When a CIJ printer suddenly stops jetting ink on a high-speed production line, it's undoubtedly the most frustrating issue for every operator. Production downtime means losses, and time is money. When an OMA printer stops jetting ink unexpectedly, blindly calling a after-sales engineer may waste precious production time. In fact, many common faults can be quickly identified and resolved by operators themselves.
Below, OMA outlines a "from simple to complex, from external to internal" quick troubleshooting and repair process to help you resolve the issue and resume production in no time.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Conduct a Basic Visual Inspection
Before performing any complex operations, complete the following basic checks that require no professional tools-these can fix over 50% of false faults.
Power Supply and Emergency Stop Switch: Ensure the printer's power plug is securely connected and the power switch is turned on. Meanwhile, check if the emergency stop button on the machine has been pressed accidentally; if so, rotate it clockwise to release it.
Ink and Make-up Solvent Level: Check the liquid levels in the ink and make-up solvent bottles. The machine will automatically stop printing if it runs out of ink or solvent. Replace the corresponding consumables in a timely manner.
Air Intake in Piping: Check for obvious air bubbles in the transparent piping from the ink tank to the front of the pump. Excessive air intake will prevent the pump from drawing ink properly. Small bubbles are usually discharged automatically by the system through circulation; continuous large air pockets may indicate an improperly sealed ink bottle connection-please check and reseal it.
Step 2: Check On-Screen Alarm Messages and Understand the Machine's "Language"
The display screen of an OMA CIJ printer is the primary source of fault diagnosis information. Any abnormality will be shown as an error code or text prompt.
"High Viscosity" or "Low Pressure": This is one of the most common prompts, meaning the ink is too viscous for the pump to build normal printing pressure.Quick Fix: Activate the manual make-up solvent function (usually found in the on-screen menu) to inject a small amount of solvent into the system and thin the ink. Then start or resume the automatic circulation and check if the pressure value returns to normal gradually.
"Charging Fault", "Phase Error" or "Recovery Unit Fault": These issues are usually related to the print head assembly.
Step 3: Targeted Quick Inspection of Core Components
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, a slightly more in-depth inspection is required.
Deep Cleaning of the Print Head Unit:Operation: Turn off the printer's power. Thoroughly soak and manually wipe all external surfaces of the print head with cleaning fluid, especially the nozzle plate, charging electrodes, high-voltage deflection plates (DP plates) and recovery gutter. Ensure no ink deposits, dust or fibers remain on these critical parts. Note: Handle gently to avoid scratching precision components.
Check the Main Filter:Open the side or rear panel of the machine and locate the main filter (usually a cylindrical component with a metal or plastic housing).If the filter housing has turned very dark or even black, or if the filter has not been replaced for a long time, this is likely the cause of poor ink supply and failed pressure build-up. While on-site replacement requires spare parts, identifying this issue allows you to contact the supplier to purchase a filter cartridge immediately, preparing for subsequent repairs.
The Simple Power Cycle Trick:Turn off the printer's power completely, wait 1-2 minutes for the main board and all circuits to discharge and reset fully, then restart the machine. This can clear temporary program errors or data overflows and sometimes works like a charm.
If the issue persists after completing all the above troubleshooting steps, a hardware or core software fault is likely the cause. At this point, stop any disassembly attempts and contact OMA's after-sales service engineers immediately.
Safety Warnings: High voltage exists inside the CIJ printer, and ink and cleaning fluids are chemical substances. Always cut off the power and perform a safe discharge before any internal operations, and wear protective gloves and goggles. When in doubt, seeking professional assistance is always the best and safest option.
