VP540i Users: Do You Always Use Media Guides?

[player]

I had an SP540v for years and now I have a VP540i. I have noticed the VP head seems to catch the media at the edge more. I have also had slight head smears in the middle of the material as well.

Anyone else find it prone to these issues?
Do you use the media guides?
Do you use more than 2 chart wheels regularly?
Any tips or tricks?

Thanks

 

[stew1tx]

I ran an older model. I always always ran them, just as security. There were very few times I did not when trying to get close to the edge but I made dang sure I could "pull" material to keep it flat on the platen. I have even had this come up with my HP latex. I rigged "Pull sticks" that I could run up under the heater platten and tape to the vinyl to put outward force to keep it flat and not buckle.

 

[player]

I ran an older model. I always always ran them, just as security. There were very few times I did not when trying to get close to the edge but I made dang sure I could "pull" material to keep it flat on the platen. I have even had this come up with my HP latex. I rigged "Pull sticks" that I could run up under the heater platten and tape to the vinyl to put outward force to keep it flat and not buckle.

I had a bad strike using the guides on my old machine. There was a small defect in the vinyl edge that caught the long media guide. The guide lifted up and caused a really bad head strike as it hit the head with the steel edge. That was one of the only times I used the guides. This VP540i is smaller and it doesn't seem to hold the media down when starting at the cut edge like the SP540v did.

 

[stew1tx]

ya player, I always made sure they were not bent and media fed smoothly because I knew what was coming had i not. Nice scratch across one of more heads.... Not good

 

[player]

ya player, I always made sure they were not bent and media fed smoothly because I knew what was coming had i not. Nice scratch across one of more heads.... Not good

Did you always use the guides? Did you have issues if you didn't? Are you still using the VP?

 

[stew1tx]

It was very seldom that we did not use them. I did have a few times that we had issues without as we encountered a head strike from media not laying completely flat. Either cold media, curled edge etc. that is why I just said we always use them. No, I have moved to a hp latex.

 

[player]

It was very seldom that we did not use them. I did have a few times that we had issues without as we encountered a head strike from media not laying completely flat. Either cold media, curled edge etc. that is why I just said we always use them. No, I have moved to a hp latex.

Did you use the short or long ones?

 

[stew1tx]

Mostly the short at least I think they were the short ones. About 1.5-2” long. Think the long ones were 3-4” if memory serves me right.