Versacamm SP-300i Bad Prints

[nitewolf10]

I'm not one to write a post I'm more of a lurker, but I had to share my problem and eventual solution because it wasn't a typical bad printhead/dampers/caps/encoder strip/heaters/motors.

After a day and a half of wasted ink and vinyl, doing clean cycles, manual cleans, made sure the encoder strip was cleaned and not damaged, calibrations and bi-dir adjustments, test print the heads all fine, but there was this constant drops, streaks, and smears over every print and at the end of a print this weird line streak just above the print. I knew that was a clue. Got out the brightest flashlight I have and smashed my face up against the safety cover and watched the ink spray and I finally saw it. The black clip that locks the print carriage into the capping station had a glob of ink with fibers hanging from it. Cleaned it off and now printing great again. All that wasted ink and vinyl on something that's not directly part of the actual printing we all look for. It got me wondering how many other may be having the same issue pulling their hair out and a part that has nothing to do with the actual printing may be the problem.

I've been using these printers for 15+ years and this is a new one.

 

[garyroy]

I had 3 VersaCamms. What you did was basically a monthly cleaning maintenance procedure at our shop.
If you haven't done that for 15 years, good on you.

 

[nitewolf10]

I'm glad you had the forethought to keep that little clip cleaned, because the roland tech that just called me for the support ticket I issued yesterday, didn't know that could be a problem.

 

[SGC]

As a service technician that also owns a print shop that turns off the technician brain for business brain, I did a 4 head replacement last year for a godforsaken dust bunny at my shop. You do not know defeat until that first nozzle test with 4 new heads and your exact smear is still there.

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

Thank you for posting. If you would’ve posted the problem you were having in a picture. I probably could’ve told you exactly what it was immediately. You do have to look around the bottom of the head carriage on any of the printers and clean off any dust, hairs, that are hanging down or they will leave little fine streaks.
and yes a good light illuminating it from the rear is the best way.
sometimes moving the carriage over to the middle of the printer and having life on the rear, you can see it if you cannot see it in the maintenance area

As a service technician that also owns a print shop that turns off the technician brain for business brain, I did a 4 head replacement last year for a godforsaken dust bunny at my shop. You do not know defeat until that first nozzle test with 4 new heads and your exact smear is still there.

As a service technician that also owns a print shop that turns off the technician brain for business brain, I did a 4 head replacement last year for a godforsaken dust bunny at my shop. You do not know defeat until that first nozzle test with 4 new heads and your exact smear is still there.

yes, that is such a shame. I have gotten into the habit of always checking the bottom of the heads before replacing them. Looking for dirt, dust debris, damaged heads. The best way is with a small mirror and a flashlight holding the light almost directly even with the head surface, and moving the mirror around and the light around. Especially on the DX seven heads, you can see the dimples most of the time.

 

[cornholio]

All users have read the manual and keep their printers in a immaculately clean state. Therefore a service technician never has seen dirt or fibers adhering to a head or any other parts of the print carriage.

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

All users have read the manual and keep their printers in an immaculately clean state. Therefore a service technician never has seen dirt or fibers adhering to a head or any other parts of the print carriage.

Funny