Orlandoman
New Member
Roland VS-300i — No Ink From Print Head After Major Rebuild
Looking for input on this. I've been chasing a no-fire head issue and have replaced most of the signal path. Currently the printer powers up, heats, carriage moves, pumps cycle, everything appears to function correctly — but zero ink from the head on nozzle check.
What I've replaced (all new parts):
Original issue was the old head not firing — traced to a failed internal connection on the print head itself (the interface PCB had separated from the head body). One of the original 36-pin High-V cables also had visible damage on edge pins (pin 36 = VHV1, pin 1 = data line) so I replaced all three.
During the repair, I dropped a screw into the SW Power Supply and went after it with a magnetic screwdriver. Got an audible pop. After that, the printer dropped to "logic alive but nothing else works" state — 2-second shutdown, no motors, no pumps, only panel/LEDs/service mode accessible. Found visible arc mark on the PSU board near D102 with cloudy/discolored traces. F1/F2 fuses had blown protecting downstream circuits.
Replaced the PSU and the printer came back to life — pumps cycle, carriage homes, heaters reach temp, service mode fully functional, no error codes. Confirms PSU was the cause of post-screw symptoms.
Current state after full rebuild:
I think the head FFCs may have been weakened from being moved/reseated multiple times during diagnostics. New set of FFCs is being overnighted and will arrive tomorrow. Plan is to install them once and only once with no pre-fitting or testing.
Question for the forum:
Before I install the new FFCs tomorrow, is there anything else I should check or test? Anyone seen this exact "everything works except firing" scenario where new FFCs solved it? Any other failure modes I should consider given the screw-in-PSU event?
Printer is a Roland VS-300i, 13 years old, third head replacement over the life of the machine.
Looking for input on this. I've been chasing a no-fire head issue and have replaced most of the signal path. Currently the printer powers up, heats, carriage moves, pumps cycle, everything appears to function correctly — but zero ink from the head on nozzle check.
What I've replaced (all new parts):
- Print head (DX7) — installed, head rank code entered
- All four head FFC cables (29-pin ribbons from carriage board to head — parts 1000006702 ×3 and 1000006703 ×1)
- All three 36-pin BB High-V cables (main board to carriage board)
- Encoder strip (carefully installed with gloves and IPA-cleaned groove, lint-free microfiber wipe)
- Damper cover assembly
- Drain tubing
- F1 and F2 fuses on the servo board (3.15A)
- SW Power Supply (LEB150F-0536-XRLD A, part 1000006130)
Original issue was the old head not firing — traced to a failed internal connection on the print head itself (the interface PCB had separated from the head body). One of the original 36-pin High-V cables also had visible damage on edge pins (pin 36 = VHV1, pin 1 = data line) so I replaced all three.
During the repair, I dropped a screw into the SW Power Supply and went after it with a magnetic screwdriver. Got an audible pop. After that, the printer dropped to "logic alive but nothing else works" state — 2-second shutdown, no motors, no pumps, only panel/LEDs/service mode accessible. Found visible arc mark on the PSU board near D102 with cloudy/discolored traces. F1/F2 fuses had blown protecting downstream circuits.
Replaced the PSU and the printer came back to life — pumps cycle, carriage homes, heaters reach temp, service mode fully functional, no error codes. Confirms PSU was the cause of post-screw symptoms.
Current state after full rebuild:
- Printer functions normally in every way EXCEPT head firing
- Heaters work and reach temp (firmware allows test prints, which requires heat-up)
- Carriage moves correctly through full pass during test prints
- Pumps run during cleanings
- Service mode fully accessible, no error codes
- Can pull ink through cap top with syringe — confirmed ink reaches the cap
- Have run multiple POWERFUL cleaning cycles
- Head rank code entered correctly from new head's paperwork
- All FFCs verified in correct positions per section 3-21
- Nozzle check: completely blank, zero ink
I think the head FFCs may have been weakened from being moved/reseated multiple times during diagnostics. New set of FFCs is being overnighted and will arrive tomorrow. Plan is to install them once and only once with no pre-fitting or testing.
Question for the forum:
Before I install the new FFCs tomorrow, is there anything else I should check or test? Anyone seen this exact "everything works except firing" scenario where new FFCs solved it? Any other failure modes I should consider given the screw-in-PSU event?
Printer is a Roland VS-300i, 13 years old, third head replacement over the life of the machine.