MIMAKI DM3-1810S User manual

MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
TKB Gotenyama Building, 5-9-41, Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0001, Japan
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
URL: http: // www.mimaki. co. jp /
E-mail: [email protected]
Daily Care Manual
D201260
This inkjet plotter is the precision machine that has highly delicate mechanism. Especially, dust and
paper powder may have effect on a head nozzle firing ink, and may not get normal plotting.
To use the inkjet plotter in good condition, we recommend the following daily care.

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Table of contents
Precautions during cleaning ................................................................................. 4
In case defective plotting is not fixed ...................................................... 5
Routine maintenance .............................................................................. 6
Maintenance for frame components ..................................................................... 6
Cleaning the ink at the bottom of the slider ......................................................... 6
Cleaning the wiper and ink caps ............................................................. 7
Cleaning the nozzle [Nozzle Cleaning] ................................................. 10
Cleaning or replacing filter..................................................................... 13
Replacing the flushing tray ink absorber ............................................... 14
When the waste ink tank becomes full .................................................. 16
Ink discharge way cleaning [Drain Wash] ............................................. 17
When not in use the plotter over the long term [Storage Wash] ........... 19
Storage of the cleaning liquid RS for maintenance ............................... 23
Storage of media ................................................................................... 23
Storage of the ink cartridges ................................................................. 23

4
Be sure to conduct maintenance works for the machine when necessary or periodically so
as to use the plotter for a long time while keeping its plotting accuracy.
Precautions during cleaning
•When using the cleaning liquid RS for maintenance, be sure to wear the
goggle and gloves.
•Never disassemble the plotter. Disassembling the plotter can result in
electric shock hazards and breakage of the machine.
•Prevent moisture from entering inside the plotter. If the inner part of the
plotter becomes wet, electric shock hazards and breakage of the machine
can result.
•Conduct maintenance works after turning off the power switch and detach-
ing the power cable. If not, unexpected troubles can arise.
Keep to the time limit, 1 hour as power-off. If the power is turned on for
more than 1 hour, the nozzle-clogging preventative function does not work.
In addition, if the power is turned off for more than 5 days, the ink flushing
does not work either.
•Do not wipe the nozzles, wiper, or cap of the head with water of alcohol as
doing so may cause nozzle clogging or damage to nozzles.
•Do not use benzene, thinner and chemical agents containing abrasives.
Such materials can deteriorate or deform the surface of the cover.
•Do not apply lubricating oil or the like inside the plotter. Such materials can
cause the plotter mechanism to fail.
•Be careful not to allow the cleaning liquid RS for maintenance or ink to
adhere to the cover as this may cause deterioration or discoloring of the
surface of the cover.

5
In case defective plotting is not fixed
When the station interior is severely contaminated or defective plotting is not fixed after
cleaning by the head cleaning function ( Operation manual P.2-12), clean the suction
nozzles and the caps using the cleaning kit as follows:
Cleaning liquid RS for maintenance, Gloves, Cleaning swab(SPC-0386), Goggles
•When cleaning the station and the heads, be sure to wear the supplied
goggle and gloves to protect you from hazardous ink.
•Do not use alcohol or water.
•Do not move the carriage out of the capping station by hand. Use the
appropriate operation key to move the carriage.
The examples of defective plotting
These following examples indicate defective plotting by using improper heads(nozzles) with
dust. Confirm the nozzle condition periodically before or during outputting not to use in
such as these condition. The nozzle condition can be confirmed by [test print] in this plotter.
(Operation manual page 2.12)
Deflection Nozzle out
Ink dropping Satellite

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Cleaning the ink at the bottom of the slider
The ink may gel and collect under the slider after a long use. The ink droplets may grow in
size and smear the work as a result. To prevent this problem, wet the supplied cotton swab
in the cleaning liquid RS for maintenance and use it to remove the ink from under the head
in regular intervals.
•Do not use the cotton swab on the head nozzles. The cotton swab may
damage the nozzles and cause poor ink delivery.
Cleaning Tools :
• Cleaning liquid RS for maintenance (SPC-0336: Option)
• Cotton swabs
• syringe
• Goggle, Gloves
Routine maintenance
Maintenance for frame components
If the frame components of the plotter have become dirty, wipe off the dirt of the frame with
soft cloth sopped in water or neutral detergent with water and squeezed. Wipe off dust on
the table.
Cleaning Tools :
• Neutral detergent
• Soft cloth (quantity)

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Cleaning the wiper and ink caps
The ink cap prevents clogging of the head nozzle caused by dried nozzle.
The wiper wipes out ink adhered to the head nozzle.
As the device is used to plot images, the wipers and ink caps gradually become stained
with ink and dust. Use the cotton swab to clean the ink and wiper.
•When cleaning the machine, be sure to wear the goggle and gloves to
prevent from getting ink in your eyes or on hands.
•Remove dust from the wiper before starting head cleaning. A dusty wiper
may damage the head and cause defective plotting.
•Clean the two wipers at a time.
•Do not move the carriage out of the capping station by hand. Use the
appropriate operation key to move the carriage.
•Do not touch rubber of the new wiper as this may cause clogged nozzles.
•Once the replacement of the wiper and the cleaning of the caps have been
completed, immediately press the [ENTER] key to allow the carriage to
return to the capping station. If the carriage is left in the aforementioned
state for an extended period of time, the nozzles can be clogged.
Cleaning Tools :
• Cleaning liquid RS for maintenance (SPC-0336: Option)
• Cotton swabs
• Goggle, Gloves
STEPS:
1. Press the [FUNCTION] key.
2. Press the XY keys [ ] or [ ] to select
[MAINTENANCE].
3. Press the [ENTER] key.
FUNCTION
SETUP < ENT >
FUNCTION
MAINTENANCE < ENT >
MAINTENANCE
List < ent >

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4. Press the XY keys [ ] or [ ] to select
[Station].
5. Press the [ENTER] key.
6. Press the [ENTER] key.
The table moves away from you and the Y-bar
moves upward. The wiper moves toward you and
the carriage moves away from the station.
7. Open the station cover and clean the both
sides of the wiper.
Remove the ink at the wiper and the
bracket using a cotton swab dampened
with cleaning liquid RS.
•If dirt of curl is serious, replace the
wiper with a new one. At the time of
replacement, be sure to terminate the
plotter operation and follow the wiper
replacement procedure.
( Operation manual page 5.9)
8. Clean the wiper guide shaft using a cotton
swab or cloth.
If dirt is hard to remove, use a cotton swab of
cloth dampened with the cleaning liquid RS.
•Extremely dirty wiper guide shaft may
cause operational failure of the wiper,
resulting in error display.
MAINTENANCE
Station < ent >
Station Maint
Sel : Carriage Out
Carriage Out
Completed : ent

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Cleaning the wiper and ink caps
9. Wipe off ink or dirt adhered to the rubber
of the cap using cotton swab.
10. The station cover is closed, then press
[ENTER] key.
Execute the initial operation.
11. The plotter enters the LOCAL mode.
Initialize
Please Wait
<< LOCAL >>
X =1010 Y = 1860
Carriage Out
Completed : ent

10
Cleaning the nozzle [Nozzle Cleaning]
Clean up the nozzle as for nozzle clogging.
If nozzle clogging cannot be resolved even after cleaning several times, execute the [Ink
Filling] function. ( Operation manual page 5.11)
If this error cannot be resolved with these functions, contact the dealer.
•Two colors (two cartridges) per head are used. If the remaining amount of
one ink is extremely greater than another ink's amount, it may flow into the
cartridge which has lesser ink to make their ink-head even.
Execute the [Ink Filling] function ( Operation manual page.5-11) if the
inks are mixed.
•Operate it in the head only with the nozzle clogging.
Cleaning Tools :
• Cleaning liquid RS for maintenance (SPC-0336: Option)
• Pipette
• Goggle, Gloves
STEPS:
1. Press the [FUNCTION] key in the LOCAL
mode.
2. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[MAINTENANCE].
3. Press the [ENTER] key.
[Station] is displayed.
4. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[Nozzle Clean].
5. Press the [ENTER] key.
The table moves backward, the Y-bar moves to
the top, the wiper moves forward, and the carriage
moves on the table.
FUNCTION
SETUP < ENT >
FUNCTION
MAINTENANCE < ENT >
MAINTENANCE
List < ent >
MAINTENANCE
Station < ent >
Station Maint
Sel : Nozzle Clean
Color May Mix Up
Continue OK? : ent

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Cleaning the nozzle [Nozzle Cleaning]
6. Open the station cover and clean the both
sides of the wiper.
Remove the ink at the wiper and the
bracket using a cotton swab dampened
with the cleaning liquid RS.
•If dirt of curl is serious, replace the
wiper with a new one. At the time of
replacement, be sure to terminate the
plotter operation and follow the wiper
replacement procedure.
( Operation manual page 5.9 )
7. Clean the wiper guide shaft using a cotton
swab or cloth.
If dirt is hard to remove, use a cotton swab of
cloth dampened with the cleaning liquid RS.
•Extremely dirty wiper guide shaft may
cause operational failure of the wiper,
resulting in error display.
Clean the wiper and press the [ENTER]
key.
8. Fill the cap with the cleaning liquid RS
using a pipette.
Close the station cover, and press the
[ENTER] key.
Wiper Cleaning
Completed : ent
Fill Up Washings
Completed : ent

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9. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys, select the
time to leave. (1-99 minutes: 1 min unit)
Normally set 1 min.
10. Press the [ENTER] key.
The initial operation is performed.
Remaining time is displayed.
After remaining time is over, execute cleaning.
It displays the remaining cleaning time.
11. Cleaning is completed, the menu returns
the LOCAL mode.
Initialize
Please Wait
Nozzle Cleaning
Wait Timer = 1 min
Cleaning
00 : 00 : 00
<< LOCAL >>
X =1010 Y = 1860
Waiting
00 : 00 : 00

13
Cleaning or replacing filter
This plotter is provided with two filters under the right and left of the absorption table.
When the filter is clogged, the media absorbability will be weakened.
If filter is soiled with dusts, clean it with vacuum cleaner, etc.
If the filter is clogged by ink adhesion, replace the filter.
Outfit :
• Filter for replacing 100pcs (Order No. M-3 )
STEPS:
1. Remove the filter holder from the filter
unit.
2. From the filter holder, remove the filter
and replace with a new filter.
Position the filter folded in four and fix it with its all
circumference held.
3. Install the filter holder on the filter unit.

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Replacing the flushing tray ink absorber
Replace the ink absorber in the flushing tray if it appears to be clogged. Clogged ink ab-
sorber may cause ink mists and smeared head nozzles.
In addition, ink bounce causes some ink drips on the nozzle during flushing. Some ink drips
may cause some trouble on ink firing.
•Check the ink absorber for clogging at the end the day’s operation.
Outfit :
• Ink absorber (Order No. M-3 )
STEPS:
1. Press the [FUNCTION] key.
2. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[MAINTENANCE].
Press the [ENTER] key.
3. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[Station].
4. Press the [ENTER] key.
5. Press the [ENTER] key.
The table moves away from you and the Y-bar
moves upward. The wiper moves toward you and
the carriage moves away from the station.
6. Open the station cover.
MAINTENANCE
List < ent >
MAINTENANCE
Station < ent >
Station Maint
Sel : CarriageOut
FUNCTION
SETUP < ENT >
FUNCTION
MAINTENANCE < ENT >

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Replacing the flushing tray ink absorber
7. Remove the F-cover upward from the
flushing tray.
8. Remove the ink absorber.
9. Place a new ink absorber (supplied) on the
tray.
Place the ink absorber (as folded) at the center.
•Make certain the ink absorber is
placed flat and touching the tray.
Otherwise, it may interfere with the
head nozzles.
10. Place the F-cover from above.
•Place the F-cover all the way down. A
floating cover may cause trouble.
11. Close the station cover, then press the
[ENTER] key.
The initial operation is performed.
12. Return to the LOCAL mode.
Ink absorber
F-cover upward
<< LOCAL >>
X =1010 Y = 1860
Carriage Out
Completed : ent

16
When the waste ink tank becomes full
Waste ink used for cleaning the heads will gather in the waste ink tank.
When the message “Near Full” or “Full” appears ( Operation manual page 2.21),
immediately replace the tank with a new waste ink tank.
•Contact your local MIMAKI distributor or call a local MIMAKI office if you
need a spare waste ink tank.
•Prepare a polyethylene tank for emptying waste ink.
•If ink is dripping, wait until it stops dripping.
•Dispose a long-term unused waste ink regardless of its amount.
STEPS:
1. Pull out the tank toward you.
•When pulling out the waste ink tank,
hold the opening of the waste ink tank
with paper and then slowly pull it out to
prevent waste ink from spattering.
•Before replacing ink, put paper on the
floor to prevent it from being stained
with ink.
2. Dump waste ink into a separate polyethyl-
ene tank.
•Request an industrial waste processor
for processing of empty cartridges.
3. Put the empty waste ink tank back in the
plotter.
Waste Ink Tank
Ink Tank Near Full
Waste Ink Tank
Ink Tank Is Full

17
Ink discharge way cleaning [Drain Wash]
The ink discharge way may become clogged by coagulated ink. It must be cleaned at
regular intervals to avoid clogging.
Ink discharge way: Tubing between the cap and the waste ink tank
•When cleaning the plotter, be sure to wear the goggle and gloves to pre-
vent from getting ink in your eyes or on hands.
•Do not move the carriage out of the capping station by hand.
Use the appropriate operation key to move the carriage.
Cleaning Tools :
• Cleaning liquid RS for maintenance (SPC-0336: Option)
• Goggle, Gloves
• Pipette
STEPS:
1. Press the [FUNCTION] key once.
2. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[MAINTENANCE].
3. Press the [ENTER] key.
[Station] is displayed.
4. Press the [ENTER] key.
[Carriage out] is displayed.
5. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[Drain Wash].
6. Press the [ENTER] key.
The table moves backward, the Y-bar moves to
the top, the wiper moves forward, and the carriage
moves on the table.
Dry suction starts in cycles consisting of 10
seconds of suction followed by 10 seconds of
pause.
FUNCTION
SETUP < ENT >
FUNCTION
MAINTENANCE < ENT >
MAINTENANCE
Station < ent >
Station Maint
Sel : Carriage Out
Station Maint
Sel : Drain Wash
Drain Wash
Completed : ent

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7. Open the station cover.
8. Remove the cleaning liquid RS with a
pipette. During the suction pause period,
drop the cleaning liquid RS until just
before it overflows from the cap.
Repeat at all other caps.
9. Close the front cover, and press the [EN-
TER] key.
Dry suction continues for 30 seconds and then the
plotter is put in LOCAL mode.
10. Return to the LOCAL mode.
Drain Wash
Completed : ent
Initialize
Please Wait
<< LOCAL >>
X =1010 Y = 1860

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When not in use the plotter over the long term [Storage Wash]
When not in use the plotter over a week, perform [Storage Wash] function to clean the
head nozzle and ink discharge way.
After performing the function, store the plotter.
•Two colors (two cartridges) per head are used. If the remaining amount of
one ink is extremely greater than another ink's amount, it may flow into the
cartridge which has lesser ink to make their ink-head even.
Execute the [Ink Filling] function ( Operation manual page 5.9 ) if the
inks are mixed.
Cleaning Tools :
• Cleaning liquid RS for maintenance (SPC-0336: Option)
• Goggle, Gloves
• Pipette
STEPS:
1. Press the [FUNCTION] key once.
2. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[MAINTENANCE].
3. Press the [ENTER] key.
[Station] is displayed.
4. Press the XY [ ] or [ ] keys to select
[Storage Wash].
5. Attention about the ink mixing is dis-
played.
Press the [ENTER] key.
6. Press the [ENTER] key.
The table moves backward, the Y-bar moves to
the top, the wiper moves forward, and the carriage
moves on the table.
7. Open the station cover.
FUNCTION
SET UP < ENT >
FUNCTION
MAINTENANCE < ENT >
MAINTENANCE
Station < ent >
Station
Sel : Storage Wash
Color May Mix Up
Continue OK? : ent
Wiper Cleaning
Completed : ent

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8. Take off the wiper with holding projections
at the tips of wiper.
9. Use a cotton swab soaked with the clean-
ing liquid RS to clean off ink blots on
wiper and bracket.
•If dirt of curl is serious, replace the
wiper with a new one. At the time of
replacement, be sure to terminate the
plotter operation and follow the wiper
replacement procedure.
10. Insert the clean wiper with holding both
projections at the tips of wiper.
11. Press the [ENTER] key.
12. Fill the cap with the cleaning liquid RS
using a pipette.
Wiper Cleaning
Completed : ent
Fill Up Washings
Completed : ent