Introduction
This manual provides essential information for the safe and efficient operation, setup, and maintenance of your SANTOS ST602 60cm A1 DTF Printer. Please read this manual thoroughly before using the printer to ensure proper functionality and to prevent damage.
Product Features
The SANTOS ST602 DTF Printer is designed for high-quality textile printing with advanced features:
- Extra Wide Digital Transfer Film Compatibility: Accepts DTF pre-treat sheets in rolls up to 62cm wide, with an embedded roll feeder system.
- Dual Printhead Technology: Equipped with two printheads; one dedicated for white ink and another for CMYK colors, ensuring vibrant and accurate prints.
- Continuous Ink Tank System: Features an ink tank continuous feed system for uninterrupted printing.
- Humidity Sensor: Monitors and helps maintain optimal environmental conditions for printing.
- White Ink Circulation System: Ensures smooth ink supply and prevents nozzle blockages through a circulation pump.
- Intelligent Heating Platform: Provides consistent heating for optimal print adhesion and curing.
- High Precision Paper Feeding: Designed for accurate and error-free media handling.
- Quality Servo Motor: Offers high printing resolution and stable performance.
- Hoson High-End Board: Ensures stable and reliable operation of the printer.
Setup Instructions
Follow these steps to set up your DTF printer:
- Unpacking: Carefully remove the printer and all components from the packaging. Ensure all parts listed in the packing list are present.
- Placement: Place the printer on a stable, level surface in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations. Ensure adequate space around the printer for operation and maintenance.
- Assembly: Assemble any detachable components, such as the roll feeder and waste ink tank, according to the provided diagrams.
- Power Connection: Connect the power cable to the printer and then to a grounded electrical outlet. Ensure the voltage matches the printer's requirements (220V/110V).
- Ink Installation: Fill the continuous ink supply system tanks with the appropriate DTF inks (CMYK and White). Ensure the white ink circulation system is properly engaged to prevent settling.
- Media Loading: Load the DTF PET film roll onto the roll feeder, ensuring it is aligned correctly for smooth feeding.
- Software Installation: Install the provided Driver Software and RIP Software (e.g., Maintop6.1, PP, PF) on your computer. Refer to the software's specific manual for detailed installation steps.
- Initial Calibration: Perform initial printhead alignment and calibration as guided by the RIP software to ensure optimal print quality.
Operating Instructions
Operating your DTF printer involves several key steps to achieve high-quality prints on various textile materials.
- Design Preparation: Create or import your design using compatible design software.
- RIP Software Processing: Import your design into the RIP software. Configure print settings such as resolution, color profiles (CMYK and White), and print passes. The RIP software is crucial for generating the print data for the DTF process.
- Printing: Initiate the print job from the RIP software. The printer will lay down the CMYK colors first, followed by a layer of white ink on the PET film.
- Powder Application: Immediately after printing, the printed film moves to the powder shaker unit. Apply hot melt powder evenly over the wet ink.
- Curing: The film with the powder then passes through a heating element (or a separate curing oven) to melt and cure the powder onto the ink.
- Transfer: Once cured, the design is ready to be transferred to the textile using a heat press.
This printer is suitable for printing on any fabric textile material, any color, and any part, offering a best solution for print-on-demand custom garment printing.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for the longevity and optimal performance of your DTF printer.
- White Ink Circulation: The integrated white ink circulation system with a pump helps prevent blockages. Ensure this system is always active and functioning correctly.
- Printhead Protection: The printer features anti-friction, anti-collision, and anti-warping paper mechanisms to protect the printheads. Regularly inspect these components for wear or damage.
- Cleaning: Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning of printheads, capping stations, and other ink-related components. Use only recommended cleaning solutions.
- Environmental Control: Maintain a stable environment with appropriate humidity levels, as indicated by the humidity sensor, to prevent ink drying and printhead issues.
- Software Updates: Keep your printer drivers and RIP software updated to the latest versions for improved performance and compatibility.
Troubleshooting
This section provides general troubleshooting tips. For specific issues, refer to the detailed troubleshooting guide in your software manual or contact technical support.
- Poor Print Quality: Check ink levels, perform printhead cleaning cycles, and ensure printhead alignment is correct. Verify that the correct RIP settings (resolution, passes) are applied.
- No Ink Flow: Ensure ink tanks are sufficiently filled and the white ink circulation system is active. Check for any blockages in the ink lines.
- Paper Feeding Issues: Verify that the PET film is loaded correctly and not warped. Inspect the paper feeding mechanism for any obstructions or wear.
- Software Communication Errors: Restart both the printer and the computer. Check USB or network cable connections. Ensure drivers are correctly installed and updated.
- Printer Not Responding: Check power connections and ensure the printer is turned on. Verify that the emergency stop button is not engaged.
Specifications
Detailed technical specifications for the SANTOS ST602 DTF Printer:
| Parameter | XP600 | I3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Print Head Qty | 2 | 2 |
| Print Speed | 6pass 9m²/h, 8pass 6m²/h | 6pass 12m²/h, 8pass 8m²/h |
| Print Media | Pet Film | |
| Inks Type | Textile Pigment Ink | |
| Transmission Interface | Gigabit Network Port Transmission | |
| The maximum Print Width | 600mm | |
| Power Voltage | 220V/110V | |
| Head Height | Adjustable height 0-12mm | |
| Ink supply system | 1.5L Ink Bottle with Alarm Function + Secondary Continuous Ink Supply system + White Ink Agitate and Circulation | |
| Heating System | Shake Powder Machine Built-in Infrared Drying | |
| Feeding System | 15R High Speed Single Head Feeding and Take Up System | |
| RIP Software | Maintop6.1, PP, PF | |
| Document Format | PDF, JPEG, TIFF | |
| Machine Gross Weight | 113KG | |
| Shake Powder Machine Size/Gross Weight | 1100*900*1100MM / 118KG | |
| Machine Size | 1655*750*1550MM / 138KG | |
| Packing Size | 1730*830*670mm / 163KG | |
Package Dimensions:
- Length: 108 cm
- Width: 81 cm
- Height: 61 cm
- Weight: 140.0 kg
Warranty and Support
Your SANTOS ST602 DTF Printer comes with comprehensive support and warranty:
- Warranty: One-year warranty for the printer mainboard and head board.
- Lifetime Maintenance: Enjoy lifetime maintenance services for your printer.
- After-Sales Service: Professional after-sales service is available.
- Online Support: 24-hour online service for any queries or issues.
- Installation Support: Product installation assistance is provided through videos and files.
User Tips
Based on common user experiences and best practices for DTF printers:
- Always perform a nozzle check before starting a new print job to ensure all nozzles are firing correctly.
- Shake white ink bottles thoroughly before refilling tanks to prevent pigment settling.
- Keep the printer's environment clean and dust-free to avoid contamination of printheads and media.
- Regularly back up your design files and RIP software settings.
- For optimal results, use high-quality DTF inks and PET film recommended by the manufacturer.
