Cleaning the printer

The DNP DS-RX1hs is a thermal dye-sub printer. Over time, dust collects on the rollers and (occasionally) the thermal head, and prints start to come out with streaks or smudges. A periodic clean keeps quality high.

Who this is for: Operators doing routine printer maintenance.

When to clean

  • Every roll change (after every ~700 prints) is a good interval for a quick clean
  • Whenever you see streaks or smudges on prints that fresh media doesn't fix
  • Whenever the printer has been sitting unused for a long time (a month or more)

For light cleaning at every roll change, the steps below are quick. For deeper issues, you may need a DNP cleaning kit (sold separately).

Tools you'll need

  • Microfiber cloth (lint-free)
  • DNP cleaning swabs or alcohol swabs (90%+ isopropyl alcohol)
  • Compressed air can (optional, for dust)
  • Clean, dry hands (or thin nitrile gloves)

Before you start

  • Power off the printer if you'll be touching internal parts. (Or leave it on if you're only wiping the exterior.)
  • Let the print head cool down for a minute or two if the printer was just running.
  • Have your media swap supplies ready if you're cleaning at a roll change.

Step 1: Clean the exterior

Wipe down the printer's outside surfaces with a microfiber cloth:

  • Top and sides
  • Service door (outside)
  • Any visible cooling vents. Gently, don't push dust into them

Do not spray cleaner directly on any printer surface. Damp the cloth slightly if needed.

Step 2: Open the service door

Open the printer's service door fully. Remove the paper roll and ribbon (see Changing the print roll Step 2).

Step 3: Wipe the rollers

Inside the printer you'll see one or more black rubber rollers that the paper passes over.

  1. Use a microfiber cloth (slightly damp with isopropyl alcohol if available).
  2. Gently wipe each roller, rotating it as you go.
  3. The cloth will pick up dust, paper fibers, and ink residue.
  4. Continue until the cloth comes away clean.

Step 4: Clean the thermal head (cautiously)

The thermal head is the long, thin component that actually transfers dye from the ribbon to the paper. It's fragile and sensitive. Clean it only if you have a dedicated cleaning kit or the right swabs.

With a DNP cleaning kit:

  1. Use the cleaning swabs included in the kit.
  2. Lightly wipe the thermal head along its length, in one direction only (don't scrub back and forth).
  3. Let it dry for a minute before reinstalling media.

Without a kit:

  • Skip this step. Don't risk damaging the head with the wrong cleaning material.
  • Order a DNP cleaning kit if you need to clean the head regularly.

Step 5: Blow out dust (optional)

If you have compressed air:

  1. Hold the can upright (not tilted, or it'll spray liquid).
  2. Use short bursts to blow dust out of the media path.
  3. Don't aim directly at the thermal head.

Step 6: Reinstall media

Install the new (or existing) paper and ribbon as usual. See Changing the print roll.

Step 7: Close the door and test

  1. Close the service door firmly.
  2. Power the printer back on if you turned it off.
  3. Wait for the Printer pill in admin to turn green.
  4. Run a Test Print.
  5. The test print should be clean. No streaks, no smudges, no spotting.

What cleaning does NOT fix

  • Wrong colors. Defective media or ribbon issue, not dirt
  • White borders. Borderless printing setting issue, not dirt
  • Off-center prints. Template / layout issue, not dirt
  • Prints that look good but the booth says "Out of Paper". Sensor issue, not dirt
  • Prints that come out crumpled. Paper jam / mechanical issue, not dirt

If cleaning doesn't fix the problem, see Printer issues (coming soon).

Cleaning frequency

  • Heavy (100+ prints / day). Every roll change
  • Medium (20-100 prints / day). Every 2-3 roll changes
  • Light (under 20 prints / day). Monthly even if you haven't changed the roll
  • Stored (not in use). Quick clean before bringing back into service

Safety notes

  • Don't pour or spray liquid into the printer. Always damp a cloth first.
  • Don't use harsh chemicals like ammonia, acetone, or abrasive cleaners.
  • Don't scrub the thermal head. Gentle, single-direction wiping only.
  • Don't unplug internal cables to "get better access." If you can't reach something with the door open, you don't need to clean it.
  • Don't operate the printer with the door open.

Verify it worked

The printer is clean when:

  • A test print is sharp, streak-free, and color-accurate
  • The rollers look free of visible dust
  • The exterior is wiped down

Next steps