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Aries 124

Aries 124 - How to Change Physical Damper Positions and Change Ink Order in Pilot Software

Written out step by step, with the video alongside.

  • 1 step
  • 88 instructions
  • 1 video
  • Updated 2026-04-20

User manualThe full manual, beyond first setup. · All manuals

How to Swap Damper Positions for Troubleshooting

SECTION (00:00:00) Purpose of Damper Swapping

Written steps1

Before you start

SECTION (00:00:21) When to Perform This Procedure SECTION (00:00:39) Overview of Steps

What you need

  • This procedure is used to troubleshoot potential print head issues
  1. Access the dampers inside the printer carriage
  2. Remove the white dampers to access color dampers
  3. Swap the color dampers
  4. Reassemble components
  5. Prep and test
  6. Revert the printer to its original state SECTION (00:01:03) Initial Disassembly
  7. Remove the two screws on the top lid
  8. Open the front and top lids fully
  9. Raise the media lever and roll up the media
  10. Open the front lid
  11. Rotate the knob counterclockwise fully
  12. Move the carriage to the center of the printer bed SECTION (00:01:55) Remove Covers
  13. Remove the printer carriage cover
  14. Remove the daughterboard cover
  15. Loosen all screws on both covers
  16. Screws do not need to be fully removed SECTION (00:02:25) Prepare for Damper Access
  17. Place paper towels around the carriage to catch ink
  18. Clamp all white ink tubes
  19. Remove two screws to release the diverter SECTION (00:03:03) Expose Color Dampers
  20. Unplug all dampers
  21. Move the white dampers and diverter aside
  22. Place white dampers on paper towels
  23. Identify the two color dampers to be swapped SECTION (00:03:23) Swap Color Dampers
  24. Clamp the ink tubes for both selected colors
  25. Unplug both dampers
  26. Insert the first damper into the opposite channel
  27. Insert the second damper into the original channel
  28. Unclamp both ink tubes
  29. Reinstall the white dampers
  30. Reinstall the diverter using two screws SECTION (00:04:15) Temporary Reassembly
  31. Place the printer carriage cover back on
  32. Place the daughterboard cover back on
  33. Do not tighten screws yet
  34. Release the emergency stop to power the printer on
  35. Wait until the printer reaches Idle SECTION (00:04:39) Reload Media
  36. Feed media under the tension rod from the back
  37. Pull media through the front
  38. Apply tension by pulling both sides evenly
  39. Lower the media lever to secure
  40. Use the down arrow to advance media
  41. Adjust media guides SECTION (00:05:07) Fill Ink Procedure
  42. Bypass the cover sensor using a metal object
  43. On the control panel, go to Head Maintenance
  44. Select Fill Ink
  45. Choose Two Head
  46. Run fill ink for 30 seconds after ink starts flowing
  47. Press Cancel when finished SECTION (00:05:37) Cleaning and Nozzle Check
  48. Return to the home screen
  49. Perform two head cleanings
  50. Go to Head Maintenance
  51. Select Head Status
  52. Print a nozzle check
  53. Take a photo and send it to your technician SECTION (00:06:15) Ink Channel Swap in Software
  54. Open DTF Station Pilot
  55. Go to Advanced
  56. Enter password 111111
  57. Navigate to Base Color
  58. Swap the corresponding color channels
  59. Go to File and click Save
  60. Click OK
  61. Go to Operation and select Initialize SECTION (00:07:13) Test Print and Verification
  62. Print a multi-color test image or color chart
  63. Monitor for channels dropping during printing
  64. Perform another nozzle check
  65. Document results with photos SECTION (00:08:09) Interpreting Results – Damper – Ink tube – Ink filter – Ink – Ink bottle SECTION (00:08:28) Revert Ink Channels in Software SECTION (00:08:59) Return Dampers to Original Positions
  66. Power off using the emergency stop
  67. Remove media
  68. Rotate the knob counterclockwise
  69. Move the carriage to center
  70. Remove carriage and daughterboard covers
  71. Place paper towels
  72. Clamp white ink tubes
  73. Remove diverter
  74. Unplug dampers
  75. Swap color dampers back to original positions
  76. Unclamp tubes
  77. Reinstall diverter SECTION (00:11:01) Final Reassembly
  78. Reinstall printer carriage cover and tighten screws
  79. Reinstall daughterboard cover and tighten screws
  80. Release emergency stop
  81. Allow carriage to dock SECTION (00:11:28) Final Media Load and Ink Prep
  82. Reload media under tension rod
  83. Secure media and guides
  84. Bypass cover sensor
  85. Perform fill ink for 30 seconds
  86. Perform two head cleanings
  87. Print final nozzle check
  88. Photograph and send results to technician SECTION (00:12:57)
  • It involves swapping two ink dampers to determine whether a nozzle issue is caused by the print head or by ink delivery components
  • Perform this procedure if one ink channel consistently shows a bad nozzle check
  • Swap the damper from the problematic channel with one from a channel that has a good nozzle check
  • If the issue stays on the same channel, the print head is likely the cause
  • If the issue follows the damper, the problem may be the damper, ink tube, ink filter, ink bottle, or ink itself
  • Swapping color dampers is more complex than swapping white dampers
  • White damper swaps skip the step involving the diverter
  • If swapping white dampers only, this diverter step can be skipped
  • Never squeeze or press the soft sides of a damper
  • Always hold dampers by the rigid plastic frame
  • Required because physical dampers were swapped
  • If nozzle loss stays on the same channel, suspect the print head
  • If nozzle loss follows the damper, suspect:
  • Restore ink channels to their original configuration in the Pilot software
  • Procedure is complete
  • Provide all documentation and images to DTF Station technical support

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