Sawgrass sg400 power on cleaning using a lot of ink

[Saxon Print]

Hi guys, hoping to get a bit of advice. We're using an sg400 with Sawgrass inks to produce small runs, mainly mugs. Our machine can go a couple of weeks between jobs. When powering on, it often takes about 10-15mins to clean and (according to the ink level indicator) seems to be using a lot of ink to clean. A few times the ink indicator has been low, and the clean uses all the remaining ink.

Is there any way to stop auto cleaning and / or anything we can do to reduce the amount of cleaning needed or ink used in this process?

[InkExpress]

Hi guys, hoping to get a bit of advice. We're using an sg400 with Sawgrass inks to produce small runs, mainly mugs. Our machine can go a couple of weeks between jobs. When powering on, it often takes about 10-15mins to clean and (according to the ink level indicator) seems to be using a lot of ink to clean. A few times the ink indicator has been low, and the clean uses all the remaining ink.

Is there any way to stop auto cleaning and / or anything we can do to reduce the amount of cleaning needed or ink used in this process?

The auto clean routine that runs when the printer is first turned on after being turned off for a long period of time is part of the printers EEPROM and it is designed to ensure the printer head is ready to print following prolonged periods of not being used.

You will actually be better off (ink and time-wise) leaving the printer turned on and sending a print job to it every 3 days. Even a nozzle check or a small full colour document (6x4 size) will keep the printing head clean, keep the inks flowing and prevent the head drying out.

Being in regular use will mean the printer does not go through its auto clean process, the ink used to produce some prints will be far less than the ink used during the clean or maintenance process.

As a seller of sublimation inks we have around 6 printers on test at any given time, all of them are never turned off and a nozzle check or test print sent to them every 3-4 days to keep them in check. We used very little ink and get no issues with head blockages.

Alex

[Saxon Print]

Thanks Alex, this makes sense, we'll try this. thanks again for the quick / comprehensive reply, really helpful

[InkExpress]

Thanks Alex, this makes sense, we'll try this. thanks again for the quick / comprehensive reply, really helpful

My pleasure, you would think printing often would use more ink but in reality its quite the opposite. Use the printer regularly and leave it turned on as often as possible and you will in fact use less ink by not having to go through the inbuilt maintenance cleans.

Happy printing!

Alex

[weston]

I Had the same problem with sawgrass a couple of years ago - making mug printing a no no - changed to a ink express epson wf- 2630 and there inks ... results are excellent still running like new.. now making a good profit from my mugs... hope this helps...

[its a new season]

Hi I took delivery of my printer last week and would prefer to leave it switched on as you mention, however after 6 hours or so the blue light goes out my itself and the printer powers off��. Is this right? Each time I go to print virtuoso says my printer needs to be on so I end up having to press the on button but that then causes the printer to run the maintenance cycle. My coloured inks are at 67% and I’ve only printed 36 mugs most using black ink.

I assumed the the blue light would stay on and indeed the printer as long as I didn’t switch it off. I’m so confused any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Tracy

[webtrekker]

The Ricoh SG3110DN and Sawgrass SG400 are near identical machines, apart from a few 'tweaks' Sawgrass have made to 'improve' the product.

Maybe one of the 'tweaks' was to make it drain the inks faster.

My two Ricoh SG3110DN's certainly don't act like that, and the blue light is on 24/7.

[its a new season]

I’m wondering if it’s just my printer that’s doing this. I’m going to contact sawgrass to see what they say

[technick]

I’m wondering if it’s just my printer that’s doing this. I’m going to contact sawgrass to see what they say

20% of your ink has been sent into the lines, will happen on your first set of carts so don't worry.

Maintenance check on the SG400 shouldn't take up much ink, if any. You'll lose a very small amount on a head clean and 20% on a flush.

[weston]

Quote: I’m going to contact sawgrass to see what they say

Good luck with that - worst customer service i had ever know..

My advise would be to sell asap- you will wast hours on the phone with them with no good results - fact is they use far to much ink to make them profitable...