Banding issue - Help needed please?

[HannesG]

Hi all

I'm a newbie here, seeking some assistance with a banding? issue I'm experiencing.

Printer: Mimage 1.8M with single DX5 head.
Ink: Ecosolvent
Software: Maintop RIP

I bought this printer about 8 months ago, brand new and I used it only for about 4 months when this issue started.

If you look at the the 1st and 2nd pic you will see the nozzle check is good, then I will print a simple block with cmyk colors and the last pic you will see how the ink dropped out and the nozzle check is pretty bad.

I've replaced the capping station and all 8 dampers - there is also no visible air/bubbles in the ink lines.

I've done a head soak and a manual clean also, with no luck.

Checked alignment and also step alignment, all good.

Any ideas please?

Thanks
Hannes

 

[Zoogee World]

When it drops out like that, have you looked at the lines to see if they lost ink, as this does look like ink starvation.

 

[HannesG]

When it drops out like that, have you looked at the lines to see if they lost ink, as this does look like ink starvation.

Yes there lines and dampers still have ink in them

 

[Zoogee World]

Then that is very strange, as if it's losing ink / dropping out, there should be evidence. The only other place I could think of an air leak would be between the dampers and head. Did you use OEM parts or 3rd party?

 

[rjssigns]

Can you print a fill test? A fill test will print solid super saturated bars of each color across the width of the material.

 

[HannesG]

Yes there lines and dampers still have ink in them

Then that is very strange, as if it's losing ink / dropping out, there should be evidence. The only other place I could think of an air leak would be between the dampers and head. Did you use OEM parts or 3rd party?

Zogee, only part from OEM.

 

[HannesG]

best i can is to print a "self designed" block of CMYK and rip it with density at it's max, and then the results looks the same as before.

Can you print a fill test? A fill test will print solid super saturated bars of each color across the width of the material.

 

[rjssigns]

Then it may be an electrical issue. Ribbon cable may not be seated. With all the work you did you may have unknowingly bumped into one of them.
Maybe VanderJ will be along and shed some light on the issue.