DTG Printing
 You are in the DTG Printing area of Noisebridge, where digital printing meets textiles. The Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing station brings professional-grade fabric printing to the community, enabling radical self-expression through custom t-shirts, hoodies, and other textiles. EXITS: Front, Sewing, Fabrication, Hackitorium > |
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The DTG Printing station is one of Noisebridge's Fabrication Resources.
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| RECRUITING! Maintainer volunteers wanted, consider volunteering to become a maintainer. | E |
PRINTER WE HAVE
https://ricohdtg.com/hubfs/19965518/wp/2020/04/Ri-1000-User-Manual-Rev-1.2.6-4-6-20.pdf
Move-in and Setup
Current Status: Moved in to 2nd floor, northeast corner, await initial setup.
Next Steps:
Identify an appropriate location in the Printshop.Acquire or repurpose a sturdy table.Establish contact with RICOH customer support, and get records transferred to NickGet a waste ink tube -- https://store.ricohdtg.com/detail/J1024151Order new ink cartridgesOrder cleaning solutionOrder pre-treatment liquidGet an empty jug and strap it to the table for use as a waste ink tankPut in real ink cartridges - the ink cartridges we got with the printer are expiredRip backups of software and serial #sClean waste ink sump and print heads - we obtained the official solvent needed for cleaningUSB slot functionality - Why is the USB slot on printer not recognizing a USB stick? It's freshly formatted as FAT32Setup software with ethernet connection to printer- Get a locker or locked cabinet under the table to store supplies
- Establish maintenance and operational procedures.
See below for the full LOG of move-in and setup operations.
| Date | Name [handle] | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-26 | Nick [outrightmental] | Moved RICOH Ri 1000 up to the 2nd floor, northeast corner and set it up on the table.
Plugged in UPS power supply. Plugged in printer. Turned on printer. Confirmed no new errors, printer is warming up. Plugged in the fancy new heat press. It's totally awesome, with an auto-off and everything. The only problem is, apparently, it got dropped, and it is completely defective. It almost caught fire while plugged in, but the switch was off. Cut the cord and I will remove this piece and bring it to the dump today. Wrote to RICOH support with message "Hiya, I have a RICOH Ri 1000 that I purchased with a business partner. Unfortunately, the relationship went sour. I gained access to our space, followed all moving protocols and have brought the machine to its new location. I'm trying to setup an account at my.ricoh-usa.com to talk to RICOH. However, entering serial number R879X100050 and ZIP code 94110, I get an error 'Your equipment information could not be verified'" Following instructions at https://ricohdtg.com/ricoh-dtg-university/episode-01-start-your-printer-after-months-of-shutdown https://ricohdtg.com/support/video-ri-1000-service-replace-right-ink-sump-tank My main concern about turning on the printer now (it's 6 pm Pacific) is that I won't have enough time to stick with it. I plan to return in a follow-up session to 1. connect a waste ink tube and designate some waste ink tank, 2. empty and clean the right ink sump, 3. While printer is off, swap in the 6 real ink cartridges, and 4. Turn on the printer and let it charge itself with real ink (which will also expel the cleaning fluid into the waste ink tank) | |||||
| 2025-03-05 | Nick [outrightmental] | Submitted Transfer of Ownership form to RICOH
Still blocked by not having a proper waste ink tube, I want to make sure I get the right one, which should be pretty standard, but I need to make sure I use the right size. I got an estimate of the ID/OD of that tube from RICOH, but the official replacement part is $22 so I'll just spring for that | |||||
| 2025-03-19 | Nick
[outrightmental] |
I placed Ricoh order #125388 for a Ri 1000 Drain Tube (part #J1024151). The tube itself cost $21.00, with FedEx Ground shipping at $13.21 and tax of $1.81, bringing the total to $36.02. | |||||
| 2025-03-19 | Nick
[outrightmental] |
I placed Ricoh order #125393 for one gallon of Image Armor Ultra (part #IAUD001G) at $50.00 and one bottle of Ricoh Cleaning Liquid Type 1 (part #257058) at $40.00, for a total of $90.00 in product cost. The FedEx Ground shipping charge was $13.79, and tax came to $7.76, bringing the total to $111.55. | |||||
| 2025-03-27 | Nick
[outrightmental] |
I placed Ricoh order #125519 for six Garment Ink Cartridges (K, C, M, Y, W1 (G2), and W2 (G2)) for the Ri 1000 printer, each priced at $61.00 for a subtotal of $366.00. FedEx Ground - DTG shipping was $13.78, and the tax amounted to $31.56, resulting in a total cost of $411.34. | |||||
| 2025-04-03 | Nick
[outrightmental] |
Installed the waste ink tube and waste ink bottle. Reviewed daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance protocols. Installed Print Pro software and Sentinel network environment on my laptop. USB drive on printer appears to be fault, will not ready any of the USB sticks we tried in it.
I am trying to install Kothari Print Pro on my computer. I have the official package of our software, including our CD Key and Serial #. I'm on Windows 11. I have even disabled Tamper Protection temporarily to do the installation. Print Pro installs fine, but then it says it cannot find the Sentinel Network environment. When I try to install HASP (Sentinel Runtime), the installation for HASP (Sentinel Runtime) does this thing where it hangs halfway through installation. I've waited an hour and there's no progress. See screenshot below. I use task manager to kill this process then restart my computer, and it thinks Sentinel is installed (shows up in the Installed Programs list) but when I try to start Print Pro it complains that it can't connect to the Sentinel runtime.
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| 2025-04-07 | Nick
[outrightmental] |
Installed the real ink cartridges and powered on the printer. Ink fills OK! Printer says it is in Ready status. Video here | |||||
| 2025-04-09 | Nick
[outrightmental] Nick [PlotTwist] |
Setup Kothari PrintPro software. It is necessary to have the PrintPro USB key plugged into the computer running the software.
Please refer to the item (3) in following document - https://www.kothariinfotech.com/uploads/9/8/2/4/98248836/hasptroubleshooting_guide.pdf Tried to configure the printer to connect via ethernet cable to the printer running PrintPro Here's a video of a guy setting the printer up: https://vimeo.com/537459392 Wrote the following email to RICOH + Print Pro support: Hiya guys, We've tried this from 2 different PCs with the same error. We have only one dongle, and of course, to run Print Pro, the dongle needs to be plugged into that PC. We followed the instructions in https://ricohdtg.com/hubfs/19965518/wp/2020/04/Ri-1000-User-Manual-Rev-1.2.6-4-6-20.pdf to manually set the printer IP address (DHCP disabled), directly connected to the PC's ethernet port. See screenshots. Any suggestions? Is it worth trying to connect the printer and PC to a network switch, and set the printer to DHCP configuration? Thank you so much for your help!
Nevermind...we just needed to turn the printer off and back on after setting its IP address! VICTORY!
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| 2025-04-17 | Nick
[outrightmental] Nick [PlotTwist] |
We performed the daily and weekly maintenance, raised the printing platen to the highest height before it gives the Obstruction Detected warning, printed some nozzle checks and ran the automatic head cleaning for all heads, and then finally created a decent print! Note: in the future, we need a hair dryer to make sure the pre-treatment fluid is fully dried before printing. |
Overview
The RICOH Ri 1000 is a high-end direct-to-garment printer designed for bold, vibrant prints on a wide variety of fabric materials. This printer makes it possible to create radical t-shirts, experimental textile projects, and unique prints on items like tote bags, sneakers, and even full-garment wraps.
PRINTING
Note: Having the table too far away will affect image quality. Ideally the garment will be 1.5mm away from the print head. When initially setting the table height, you should raise the table until you get the obstruction detected message then only lower the table slightly. Once the table height has been set in this way you should not need to adjust the table height again unless you are changing the substrate you are printing on (from T-shirt to sweat shirt for example)
MAINTENANCE
ALWAYS keep the printer powered on and in standby mode to keep ink lines active.
Daily Maintenance
Video: Ri 1000 Daily Maintenance
- Each day, on the printer's screen, there will be a popup telling you to do the regular maintenance. Press OK.
- This will show a diagram about shaking both white ink cartridges. Remove both cartridges and this will start timers on screen for how long you need to shake them for, 45 seconds
- Do a nozzle check- put a piece of transparency or paper on the platen and set it inside. On the printer's screen, choose Nozzle Check. This should print Yellow & Magenta on head 1, nothing for heads 2 and 3, and then Black & Cyan on head 4
Weekly Maintenance
Video: Ri 1000 Weekly Maintenance
Video: Ri 1000 Weekly Maintenance: Head Cleaning Jig
Required materials:
- small mirror
- polyethylene gloves
- the head protection cover (cleaning jig)
- RICOH Cleaning Liquid
- some cleaning applicators.
Steps:
- On the front display, locate and tap the maintenance icon and press "REGULAR MAINTENANCE".
- A popup will appear with a countdown for 50 minutes. You do not need all 50 minutes, but after that the carriage will redock, assuming the maintenance is over.
- You may now raise the hood and you will notice the carriage is docked in the center of the printer.
- Dip a cleaning applicator in the Cleaning Type 1 fluid. Do not add too much cleaning fluid. If necessary, dry with a lint-free wipe.
- Use the moist cleaning applicator to clean any ink residue off the top of the four gaskets in the right-side sump station. Do not use too much pressure and gently clean the tops. They do not have to be spotless and overcleaning can damage your maintenance station.
- Clean the ink residue in front of the wiper blade of the sump station. Be mindful of the fork and try to avoid hitting it.
- Clean the wiper blade itself. Be sure to get all ink residue off the top of the wiper.
- Once this is clean, we will now move to the metal roller on the inner edge of the right-side sump.
- Continue to clean the maintenance station, removing any excess ink residue.
- Use a dry cleaning applicator and wipe all areas of the maintenance station we just cleaned.
- Attach the cleaning jig to the bottom of the print head carriage, to protect the critical parts of the print heads. There will be two posts on the right-hand side with a single post located on the left. With the two posts on the right-hand side, snap the jig head into position.
- Use a dry cleaning applicator to clean the edges of the print heads where ink builds up. Do not use a wet one as you can damage the electrical components inside the carriage. With the dry applicator, be sure to clean all edges of the print heads. Do not use too much pressure. If the applicator gets too dirty, you can go ahead and use an additional applicator.
- Remove the cleaning jig from the print head carriage. Look underneath at the print heads and inspect them. Please note they do not have to be spotless.
- Clean the left sump with the cleaning applicator.
- On the printer's screen, tap "YES" letting the printer know we have finished the regular maintenance. You will now see your carriage redock over the maintenance station. You may now close the front lid.
- Once it is closed, run an auto head clean on all heads.
- Conduct a nozzle check to ensure that we are ready to print. And that's it- with a perfect nozzle check, you have now completed the Ri 1000X Weekly Maintenance.
Monthly Maintenance
Video: Ri 1000 Monthly Maintenance
- Conduct deep cleaning and ensure proper ink circulation.
- Verify that humidity and dust levels are within operational tolerance.
When Not in Use
- Pump cleaning solution into the ink lines before shutting down.
9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your RICOH Ri 1000 in Top Shape
As part of our commitment to your success, we want to make sure that you are getting optimal performance from your RICOH Ri 1000 while also minimizing any issues that easily can be prevented by following a few simple tips:
- Always leave your printer on to allow the machine’s automated maintenance sequences to run. This is necessary to keep the printer in optimal condition and avoid potential damage that can be prevented easily. If it is necessary to power down the machine for over 12 hours, be sure to fill your printer with cleaning fluid. Refer to Section 8.3 of your User Manual for more information.
- Always shake new white ink cartridges thoroughly before installing them in your printer. Adequately shaking your new white ink cartridges helps ensure that your prints will come out bright and vibrant. Refer to the User Manual, page 18, for more information. Also shake the ink cartridges each day as prompted by the printer.
- Make sure your ink is at 5% or above when you are done printing for the day or plan on leaving your printer idle for a few hours. While you can continue to print using cartridges with less than 5% remaining, the machine’s vital automated maintenance sequences require at least 5% or above in order to complete. If you do not have replacement ink available, you can fill your printer with cleaning fluid. Refer to Section 8.3 of your User Manual.
- Clean encoder strip weekly or every 30 prints to help avoid blurry prints, double prints, and error codes. Refer to Section 8.2 of your User Manual or watch the AnaJet University: Ri 1000 Weekly Maintenance Video.
- Make sure the obstacle sensor is on. If the sensor is off, head strikes may occur and cause damage to the carriage. To check if your obstacle sensor is enabled, navigate to the OPTIONS panel. The sensor is on when the blue light is illuminated on the OBSTACLE SENSOR button.
- Set the table height correctly — just below the obstruction sensor. If the table is too low, the extra space may cause misting and printer damage. If the garment is dressed on the platen, the number on the table height adjuster should be between 0-2. If not dressing the garment, the number value should be no more than 4. Refer to Section 2.2 of your User Manual.
- Perform a nozzle check daily, so you can spot and quickly address potential issues with the printer.
- Check the downloads page to ensure you are on the most up to date firmware and AnaRIP.
- Exercise care when adjusting table height or changing platens. While ruggedly constructed, the RICOH Ri 1000 is a precision tool and care should be taken when making adjustments to the machine. Do NOT over-tighten the tableheight-adjustment knob past “0” and carefully install platen without banging it against the print table.
Resources
RICOH Ri 1000 User Manual (Rev 1.2.6-4-6-20)
Ricoh DTG University for Ri 1000
Standard Warranty Cancellation Terms
Getting Started
Essential Tips for Keeping Your RICOH Ri 1000 in Top Shape
Get Started With Your New RICOH Ri 1000/Ri 2000
Guides
Troubleshooting
Service Call Troubleshooting Guide
Service Call 984 - DRV Circuit Temperature Abnormal
Service Call 992 - Circulation Air Count Over
Service Call 999 - Maintenance Step Motor Out of Home Position
Part Replacement
Video: Replace Maintenance Unit
How to replace Ri 1000 Exhaust Fan Filters
Video: Replace W1-W2 Ink Supply Units
Video: Replace Right Ink Sump Tank
Video: Replace Left Ink Sump Tank on RICOH Ri 1000
PRINTING GUIDE
- Prepare your design using the provided software.
- Pre-treat the fabric (if required) with a spray applicator.
- Load the garment into the printer’s platen.
- Print the design onto the garment.
- Cure the print using the tabletop heat press.
- Inspect the final print for quality control.
GET INVOLVED!
This is a brand-new initiative, and community participation is key! Whether you're interested in learning the process, maintaining the printer, or organizing workshops, we’d love your input.
Ways to help:
- Join the #dtg-printing Discord channel.
- Assist with setup and maintenance.
- Volunteer to host DTG printing workshops.
- Contribute ideas for making this a thriving resource at Noisebridge!
Want to help bring DTG printing to life at Noisebridge? Reach out to Nick or join the discussion on Discord!