COVID-19 Update & Maintenance during idle time

COVID-19 Update

As we are facing the difficult challenge of responding to the Corona virus (COVID-19), we would like to inform you about our companies’ operations.

During this challenging time, Mimaki will remain fully operational and is committed to providing you with our full range of products and services. Our focus, as always, is on the safety and well-being of our employees, who are vitally important to support you and your business.

As of now, Mimaki Europe’s head office and showroom in the Netherlands are open as usual with new preventive measures in place. We will be responding to print sample requests as usual. Additionally, we will also continue to service and support customers and partners through our regular channels.

Our customers’ business continuity is a key priority. We want to minimise service disruptions or impacts to your business. Our goal is to offer the level of quality, responsiveness and support that you have come to expect from Mimaki.

We will keep you posted on any further updates as they come in. Our online communications and activities will also support our ongoing initiatives and we are available to be contacted at any time with your questions or concerns.

For the time being, we have created a useful resource to assist our network with any machine maintenance needs during times where production may be temporarily suspended or reduced. We hope this can provide some assistance in ensuring functionality, both during this period and beyond.

Printer maintenance during idle time

Mimaki printers have several onboard features to keep the machines running optimally. Some areas cannot be cared for automatically by the printer. It is important to continue the daily printer maintenance even when the printers are idle. If daily maintenance is not possible, once-a-week maintenance and cleaning will help supplement onboard cleaning routines.

For those customers who will not have full time access to the printer, or are temporarily closing, please see a list of attention points below.

Capping Station and Wiper Maintenance

The wiper and cap surfaces are the most critical cleaning systems in the printer. These items are responsible for maintaining and cleaning the print head surface. Keep these areas clean and free of dust or ink buildup.

Running Test Prints

Running a weekly test print will help identify any potential errors before they become significant problems. If you can inspect a weekly test print, please report any unusual output to your Authorized Mimaki Dealer.

Enabling Automated Cleaning

The automated cleaning functions on Mimaki products are all enabled out of the box. The printers maintain the print head surface, ink discharge path and recirculation systems according to internal schedules. This maximizes both production quality and print head life. If you have previously changed any of the settings related to automated cleaning please review these before leaving your printer. In order for these functions to work it is important to leave the printer plugged in and ensure the main power switch is on.

Check the ink levels

The onboard cleaning and refresh functions may not operate correctly if the ink levels are below 10%. Insert a new cartridge if levels are low. The nearly empty cartridge can be reinstalled and used to completion at a later date.

Check the ink expire dates

Check the expiration dates on the ink supply system. Mimaki printers will operate normally with inks that are 30 days past expiration. Beyond this point, the expired ink may limit the effectiveness of the automated cleaning functions.

Check the level of washing liquid cartridge

Check the level of maintenance washing liquid cartridge if available on your printer. The liquid in this cartridge is used to keep the wiper clean and avoid drying of ink in the discharge path tubes. An empty maintenance washing cartridge may limit the effectiveness of the automated cleaning functions.

Check the level of the waste tank

Check the waste ink tank level. Empty and reset the waste ink counter if needed. Automated maintenance routines will not operate correctly if the waste ink tank is full.

Keep the clamp lever up

Make sure to keep the clamp lever up during idle time. This will avoid the pinch rollers getting deformed from long term pressure at the same point.

Capping Station and Wiper Maintenance

The wiper and cap surfaces are the most critical cleaning systems in the printer. These items are responsible for maintaining and cleaning the print head surface. Keep these areas clean and free of dust or ink buildup.

Running Test Prints

Running a weekly test print will help identify any potential errors before they become significant problems. If you can inspect a weekly test print, please report any unusual output to your Authorized Mimaki Dealer.

Enabling Automated Cleaning

The automated cleaning functions on Mimaki products are all enabled out of the box. The printers maintain the print head surface, ink discharge path and recirculation systems according to internal schedules. This maximizes both production quality and print head life. If you have previously changed any of the settings related to automated cleaning please review these before leaving your printer. In order for these functions to work it is important to leave the printer plugged in and ensure the main power switch is on.

Check the ink levels

The onboard cleaning and refresh functions may not operate correctly if the ink levels are below 10%. Insert a new cartridge if levels are low. The nearly empty cartridge can be reinstalled and used to completion at a later date.

Check the ink expire dates

Check the expiration dates on the ink supply system. Mimaki printers will operate normally with inks that are 30 days past expiration. Beyond this point, the expired ink may limit the effectiveness of the automated cleaning functions.

Shake white inks

If your printer is using white or silver inks shake the these inks once per week at least when possible to avoid ink sedimentation.

Check the level of the waste tank

Check the waste ink tank level. Empty and reset the waste ink counter if needed. Automated maintenance routines will not operate correctly if the waste ink tank is full.

Avoid direct sunlight

Mimaki always recommends to keep UV printers away from direct sunlight. This becomes even more important when the machine is idle for a longer period of time. For UV printers other than JFX Series (due to moving parts) it is recommended to cover the head side of the machine with the supplied UV shield cover.

Capping Station and Wiper Maintenance

The wiper and cap surfaces are the most critical cleaning systems in the printer. These items are responsible for maintaining and cleaning the print head surface. Keep these areas clean and free of dust or ink buildup.

Running Test Prints

Running a weekly test print will help identify any potential errors before they become significant problems. If you can inspect a weekly test print, please report any unusual output to your Authorized Mimaki Dealer.

Enabling Automated Cleaning

The automated cleaning functions on Mimaki products are all enabled out of the box. The printers maintain the print head surface, ink discharge path and recirculation systems according to internal schedules. This maximizes both production quality and print head life. If you have previously changed any of the settings related to automated cleaning please review these before leaving your printer. In order for these functions to work it is important to leave the printer plugged in and ensure the main power switch is on.

Check the ink levels

The onboard cleaning and refresh functions may not operate correctly if the ink levels are below 10%. Insert a new cartridge if levels are low. The nearly empty cartridge can be reinstalled and used to completion at a later date.

Check the ink expire dates

Check the expiration dates on the ink supply system. Mimaki printers will operate normally with inks that are 30 days past expiration. Beyond this point, the expired ink may limit the effectiveness of the automated cleaning functions.

Check the level of washing liquid cartridge

Check the level of maintenance washing liquid cartridge if available on your printer. The liquid in this cartridge is used to keep the wiper clean and avoid drying of ink in the discharge path tubes. An empty maintenance washing cartridge may limit the effectiveness of the automated cleaning functions.

Check the level of the waste tank

Check the waste ink tank level. Empty and reset the waste ink counter if needed. Automated maintenance routines will not operate correctly if the waste ink tank is full.

Keep the clamp lever up

Make sure to keep the clamp lever up during idle time. This will avoid the pinch rollers getting deformed from long term pressure at the same point.

Mimaki Europe

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