DCS 1800z dumping clear ink

[Andrewmsmith]

printer went from working normal to dumping clear ink while printing. leaves an offset rectangular layer of clear around whatever I send to print. and dumps a puddle at left edge of bed. not sent to clear profile. just sending a jpg straight to print as test. but it also does it when sending an ADA sign to the clear braille profile. have done all maintenance that I am familiar with. any suggestions, links, videos, aside from calling DSC?

 

[SignSlob]

Hello, I know what your problem is but you wont like it. (lol) you have a damaged ribbon cable. The 2 most common spots are in the head carriage, where the ribbon is bent to "flow" into the head. Here its usually the small cover has "pinched" the ribbon. The second spot it gets damaged is the pin connecter to the print head it self. what happens is ink get in the pins and creates interference which appears as ghost boxes of clear ink.

If you find your cable has a pinch you will have to replace the cable.

if you got ink in your head pins, you most likely will have replace the head and find where the leak appeared, (usually a unseated ink damper) I have had some luck by using a small cotton ball and some ISO 90% to clean the ink residue.

Ill include an example of good/bad pins.