Hobbies And Interests
Loading Problems
Each T-shirt that gets printed on by the Mimaki 604D is hand loaded onto the pallets in the front of the machine. There are two pallets with a dip in the center of them. Problems occur when a T-shirt is not placed correctly on the pallets. The T-shirt has to be placed squarely on the pallets. The sleeves or top-half of the T-shirt should be facing inward toward the machine. The extra fabric of the T-shirt that drops off the sides of the pallet should be tucked underneath into the slots underneath the pallets so that the printing area is flat and taut.
Photo Eyes Blockage
The Mimaki 604D dynamically responds to disturbances in the level of the T-shirt. For example, if the T-shirt has buttons, embroidery, or patches on the surface, the Mimaki 604D raises and lowers the pallet to account for these changes to level so that the printed image comes out correctly. The machine does this through the photo eyes that face one another. They are located to the left and right of the pallets. Because these photo eyes are exposed, they may become obstructed through dust and other build-up, especially if the printing is done in a warehouse. Proper maintenance that includes cleaning these eyes helps to ensure that they work correctly.
Vector and Bitmap Problems
The Mimaki 604D prints using both vector and bitmap images. A vector image connects dots with mathematical formulas that create lines and arcs, allowing for changes in size without a change in resolution. Bitmap images use lines and shapes to create images, offering a lot of versatility in translucence but not in changes in size. For the Mimaki 604D, vector images should be printed in "illustration" mode; for bitmap images, the mode is called "image." Confusion about these two terms in the print settings can create wrongly sized prints or prints with bad resolution.
Ink Consumption Problems
As with other printers, ink consumption can become a problem for the Mimaki 604D. The four ink types -- black, yellow, cyan, and magenta -- are computer controlled. The Mimaki 604D uses TP3 ink cartridges, not TP2, a difference so slight that some operators of the machine may buy the wrong ink cartridge. But the two cartridges have different nozzle sizes. The software controlling ink discharge is based in part on a specific nozzle size; if you buy the wrong one, the printer may use too much ink. The colors of the image may bleed and the ink will run out sooner.