Loading the Object, and Setting the Print Surface Height and Print Start Point

This section explains how to place the object in the bottom right of the printing area and to set up this object.

MEMO

You can decrease the number of cleaning operations, reducing ink consumption, by setting Periodic Maintenance Frequency to Low.

However, the risk of dot drop-out and dot displacement will be higher than when Normal is selected. Change this setting as needed only when setting up a print object with a thickness of less than 2 mm (0.07 in.).

Setting the Periodic Maintenance Frequency

Procedure
  1. Press and hold [TS : START Z] on the touch panel.

    The printer unit will rise to its highest point.

  2. Press [TS : BACK] on the touch panel.

    The printer unit will move to the back of the table while [TS : BACK] is pressed.

    Move the printer to a location it will not interfere with the loading of the object to be printed on.

    Movement will stop when the button is released.

  3. Place the object in the printable area.
    LO_Setmedia_01
    IMPORTANT

    When printing, make sure that there is no unnecessary space under the bottom of the print-head carriage (ink ejection surface of the print heads). If too much space is left open, ink mist can more easily form. Therefore, a jig to fill the space around the object to be printed on might be required depending on the size and shape of the object to be printed on.

    Prepare a jig (a) if both of the following conditions are met.

    1. An area around the print data size (b) plus a margin of 40 mm (1.57 in.) extends beyond the object to be printed on.
    2. The height of the print surface (c) is 16 mm (0.63 in.) or more.
      LO-640i_jig_2
      LO-640i_jig_1
    MEMO

    Use the blower if the object to be printed on is heavy or difficult to place.

    Loading Heavy and Difficult-to-Move Objects to Be Printed On

  4. Suction the object to secure it in place.
    If the object is not secured in place, uneven colors may occur.
    1. Check that [TS : VACUUM] is shown for the button on the touch panel.

      If the button is displaying [TS : BLOW], tap the button to switch to [TS : VACUUM].

      If [TS : VACUUM] is already displayed, there is no need to switch the setting.

    2. Tap [TS : PUMP1].

      Suction the object against the table.

      If the suction is weak and the object comes loose, tap [TS : PUMP %] on the touch panel and increase the suction power.

      MEMO

      When the trailing edge of the object is positioned behind the center of the table, also tap [TS : PUMP2] on the touch panel to suction the object.

      IMPORTANT

      Do not print on the object if it comes loose.

      Doing so will not only result in poor print quality but the object to be printed on may also contact and damage the print heads.

  5. Press and hold [TS : START X] on the touch panel.

    The printer unit will move to the front edge of the table.

  6. Press [TS : BACK] on the touch panel to move the printer unit to the highest position for the object.

    Align the printer unit's height sensor with the position of the object. Tap [TS : FRONT] or [TS : BACK] to fine-tune the position of the height sensor.

    For information on the height sensor's position, refer to Front Cover Interior/Print Head Area.

    MEMO
    When you perform the following operations, a warning beep may sound, and an error may be detected.
    • Tapping [TS : FRONT] on the touch panel or pressing AP-640_Panel_Icon_UP on the operation panel to move the printer unit forward when it is already positioned at the front edge of the table
    • Tapping [TS : BACK] on the touch panel or pressing AP-640_Panel_Icon_DOWN on the operation panel to move the printer unit backward when it is already positioned at the back edge of the table

    For actions to take when an error is detected, refer to Is [Warning Overtravel X] displayed for [TS:ALARM]?.

    MEMO
  7. Press [TS : AUTO Z] on the touch panel.

    The printer unit will descend while [TS : AUTO Z] is pressed.

    A sensor is used to detect the height and stop the descent. When the printer is stopped, the height will be set as the print surface height.

    Notes When the Print Surface Is Uneven

    Keep pressing [TS : AUTO Z] until the printer stops descending.

  8. Press and hold [TS : START X] on the touch panel again.

    The printer unit will move to the front edge of the table.

    The destination becomes the print start point.

    MEMO

    The print start point toward the front or back of the table (feed direction) will always be the current position of the printer unit.

    Even if the printer unit is moved using the touch panel, or if it is in the stop position after printing has been completed, the current position will always be the print start point.

    Setmedia_02
  9. Press AP-640_Panel_Icon_SETUPSetup on the operation panel of the printer unit.
    This completes the setup of the object.