Mimaki UJF MkII Series
Nozzle Deflection & Remediation Guide
Understanding the Anomaly
Nozzle deflection is not a complete failure of the printhead, but a trajectory error. Unlike a "dropout" where no ink fires, a "deflected" nozzle fires droplets that miss their target due to physical or surface-energy disruptions at the nozzle rim.
Deflection (Trajectory Error)
Droplets land off-axis. Causes line distortion, blurring, and micro-banding.
Dropout (Clogged Nozzle)
No ink fires. Leaves unprinted vertical voids and severe gaps in output.
Etiology of Deflection
Common causes identified through technical analysis. UV light reflection and particulate contamination account for over 60% of trajectory errors.
Head Gap Risk Escalation
As the head gap increases beyond the 2.0 mm limit, the probability of UV reflection curing ink mist onto the nozzle plate spikes dramatically.
Maintenance Escalation Path
Follow these steps before deploying aggressive solvents.
Normal/Hard Cleaning
Uses internal pump pressure to clear minor debris and air bubbles.
Capping & Wiper Care
Clean wiper blade and capping rubber with Liquid 11/15 daily fluid.
Standard Nozzle Wash
15–30 minute soak in the capping station using daily maintenance liquid.
Powerful Maintenance
ML016 Protocol
Required for semi-cured UV ink buildup that resists standard cleaning agents.
Carriage Out
Navigate to [STATION MAINT.] > [CARRIAGE OUT] to move the heads to the service area.
Cloth Preparation
Saturate a clean maintenance cloth with ML016 using the calibrated syringe. Do not use standard paper or linty cloths.
Contact Soak
Gently press the cloth against the nozzle plate. DO NOT RUB. Rubbing can scratch the microscopic apertures or ruin the hydrophobic coating.
Immediate Purge
Return carriage and immediately perform a Hard Cleaning to flush out dissolved slurry and solvent residuals.
Stabilizes ink viscosity and trajectory accuracy.
Reduces static and particulate attraction to the faceplate.
If persists after 3 tries, use Nozzle Recovery Function.
