastRIP FastRIP is a driver specifically designed for Inkjet to Garment printers...

Page 37: ...edia 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 FastARTIST the graphics application that is shipped with your printer is designed for Windows based PC s only Mac users wishing to take advantage of the FastARTIST Underbase Wizard and other convenient setup options will need to transfer their files on...

Page 38: ...tographic images Bitmap applications can lighten darken sharpen and even create images Photoshop is a common graphics program used by many for manipulating images but FastARTIST also contains similar editing tools Images with lots of gradations or that are photorealistic are generally created and manipulated in programs such as FastARTIST and Photoshop Note FastARTIST is both a bitmap and vector g...

Page 39: ...ealistic 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 It is ...

Page 40: ... is the most current version It is always nice to have the latest and greatest version but frankly you can do everything mentioned here with version 5 5 or higher If you are a student teacher or work for a school you may be eligible for an Educator Version from places like www academicsuperstore com File Types and Resolutions FastARTIST and Photoshop will let you Open a wide variety of files inclu...

Page 41: ...s called CMYK but for file manipulation and adjustment you should work in RGB mode To check the Mode of the file in Photoshop go to Image Mode If CMYK is checked click on RGB Check File Size and Resolution You must know the actual resolution and size of the image Otherwise you could be working on a very small file and not know it In FastARTIST Import a photorealistic file and click on the Bitmap I...

Page 42: ...nal file is low resolution and not the final size you need to upsample the file to the final print size and 150 to 300 DPI 150 is OK for photos and images without hard edges 300 to 350 is better where there is lettering or sharp edges Now you can work on the file and add type or other elements It is important to upsample the image first so any additional elements you add will be at the higher reso...

Page 43: ...ARTIST or Filter Sharpen Unsharp Masking Photoshop Don t let the term Unsharp fool you This term comes from the process camera days and means it only sharpens areas of high contrast The reality is it sharpens the image but keeps it less apparent that you have sharpened the image 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 or...

Page 44: ...e By clicking on the very top corner and dragging the mouse in you can make the highlights lighter Photoshop Play around with the Tone Curve and see what happens A good curve for flat images is a slight S where you lighten the highlight area 35 and darken the shadow area 75 In later versions of Photoshop CS through CS3 similar adjustments can be made using the Shadow Highlight dialogue under Image...

Page 45: ...ea To remove the marching ants go to the Select De Select You can also use the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl D If you want to select square or round areas use the Marquee Tool top left tool and use this the same way you would use the Lasso tool Channels and Layers What really separates Photoshop from FastARTIST and CorelDRAW is the ability to work in Layers to build images Therefore whenever you are u...

Page 46: ...elected color This acts like a toggle switch so selecting it again will deactive any transparent color Removing Backgrounds with Photoshop In order to make removing backgrounds as easy as possible try to maintain a consistent neutral background if possible For example if photographing the motorcycle shown below park in front of a wall or a background that contains a much lighter color than the bik...

Page 47: ...tools it looks like a wand with a sparkler on the end Using the Extract Filter Photoshop also has a Filter called Extract This will allow you to draw around an image and fill the center with color Photoshop then removes all the areas around the image leaving you with a transparent background Extract does a decent job but the Magic Wand is the preferred method Keep in mind the Magic Wand and Extrac...

Page 48: ...ck the resolution and upsample the file if necessary Make adjustments if it needs sharpness or boost color saturation if the file is dull Lighten the file if it seems too dark because the image may print even darker 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 b...

Page 49: ...tible with your Operating System Windows Vista Users MUST have Administrator authority to download and install any drivers Additionally you MUST download the applicable 32 bit OR 64 bit driver based on your Operating System NOT your processor These drivers are NOT interchangeable The Fast T Jet 3 is a highly modified version of the Epson 1800 with hundreds of additional parts not provided by Epson...

Page 50: ...nd select Monitoring Preferences In the dialogue box that appears uncheck everything in this window You will now no longer see the printer icon 3 within the taskbar The Status Monitor has been disabled 36 Fast T Jet Blazer User s Manual ...

Page 51: ...Mode printer resolution number of passes and how much White ink to deposit and press the Print button Voila Instant shirt By now you know many of the basic parts of the printer The following section contains more in depth information on the T Jet 3 Control Panel Overview Power Button The Power button turns the printer on and off only when the main power switch is turned on The main power switch is...

Page 52: ...int Carriage will unseat from the Capping Station and move slightly to the left Pressing the button again will cause the Print Carriage to move back onto the Capping Station and lock in place DO NOT hold down the Ink button to perform this function The second function of the Ink button is to initiate Head Cleanings If you depress the Ink button for more than 3 seconds the T Jet 3 will initiate a H...

Page 53: ... solid when printer is on Load Light The Load Light indicates the status of the printer either by flashing or 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 When the Load light is flashing DO NOT send a job to the printer The printer...

Page 54: ...m you have created a image in your favorite graphics program and now you are ready to ruin a few shirts Yes we did say ruin a few shirts Be warned there is a slight learning curve to printing a shirt and you must get over the fact some will get ruined When printing an image you must be aware of print placement This includes reconciling what you see in your graphics application Page with where the ...

Page 55: ...er seams and give it a little shake before you lay it on the Shirtboard This will actually help remove wrinkles as well Loading a Garment onto the Shirtboard The T Jet 3 Shirtboard consists of an adjustable aluminum base and a non slip padded surface Lay the shirt over the Shirtboard as shown on the right Again please check to make sure that the collar of the garment is at the top of the Shirtboar...

Page 56: ...iage as well We are not responsible for any damage caused in this manner The desired clearance is 1 8 or 3mm but no less than that Proper clearance must be maintained so that the garment and Print Head do not touch The Load Light must be solid before sending a Print command If a Print command is sent while the Load light is blinking the machine will need to be powered OFF to reset When creating gr...

Page 57: ...ate the image in your graphics program and load the shirt sideways onto the Shirtboard 90º clockwise When working within FastARTIST select the Page Size from the Layout Page Size window You will also use this template when importing images You must also set the Page Size within FastRIP Within FastARTIST go to File FastRIP Setup and select the applicable value Select the appropriate Print Mode Ther...

Page 58: ...ersatile Print Mode combination for BOTH photos and cartoons is 720 DPI for CMYK 1440 DPI 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 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 c...

Page 59: ...e more ink at a slower speed creating an extremely even coverage If you are printing on lighter colored shirts it may not be necessary to print such a strong Underbase 720 DPI may work better Windows Underbase Windows Underbase Print Modes are used when printing from graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator There are four Print Mode options and each is available in ...

Page 60: ...int the image by pressing the Load button and printing from the application a second time For higher production set the number of Pages to print to a high quantity or choose a 2 pass Print Mode Keep in mind if you tell the application to print dozens of copies FastRIP might build a very large print file that will slow down your computer 2 Carefully remove the shirt from the Shirtboard for curing 3...

Page 61: ... will have to find the cure time that works best for your location and Print Mode preferences You should ALWAYS do periodic wash tests as well as test the temperature of your dryer or Heat Press using an infrared heat gun or Temperature Test Strips If using a conveyor dryer use a very slow belt and make sure the garment lies flat If using a Heat Press set the pressure to 70 or 80 of maximum 60 PSI...

Page 62: ...nking send the Print command from FastRIP When the shirt is completed press the Eject button 2x to fully eject the Print Bed Remove the first shirt and load the next shirt Reset the Passes button to the desired number of passes and press the Load button again Continue this process until your run is finished Remember the Print Pass Counter will default to 1 with the completion of each garment Print...

Page 63: ...er s Manual Printing from CorelDRAW Design Setup When designing in CorelDRAW set areas where no Underbase is desired as pure White RGB 255 255 255 or CMYK 0 0 0 0 To print an area as White set the area to a slight tint of off White RGB 254 254 254 or CMYK 1 1 1 1 In this first example the selected area is set to CMYK 1 1 1 1 which is recognized as White and will receive an Underbase when printed t...

Page 64: ...ite set the area to a slight tint of off White RGB 254 254 254 or CMYK 1 1 1 1 In this example the selected area is not a pure White RGB 254 254 254 meaning that the image will print White When working with vector images if you use Named Spot Colors use the Spot Color White and FastRIP will create a Highlight White when it prints the Top Color pass This means an Underbase will be applied and then ...

Page 65: ...ually wipe the bottom of the head to remove cotton lint The best way to check print quality is to do a Nozzle Check from the Epson Adjustment Utilities Program Refer to Chapter 7 for more information Spots or ink stains must be removed BEFORE the print is cured by using a standard Spot Removal gun Make sure to NOT spray the wet print Once the ink is cured it is almost impossible to remove spots or...

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Page 67: ...erent and the Print Mode and resolution you choose will also have an effect on these figures Ink costs might vary from this chart The ink prices are based on the current prices the summer of 2006 and are in US Dollars The following chart is also available online at www screenprinters net Support T Jet 3 Downloads 53 Chapter 4 Printing with the Fast T Jet 3 ...

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Page 69: ...White files 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 We recommend that as part of your daily routine you remove each of the White Ink Bulk Cart...

Page 70: ...er to warn you when the cartridge is empty Normally you should never run out of ink before the chip thinks you are out since turning the printer ON or OFF resets the chip to read Full However when printing with White ink it does not take much ink usage before the chip tells the printer it is Out If this happens DURING a printing pass the printer may stop printing and the red lights on one or all t...

Page 71: ...vibrant colors FastINK Pretreatment should only be used with medium to dark colored garments due to possible discoloration of light shirts when exposed to direct sunlight FastBRIGHT Pretreatment works extremely well with light colored garments and images that have an Underbase Using FastBRIGHT creates vibrant images with rich deep Blacks and Reds that will not discolor when exposed to direct sunli...

Page 72: ...to the Pretreatment after you are done pretreating the shirt you may have applied too much Pretreatment or the heat press is set for too much pressure Standard butcher paper or brown Kraft paper can also be used as a heat press protector when drying the Pretreatment Clamp the press down with medium pressure for 8 to 10 seconds when drying Pretreatment at 330 F Some users have reported slightly bet...

Page 73: ...e for both the White ink and Top Colors Once you have made these selections they can be used again for other jobs For Dark shirts you can get very good Screen Print quality White if you select a 1440 DPI Print Mode for the Underbase For the top colors of Cyan Magenta Yellow Black and the Highlight White choose a 720 DPI Print Mode For medium colored shirts use a 720 DPI Print Mode faster than 1440...

Page 74: ...nting gradient images with White ink you should have two versions of the artwork One version will have a White background and the other will have a Black background These two files can be created in Photoshop Adobe Illustrator CorelDRAW or even in FastARTIST If you use another program simply save or export the files as a JPEG file at 250 DPI resolution for the final print size and Import these fil...

Page 75: ... 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 61 Chapter 5 An Overview of Printing with White Ink ...

Page 76: ...ST may be wrong You may actually be printing White ink ON TOP of the CMYK colors Reload the image into FastARTIST and rerun the Underbase Highlight Wizard Try not applying a Highlight or toning down the Highlight Solution 4 Dry ink may be causing the Print Head to not seal properly Due to the nature of the White ink pigment it will build up faster on the capping station and on the wiper blade Dry ...

Page 77: ...he help of Fast T Jet Non Textile Series Pre and Post Treatments FastINK will adhere to almost any type of surface If you re printing on smaller items such as hats golf balls or mouse pads these can be placed on smaller Garment Holders available as accessories for your T Jet 3 or you can make your own Spray adhesive or sticky Table Tack can be placed on these special holders to keep the items from...

Page 78: ...am 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 You must also set the correct page size in FastRIP Setup FastARTIST Page Size Go to Layout Page Size FastRIP Setup Go to File FastRIP Setup ...

Page 79: ... the same size as the printing area You can simply spray glue this to your normal Garment Holder or use spreadable Table Tack to hold the item in place Table Tack stays sticky for dozens and even hundreds of prints and it can be renewed by wiping it down with a wet rag Special double sided tape is also available from us for this purpose Printing Baseball Caps It s easy to apply graphics to basebal...

Page 80: ...yer 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 extremely cautious when removing the METAL holder it could be very HOT Fast T Jet 3 User s Manual ...

Page 81: ...NSULT THE MATERIAL DATA SAFETY SHEET MSDS THAT IS INCLUDED WITH THESE PRODUCTS KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Getting Started It is necessary to determine if the surface intended for printing will allow the Pretreatment to stick Certain surfaces will accept the direct application of the Non Textile Pretreatment while others will require first require a coat of Non Textile Primer Generally smooth su...

Page 82: ...horoughly with hot water to remove all Primer residue This product can be sprayed on but the application may not be as smooth as necessary for good print reproduction If applying with an airbrush spray bottle or paint sprayer you may need to dilute the solution with water If you dilute the Primer two coats may be necessary Clean up spills and brushes with soap and water immediately after use Allow...

Page 83: ...retreatment must be applied in a thin even layer to ensure optimal print quality Use a second brush to apply Pretreatment After the application is complete clean the brush thoroughly with hot water to remove all residual Pretreatment This product may be sprayed on but the application may not be as smooth as necessary for good print reproduction If applying with an airbrush spray bottle or paint sp...

Page 84: ...l if needed Setup the printing area in which you will be printing on To do this you will 1 need a measuring tape and will need to measure the width and height of the Non Textile item From within FastARTIST select File FastRIP Setup From the 2 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 measu...

Page 85: ...t the number of ink passes for the Underbase and Top Colors and click OK In Document Properties set to Landscape or Portrait for Orientation and click OK Click Print Printing to FastRIP CorelDRAW Go to File Print From the General tab select your Fast T Jet printer Click Properties Click Advanced and set the Page Size Go to Printer Features Drop down the Print Mode menu to select the Color Print Mo...

Page 86: ...es click OK to return to the workspace Select 3 Layout Page Size For the Page Size enter the Height and Width of the Non textile item you have measured After entering the values click OK to return to the workspace The non textile item dimensions will now be represented by a black box located within the workspace If this is not displayed click View Show Page Size to view the black box Upper Left ha...

Page 87: ...rint bed down to the bottom point where the image should stop on the non textile item Y axis The red dotted line identifies the measurement taken for the bottom of the logo Steps 4 and 5 will give you the location in which to position the first image 6 Using the rulers framing the FastARTIST workspace place the image in the proper location You may also type in the desired location in the X Y boxes...

Page 88: ...le brush in the Pretreatment wiping 2 off any excess on the side of the bottle Gently apply the Pretreatment to the exposed golf ball surface making sure there are no uneven areas Allow the Pretreatment to dry thoroughly before printing Dry time will vary 3 but it may take up to one hour or more To speed up the drying process use a hair dryer heat lamp or heat gun set on a low temperature setting ...

Page 89: ...in the first and last row of the Holder they will not receive an image Loading Golf Ball Template FastARTIST Only Go to File Open and 1 double click on the Golf Ball Holder Template to open Import 2 the images or text you wish to print and place them inside of the grid lines Choose a Non Textile Print Mode For a list of available Non Textile Print 3 Modes refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User...

Page 90: ...raying a short burst until cleared If the nozzle is clogged or sprays irregularly check for clogging within the opening Scrape off excess coating with a soft object and twist the valve one half turn to close Non Textile Printing Tips When brushing on any of the treatments make sure they are applied in o smooth even and thin layers Having two brushes can make the pretreatment and priming processes ...

Page 91: ...ors by opening all windows and doors to achieve cross ventilation Use only with adequate ventilation Do not breathe dust vapors or spray mist Ensure fresh air entry during application and drying If you experience eye watering headache or dizziness or if air monitoring demonstrates that vapor mist levels are above applicable limits wear an appropriate properly filled respirator NIOSH MSHA approved ...

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Page 93: ...button on the T Jet 3 Control Panel for three seconds When your T Jet 3 is not in use make sure that the power is OFF so that the Print Head remains docked with the Capping Station This will help prevent the ink within the Nozzles from drying up and clogging When the printer is powered ON it will proceed with its normal start up cycle Epson Adjustment Program There are four Utilities that may be r...

Page 94: ...page and will consist of seven boxes broken into horizontal line segments The five boxes of concern will be numbered 70 to 70 Examine the first group parallel lines labeled Band Pass Incline 0 80 and note which set contains the straightest segment If you look closely you will see most of the lines are slightly offset in the middle Note the number of the one with NO offset and enter this in the app...

Page 95: ...justment Utility You will need to place a standard 8 5 x 11 sheet of paper on a Shirtboard to perform each of these procedures and both are run from the PF Adjustment Utility Select the PF Roller Utility and press Print A group offset boxes will printout along with 7 colored boxes at the bottom of the page The offset boxes will be numbered from 3 to 13 and these are what is used to calibrate the P...

Page 96: ...he main selection screen choose Head Cleaning From the Head Cleaning window press Cleaning and follow the on screen instructions A Head Cleaning will take about 45 seconds during which time the printer makes noise and the Power light and the red Ink lights will flash You should never turn OFF the printer while the Power light is flashing This may damage the printer A Head Cleaning cycle also wipes...

Page 97: ... idle longer than ONE day 24 hrs Refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User s Manual for further details Check the Spit Tray on a Regular Basis The spit tray shown to the right may become very full depending on the amount of Head Cleanings that are performed For replacement pads contact Technical Support Emptying the External Waste Bottle As your T Jet 3 goes through head cleaning cycles it forces...

Page 98: ...rinter until you reset the Waste Ink Counter in the printer 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 1 Particular Adjustment Mode The 2 Setting window will appear Locate...

Page 99: ...FF your Fast T Jet 3 by using the 11 Power button and Power switch located on the rear of your printer adjacent the power cord Manually center the Print Bed by applying a light pressure against it with your 12 hand The final step is a Manual Reset of your printer This will complete the Waste 13 Tank Reset process While holding down the Power button flip the Power switch The Print Bed will begin to...

Page 100: ...rmanently damaged and will have to be replaced By design replacing the head is fairly straightforward and should take less than 30 minutes Replacement Print Heads are available from us and come with complete written instructions If you are dependent on your T Jet 3 and cannot afford to be down for a few days while awaiting a shipped replacement we recommend keeping a back up head in stock If you n...

Page 101: ... conditions or a dusty dirty shop Be aware of the climate and conditions in which you use and store your machine You have made a substantial investment in your business when you purchased your T Jet 3 In order to get the most out of it please take the time to learn the simple steps that will keep your T Jet 3 happy and making you money Keep Your Encoder Strip Clean A main concern of many who call ...

Page 102: ... to AIR DRY The Encoder Strip is actually CLEAR with small marks on it Be careful to NOT scratch it or the sensor will not read it correctly Only use FOAM TIP cleaning swabs or Isopropyl Alcohol Pads when doing any maintenance or cleaning inside your T Jet 3 Clean Capping Station and Wiper Daily The Capping Station seals the Print Head when it is not in use Ink residue around the edge of the Cappi...

Page 103: ...and press the Power button The printer will resume and complete the halted Head Cleaning process The Print Carriage will then dock with the Capping Station when finished Check the Spit Tray on a Regular Basis The spit tray may become very full depending on the amount of Head Cleanings that are performed For replacement pads contact Technical Support Turn Your T Jet 3 OFF at Night Turn OFF the mach...

Page 104: ...to pretreat shirts in a different room or far away from the machine If pretreating in a different room is not an option then make sure the lid on the T Jet is kept closed at all times and especially during the print process The pretreatment will immediately clog the Print Heads if comes in direct contact with any ink We strongly suggest creating a separate enclosed area to pretreat shirts in such ...

Page 105: ...on 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 This will prevent ink leaking out Install the refillable cleaning cartridges 5 Chapter 8 Preventive Maintenance and Problem Solving ...

Page 106: ...ausing serious damage After the Ink lines have been thoroughly flushed replace the rubber caps on the refillable cleaning cartridges and Power OFF your printer Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts When you perform a Head Cleaning the Head itself is cleaned and wiped by the printer On occasion this may not clean away small pieces of shirt lint that can collect around the bottom This excess lint can allo...

Page 107: ...or upgrading to Windows Vista you will need 2GB of RAM for proper operation of your printer and software When in Doubt Unplug Everything Sometimes inkjet printers just get confused especially if you stop them in the middle of a run If the T Jet 3 is suddenly acting abnormally turn everything off AND unplug the power Make sure to unplug the USB cable between your T Jet 3 and the computer to end dat...

Page 108: ...le If excess ink leaks or spills onto the ribbon cable it may short out the motherboard When changing cartridges you should ALWAYS wipe excess ink from the bottom of the Carriage and around the Print Head with the foam tipped swab You must never touch or push in the ribbon cable clip identified on the right as this will cause the ribbon cable and the Encoder Strip to rub together Five Minute Daily...

Page 109: ...ot to contaminate the Encoder Strip Clean the Print Head Clean any accumulated ink or garment fibers from around the sides and on the bottom of the Print Head with a foam tip swab water glass cleaner or cleaning fluid Clean the Encoder Strip During printing and Head Cleanings the clear plastic Encoder Strip through which the head receives printing data can get dirty The Encoder Strip is essentiall...

Page 110: ...d detergent soap and water mix RS232 Cable There is a RS232 cable hidden inside the right metal printer housing for firmware updates only Do not try to connect this cable to your computer unless instructed by a support technician Auto Head Cleaning Optional from FastRIP A new feature of FastRIP 9 0 is the ability to schedule an Auto Head Cleaning session One of the most common problems with printi...

Page 111: ...emical 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 Treating the Drive Screw will result in dust buildup and contaminate the drive mechanism Chapter 8 Preventive Maintenance and Problem Solving Drive Screw ...

Page 112: ...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 Fast T Jet 3 User s Manual ...

Page 113: ...used Make sure the paper that is used for curing is either a Teflon pad or silicone treated paper Prevention Get to know your Heat Press or dryer every make and model has its own personality Frequently test the output temperature to ensure it actually matches your desired settings Refer to Chapter 4 for curing times and details Problem The Print Head is leaking dripping ink on garments Causes The ...

Page 114: ...ink bottles as full and adjust the height of the shelf bracket Refer to Chapter 2 Faulty bulk system Call Technical Support Prevention Always check the Platen to Print Head Clearance prior to printing Clean the Capping Station on a regular basis Clean debris from the Print Head daily Do not overfill the Bulk Ink Cartridges Problem The printed image is wiping off washing out fading badly or bleedin...

Page 115: ...ching the correct temperature Pretreat evenly and away from printer Cure Pretreat properly NOTE Cure times WILL vary based on the amount of ink used humidity etc These recommendations are general guides You may have to extend your cure times depending upon your location and print mode preferences Refer to Chapter 4 for details Problem Printed colors appear different from what you see on the comput...

Page 116: ...re you always use RGB color mode because this is how your monitor displays colors Never apply an ICC profile Problem Prints are out of alignment or there are large gaps in the print Causes Different Print Modes are being used Double check settings in the FastRIP Setup screen and make sure all Print Modes are of the same type If using an HS Print Mode for the color then the same Mode must be used f...

Page 117: ...nderbase Wizard in FastARTIST Test the communication between the computer and printer Problem Fonts are not printing correctly on the garment Causes Sometimes fonts especially script fonts may not print correctly or print at all This tends to happen when using Vector Programs The printer driver may not download or recognize the font To fix this change the font to a graphic image Depending on the g...

Page 118: ...r Problem When printing White ink no ink prints or there are no Underbase settings available Causes and Solutions 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 Problem When you send a print job to the...

Page 119: ...ase settings in FastARTIST are not strong enough or not set up correctly Check your Underbase settings and compare them to the default settings listed in Chapter 9 of the FastARTIST Manual Keep in mind every image will vary this is just a starting point Prevention Practice is the only way to master the art of pretreating a shirt Eventually you will develop your own style for to applying Pretreatme...

Page 120: ... until a satisfactory test print is achieved You are using a High Speed HS Print Mode Try using a 2 Pass or standard Print Mode HS or Bi directional Print Modes require the Nozzles to be in perfect alignment Additionally when using HS Print Modes head clogs tend to appear as banding Prevention Clean Capping Station daily Run Head Cleanings before printing in the morning as well as printing a Nozzl...

Page 121: ...large bands of color vertical colored lines or printing partial images Causes You have a dirty Encoder Strip or Encoder Sensor The Encoder Strip is the heart of the machine and behind the Print Head lies an Encoder Strip Sensor The Encoder Strip has information on it that the Encoder Strip Sensor reads as the Print Head moves back and forth If there is ANY contamination Pretreatment dirt ink or de...

Page 122: ...aw Data option Problem The quality of the printed output is unacceptable when printing bitmap images The images seem soft and are not clean and sharp The resolution at final size is 72 DPI Causes The resolution of the image is too low Resolution at 72 DPI is for viewing the image on a computer monitor only Images intended for printing need to be between 150 and 225 DPI to maintain a clean and shar...

Page 123: ...the bed it can short out the motherboard Capping Station Clogged The Capping Station may need cleaning If the Print Head did not seat properly ALL of the nozzles could be clogged Problem The image is printing outside of the shirtboard or in the wrong location Causes You have a mismatch in the software settings Make sure your working Page Size matches the final print page size A common error is wor...

Page 124: ...ed image processor When rasterizing a vector image FastRIP must convert a vector graphic into a bitmapped graphic Sometimes the translation of color profiles is not exact resulting in a difference in output For consistent color reproduction save your image as a high quality JPEG and send this image to the RIP for printing Problem Individual ink lights are flashing Causes The printer thinks you are...

Page 125: ... Ink button on the printer This slides the Print Carriage over Remove all the ink cartridges and then snap each one back into place Press the Ink button again You can also clean the contacts on the chip with a pencil eraser Replace chips if errors still exist Ink cartridge holder has bent prongs that do not make good contact with the chip When you insert an ink cartridge the small chip on the back...

Page 126: ... not connected 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 Ensure that the cable is connected properly This is a common error that occurs after replacing a Print Head Motherboard is bad There is a chance the motherboard is bad The board could have a defect or some...

Page 127: ...FastRIP and go to Printers Printer Properties or click on the last icon in the toolbar that says Print status and settings Click on the Reset Ink Pad Counter button and the error should clear in about 10 seconds Problem The image is printing outside of the Shirtboard or in the wrong location Causes and Problems You have a mismatch in the software settings Make sure your working Page Size matches t...

Page 128: ...erve the proper procedures for powering ON and OFF your printer to avoid damaging the Print Head Problem When printing vector graphics the printed colors do not match the previews in my graphics application Causes and Solutions FastRIP is a bitmap based image processor When rasterizing a vector image FastRIP must convert a vector graphic into a bitmapped graphic Sometimes the translation of color ...

Page 129: ...use in filling the cartridges It is important you follow the steps outlined in this Chapter Failure to do so could not only cause serious damage to your printer but may also void your warranty The preparation process should only take about 10 minutes If you have any questions please contact the Technical Support Department Install the Cleaning Cartridges Press the 1 Ink button to release the Print...

Page 130: ...s from the top of the cartridge Locate the syringe and open the bottle of HD Cleaning Solution Place the tip of the syringe into the bottle and extract enough cleaning solution to reach the 30cc mark Insert the syringe tip or funnel into a Cleaning Cartridge and inject the solution until it appears in the opposite opening Remove the syringe and funnel if used and replace BOTH rubber plugs Repeat t...

Page 131: ...ing the Print Head will be severely damaged DO NOT RUN A NOZZLE CHECK WITH CLEANING CARTRIDGES INSTALLED Cleaning solution will leak out into your Fast T Jet causing serious damage After the Ink Lines have been thoroughly flushed replace the rubber caps on the cleaning cartridges and Power OFF your printer Refer to page 12 or page 91 of this Manual for proper shut down procedures The Print Head MU...

Page 132: ...e breather 3 holes on the ink bottles If you will be shipping the printer via a freight carrier you must completely disconnect and remove all Bulk Ink System Bottles and the Waste Ink Bottle You WILL NOT ship these items Pack the Printer in its Original Box for Transportation Failure to do so will void your warranty The T Jet 3 requires 2 people to lift Make sure you observe the following holding ...

Page 133: ...k Ink System Bottles of FastINK Shirtboards Fast T Jet Manual Fast T Jet Software Drivers Syringes Gloves USB printer cable Proper Packing Please note the example to the right does not contain any loose items that could damage the printer during shipping Improper Packing Major damage to the printer can be a result of loose items and or missing side supports as pictured below Chapter 10 Transportin...

Page 134: ...rom our Support Department so please ensure your contact information is correct Failure to obtain a Return Authorization can result in your shipment being refused and additional return shipment charges being incurred Failure to follow the procedures described herein for the preparation and packing of your Fast T Jet may result in additional charges for cleaning and or maintenance being incurred EV...

Page 135: ...to follow these procedures Bulk Ink System Bottles of FastINK Shirtboards Fast T Jet Manual Fast T Jet Software Drivers Syringes Gloves USB printer cable Other Warranty and Packing Issues Should you have any questions or concerns please contact our Technical Support Department for assistance Technical Support Corp Office 1 Fax 1 201 797 1505 E mail support equipmentzone com Support hours 00am to 8...

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Page 137: ...repair your printer THESE CHARGES WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES Shipment Checklist Customer Initials Repair Department Print Head Cleaned per Packing Instructions All Items on Daily and Weekly Maintenance Checklist Performed Fast T Jet Exterior Cleaned Bulk Ink System Disconnected Cleaning Cartridges Installed Print Head Secured Print Bed Secured Power cable and legs i...

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Page 139: ... equipmentzone com Support Hours Technical Support 1 http support equipmentzone com Office 1 201 797 1504 Fax 1 201 797 1505 E mail support equipmentzone com Support hours 00am to 8 00pm EST Monday through Friday Phone Support We have an excellent staff of Support Specialists who will gladly walk you through many of the procedures When calling for assistance please have your serial number handy an...

Page 140: ... description of the problem 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 Our Technical Support site is a secure and personalized area where Fast T Jet ...

Page 141: ...pplications All support for Epson drivers applications and internal Epson components will come from us Third Party Software Support We will make every attempt to help with printing from programs like CorelDRAW Photoshop Illustrator etc but we do not offer free support or training on these programs Show off Your Work If you want to brag about the things you ve printed on your Fast T Jet 3 or are lo...

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Page 143: ...E 1284 parallel port connection with D SUB 21 pins computer end and a 36 pin Printer connection OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 Firewire Connection port and interface card along with an IEEE 1394 cable Connection of a mouse and Dongle will require additional free USB ports Fast T Jet 3 Recommended System Requirements PC with a Dual Core Processor Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athalon X2 and Windows XP 2000 or ...

Page 144: ...eed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device If this equipment has more than one interface connector do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the authority to operate the equipment For Canad...

Page 145: ...ry 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 In addition the Equipment Under Test complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive 73 23 EEC and the E...

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