What is Ink Starvation?
Ink starvation occurs when a printer fails to deliver enough ink to the printhead, resulting in missing or incomplete prints. This issue is often caused by low ink levels, air bubbles in the ink system, or faulty components such as dampers, tubing, or cartridges. Essentially, the printer’s ink delivery system is “starved” leading to print quality problems.
Printers rely on consistent pressure in their ink delivery system to function. Even a small amount of air in the lines or cartridges can disrupt this pressure, much like aeration is necessary for fuel to flow from a gas can, in an inkjet printer, pressure and gravity move ink into the print head. However, issues like bubbles, cracked tubing, or loose connections can interfere with this process and result in ink starvation. If using an external bottle continuous ink system (CIS), consult with your CIS manufacturer for specific installation details.
How to Prevent and Resolve Ink Starvation.
- Position External Ink Supplies Correctly
If you’re using external CIS ink bags or bottles, ensure they are positioned above the printer. These systems rely on gravity to feed ink, and placing them lower than the printer can hinder the ink flow to the printhead.
- Run Printer Maintenance.
Use the printer’s utility to perform nozzle checks and printhead cleanings. Repeat the cleaning process until you achieve a satisfactory nozzle check with no missing sections or signs of banding/fading.
- Perform Physical Cleaning.
Clean the cartridges and internal components of the printer to remove debris or dried ink. Amaze-INK is highly recommended and effective for this type of maintenance.
- Remove and replace ink fill hole plugs to relieve any built up pressure. Print a Nozzle check before replacing the plugs.
By maintaining a properly pressurized ink delivery system and regularly cleaning your printer, you can avoid ink starvation and ensure consistent, high-quality prints.
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