How to Use PiezoFlush

220mL Bottle of PiezoFlush

PiezoFlush is a very strong cleaner – yet is safe enough for long term storage. It can be used in a variety of ways that benefit users. One of the most frequent uses of PiezoFlush is for flushing out pigment ink from the inside of large format printers so that the printers can be shut down for weeks or months. Universities and colleges use our system. One set of carts can be used to flush out a number of printers that share the same cartridge size.

One of its strengths is that it can permeate and re-solubilize dried pigment matter. So, it can be used to clean the surface of print heads as well as the internals of ink systems including ink channels, dampers, and ink lines. Our best selling systems are for the EPSON 4900, 7900 and 9900 printers and which seem to be plagued by permanent ink clogs when used with the OEM inks. We have a high success rate! And for those whom are unable to recover ink channels in these printers, we can map the bad channels out and customize Piezography systems with as little as 6 working ink channels. (just a fall-back idea if you can't recover your X900 color printer!)

Recently, there has been a trend to use EPSON photo quality printers for DTF/DTG (Direct to Film/Direct to Garment) inks. EPSON did not design their photo printers to perform the type of cleaning operations that DTF/DTG inks require. Pigment tends to agglomerate because DTF/DTG pigments are heavier than the particles designed for these photo printers. White ink especially needs agitation. We do understand why people convert aqueous pigment ink printers to these DTF/DTG because it is a wonderful market that is expanding. Our recommendation to INIT FILL a printer followed by a second INIT FILL after 24-48 hours really needs to be heeded when you use a printer for DTF/DTG. This way you soften agglomerations (the wait period) and then pull them out (the second INIT FILL). We also recommend an INIT FILL of PiezoFlush every six months or as needed. In an ideal world, DTF/DTG users of these photo printers would employ an external agitating ink system that feeds through degassers and bypasses the dampers in the ink selector units. But then again modifications like that would probably afford the user a true DTF/DTG printer.

We do sell a desktop system in which the PiezoFlush is injected carefully into the print head with a special fitting and syringe. There’s a video on how to do this at the bottom of this page.

For large format printers, PiezoFlush must be introduced into the print head via refillable cartridges using Power Cleans or Initial Ink Charges. Once the PiezoFlush is introduced through the ink lines and dampers to the print head, it should be allowed to rest (and work) for 48 hours. The printer can be turned off. After 48 hours turn the printer on and perform 2-3 regular head cleanings and test for a nozzle check. If progress is made – repeat regular head cleanings. It may be necessary to repeat the Initial Ink Charge. Because PiezoFlush is stained pink you can check your progress by printing nozzle check tests.

The complete users guide to PiezoFlush and large format printers (including the R3000) can be found by clicking here.