BLAZER SERIES User’s Manual AUGUST, 2008 VERSION 5.
Copyright Notices ©2004-2008 U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology, Tempe, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced mechanically or electronically or in any form without the prior written permission of U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology (U.S. Screen). The information in this Manual is for informational use only, is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by U.S. Screen. U.S.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 4.
A Letter from the Developer Dear Valued Customer, I want to personally thank you for purchasing a new T-Jet Blazer Series Inkjet-to-Garment printer. We have made a major investment in hardware and ink development to make inkjet printing directly onto a shirt a reality. With the T-Jet Blazer Series, FastINK and readily available software technology, you will be able to print high quality, vibrant images on T-Shirts and other garments in a matter of minutes.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 4.
Table of Contents A Letter from the Developer Basic Safety Instructions v xiiii Chapter 1 - Introduction 1 Manual Symbols and Icons 1 About the T-Jet Blazer Series Printers 1 The Basics 2 Maintenance 3 Poor Artwork 3 Important Support Information 3 About the Garment Decorating Business 4 The Book 4 Computer Graphics DVDs 5 Business and Marketing DVD’s 5 Internet 5 Trade Shows and Trade Magazines 5 5 Our Advice Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup 7 Save the Crate and All Packing Ma
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Chapter 3 - The Bulk Ink System 13 Filling the Bulk Ink Cartridges 13 Ink Care 15 Changing Ink Brands 15 Resetting the Bulk Ink Cartridges 15 Non-Genuine Epson Cartridge Message 16 Chapter 4 - Interacting with the Blazer Express 17 Identification Chart 17 Overview of Printer Connections 18 Plugging the Unit into AC Power 18 Powering the Blazer Express On and Off 18 Powering On 18 Powering Off 19 Connecting Your Printer to a Computer Chapter 5 - I
- Table of Contents Down Button 30 Up Button 30 Right/Clean Button 30 The LCD Display Icons 30 Sheet Icon 30 Roll Icon 30 Roll Scissors Icon 30 About the User Interface 31 Power Off Button (Emergency Off) 31 Power On Button 31 Send Print Button(s) 31 User Interface Touch Screens 31 Mode Select Screen 31 Manual Mechanism Movement Utility Screen 32 Platen (Print Bed) to Head Clearance Adjustment Screen - BLAZER EXPRESS 33 Platen (Print Bed) to Head Clearance Adjustment Screen -
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual BLAZER PRO Alignment Procedures - LFP Remote Panel 57 Selection and Entry of the Values 59 Print Head Alignment Utility - Blazer PRO - LCD Control Panel 61 BLAZER PRO Setup 61 BLAZER PRO Alignment Procedures - LCD Display 62 Selection and Entry of the Values 63 Quick Alignment (Optional) 65 Nozzle Check/Power Cleaning from the LFP Remote Panel 67 Chapter 9 - Software Overview 69 Graphics and RIP Software 69 FastARTIST and FastRIP 70 FastRIP 70 Using
- Table of Contents Shirt Boards 84 T-Jet Blazer Express 84 T-Jet Blazer PRO 84 Shirt Board Options 84 Shirt Board Placement and Care 84 Basic Printing Steps 85 When a Printing Job is Finished 91 Curing Your Garments 91 Printing Tips and Tricks 92 Preventative Maintenance 92 Export a FastARTIST Template 92 Resolutions, Speed and Quality 93 Saving a Spooled Print File 94 Canceling a Print Job 95 Emergency Off Switch - BLAZER EXPRESS 96 Kill Switch - BLAZER PRO 96 A Warning A
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Printing White Ink 105 File Setup 106 The Underbase Wizard 106 Set Print Modes 106 Cure the Print 107 Washing Directions 108 White Ink Troubleshooting 108 White Prints Seem Dull 108 You Should Perform Daily Cleaning of These Items 109 Chapter 12 - Printing Other Items 111 Location and Placement 111 Adjusting the Platen Height 112 Non-Textile Printing 113 Required Items and Overview 113 Getting Started 113 Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer 114 Fa
- Table of Contents Monitor Waste Ink Tank Levels (Change if Necessary) 125 Agitate Your Stored White Ink 126 Monthly Maintenance 127 Clean the Print Carriage Drive Belt Gear and Roller 127 Lubricate the Bed Rail Guides 127 Lubricate the Bed Rails 128 Ink Cartridge Cleaning (Flush) 128 Maintenance Schedule Checklist Chapter 14 - Tips/Utilities to Maximize Print Quality 129 131 Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts 131 Shake Shirts and Press to Minimize Lint 131 Protect Printer Environment
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Third Party Software Support 164 Show off Your Work 165 Transporting Your Printer 165 Re-crating the Blazer EXPRESS 166 Re-crating the Blazer PRO 168 Appendix A- Operational Guide 173 Notice 173 Standards Compliance 173 Radio Frequency Emissions Compliance 173 Federal, State and Local Laws- Regulations and Standards 173 Summary of Customer Responsibilities 174 Room Preparation 175 Environment 175 Exhaust Ventilation Requirements 176 Room Conditi
Basic Safety Instructions Please read this entire Manual before attempting to Print. • Follow all warnings on and about the printer. • Use the proper power source type indicated on the printer’s label and in this manual. • Connect all equipment to grounded outlets. Use the included surge protector power strip included with each machine. Do NOT plug other items into this surge protector. • Place the printer where the power outlet is easily seen. • Do not allow the power cord to be damaged.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Caution: • Do not unplug the printer to turn it OFF. Use the UI Power Button first, then the main breaker switch on the back. • Do not unplug the printer until the Main Power Switch has been turned OFF. • Do not block any of the printer’s vents or insert foreign object into its slots. • Do not attempt to service the printer yourself beyond the troubleshooting techniques covered in this manual. • Keep the machine on a level surface.
Chapter 1 Introduction Manual Symbols and Icons Throughout this Manual you will see four symbols used to notify you of warnings, important facts, procedures and tips. WARNING ICON Where you see this icon, you should take note of the warnings. Failure to follow any of the listed procedures could result in severe damage to your machine, large amounts of downtime and/or costly repairs, or the possibility of severe bodily injury or death.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual The T-Jet is based on standard inkjet technology, with the Epson 4880 being the heart of the system. This means you can expect your printer to be reliable AND versatile. The T-Jet Blazer Series printers are also fast, printing a standard t-shirt-sized image in under two minutes. Whether it’s a shirt, a towel, mouse pads, tote bags, bibs or baseball caps, the possibilities are endless.
Chapter 1 - Introduction Maintenance Although the T-Jet is “simply” an inkjet printer, the number one technical issue is a lack of maintenance of the machine. There are three main areas of concern: • Printing on t-shirts is not the same as printing on paper. A shirt gives off much more lint which must be cleaned up regularly. • The EPSON print engine was originally designed for use with EPSON ink. Our textile ink has much more pigment and will build up on the components if not maintained daily.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual U.S. Screen Support Information Toll Free Technical Support Corp. Office Fax E-mail: Internet: +1 888-MYTJETS (698-5387) +1 480-929-2937 +1 480-929-0640 +1 480-929-0766 support@usscreen.com www.myt-jet.com. Click on the Support tab. Extended Support hours: 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm Saturday All times are Mountain Standard Time USA Please Note: Arizona does not observe “Daylight Savings Time.
Chapter 1 - Introduction Computer Graphics DVDs One of the hardest things to learn for the computer novice is computer graphics. There are a number of excellent DVDs explaining computer graphics and how to use Adobe Photoshop , CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. These DVDs focus mainly on the Screen Printing process, however they also feature excellent sections on how to create designs, how to deal with poor quality artwork and more.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual room for error. Shirt suppliers might not ship on time. You might not have checked your ink inventory and end up running out of a color. And, yes, you will ruin a few shirts! Accept this as a fact of life in the garment decorating industry. To have the most success, allow extra time to fill orders and don’t make commitments that might be hard to keep.
Chapter 2 Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Save the Crate and All Packing Materials Failure to follow this step will VOID YOUR WARRANTY. Your printer is a very large piece of equipment and it is shipped in a sturdy crate with bracing to hold delicate components in place. Unpack your printer with care and please retain all shipping materials, bags, boxes and directions received with the printer. These items will be needed for any future transportation of the printer.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Placement of the Blazer Express When determining where to set up your printer, keep in mind the T-Jet Blazer Express requires an area of at least 3.5 ft x 5.25 ft (1 m x 1.6 m) for the printer and workspace around it. Additional space is required for drying, pretreating garments, garment staging, etc. The Blazer Express’ final destination MUST BE A STURDY TABLE OR OTHER PLATFORM. For operator comfort, we recommend the height of the platform be at least 30”.
Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Placement of the Shirt Board When placing your Shirt Board within the Pint Bed, take care to align the item carefully. Failure to seat the Shirt Board completely in the four Guide Pins can result in an unsteady print surface and errors in your output. For reference, the Blazer Express standard-sized Shirt Board should be placed in the Landscape orientation when facing the front of the machine..
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Casters have been built into the cabinet base, allowing for easy movement to a suitable location within your shop. When determining where to set up your printer, keep in mind the T-Jet Blazer Pro requires an area of at least 12 ft x 10 ft (3.65 m x 3 m) for the printer and workspace around it. Additional space is required for drying, pretreating garments, garment staging, etc. Note: Remove any obstacles.
Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup of Your Printer Placement of the Shirt Boards The Blazer Pro comes with 3 standard-sized and 2 over-sized Shirt Boards. Each Shirt Board is designed to fit on 4 metal pegs. Line two up on one side and then bring the Shirt Board down slowly to line the other side up with the pegs. Refer to Chapter 8 -Initialization Utilities for instructions on Leveling the Shirt Boards.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual IMPORTANT POINT When using White ink, you must apply a Pretreatment to the shirts before printing. DO NOT spray this Pretreatment near your printer. Pretreat shirts in a different room if possible, but at a minimum make a cardboard enclosure for use during applications. The Pretreatment is sticky and can ruin the Print Head as well as damage the Encoder Strip. The Encoder Strip is a thin piece of clear plastic with data that is read by the Print Head as the unit operates.
Chapter 3 The Bulk Ink System The T-Jet Blazer printers use a specially designed Bulk Ink System with cartridges that hold about 200 ml of ink per color (x8) and allow for easy re-filling as needed. In order to prevent damage or ink leakage, your printer was not shipped with the Bulk System installed. To prevent components from drying out, it is shipped with cleaning cartridges. You will need to remove these prior to use because these cartridges do NOT contain textile ink.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual DO NOT overfill the cartridge. There are hash marks on the front of each cartridge denoting increments of 50 ml, with the top mark referencing 200 ml. DO NOT add ink beyond this mark. As a guide, stickers have been affixed to the front of each Ink Cartridge indicating the RECOMMENDED ink levels of between 50 and 150 ml. Top off the ink at the start of every shift to keep it as close to the “full” level as possible. 2. Prime the cartridge.
Chapter 3 - The Bulk Ink System Ink Care Keep ink tightly capped in a 50-100°F (19-38° C) area. FOR BEST RESULTS, SHAKE THE WHITE INK BOTTLE(S) STORED ON THE SHELF, WEEKLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE TO PREVENT SETTLING. We recommend at least agitating the colors periodically. The white ink bulk ink bottles on the printer will also need to be, at least, gently agitated on a regular basis. Refer to Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing with White for more information on white ink care.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual the Reset Module to change its status. The module’s Red light will blink while it resets the chip. The Red light will transition to a SOLID Green when the reset is complete. The process of resetting the smart chip is demonstrated in the following three images. The light on the chip resetter will be solid green when reset is complete. There are currently 2 types of chip resetters. The second resetter is white and is used the same way as the blue.
Chapter 4 Interacting with the Blazer Express The following steps will cover everything from plugging your new printer in and powering it on to connecting it to your computer as well as learning the LCD buttons and User Interface screens. Refer to Chapter 5 - Interacting with the Blazer PRO for interacting with the Blazer Pro.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Overview of Printer Connections Power Switch ON AC Power Cord Plug-In OFF USB Connection Plugging the Unit into AC Power Plug the printer into its own power source. The T-Jet Blazer Express has a dual voltage power converter built in, allowing it to work with 50 or 60 cycle current ranging from 110 volts to 220 volts. Insert the AC cord into the unit and plug the opposite end into a power strip with surge protection.
Chapter 4 - Interacting with the Blazer Express 2. Power On the User Interface On the User Interface, wait until the virtual LED labeled “Automatic Mode” becomes Red (five seconds) and press the Orange Power On button. The Blazer Express will go through a startup cycle that takes a few minutes. The virtual LED turns Red after 5 seconds When complete, the printer will be the print status Paper Out ROLL/CUT mode, viewable on the LCD Display panel. Powering Off 1.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual The Universal Serial Bus (USB) method of communication is standard on all newer computers, but a little known fact is that only a certain amount of power is supplied to the entire “bus.” If you have several items (other than a mouse and the FastARTIST Dongle) plugged into different USB ports on your computer, this may cause communication issues with the printer. We recommend using a dedicated computer to control your T-Jet Blazer Express.
Chapter 5 Interacting with the Blazer PRO The following steps will cover everything from plugging your new printer in and powering it on to connecting it to your computer as well as learning the LCD buttons and User Interface screens. Refer to Chapter 4 - Interacting with your Blazer EXPRESS for interacting with the Blazer Express.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Overview of Printer Connections Printer Bed Power Cord DO NOT UNPLUG!!! ON OFF Circuit Breaker/ Power Switch AC Power Cord USB Cable Connection UI Serial Port Connection Plugging the Unit into AC Power Plug the printer into its own power source. The T-Jet Blazer Pro has a dual voltage power converter built in, allowing it to work with 50 or 60 cycle current, ranging from 110 volts to 220 volts.
Chapter 5 - Interacting with the Blazer PRO Powering the Blazer PRO ON and OFF Always Power On and Off as stated below. Your printer requires a proper startup and shutdown cycle that may only run if the following steps are followed correctly. Powering On 1. Power On the Main Power Switch Place the Main Power Switch (located adjacent the AC cord) to the up position. Main Power Switch 2.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Connecting Your Printer to a Computer You may only connect the T-Jet Blazer Pro to a computer with an available USB 2.0 input. For best results, use the special gold tipped USB cable supplied with the machine. Avoid using a cable that is over 6ft in length and do not use a switch box or USB Hub. Failure to follow these guidelines can cause communication problems between the printer and your computer. Do not overload your USB ports.
Chapter 6 Printer Driver Installation Epson Printer Driver Installation A Printer Driver is software needed to make any printer function. For the T-Jet Blazer Express and PRO to operate properly, you will need to install the latest Epson printer driver(s). We have included these on the FastARTIST 1.5.1 compact disc included with your FastARTIST package. You can also download these and the most current versions for the Epson Stylus Pro 4880 available at www.epson.com.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 2. A security warning screen will open. Press Run. 3. Click OK for the Self Extractor Window 4. Another Self Extractor Window opens. Where field named, “Unzip to Folder” should default to your “C” drive or Local disk and unzip in a folder named Epson. Do not change anything here unless it defaults to a different location. If it reads a different location, press browse and make a folder named “Epson” on your local disk. Click Unzip. 5.
Chapter 6 - Printer Driver Installation 7. Click Accept to accept the License Agreement. 8. The Utility Setup will begin and will start copying the necessary files. 9. A Software Installation warning screen will appear. Click Continue Anyway. 10. The last screen is a screen that will auto-detect your printer. Make sure that your T-Jet is connected to the printer using the USB cord. • Power on the printer and the Epson Printer Utility will auto detect it and finalize the installation process.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual not provided by Epson. As a result, your T-Jet and any driver software is NOT supported by Epson. All support for the Epson driver and internal Epson components will come from U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology. If you have any concerns installing the driver, contact our Support Department and they will gladly walk you through the process. Version 5.
Chapter 7 Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls Whether it’s a Head Cleaning, Nozzle Check, Head Alignment or other maintenance, all Utilities can be accessed through the LCD Display Control Panel, located above the white ink cartridges. The LCD Dispay Control Panel is also used to pause and reset print jobs.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Left/Paper Button This button is used to navigate throught the LCD screens. It is also used to adjust the “paper” setting of the printer. Down Button This button is used to navigate through the LCD screens. Up Button This button is used to navigate through the LCD screens. Right/ Clean Button This button is used to navigate through the LCD screens.
Chapter 7 - Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls About the User Interface Buttons The T-Jet Blazer EXPRESS and the PRO both feature a User Interface (also referred to as HMI). The User Interface (UI) allows power and control of the printer assembly and has 3 main buttons (not counting the touch screen display). Power Off Button This button is used to shutdown the printer assembly during a normal shutdown cycle. For the Blazer PRO model is also used as an emergency shutdown.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Pass Select: Press the number of desired passes in the Pass Select area of the Mode Select screen. this will only work when in Auto Mode. Pad Enabled Icon: The Pad Enabled icon will appear on all of the User Interface screens and represents the mode that the Mode Select screen is set to. If the Pad Enabled is lit in red, the User Interface is in Auto Mode and if not lit, is in Manual Mode.
Chapter 7 - Learning the LCD and User Interface Controls JOG - For and Rev Buttons: BLAZER EXPRESS • Pressing the FOR button moves the print bed incrementally towards the back of the printer (if facing printer, the bed will move away from you, towards the Index Position). • Pressing the REV button moves the print bed incrementally toward the front of the printer (if facing printer, the bed will move closer to you, towards the Home Position).
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • Pressing the DOWN button lowers the Platen (Print Bed) giving more clearance. The distance of the platen (with the substate loaded) needs to be set to a minimum of 3mm to a maximum of 5mm in relation to the Printer Assembly. This distance will depend on what distance is used in performing your Print Head Alignment. Learn more in Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities. System Printer Control Utility (SPCU) Screen The SPCU has been discontinued.
Chapter 8 Initialization Utilities You have the Bulk Ink System in place and the Printer Driver installed, but there are a few more steps to follow before you can begin printing. You must set the Shirt Board to the correct height for printing and perform an initialization process that will get the ink flowing, and ensure the Print Head Nozzles are in proper alignment to output the best possible images.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • 2. The other method is to visually check the gear that controls the Print Head height. This gear is on the left end of the printer opposite of the capping station and can be viewed by lifting the lid. DEFAULT POSITION: IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED If the gear is open like above, DO NOT attempt to set the Print Head Height. The A HEAD CLEANING CYCLE easiest way to set this to Printing Position OR HAVE CONFIRMED THAT is by performing a Head Cleaning Cycle.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities • Lift the printer cover (if it is not already lifted) and locate the Carriage Release Button (blue) located in front of the Print Carriage on the right side of the printer. • Press down and slowly move the Print Carriage towards the Shirt Board. 5. Measure the Distance Using a ruler or a jig, measure the distance between the Shirt Board and the Print Head. You may need to go to the rear of the printer to see; you may also need a flashlight.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Adjust the Overall Height of the Shirt Board (EXPRESS) Now that the Shirt Board is level, the next step is to adjust the entire height of the Shirt Board (if needed). You may not have to complete this section for the initial setup if you ended up with an accurate measured distance in the previous section. In addition, should you need to raise or lower the Shirt Board to accommodate different garment thicknesses or other items, the following procedure would be used. 1.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities WARNING: SOME EARLIER MODELS MAY NOT BE EQUIPPED WITH THE HEIGHT SENSOR. IF YOUR MODEL DOES NOT, REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SECTION - SETTING THE OVERALL HEIGHT FOR THE BLAZER PRO MODEL - WHICH ALSO DOES NOT HAVE A HEIGHT SENSOR EQUIPPED. 6. Set the Shirt Board Height For best results, you will want to set the distance as close to the sensor level as possible. Use the Height Adjustment knob to set the clearance to the desired height for printing.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Shirt Board Height Settings BLAZER PRO It is necessary during setup to check and adjust the Shirt Board to Head Clearance to the proper height for output and to make sure that the Shirt Board is at a safe distance from the Print Head. It is also important that each corner of each Shirt Board being used is level with the Print Head. Leveling the Shirt Boards (PRO) The first step in the process is to level the Shirt Boards to the Print Head.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED A HEAD CLEANING CYCLE OR HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE PRINTER IS IN PRINTING POSITION, CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STEP. 3. Position the Shirt Board You will need to position the first Shirt Board underneath the Print Head so that you can accurately measure the distance between the two. The distance needs to be checked (and adjusted if necessary) on all 4 corners of each Shirt Board to have the best possible prints. Stand.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 5. Measure the Distance Using a ruler or a jig, measure the distance between the Shirt Board and the Print Head. You may need to go to the rear of the printer to see; you may also need a flashlight. In the photo to the right we used 3 CDs stacked together (measuring 4 mm) to show how a jig can help in the measuring process. 6.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Adjust the Overall Height of the Print Bed Assembly (PRO) Now that the Shirt Boards are level, the next step is to adjust the entire height of the Platen. In addition, should you need to raise or lower the entire Print Bed Assembly to accommodate different garment thicknesses or other items, the following procedure would be used. 1. Confirm that the Printer is in the Proper Position. Refer to the previous section - Leveling the Shirt Board - Step 2.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 7. Set the Platen to a safe clearance Use the Platen to Head Clearance Adjustment Screen on the User Interface to set the clearance of approximately 3 mm (1/8”) and no less. • On the UI, press the “RIGHT hand” button until the Mode Select screen appears. (Refer to the previous chapter for details on UI screens) • In the upper left hand corner is a virtual dial pointing to “Auto.” Press the dial once and it will rotate to Manual.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Power Cleaning Utility To initialize the ink, a utility called Power Cleaning will need to be performed. The Power Cleaning Utility will pull the ink through the lines and into the Print Head. It can also be utilized if you have serious nozzle clogs, however, it will consume a large volume of ink. We recommend that you only perform a Power Cleaning for your initial setup unless the troubleshooting chapter or our support team suggests otherwise.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • Press the LEFT ARROW once more and the LCD Display will read “PAPER OUT” and displays a “roll of paper with a scissors” icon. This mode is called PAPER OUT/ ROLL CUT mode. The printer is now in Print status. PAPER OUT Whenever you need to get to Print Status, this is the sequence you will use. The only difference would be if you were preparing to output an image onto a garment, the virtual dial of the Mode Select Screen would be set to Auto. 4.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Nozzle Check Utility The next step in the setup process is performing Nozzle Check. The Nozzle Check Utility is necessary to confirm that the ink is flowing and that the Print Head is performing properly. The Nozzle Check Utility also works in conjunction with the Head Cleaning Cycle showing that a cleaning was successful or if another is needed.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Activate the Nozzle Check Utility A Nozzle Check Utility can be activated through the LCD Display Control Panel or the LFP Remote Panel (see later section in this chapter). For steps on activating through the LCD Display Control Panel, carefully follow the steps below. 1. The printer should now be in READY ROLL Mode. Press the RIGHT ARROW Button once - the display will read “Printer Setup.” 2. Press the DOWN ARROW Button once to see “Test Print.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Print Head Alignment Utility BLAZER EXPRESS The next step in the Initialization process is the execution of the Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional Print Head Alignments. You CANNOT skip this process during setup or your prints may suffer. Performing a precise and COMPLETE Head Alignment is extremely crucial to creating great images with your new printer. This method of completing the alignment is completed by using the LFP Remote Panel.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual BLAZER EXPRESS Setup To continue to the following steps, you must have the Epson LFP Remote Panel installed and the computer connected to the printer. The printer must be in “Ready/ROLL” mode and be in the Index Position with the film or other media (to print on) in place. If the printer is not in the correct mode, you will receive a “Communication Failed” error. You will also need to determine the Print Head height that you will use permanently while printing. 1.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities BLAZER EXPRESS Alignment Procedures Whether you are performing the Initial Setup or correcting minor printing concerns, the following steps are necessary to perform a Print Head alignment for your T-Jet Blazer EXPRESS. If completing the Head Alignment process for the initial setup, also see the later section - Quick Alignment (Optional). You will be able to save time with this option. 1.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 5. In the Auto Adjustment section of the Media Adjustment window, select Bi-Directional or Uni-Directional Alignment from the drop down menu (depending on what alignment you want to complete). If you want to print in High Speed Print Modes (Bi-Directional), you will want to complete the Alignment process for both Uni and Bi-Directional. Some of our users have had success completing only the Bi-Directional Alignment.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities WARNING: It is EXTREMELY crucial that you only select ONE Dot Size per printout! The Blazer EXPRESS does not have enough bed length to print out all dot sizes in one run. If you do not deselect the other two check boxes, the printer will error out. If this happens refer to the Error codes in Chapter 15 Troubleshooting. 7. Double check that your film (or media) is still setup correctly. Also verify that the printer is still in Index Position and in READY/ROLL Mode. 8.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • Examine the Lines The first set of vertical lines begin with PK/MK, which refers to Black, numbered 1-9. Carefully examine the printed lines and determine the cleanest, straightest line. Select this line by entering its number (1-9) in the corresponding box in the LFP window. • Examine the swatches (Bi-Directional only) The “C” refers to the Cyan color swatch. Examine the Cyan swatches and select the one closest to a perfect rectangle with no gaps or breaks in color.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Print Head Alignment Utility BLAZER PRO - LFP Remote Panel The next step in the Initialization process is the execution of the Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional Print Head Alignments. You CANNOT skip this process during setup or your prints may suffer. Performing a precise and COMPLETE Head Alignment is extremely crucial to creating great images with your new printer. There are two ways of completing a Print Head Alignment for the BLAZER PRO.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual BLAZER PRO Setup To continue to the following steps, you must have the Epson LFP Remote Panel installed and the computer connected to the printer. The printer must be in “Ready/ROLL” mode and be in the Index Position with the film or other media (to print on) in place. If the printer is not in the correct mode, you will receive a “Communication Failed” error. You will also need to determine the Print Head height that you will use permanently while printing. 1.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities 6. Next, go back to the LCD Display Control Panel and change the printer mode to “Ready/Roll” mode by pressing the LEFT ARROW button twice. The display will read “READY” with a “roll of paper” icon. Continue on with next section. READY 1 BLAZER PRO Alignment Procedures - LFP Remote Panel Whether you are performing the Initial Setup or correcting minor printing concerns, the following steps are necessary to perform a Print Head alignment for your T-Jet Blazer PRO.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 5. In the Auto Adjustment section of the Media Adjustment window, select Bi-Directional or UniDirectional Alignment from the drop down menu (depending on what alignment you want to complete). If you want to print in High Speed Print Modes (Bi-Directional), you will want to complete the Alignment process for both Uni and Bi-Directional. Some of our users have had success completing only the Bi-Directional Alignment.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities 8. Press the Print button on the LFP Remote Panel Screen. The print process will take approximately 10 minutes. After the print is complete, be careful not to smudge the ink, it will be wet for a short while. Selection and Entry of the Values 1. Study the alignment patterns. If completing a Uni-Directional Alignment, you will notice two columns and a group of dotted lines marked #1, #2 and #3, representing each Dot Size. NOTE: The Express will only print 1 at a time.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual NOTE: If all of the swatches look the same see chart below. If all of the swatches for a particular color look like above, select number 1 as the value. By selecting 1, the alignment will shift the correct way on the next alignment printout (or entry). If all of the swatches for a particular color look like above, select number 9 as the value. By selecting 9, the alignment will shift the correct way on the next alignment printout (or entry). 3.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Print Head Alignment Utility BLAZER PRO - LCD Display Controls Another option for completing the Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional Print Head Alignment is by using the LCD Display Control Panel. You CANNOT skip this process during setup or your prints may suffer. Performing a precise and COMPLETE Head Alignment is extremely crucial to creating great images with your new printer. There are two ways of completing a Print Head Alignment.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual as it will need to be for Bi-Directional Printing (High Speed). NOTE: Make sure that all of the Shirt Boards have been leveled properly. Refer to the earlier section, Shirt Board Height Settings for the Blazer PRO. 2. Set the printer from Print to “Ready/Sheet” status by pressing the LEFT ARROW button twice on the LCD Control Panel. The display will read “Ready” and you will see a “sheet of paper” icon.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities 2. Press the Down ARROW Button five times. The LCD Display will read, “Head Alignment.” 3. Press the Right ARROW/Enter Button once and the LCD will display, “Paper Thkns.” 4. Press the Down ARROW once to “Alignment.” 5. Press the Right ARROW/Enter Button once to see “Alignment Auto.” 6. Press the Down ARROW to see “Alignment Manual.” 7. Press the Right ARROW/Enter Button once and the LCD will display, “Alignment Manual Uni-D.” 8.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 2. Enter “Best” Values The next step is to enter the best results from the printout in the Alignment Screen and in the corresponding Dot number (1 being the first round and 3 being the last). • Examine the lines The first set of vertical lines begin with PK/MK, which refers to Black, numbered 1-9. Carefully examine the printed lines and determine the cleanest, straightest line. Select this line by entering its number (1-9) in the corresponding box in the LFP window.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Quick Alignment (Optional) This optional method of completing the Print Head Alignment process is basically just completing the alignment process by only printing the pattern twice and is most accurate when first setting up your printer. This process can prevent you from repeating the print 3 times or more. The process is completed properly by estimating how far the alignment is offby using the test printout and determining which way the Print Head needs to be aligned.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual An important factor is determining how far the particular gap is in the pattern. This figure will determine your next print outcome. If the pattern is spaced apart tremendously, (like the previous examples) the alignment may require 4 adjustments before printing the next test pattern, however, if the alignment is close, it may only require 2 entries.
Chapter 8 - Initialization Utilities Nozzle Check and Power Cleaning Utilities from the LFP Remote Panel To execute a Nozzle Check test print or a Power Cleaning from the LFP Remote Panel, refer to the previous section - About the LFP Remote Panel and Installation for installation procedures. 1. Select Power Cleaning from the LFP Remote Panel Main Screen. 2. Within the next screen, select your printer from the drop-down menu and click on the desired function. 3.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 5.
Chapter 9 Software Overview Graphic files can be large and the data sent from FastRIP to the printer is sent at a very high speed (high data rate). In order to get the fastest speed and have the fewest communication problems with the printer, you need a fast computer. You can use a standard desktop computer or even a laptop, but for the best performance, the computer should have at least 1GB of RAM (2 GB is recommended).
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual FastARTIST and FastRIP Not only do the printer and ink makes the T-Jet Blazer Series Printers so unique, but also the software that drives them. As mentioned earlier, your printer comes with two very powerful programs called FastARTIST and FastRIP. FastARTIST is a complete graphics program much like CorelDRAW and Adobe Photoshop.
Chapter 9 - Software Overview Using Computer Graphics Software In order to print a good looking image on a shirt, you need a good piece of artwork. The customer typically has no idea about the type or quality of artwork needed so you are often stuck with inferior designs. If you don’t have computer graphics experience, you might print this bad artwork and then blame your printer for the poor quality image.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Summary If you intend to create your own artwork, then we recommend that you have both a vector and bitmap program (one will work fine but will limit what you can do). The vector program will be used for working with shapes, text and edges, while the bitmap program will be used for any photographic or detailed images.
Chapter 9 - Software Overview A Quick Note about Photoshop As you begin to work with different kinds of images in different formats and resolutions, it is very important to have the proper tools necessary to clean up and make images “print ready.” Even though FastARTIST is a very powerful graphics program, there may be times when a program such as Photoshop is required for specific editing functions.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual The important point here is to keep the file resolution high enough for the image to remain sharp. It is generally accepted that a file needs to be at 300 dpi at the final size in order for it to remain crisp. In T-Shirt printing, you can get away with file resolutions of 150 to 300 dpi at the final size. You MUST know the actual resolution and size of the image, otherwise you could be working on a very small file and not know it.
Chapter 9 - Software Overview IMPORTANT POINT: If the original file is low resolution and not the final size, you need to upsample the file to the final print size with a resolution of 150 to 300 dpi. A resolution of 150 dpi is OK for photos and images without hard edges and resolutions of 300 to 350 are recommended where there is lettering or sharp edges. After upsampling, you can work on the file and add type or other elements.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Move the Amount slider to 150%. Set the Pixel Radius to 1 and the Threshold to 8. How does the image look? To compare the original to the sharpened version, uncheck the Preview check box (Photoshop). Click it on and off and compare the results. If you can’t see much difference, move the Amount slider higher. Go all the way to 500% if you need to but don’t make the image too grainy.
Chapter 9 - Software Overview Bitmap Editing in FastARTIST Photoshop is always in bitmap mode because it is a pixelbased editing program. FastARTIST (along with CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator) defaults to vector mode when you launch the program, so you will need to find the bitmap editing tools in these programs. In FastARTIST, double-click on the image. That changes the top Toolbar icons to standard bitmap editing mode (very similar icons to Photoshop).
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual You will also notice that your Channels Palette shows four channels: RGB, Red, Green and Blue. Your test file probably only shows one Layer, called Background. For more details on using the Layers Palette in Photoshop, consult the Adobe User’s Manual or the In-Program Help sections. Setting Transparent Images in FastARTIST To set transparent backgrounds in FastARTIST, double-click on the image to enter the bitmap edit state.
Chapter 9 - Software Overview Click an area in the background and the Magic Wand will make a selection around the image. If the “marching ants” selection goes into the main design, change the Tolerance on the Property Bar. The default is 32. Note: if you are working on a “flattened” piece of art (JPEG) with 1 layer named: “Background,” you need to first duplicate this layer to switch to “PSD file mode” to get the transparent background. The original layer can then be deleted.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Making Your Selection a New Layer The goal behind all this is to get your main image on a layer with a transparent background. (This will show as a gray and white checkered pattern throughout the image). With a transparent background, you can add additional elements to the image including text, drop shadows, glows and more. Fixing Bad Line-Art in Photoshop and FastARTIST You may also use a bitmap editing program to improve the quality of line-art.
Chapter 9 - Software Overview Artwork for Light and Dark Garments To set up artwork properly, it is imperative to know first onto what color garment the image is to be printed. This will then determine if the image background needs to be transparent, White, Black, or in some cases both Black and White. For Light colored garments, the T-Jet will print the image just as it appears, but it does not print the White. Printing in color without an Underbase is the easiest form of garment printing.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 5.
Chapter 10 Printing Basics Congratulations! You have made it to the chapter - Printing Basics. Its been quite a lengthy process to get here, but since you were patient and read through the entire manual, you will be rewarded with the most brilliant prints in the industry. This chapter will cover printing basics on lighter-colored garments NOT using white ink. Read this chapter of basics before continuing on to the next chapter. Your T-Jet Blazer Series printer is very easy to use.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Shirt Boards T-Jet Blazer Express The Blazer EXPRESS includes one Standard Adult and one Large (over-sized) Shirt Board. The EXPRESS model prints one garment at a time. T-Jet Blazer PRO The Blazer PRO model includes three Standard Adult and two Large (over-sized) Shirt Boards, meaning that on the PRO, although you are not required to, can print either 3 standard-sized prints or 2 over-sized prints at a time.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics Basic Printing Steps: 1. Power Up Power up your T-Jet (see Chapter 4 or Chapter 5 for proper steps) and allow the machine to go through its startup cycle. 2. Verify Print Status on the LCD Display After powering up, the printer should be in Print Status, but a far too common user error occurs when a print command is sent to the printer without the machine being in the proper mode. The printer MUST be in “Paper Out/Roll Cut” mode.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual For a more vibrant CMYK print on light garments, refer to Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing With White and learn about FastCOLOR Pretreatment and the pretreatment process. IMPORTANT POINT DO NOT leave the collar or seam exposed on top of the Shirt Board. Any unnecessary height on the bed may hit the Print Head when printing. Load the collar over the edge of the Shirt Board so that it is out of the way. It is also critical that the shirt lay flat.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics 8. Choose the artwork you wish to print. In the beginning you will need to concentrate on the print placement and getting the image in the graphics program coordinated to the correct location on the shirt. You can print directly to FastRIP from your favorite graphics application (if you are not outputting an Underbase or Highlight White), or you can print from within FastARTIST (recommended).
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 10. Import your Art into the Template Blazer Express Standard Template Blazer PRO Standard (3-up)Template • From the File Pull-down Menu select Import. • Choose the file you want to import. • Click on the page to import the file at it’s actual size or click and drag to apply a custom size. You can adjust the size by clicking and dragging on a corner. • Center the graphic in the “Safe Area” of the template.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics From the File Pull-down Menu, select FastRIP Setup. A window will open up letting you adjust all of the print setting and Print Modes. You can also do this by selecting File>Print to FastRIP. The screen will look a bit different and at the top of the window, click the square button with 3 dots in the Pressing this button will open up the setup options. middle. All designs are different and each have different needs. A brief overview of Print Modes follows.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 13. Send the Print command (from FastARTIST). • After all Print Modes have been selected, select File>Print to FastRIP The print preview window will open (you may already have this window open if you set the file up in this window). • Using the Arrow tool, select the art on the Artboard that you wish to print. In most cases you will want to print everything on the Artboard.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics When a Printing Job Is Finished After your job finishes printing, the Printer Assembly will return to the Home position and the green button on the User Interface will start to flash. At this time it is safe to: • Remove your garment and cure. For the Blazer PRO, extend the platen by the handle so that the third position Shirt Board is completely clear of the Printer Assembly. • Load your next garment(s) and resume printing.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Printing Tips and Tricks Preventative Maintenance One of the most important tasks in keeping your new printer running smoothly is to keep up on the maintenance of the machine. Although the T-Jet is “simply” an inkjet printer, the number one technical issue is a lack of maintenance of the machine. There are three main areas of concern: • Printing on t-shirts is not the same as printing on paper. A shirt gives off much more lint which must be cleaned up regularly.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics • Next, deselect anything selected and choose a new color to represent the print area. In this example, we will use yellow. Select the rectangle tool again and trace the safe area of the guide. • Zoom in and make sure that the edges line up with the guides. Do this on all 4 sides. • Click File>Export. We recommend exporting as an EPS. An EPS file will open in almost any graphics application.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual You can save a spooled job for later printing. This is most helpful when you want to print a particular job the exact same way or if a customer requests a repeat order by surprise. The spooled file saves as a file called JTB. The JTB file obtained it’s name from the extension of the actual file being archived. So when you spool the art file and name it cat, the JTB file will be named cat.jtb.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics where it says Location, click on the box with the three dots. A “Browse For” folder will open. This is where you will name the JTB file and select a save location. This works like any other browser window when saving a file. When a save location is selected, click OK at the bottom of the window. The location path in the window now displays the path of where you selected to save your file. 6. Next, click the Archive button.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual The T-Jet Blazer Express is equipped with an Emergency Kill Switch that will cut OFF all power to the printer. After pressing this button, you must shutdown the machine completely, including the Power Switch in the rear of the housing. All jobs within FastRIP must be cancelled and deleted. Perform a complete start-up and initialization to resume operations. IMPORTANT POINT Any file that was printing or spooled at the time of the emergency shutdown will be lost.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics across the Platen if it is at a dangerous height that will damage the Print Head. If the platen is set too high, or should anything break this beam, all machine functions will immediately pause, the LCD Display will read “Top Cover Open” and a small LED located on the top of the printer will flash Red. Immediately check your garment for folds or wrinkles that may affect Print Head clearance, smoothing out any variations as needed.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual photos and cartoons is 720 HS for CMYK and 1440 HS for the Underbase. For images on light garments in which no Underbase is used, a 2 Pass Print Mode will result in better color saturation. CMYK Cartoon and Photo Print Modes The T-Jet Blazer Series Printers have three basic modes for printing – Cartoon, Photo, and Underbase. The Cartoon and Photo Print Modes will print the image in color when printing from FastARTIST or any other graphics program.
Chapter 10 - Printing Basics IMPORTANT POINT The Eight Color Bulk Ink System is an optional configuration. If your printer is not equipped with the necessary inks and cartridges, you may purchase the additional accessories from U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology. Refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User’s Manual for details on ink cartridge placement. Underbase Print Modes The Underbase Print Modes may only be selected from within FastARTIST.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual the washability of the final print on light shirts that do not have white ink in the image by using FastCOLOR pretreatment. For information on pretreatments and applying pretreatment, refer to Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing With White. Poor washability ON DARK SHIRTS may be caused by too much pretreatment or from drying the pretreatment with a slick Teflon sheet or silicone treated baking pan liner. The slick surface may not allow the ink to adhere properly.
Chapter 11 Advanced Printing With White Ink This chapter will cover proper care of white ink, pretreatments and the pretreatment process, printing with white ink and how to take the proper steps in being successful with the process. The process of printing white ink onto garments was not easy to develop. Because the openings in Print Heads are so small, one cannot use thick ink like standard Screen Print Plastisol Ink.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Do not violently shake the ink; only shake mildly! Shaking too severely may cause the formation of small air bubbles that can severely impair printing or create a vapor lock within the ink during the day. End of the Day Agitation At the end of each work day, we recommend you remove each of the White Bulk Ink Cartridges, hold your finger tightly over the breather cap and gently tilt upside down.
Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Pretreatment Basics The Pretreatment solution is a milky colored, odorless and nontoxic liquid. A chemical reaction between the Pretreatment and the White ink causes the ink’s pigments to stay on top of the garment and not be absorbed by the textile fibers.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Types of Pretreatment Currently we offer three types of Pretreatment-FastINK Textile Pretreatment, FastBRIGHT Textile Pretreatment and FastCOLOR Textile Pretreatment: • FastINK Pretreatment is specifically designed for use on Dark colored garments, allowing for extremely bright Whites and vibrant colors. FastINK Pretreatment should only be used with medium to dark colored garments due to possible discoloration of light shirts when exposed to direct sunlight.
Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Drying the Pretreatment Using a Heat Transfer Press is the best means for drying the Pretreatment. A heat press will flatten out the fibers leaving a flat and smooth print surface. You can use a conveyor dryer or even a hair dryer, however, other methods of drying will not flatten the fibers and may result in a lower print quality. When using a Heat Press, lay a sheet of non-silicone Pretreatment paper (parchment paper) available from U.S. Screen.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Top off ALL of your White Ink cartridges to the 150ml mark at the beginning of each day and DO NOT allow the ink levels to drop below the 100ml mark or you risk ink starvation issues. DO NOT overfill above the 200 mL mark or overflow may occur. If the printer has been unused for a few days, perform two or three regular Head Cleaning cycles to get the White ink flowing properly.
Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Cure the print Carefully remove the shirt from the Shirtboard and cure. Keep in mind, White ink will need to be cured longer than standard colors. Cure in a conveyor dryer or Heat Press. Refer to Chapter 10 - Printing Basics - Curing Your Garments for more information. • If using a Heat Press, place a silicone treated piece of parchment paper (a common baking pan liner) over the print and close the press. • When you open the press, peel the paper immediately.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Washing Directions For the longest lasting print, the shirt should be turned inside out, washed in COLD water and dried on a delicate cycle. If possible, include washing directions to customers along with the finished prints.
Chapter 11 - Advanced Printing With White Ink Solution 3: The Highlight White settings in FastARTIST are wrong. You may actually be printing white ink ON TOP of the CMYK colors. Reload the image into FastARTIST and run the Underbase/Highlight Wizard again. Try not applying a Highlight or toning down the Highlight. Solution 4: Dry ink may be causing the Print Head to not seal properly. Due to the nature of the white ink pigment, it will build up faster on the capping station and on the wiper blade.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Solution 5: The Print Head is permanently clogged or damaged from lack of maintenance. Before contacting us for a replacement or for other instructions, check the print head to see if there is any visible ink or lint stuck to it. If so, use FastINK HD Cleaning Solution or Windex on a sponge swab and CAREFULLY wipe the bottom of the Print Head in one direction with VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. The print nozzles are very sensitive and can be damaged very easily.
Chapter 12 Printing Other Items The T-Jet can print on almost any fabric or material and you usually don’t need a clamping device. FastINK is a waterbased textile ink designed to work not only on natural fabric materials, but also on non-textile items such as unfinished wood, mouse pads, golf balls, metals, plastics and more. With the help of Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Series Pre/Post Treatment, FastINK will adhere to almost any type of surface.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual FastARTIST Page Size – Go to Layout > Page Size FastRIP Setup – Go to File > FastRIP Setup For more information about printing on caps or Non-Textile, such as golf balls, there is a downloadable PDF available at www.screenprinters.net. Adjusting the Platen Height Before sending any print, check the Platen/Print Bed to Head Clearance. You will most likely need to adjust it when printing other items.
Chapter 12 - Printing Other Items Non-Textile Printing Required Items and Overview You must have the following to successfully print on Non-Textile items: 1. Non-Textile Pretreatment 2. Non-Textile Post-Treatment 3. fine bristle brush Optional materials may be required: 1. 2. 3. 4. Non-Textile Primer a holder for object(s) (i.e.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual T-Jet Non-Textile Primer Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer is designed to be used on high gloss, non-porous surfaces as a primer coat prior to the application of our standard T-Jet Brand Non-Textile Pretreatment. DO NOT print directly onto this product. Protect your work surfaces with newspaper. APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: • Dip a fine bristle brush into the Primer, wiping off any excess on the side of the bottle.
Chapter 12 - Printing Other Items T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment is designed for use as an inkjet ink receptive base coat when printing directly onto non-textile materials such as plastic, metal and wood. For increased durability of the final print use our Fast T-Jet Post-Treatment on top of the final print. When using a Fast T-Jet Inkjet-to-Garment Printer and FastINK Textile ink, you WILL NOT need to change inks when using this product.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Setting up an Image for Printing To setup an image for print you may use an application such as Photoshop, Illustrator or CorelDRAW, however we recommend using FastARTIST. If you will be printing White ink, you MUST use FastARTIST. For the purposes of this Manual, we demonstrate will setting up the image using FastARTIST. The steps required for printing with other graphic applications will be very similar- please consult your application’s Owner’s Manual if needed. 1.
Chapter 12 - Printing Other Items Printing on Golf Balls To print golf balls you will need a Golf Ball Holder (optional), T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment, and Post-Treatment (T-Jet Non-Textile Primer is not necessary). For more information, refer to the literature that came with your Golf Ball Printing Kit 1. Load the Golf Balls into the Holder and place the Over-spray Shield on top of the balls. The Shield will protect areas not intended to be printed upon from Pretreatment and over-spray. 2.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 3. Choose a Print Mode (Non-textile Print Mode). For a list and description of the available Print Modes, please refer to your FastARTIST User’s Manual. 4. Print to FastRIP. T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment This Post-Treatment is a protective coating used for prints on non-textile surfaces. Using the posttreatment will prevent fading of ink colors, extend the life of the image as well as waterproofing and acting as a UV protectant.
Chapter 12 - Printing Other Items and pilot lights and turn off stoves, heaters, electric motors and other sources of ignition during use and until all vapors are gone. Prevent buildup of vapors by opening all windows and doors to achieve cross ventilation. Use only with adequate ventilation. Do not breathe dust, vapors or spray mist. Ensure fresh air entry during application and drying.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 5.
Chapter 13 Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Your T-Jet Blazer Series Printer should work trouble free IF you take the time to understand and perform the necessary maintenance. 95% of our Technical Support calls come from people who have not maintained their machines properly. While it may appear to be “just” an inkjet printer, it is a VERY SPECIAL inkjet printer. When printing on garments, it must print A LOT more ink than when printing on paper.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual dirt can interfere with the exchange of data between the Print Head and the Encoder Strip. Manually move the carriage to the left and right throughout the cleaning process to allow you reach and clean the entire Encoder Strip. For best results use 90% Isopropyl Alcohol pads (NOT “Rubbing Alcohol” pads) and wrap the alcohol pad around both sides of the Encoder strip. Gently move the pad in both directions. If the pad becomes black, replace pad and clean again.
Chapter 13 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance 3. Clean the Wiper Blade The Wiper Blade is a part of the capping station (above the capping station) that wipes off left over residue after printing large volumes of jobs. The wiper blade is an important component and needs to be kept clean in order to reduce other maintenance issues. Using a foam tipped swab along with FastINK HD Cleaning Fluid, clean both sides of the wiper blade, making sure that there is no residue present.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 6. Run Head Cleaning Cycles - Start and End of Each Day After turning ON the machine at the start of the day, perform 1 or 2 Head Cleaning Cycles. Press and hold the Right/Clean button on the LCD control panel, for three seconds to initiate. Also, perform Head Cleaning Cycles at the end of a large shirt run as well as at the end of each day. Another option is to setup your computer to schedule automatic Head Cleaning Cycles daily.
Chapter 13 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Weekly Maintenance Weekly Maintenance is also very important to practice in order to keep the best results in daily printing as well as preventing any future issues. The amount of weekly maintenance required depends on how many garments were printed that week. Follow these steps to ensure that your T-Jet continues to print the best images possible. 1.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • Next, gently slide the metal cowling free and the Waste Tank will be easily accessible. To remove the Waste Tank, slide if from its bin. • Always r eplace the Waste Ink Tank or Pad • Reset the Chip Next, use the Chip Reset Module to reset the Waste Tank chip. For instructions on resetting the chip, refer to Chapter 3 - The Bulk Ink System - Resetting the Bulk Ink Cartridges. The instructions for resetting a bulk ink cartridge also apply to the Waste Ink Tank.
Chapter 13 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Monthly Maintenance You will need to lubricate the Bed Rails and Rail Guides on a Monthly basis to facilitate the Print Assembly moving smoothly during image output. This procedure will help prevent banding as well as several other image quality concerns. 1.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual A Grease Gun and Lithium-based grease can be purchased from most major Auto Parts stores. Connect the Grease Gun to the Zerk fitting pictured here to lube the Rail Guides. There are 2 Rail Guides per side, 4 total. 3. Lubricate the Bed Rails To correctly lubricate the Main Rails, apply a very THIN coat of the same Lithium-based grease used for the Rail Guides. Spread the White Grease along the ENTIRE length of both Rails using a clean, lint-free cloth.
Chapter 13 - Daily, Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Maintenance Schedule Checklist Use this Checklist as a guide to ensure critical maintenance is performed on a regular basis. DO NOT SKIP A DAY, WEEK OR MONTH! The Checklist may also be downloaded from www.screenprinters.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 5.
Chapter 14 Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality This section will cover basic and “not so basic” tips and utilities to help keep your printer and your printed images the best that they can be. Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts When you perform a Head Cleaning, ink is forced through the Nozzles and the Print Head is cleaned and wiped by the printer. On occasion, this may not clean away small pieces of shirt lint that collect around the base.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Humidity and Environmental Control Controlling the environment in which your Blazer Express “lives” is a must! During the cold winter months, dry heat is often pumped into a room. This is not a good thing for inkjet printers! They prefer humidity levels of 40% to 60%. If your room is dry, place a humidifier in the room and buy an inexpensive hygrometer from Radio Shack, Target, Wal Mart etc. to measure the humidity level.
Chapter 14 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality When in Doubt, Unplug Everything Sometimes inkjet printers just get “confused,” especially if you stop them in the middle of a run. If the printer is suddenly acting abnormally, turn everything OFF and unplug the power cord. Make sure to disconnect the USB cable between your Fast T-Jet Blazer Express and the computer to end data transmission that still may be occurring.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Additional Utilities A typical print problem that can occur is when lines are missing in the final image. This is called banding and can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons for banding are a dirty or clogged Print Head, or dirty Encoder Strip. If your prints are unexpectedly light, or dots or lines are missing, you may need to clean the Print Head.
Chapter 14 - Tips and Utilities to Maximize Print Quality 3. Setup in FastRIP • Click on the Queue pull down menu and select properties. • Select Printer status from the left of the Queue Properties Window. • Put a check mark in the Head Clean check box. • Type in 8 in the first box, representing hours. This will set the printer to run a head cleaning every 8 hours. • Click OK. 4.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual everything is set to Never be turned off except for the monitor; your monitor may still be set to turn off whenever you would like. • Make sure you leave the printer and computer turned on and that FastRIP is open at all times. Setting your computer to perform the Auto Head Cleaning Function does change the fact that you still need to follow all other ink care procedures and practices, such as rotating.
Chapter 15 Troubleshooting This chapter was written to help you find solutions for what has been considered common problems. Through years of research and development, there is still common concerns and areas that may be difficult to resolve especially with inkjet-to-garment being such a new technology. Although we have the best technical support in the industry, we recommend skimming through this chapter with any problems or concerns you may have.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 2. Underbase and Color Do Not Line Up for Subsequent Images The first printed image is great, but the Underbase and Top Color registration is off for either the second and third Shirt Board for the PRO or images on the next run for the Express. Causes: • You are using a Page Size greater than the maximum printable area Make sure you are using the pre-made templates within FastARTIST.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting • The Print Head may need special cleaning if not damaged. Order a replacement Print Head and replace following the instructions. Preventions: • Clean the Capping Station on a regular basis. • Clean debris from the Print Head daily. • Do not overfill the Bulk Ink Cartridges. Cause 2: The Print Head may need special cleaning if not permanently clogged. Solution: Follow the instructions in Chapter 13 on releasing the print carriage.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • The temperature of the Heat Press was not correct Make sure the Heat Press is heating up evenly and reaching the correct temperature of 330º F. You can test this with a touch-less infrared thermometer or heat testing strip. • Too much Pretreatment was applied Avoid soaking the garment with Pretreatment. Do not print on shirts where the Pretreatment may still be wet.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting Preventions: • Usually when a color prints with an incorrect hue, it is because a Nozzle is clogged. If you are trying to print an Orange image but it appears more Yellow, that means the Magenta is clogged and the pigments can’t mix to produce Orange. • One of the most important parts of your Blazer Series Printer is the Capping Station. Make sure this ALWAYS stays clean. The Print Head “docks” here when not in use to ensure it does not dry out.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Preventions: • Double check the settings in FastRIP prior to sending a Print command. • Clean the Encoder Strip more often. • Always make sure images are the same size when using the Underbase Wizard in FastARTIST. • Test the communication between the computer and printer. 7. Fonts Are Not Printing Correctly Fonts are not printing in the correct font, size or not printing at all. Cause: Sometimes fonts, especially script fonts, may not print correctly or at all.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting • Keep it simple. Do not overload the printer port. • When in doubt first try turning everything off and unplugging things such as the USB cable from the computer to the printer. • Pay close attention to page sizes and LCD display modes. 9. When Printing with White, No Ink Prints/No Underbase Settings Available Cause and Solution: You do not have the correct printer selected in FastRIP.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • If the white ink is uneven, be sure to pretreat the entire printable area evenly. • Use 100% Pretreatment. Try not diluting it with water to see if prints improve. Preventions: • Practice is the only way to master the art of pretreating a shirt. Eventually you will develop your own style for applying Pretreatment. Cause 2: The Underbase settings in FastARTIST are not strong enough or not set up correctly.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting Solution: Replace the Print Head. In the event that you find your Print Head permanently clogged or damaged, follow the instructions on replacing the print head included with a Print Head purchase. View the video online covering the steps in replacing a print head. Refer to Chapter 16 - Product Support for instructions on logging on to the support site and viewing videos and accessing technical documents.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Solution: The following may prevent you from replacing the clogged print head. Follow the instructions in Chapter 13 on releasing the print carriage. Check the print head for excess ink drops or lint. If the print head is visibly dirty, with an Isopropyl Alcohol wipe, carefully, in one direction, wipe the print head using little pressure. You can easily damage the nozzles by pressing too hard. Repeat once or twice if necessary by flipping or replacing the alcohol pad.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting • File resolution is too high. A resolution of 150 to 300 DPI (at the final print size) is all that is necessary for inkjet-to-garment printing. If you receive a larger file resolution, resample the file to a lower resolution. Doing this will speed up ripping and printing times. Prevention 1: Keep file sizes small, if possible, and don’t send too many print commands at once.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • When printing a large volume run, clean the Encoder Strip often to prevent communication errors from ruining shirts during a printing cycle. 15. White Underbase Box Over Entire Image When you print a White Underbase you get a White box over the entire image. Cause: Check your Underbase setup within FastARTIST. Within FastARTIST go to File > FastRIP Setup > Underbase Setup tab.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting • The Ribbon Cable to the Print Head is damaged. If you accidentally splash/drip ink or cleaning fluid on the gray ribbon cable that connects to the Print Head, it can short out. Check for burn marks on the ribbon cable connectors. Check to make sure it hasn’t been crimped or pinched. • The Motherboard is bad. There is a chance the motherboard is bad.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual If you are NOT using your printer on a regular basis, the ink may partially dry within the Print Head, causing a clog. Solution 1: We have found the best solution to this issue is to turn your printer ON everyday, even if you don’t intend to print anything. When the printer is turned ON, it primes the Print Head during startup. This process is sufficient to prevent head clogs if done regularly. You DO NOT have to do a Head Cleaning unless you want to.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting LCD Error Warnings and Codes The following section of this Troubleshooting chapter will cover popular Error Messages and codes that may appear in the LCD Display and ways to correct them. For a complete list of Error Codes, visit our support site. Refer to Chapter 16 -Product Support for information on accessing these files. The topics listed are in random order.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Error Code: 10000 The fuse is blown (Express model) causing the print bed to sit on the index sensor. Solution: You will need to replace the 5 amp fuse on the DC Motor Control Board. Follow the instructions below. Error Code 10000 Solution for the Blazer Express: Replacing the DC Motor Control Board Fuse What you will need • 4 mm Allen Wrench • Phillips Screwdriver • 5 amp fuse (supplied with printer) 1. Remove the 6 screws on the left side access panel.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting In most cases, you can visibly determine if the fuse is bad. This may require removing it first. 3. Replace the fuse. Be sure the clips are pressed securely around the fuse after replacement. 4. Put the side panel back on. Note: It is a good idea to put all the screws in place before tightening. If you have questions, or your problem persists after completing these instructions, please call Technical Support at 888-698-5387 or send an e-mail to support@usscreen.com.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 1. Using the 4 mm Allen Wrench, unscrew the two screws holding the front plate to the upper back plate. 2. Next remove the four screws holding in the upper back plate. 3. Pull out the upper back plate. 4. Remove the four screws on the back plate. Version 5.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting 5. Lean the back plate back. Be careful not to unplug or damage any of the wiring to the breaker switch. 6. The Belt Tension Roller is mounted on a shaft with two screws on either end. Using the 5 mm Allen Wrench, loosen the screws slightly. 7. Push down on the belt going to the large gear to test the tension. Raise the roller 1/16” and test the tension again. If the tension has loosened perceptibly, tighten the roller shaft screws.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Binding Solution for the PRO: Adjusting the Lead Screw Bracket The Lead Screw Bracket (or front Drive Screw Mount) should be vertical, not at an angle. 1. If the Lead Screw Bracket is only slightly angled, gently tap it to straighten. Doing this can eliminate binding issues. If this did not help the level of the Lead Screw Bracket, continue on with step 2. Drive Screw Lead Screw Bracket 2.
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting Error Code: 1001D Print Carriage Obstruction. Something is preventing the Print Carriage from moving correctly. Solution: A 1001D error code typically denotes an obstruction of carriage movement. The two most common causes are the capping pad and the carriage home sensor. Capping Pad The capping pad should freely move to the right, however, dried ink can build up in the rails that guide the pad. If the pad is having difficulty moving, it will obstruct the carriage movement.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual If you have questions, or your problem persists after completing these instructions, please call Technical Support at 888-698-5387 or send an e-mail to support@usscreen.com. Remember to include your serial number and repair record(s) when emailing or have them ready when calling. Error Code: 1001E Blazer Express Cause 1: The Height Sensor has been tripped too many times. Solution: Lower the Shirt Board (Increase the Platen to Head Clearance).
Chapter 15 - Troubleshooting Error: TOP COVER OPEN The Height Sensor has been tripped too many times. Solutions: • Lower the Shirt Board (Increase the Platen to Head Clearance) Error: RELOAD PAPER The Epson settings on the main circuit board have been changed or reset. The point in which you get the SERVICE ERROR should be right after the machine has finished the start up process and returned to Home Position. At this point the LCD screen will read SERVICE ERROR “RELOAD PAPER”.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual • Press the far right button or MENU button to get into the menu. • The very first option on the screen should be PRINTER SETUP. Press MENU again to enter into the PRINTER SETUP configuration. • The screen will read PLATEN GAP. Use the up and down arrows to browse all of the settings that can be changed. Press MENU to enter a topic and use the up and down arrows to find the setting you want. Once you have selected a setting, press MENU again to select that option.
Chapter 16 Product Support Support Policy T-Jet Blazer Series Printer support is free. Since the machines are designed to be intuitive and very easy to use, most support questions have to do with using FastARTIST, FastRIP or printing from specific graphics applications. For the quickest support, Email your question to support@usscreen.com. Be very specific and include your serial number and any repair/problem history.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 24 Hour Emergency Support In the event that you must have support and cannot wait until our normal support schedule, an Emergency 24-Hour Support Technician can be reached. Call our toll free 1-888-MYTJETS support line and follow the prompts. A technician will be paged and he will return your call as soon as possible. Please include your full company name, contact name, phone number, address, serial number and a detailed description of the problem. Support on the Web U.
Chapter 16 - Product Support 5. On this page, enter your information in the spaces provided, then click “Sign Up”. 6. On the next page, enter your product information, then click ‘Add Products.’ Note: All printer serial numbers can be found on a sticker on the back of the printer near the power cord. FastRIP and FastARTIST information is found on the purple USB dongle. FastFILMS information can be found on the box, on the CD, and in the manual.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual 7. On the left-hand navigation bar, click ‘My Support Home.’ You will now see several gray boxes, each of which pertains to a product that you own. Note: this photo shows all of the products US Screen supports. You will not see all these products in your account. In this space, you will be able to access Support Videos, updated Manuals, Support Applications, and other product information and upgrades.
Chapter 16 - Product Support Show off Your Work If you want to brag about the things you’ve printed on your T-Jet Blazer Series Printer, or are looking for some inspiration, we have a Gallery where you can view or upload pictures of jobs completed with these remarkable printers. Check it out at www.myt-jet.com or www.screenprinters.net. Transporting Your Printer You MUST be very careful moving and transporting your T-Jet printer. It is a very heavy and delicate piece of equipment.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Re-crating the Blazer EXPRESS Follow these instructions to re-crate your Blazer EXPRESS for any time the machine will need to travel or be shipped. If you have any questions or problems, call our support department for assistance. Preparations: For this procedure you will need all of the original crate supplies, a power drill equipped with a phillipshead drill bit, 2 1/2” wood screws and an assistants to help lift from crate.
Chapter 16 - Product Support Step 3: Fasten the walls of the crate. You should have 6 long wood screws that hold the walls to the crate. There will be 3 screws for each of the longer sides of the crate. Do not over tighten or you may strip the wood out. Step 4: Lower the crate lid and fasten. You will need 8 wood screws to secure the lid to the crate. Do not over tighten or you may strip the wood out.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Re-crating the Blazer PRO Follow these instructions to re-crate your Blazer PRO for any time the machine will need to travel or be shipped. If you have any questions or problems re-crating, call our support department for assistance. Preparations: For this procedure you will need all of the original crate supplies and bracers, 3 assistants to help lift, long 2 1/2” wood screws and a power drill equipped with a phillips-head drill bit.
Chapter 16 - Product Support After the first set of bracers are fastened, a second set of bracers (30” in length) will go right over the top of them. These will hold the printer from moving front to back. NOTE: If you have the protective plastic cover, place it over the Blazer PRO. Step 3: Attach Vertical Bracers. Next, fasten the vertical bracers (4 total) to the crate frame guides, towards the middle of each side of the crate as shown.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Step 5: Attach the first side plate wall. Attach the first wall using 4 screws that will fasten into the bottom of the crate and 2 screws that will fasten to each vertical bracer. NOTE: It will help to have an assistant hold the side plate wall in place while fastening. Step 6: Attach the front/ back plate wall. Attach the front/back plate to the side plate using 3 screws.
Chapter 16 - Product Support Step 7: Attach the remaining front/ back plate. Use the same steps and methods used for the first front/back plate wall. Step 8: Attach the remaining side plate wall. Attach the last wall. 4 screws will fasten to the bottom plate, 3 screws on each vertical end plus the 2 to hold the vertical bracers (shown below).
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Step 9: Attach the padded bracers to the top of the PRO. Attach the 2 padded bracers to the top of the PRO. A padded bracer will sit on the front and back side of the printer assembly and will fasten from the outside of each side plate wall. One screw on each side for each bracer will hold them in place. Step 10: Fasten the crate lid. Fasten the crate lid to the top of the nearly completed crate.
Appendix A Operational Guide Notice The material in this Manual is believed to be accurate and complete with respect to the normal and intended operation of the Fast T-Jet Blazer Express Inkjet-to-Garment printer. U.S. Screen makes no warranties or other representations, express or implied, with respect to the material in this Manual. Neither U.S.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual lack of compliance with such Federal, State and local laws, regulations and standards on the part of a Customer. It is the Customer’s responsibility to ensure that the room and equipment exhaust, makeup air supply, flooring, air, water, waste and electrical services meet all applicable codes and ordinances.
Appendix A - Operational Guide 4. Receive the equipment properly. Use appropriate personnel and equipment to off-load and move the shipping containers to a storage area or directly to a staging area. The Fast T-Jet Blazer Express ships in a single crate that is large and must be handled with the use of a forklift, lift gate or pallet jack. The crated printer and components weigh over 300 pounds (227 kg).
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Exceeding the environmental specifications can cause the printing of substandard images due to misfiring of Print Nozzles and ink prematurely drying on the surface of the Print Head. This misuse may void the warranty. Exhaust Ventilation Requirements Exhaust ventilation and air-conditioning of the Fast T-Jet Blazer Express printer is REQUIRED for proper machine function.
Appendix A - Operational Guide Main Operator Both the T-Jet Blazer Express and PRO model printers require one main operator who will be responsible for the operation and routine maintenance of the printer. In order to fulfill this job, the candidate chosen will need certain skills. The main operator will be crucial to the performance of the printer and should be selected accordingly. All operators of the printer must be 18 years of age or older.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Electrical: 110 - 240v AC 60/cycle 4 amps. Computer Connection: USB 2.
Appendix A - Operational Guide remove your printer from the truck with a forklift. If possible, request a truck with a lift gate so you can use a pallet jack to move the equipment securely. Staging Area Provide a sheltered area for receipt of the shipment. This area should be close to the intended area of operation to facilitate unpacking and preparation of the equipment for set up.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual Version 5.
Appendix B Requirements and Notices Windows Operating System Requirements Minimum: • PC with a Pentium 4 - 1.8 GHz and Windows XP, 2000 or Vista Operating System (Windows ME is not supported) • A minimum of 2 GB of RAM. • A minimum of 10 GB of free disk space on your hard disk. You will also need at least an additional 50 GB for saved files. • A display monitor with high resolution. (1280 x 1024) • CD-ROM or DVD drives for installing the software. • A dedicated USB port (2.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. • Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. • Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Appendix B - Requirements and Notices European Union Declaration of Conformity - CE A sample of this equipment has been tested against the Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the Machinery Directive. Based on conformity with the Machinery Directive, the Equipment Under Test - Fast T-Jet Blazer Express from U.S. Graphic Arts, Inc., dba U.S.
T-Jet Blazer Series User’s Manual This warranty does not extend to the Print Head, dampers or expendable parts such as fuses. This warranty does not cover a Unit that has been subject to misuse, neglect, negligence, accident, or Unit that has been operated in any way contrary to the operating procedures specified in this manual.