DravidDavid
New Member
Hey guys,
A couple of days ago we started having an odd problem with our SJ-1000. All of a sudden half of cyan and half of black started dropping out for no reason. We haven't been able to resolve it and I've listed the steps taken below:
- Performed printer cleaning cycles (which often resulted in a worse result directly after)
- Swabbed heads (more than once)
- Cleaned wipers
- Replaced appropriate cap tops
- Replaced appropriate dampers
- Checked ink levels (all carts are full. We only use genuine Roland ink)
- Checked for air and seal leaks. None were found.
When we replaced the dampers, we drew ink through the lines to remove air and fill the dampers themselves. I don't think it is the ink delivery system or a low ink problem or anything to do with the ink pumps or the ink itself.
Cyan has done 9.2 billion dots according to the printer and black has done 1.7 billion. We are aware that one head (if we have calculated everything correctly) is well past it's 4 billion odd life span. But we felt it was unusual that half of two separate heads with plenty of ink to fire decided to die without reason. It wasn't like the heads struck and we found out afterwards.
After doing a quick search, I found other members with a similar problem, but not totally the same. I saw multiple people suggesting a head soak. I have no idea what this is, but my best educated guess would involve removing the head and soaking it in cleaning solution overnight (8 to 12 hours I believe I saw mentioned) and reinstall the next day?
Any help would be appreciated. I know we may need to bite the bullet and replace the heads. We are prepared to do that, but if we can learn something new with a print head we know is destined for the rubbish anyway, we have nothing to loose! Maybe even practice installing a print head. Haha!
EDIT: Just did another quick search. According to other posts, soaking procedure is simply clamping the capping station drain and filling the capping station with cleaning solution, parking the head and switching the machine off? Obviously removing the ink carts to prevent contamination. Is this the only method? I saw it was a way you could resolve problems, but was the quick way around things. Does anyone have more in depth information on proper soaking procedure? Or have I nailed it?
A couple of days ago we started having an odd problem with our SJ-1000. All of a sudden half of cyan and half of black started dropping out for no reason. We haven't been able to resolve it and I've listed the steps taken below:
- Performed printer cleaning cycles (which often resulted in a worse result directly after)
- Swabbed heads (more than once)
- Cleaned wipers
- Replaced appropriate cap tops
- Replaced appropriate dampers
- Checked ink levels (all carts are full. We only use genuine Roland ink)
- Checked for air and seal leaks. None were found.
When we replaced the dampers, we drew ink through the lines to remove air and fill the dampers themselves. I don't think it is the ink delivery system or a low ink problem or anything to do with the ink pumps or the ink itself.
Cyan has done 9.2 billion dots according to the printer and black has done 1.7 billion. We are aware that one head (if we have calculated everything correctly) is well past it's 4 billion odd life span. But we felt it was unusual that half of two separate heads with plenty of ink to fire decided to die without reason. It wasn't like the heads struck and we found out afterwards.
After doing a quick search, I found other members with a similar problem, but not totally the same. I saw multiple people suggesting a head soak. I have no idea what this is, but my best educated guess would involve removing the head and soaking it in cleaning solution overnight (8 to 12 hours I believe I saw mentioned) and reinstall the next day?
Any help would be appreciated. I know we may need to bite the bullet and replace the heads. We are prepared to do that, but if we can learn something new with a print head we know is destined for the rubbish anyway, we have nothing to loose! Maybe even practice installing a print head. Haha!
EDIT: Just did another quick search. According to other posts, soaking procedure is simply clamping the capping station drain and filling the capping station with cleaning solution, parking the head and switching the machine off? Obviously removing the ink carts to prevent contamination. Is this the only method? I saw it was a way you could resolve problems, but was the quick way around things. Does anyone have more in depth information on proper soaking procedure? Or have I nailed it?
