Step 2: Performing a Nozzle Drop-out Test

Before you carry out actual printing, perform a printing test to ensure no dot drop-out or dot displacement occurs. If dot drop-out or dot displacement occurs, perform cleaning of the print heads (normal cleaning).
MEMO

When performing printing tests successively, you can select Feed (vertical printing), Scan (horizontal printing), or None (same location printing) as the printing position for the second and later tests in comparison to the first test.

Changing the Printing Test Printing Position

Procedure
  1. Set up the object to be printed on.
    Determining the Print Surface Height and Printing Position
  2. Tap VG3_Panel_Icon_CLEANING Nozzle Drop-out Test on the home screen.
  3. To change the printing test start position, tap Change under Output Start Location.
    If you have tapped Icon_GearMark on the Printing Test Start Location screen and enabled Use coordinates to specify the printing area without moving the carriage or table., specify the values for [S] and [F].

    For more information on settings, refer to Changing the Operation Performed when Setting the Printing Test Start Location.

    1. Tap AP-640_Panel_Icon_UP, AP-640_Panel_Icon_DOWN, AP-640_Panel_Icon_LEFT, or AP-640_Panel_Icon_RIGHT once.
      The table and print-head carriage will move, and the pointer will point to the previously-set print origin.

      Subsequently, when you have finished setting the print start position, the print-head carriage will automatically return to the standby position to protect the print heads from drying out if they have not been moved by the user for approximately three minutes. Perform the procedure again.

      MEMO

      If Use coordinates to specify the printing area without moving the carriage or table. is enabled, the print-head carriage will not move, so the print-head drying protection function will not work.

    2. Set the Printing Test Start Location.

      Long tap or tap AP-640_Panel_Icon_UP, AP-640_Panel_Icon_DOWN, AP-640_Panel_Icon_LEFT, or AP-640_Panel_Icon_RIGHT to set the printing test start position

      MEMO
      • If Use coordinates to specify the printing area without moving the carriage or table. is enabled, specify the values for [S] and [F].
      • The printing test start position you have set will remain in effect until you change to a different media.
    3. Tap OK.
  4. Tap Execute next to Printing Test.
    Printing of the test pattern starts.
    MEMO

    Depending on the color of the object to be printed on, it may be difficult to check the white ink test pattern.

    Tap VG3_Panel_Icon_CLEANING Nozzle Drop-out Test on the home screen, select Cleaning - Printing Test - Nozzle Drop-out Test (Base: Black) in that order, and then tap Execute - Yes to make the base of the white ink black, making it easier to check the white ink.

    Nozzle Drop-out Test (Base: Black) is not displayed if the machine is not equipped with white ink.

  5. Open the front cover.
    MEMO

    Be sure to hold the handle of the front cover and keep holding it until the cover is completely opened or closed.

    If you do not open and close the front cover gently, it may break or you may be injured.

    CoverOpen2
  6. Check whether there is dot drop-out or dot displacement in the test pattern.
    Missing blocks indicate dot drop-out. Collapsed or inclined blocks indicate dot displacement.


  7. Close the front cover.
    MEMO

    Be sure to hold the handle of the front cover and keep holding it until the cover is completely opened or closed.

    If you do not open and close the front cover gently, it may break or you may be injured.

    CoverOpen2

    If no dot drop-out or dot displacement occurs, preparations for output are finished.