Print Motion but No Ink Output
(Head Issue #9) _ARTJET 2026
(Head Issue #9) _ARTJET 2026
This post explains a real case where the printer moves like it’s printing, but no ink is fired at all.
In many situations, the root cause is not ink supply — it’s a board ↔ printhead communication issue (often timing-related).
In many situations, the root cause is not ink supply — it’s a board ↔ printhead communication issue (often timing-related).
①
Who should read this first
- Your printer performs the print motion (carriage movement), but no ink is jetted at all.
- Even after pressing Nozzle Test, nothing prints (no pattern).
- After powering off the PC/printer and reconnecting everything, output suddenly stops completely.
②
Key summary (Print motion but no ink output)
- This issue typically falls into two categories: ① Ink supply (cleaning/pumping) vs ② DATA/communication (board · head · cables).
- Today we focus on ② Board ↔ Printhead communication (motion is normal, but no jetting).
- Key point: After pressing the Power button, confirm the two board LEDs turn off together, then connect the software after about 7–10 seconds.
- If the LEDs do not turn off together or one LED keeps blinking, a communication error is likely (cable/head/board check routine needed).
③
Read before you start (Important precautions)
- For any board/head/cable work, always proceed with the Main power switch OFF. (GUI OFF → Power OFF → Main switch OFF → wait 30 seconds)
- If abnormal LED blinking continues, the board may be damaged. Stop immediately: Power OFF → Main switch OFF.
- DATA cables can fail communication if the gold contacts are even slightly misaligned. After removing the cover, verify alignment carefully.
- To reduce cost, troubleshoot in this order: Re-seat connections → Replace cable → Replace head → Replace board.
One-line quick check:
Power ON → confirm two LEDs turn off together → wait 7–10 seconds → connect software → run TEST
Power ON → confirm two LEDs turn off together → wait 7–10 seconds → connect software → run TEST
What I’ve Organized So Far (Click to Open Each Post)
Two Ways to Approach Printing Failures
1) Ink Supply (including cleaning/pumping)
Ink supply issues (including cleaning/pumping) were recently updated.
If your printer uses dampers, many cases can be solved via the link below.
This is a 23-post index with photos. Click the table of contents inside to open each post.
If your printer uses dampers, many cases can be solved via the link below.
This is a 23-post index with photos. Click the table of contents inside to open each post.
2) DATA-related (boards, heads, DATA cables, etc.) — currently being updated
I’m currently updating DATA-related troubleshooting content:
- Part 1: Symptoms & Fix When a DATA Cable Is Contaminated by Ink
- Part 2: 17 Stored Used Heads: How Many Worked After Alcohol Cleaning & What Errors Appeared
- Part 3: A Specific Color Prints Abnormally During Printing
- Part 4: How to Print on Reflective Materials + More Dangerous Causes That Can Clog Nozzles
- Part 5: Real Case: Reviving a White Head Not Used for One Month
[Click here for the “clogged white head” recovery method] - Part 6: Symptoms when a printhead reaches end-of-life and how to swap heads
- Part 7: Why banding appears only on certain solid colors + tips to reduce it
- Part 8: A case where a color still didn’t print even after replacing the head
Today’s topic: A case where print motion is normal, but no ink comes out at all.
I. Board ↔ Printhead Communication Issue (Print motion but no ink output)
1) Symptom
Customer:
“The printer moves like it’s printing, but nothing comes out.”
ARTJET:
“Does the nozzle test print?”
Customer:
“Hold on… nothing prints at all.”
When you press the [TEST] button in the software, a nozzle test pattern should appear like the photo below,
but the customer reported that nothing appears.
but the customer reported that nothing appears.
ARTJET:
“After my last visit, did you do anything else?”
Customer:
“We only moved the machine. We turned off the PC and the printer, then connected it again.”
2) Fix
ARTJET:
“Let’s do this together: close the software, turn OFF the Power button, and turn OFF the main power switch.”
Customer:
“Everything is OFF. Should we turn it on now?”
ARTJET:
“Yes. Main power switch ON, then press the Power button on the front touch panel.
Before connecting the software, wait 10 seconds.”
Before connecting the software, wait 10 seconds.”
Customer:
“Initialization is complete.”
ARTJET:
“Press the Test button.”
Customer:
“Ink is coming out now.”
ARTJET:
“Just in case, please print the ARTJET TEST image as well. Don’t hang up yet.”
Customer:
“I’m holding the phone with my shoulder while working… If it fails, I’ll call again. I’ll hang up ^^”
Refer to the photo below for the ARTJET TEST image.
3) What you MUST confirm before connecting the software
ARTJET:
“When you press the Power button, power is supplied to the head board.
In the center of the board, two red LEDs turn on and then turn off.”
In the center of the board, two red LEDs turn on and then turn off.”
Customer:
“Where?”
ARTJET:
“They may already be off now. That stage is when power and communication are being established for the printhead.”
Customer:
“Ah… I think I understand.”
If you connect the software before the red LEDs turn off, the printhead may not be fully ready for power/communication,
so DATA is not delivered to the head.
so DATA is not delivered to the head.
Key point:
After pressing the Power button, confirm both LEDs turn off together, then connect the software about 7–10 seconds later.
After pressing the Power button, confirm both LEDs turn off together, then connect the software about 7–10 seconds later.
Watch the video below. The two LEDs must turn off at the same time, and after they turn off, there should be no blinking LED.
II. When Board ↔ Head Communication Has a Problem
Typical symptoms
- Software connection appears normal
- Other motions are normal
- But the nozzle test pattern does not print
- During printing, the carriage moves, but ink is not jetted
This happens when the head board and printhead are not communicating properly.
In communication errors, unlike the first video:
- The two LEDs do not turn off together
- One turns off, while the other keeps blinking
- One LED may keep blinking at intervals
Refer to the video below.
Why it happens (the causes can be complex)
- Flat cable connection: If even one of the Color/White/Varnish head sets has a poor flat cable connection, this can happen.
- Head failure: If even one head set is damaged, the board may fail to communicate.
- Board failure: If the board itself is damaged, this can happen.
III. Inspection Procedure (Print motion but no printing)
Even if you connected the software about 10 seconds after Power ON, if you still see the symptoms below,
you must inspect step-by-step:
you must inspect step-by-step:
- No nozzle pattern prints and nothing prints at all
- The center LEDs do not turn off together (they turn off with a delay)
- Even after turning off, one LED continues blinking
Important: When handling board/head issues, always work with the printer Main power switch OFF.
1) Remove the printer cover
If the gold strip of the DATA cable connected to the board is shifted sideways, this symptom can occur.
Because you can’t confirm it clearly with the cover on, remove the printer cover first.
Because you can’t confirm it clearly with the cover on, remove the printer cover first.
First, remove the Emergency button.
- Loosen the screw until it becomes less tight, then twist to remove naturally.
- You don’t need to remove all bolts.
- While turning the screw, avoid touching the wires as much as possible.
- After removal, place the wired part temporarily toward the front.
- After fully removing the cover, place it outside the right side to avoid interference with the motor/belt.
Then remove the printer cover.
- The cover screws are typically two on the right end and two on the left end (as shown in the photo).
- After removing 4 bolts, two people should lift the cover up together to detach it.
- It may be slightly hooked with the main ink tank area, so lift carefully.
- After removing the cover, place the Emergency button outside the right side to avoid motor/belt interference.
2) Check whether the board is damaged first
Check the board as follows:
- Power OFF completely (GUI OFF → Power OFF → Main switch OFF → wait 30 seconds)
- Remove the silver bar holding the printhead DATA cables (remove 3 bolts)
- Remove the transparent plastic cover on the head board (remove 4 bolts)
- Remove the two black screws on the small boards connected to Color/White/Varnish (2 each → total 6)
- Remove the three small boards where DATA cables connect (tight—twist gently and pull)
- Place removed small boards so they do not touch the head board
- If removing small boards is difficult, disconnect only the head-side DATA cables from the small boards.
- Confirm the removed Emergency button is placed outside the X-axis to prevent interference with the X motor.
- With all head cables disconnected, turn the printer ON (Main switch ON → Power button ON)
- If the two red LEDs turn on together, then turn off together, and no LED blinks afterward, the board is 정상.
- If the two LEDs do not turn off together and one LED keeps blinking afterward, the board itself is damaged.
- Since all heads are disconnected, this indicates a board fault. There is no solution other than board replacement.
Note: In the “all heads disconnected” state, any abnormal blinking strongly points to the board itself.
3) Find the head or DATA cable causing the communication error
If the board is confirmed normal, then one of the Color/White/Varnish head sets or one of their DATA cables is the cause.
Each head must be checked, starting with the Color head.
Each head must be checked, starting with the Color head.
Step A) Check with the Color head only
- You must check both board-side and head-side connections, but start with the board side.
- Power OFF completely (GUI OFF → Power OFF → Main switch OFF → wait 30 seconds)
- Disconnect the DATA cable from the small board, then reconnect by aligning the gold contacts precisely
- Connect the Color small board to the head board
- Leave White and Varnish disconnected
- Turn printer ON (Main switch ON → Power button ON)
- If the two red LEDs turn off together and no LED blinks afterward, the Color head is communicating normally.
Step B) Connect the White head
- Keep Color connected
- Power OFF completely (GUI OFF → Power OFF → Main switch OFF → wait 30 seconds)
- Reconnect White DATA cable with gold contacts aligned
- Connect the White small board to the head board
- Color and White are connected; Varnish is still disconnected
- Turn printer ON and observe the LEDs
- If communication stays normal, the White head is likely not the problem.
- If one LED keeps blinking, the White head or head-side DATA cable may be the cause.
- For now, assume the White head is OK.
Step C) Connect the Varnish head
- Repeat the same method as Color/White.
- If the LEDs do not turn off together and one keeps blinking, immediately Power OFF and Main switch OFF. Prolonged blinking can damage the board.
- At this point, two areas can be the problem:
- The board-side DATA cable is already verified and likely OK.
- The printhead-side DATA cable connection may be poor.
- If that is also OK, then the DATA cable itself may be faulty, or the head may be faulty.
- Replace the cheapest part first: the DATA cable.
- If replacing the DATA cable doesn’t solve it, replace the printhead.
- If all three heads are connected and the LEDs behave normally, you can proceed with printing.
From real customer cases:
- Most cases were caused by poor board-side DATA cable seating and were solved by re-seating the connection.
- However, in two cases the head board was damaged.
- In one case, the customer imported heads directly (suspected reverse current damaged the board).
- In another case, intermittent errors from an ambiguous cable connection eventually damaged the board.
For head-side DATA cable connection, refer to the head replacement video below.
IV. ARTJET UV Printer
Based on over five years of sales and maintenance experience with ARTJET UV printers, one key lesson stands out:
After product stability, the next most critical factor is troubleshooting data.
Every product can encounter issues — whether caused by equipment conditions or user operation.
In real production environments, product reliability depends on how quickly and efficiently those issues can be identified and resolved.
ARTJET continuously collects and organizes real field troubleshooting data to support faster and more accurate problem resolution.
You can view print quality samples here:
[Print quality sample by video]
You can view ARTJET pricing and sales conditions here:
(Note: Exterior design has been updated)
You can also review a complete list of products that can be produced using UV printers here:
[UV Printable Product Guide]
* Note: Exterior design has been updated.