Do I need a new head?

[JgS]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question already but do I need to replace the black head? The printer is a Roland VP-540. I am not the normal operator of it so I don't know if it had a head strike but I'm guessing it did. Anyway attached is the nozzle check. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[J Hill Designs]

overnight head soak first

 

[jfiscus]

I've seen places keep far worse heads in service for quite a while...

 

[DravidDavid]

I'll say!

Those heads look pretty good compared to what we have in production right now. You shouldn't see any severe banding based on those results unless the head strike did something nasty to alignment.

 

[player]

A head soak is filling the caps with cleaning fluid, then put the heads back into the parked position. You need to pinch off the captops' drain tubes so the fluid does not drain. Turn off printer so the pump doesn't run.

You move the heads on and off the caps with the manual cleaning routine or I have done it with the head height routine.

-Move heads over.
-Pinch tubes.
-Fill caps wit cleaner.
-Move heads back.
-Turn off printer.

If your heads have multiple colours in 1 head you can get cross contamination. I have also pulled out inks after the printer is off to try to stop that.

 

[Karen-Kang]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question already but do I need to replace the black head? The printer is a Roland VP-540. I am not the normal operator of it so I don't know if it had a head strike but I'm guessing it did. Anyway attached is the nozzle check. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

I am agree with the head soak solution. And see if the printing performance improved after soaking.
And consider replace the dampers when testing. Long time use , the ink impurity cause the printing performance.

 

[JgS]

Thanks. I will try the head soak. What is the best way to get the cleaning solution out of the cap? Do you just run it through a couple cleaning cycles?

There is a noticeable difference in quality. Not on the big stuff but I print a lot of service decals with bar codes and it is causing a problem with those. Also a lot over over spray.

 

[HDvinyl]

Here are 2 previous threads about this, with 2 different methods.

http://www.signs101.com/forums/show...ad-back-to-life!!!-You-have-to-check-this-out!

http://www.signs101.com/forums/showthread.php?51772-VP540-Clogged-Heads

 

[bulldozer]

yea, that definitely looks like a couple nozzles are just misfiring. head soak should clear it right up. a new head would be nearly missing or streaking or a big ole block of too much ink.

 

[DRamm76]

How are you certain it's the print head and not the capping stations? Are the stations perfectly aligned to the heads?

 

[JgS]

How are you certain it's the print head and not the capping stations? Are the stations perfectly aligned to the heads?

not sure at all. This is a new printer to me. but to the best of my knowledge the capping stations are original to the machine and it was purchased in 07'

 

[J Hill Designs]

not sure at all. This is a new printer to me. but to the best of my knowledge the capping stations are original to the machine and it was purchased in 07'

might want to change them out if head soak gets you nowhere (might want to change them out anyway)

 

[MakeMyGraphic]

Just wanted to say, I followed these techniques linked on this thread and saved my print head very good tips!

 

[player]

You should change the caps every 6 months. Do you clean the printer? The wipers? The caps?

 

[heyskull]

Personally that looks great.
I have seen other large companies sending prints out with machines that have bigger issues than that.
I would carry on printing but if you feel the need to replace I would take the old head of your hands!

SC

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question already but do I need to replace the black head? The printer is a Roland VP-540. I am not the normal operator of it so I don't know if it had a head strike but I'm guessing it did. Anyway attached is the nozzle check. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.