Do I require a new K head?

[Colin]

I'm experiencing some fuzzy edges on K-only sections of prints. I've done a manual cleaning and 2 medium machine cleanings, as well as printing a large rectangle of K, and the "soaked swab pressed gently on the head" routine. Problem remains. Does this mean a new head? (This was printed on some scrap banner material).

 

[Gino]

What does an actual print look like ?? Does it stray a little bit ??

 

[Colin]

What does an actual print look like ?? Does it stray a little bit ??

I'm not sure what you mean by stray, but on any vector file, it's simply fuzzy around the edges, and only on the black.

 

[Gino]

If you were to print a rectangle 5" x 40", but not a across your 54" width, but into your roll, will the box go off one way or the other, just a little ?? That would probably indicate an encoder strip. If the box is truly square and just fuzzy, I'd say you have a lot of static. Seeing you test strip, looks like something is messing with your head, like fuzz, dirt, static or as a last result, a bad head, but unless you remember this happening gradually, I doubt it's that.

 

[Colin]

If you were to print a rectangle 5" x 40", but not a across your 54" width, but into your roll, will the box go off one way or the other, just a little?

I see. No, all is good there. Again, other colors print clean, but the black is fuzzy. I just now received this from a local tech:

"Black side of the head is deflecting, for small print you will see blurriness, I would say 80% of the heads I change are black heads, for this reason. You can try to soak the head in cleaning solution, but it probably needs to be replaced."

I've done all manner of cleaning, so I fear it's a head. It is 4 years old, but not heavily used.

 

[Morph1]

Black is usually the first head that gets damaged due to that it is the first head from material side when your printer starts to print, this is the head that hits first when you have a material strike of any sort....
My black looks similar to your test print.. it's a damaged nozzle...

 

[Colin]

My black looks similar to your test print.. it's a damaged nozzle...

And does yours print black fuzzy?

 

[Solventinkjet]

I have definitely seen people print with worse. If it is an older head (3 years +) it is probably just starting to fail and/or you have had a couple nasty head strikes that are catching up to you. If you can't live with the print quality the last resort is flushing the head but be prepared for things to get better or worse.

If you are comfortable with replacing the head yourself, you should take a look at our print heads. We sell them for a good amount cheaper than if you bought one from a dealer/tech and we offer free support if you get stuck during the installation or have any questions.

 

[Colin]

Out of curiosity, what is the shot count on that head?

How do I get/print that report? Don't I have to be in the Service menu or something?

 

[El Barto]

I'd get another 5 years out of that head. And then I'd just swap it with the light magenta. LOL

And yes, that report is in service mode. It'll ask which head you want to print it with and be sure and use something other than the black one.

 

[player]

Sometimes changing the dampers and or caps (with Roland OEM) can fix a fuzzy print.

After a good head soak and manual cleaning I let the printer sit. I do an auto clean almost every day. Many times deflections clear up.

 

[Colin]

Sometimes changing the dampers and or caps (with Roland OEM) can fix a fuzzy print.

The caps were changed not too long ago, but I don't think the dampers have ever been changed in 4 years (light use).

 

[player]

I had a fuzzy blue and new caps and alignment fixed it.

 

[Colin]

Well I just got a new head, and all's well. Nice to have a good dot-pattern back, instead of the dreaded lines. ~$1500.00 - ouch.

The tech said that this occurs from the higher carbon content of the black ink, and not necessarily from head-strikes.

I had notified my original sales rep/tech as well as Roland when this originally started within the first year of ownership, but they denied it and didn't help at all. Thanks for nothing Roland!


Old banding gone:

 

[Gino]

Yeah, not like you didn't make thousands upon thousands of dollars with that machine already, but i still like happy endings

 

[GAC05]

Good to hear Colin,
did you change it out on your own or have them do it?

I just went through this here my Mutoh head was $1800.00
The part not covered by maintenance - I called to have them set up an appointment to do the install for me.
After 6 days without a callback from the service department - I did it myself.
They finally called after it was up and running - told them I didn't need the service call and they promptly told me I had just voided any remaining warrantee I had left by opening it up.
I'm at the end of the contract so I didn't care too much - other than the chance that I might have turned an $1800 dollar print head into a paperweight......


wayne k
guam usa

 

[Colin]

I had the Tech do it. That aspect was probably money well spent, but Roland really doesn't need to be charging $1200.00 for the part. It's similar to the ink issue; if they want to encourage us all to use the OEM inks, why not offer them at a reasonable price, instead of constantly jacking the price up. They'd actually sell more cartridges and make more money that way. Greed is ugly.

 

[Colin]

Update on this thread. As mentioned, I got a new K head installed 9 months ago, but it seems to be doing the same sort of thing again, with the banding on RVW-BK grays (see attached). The feed calibration is all set nicely, and what's perplexing is that the other test print doesn't show any deflection.

Anyway, I guess my main question is, what sort of Roland warranty does one have with a recently installed head? I asked the guy who installed it and he said 30 days; that seems awfully short.

 

[player]

Did you get a new damper when you got the new head?

 

[Colin]

I'd have to look at the invoice (tomorrow), but I think it was replaced.

 

[Colin]

I should add, it prints a CMYK and RGB gray perfectly (although we all know that these are not neutral grays, and have green or pink casts to them). it's only on the more-neutral RVW-BK blacks/grays that the "banding" (for lack of a better term) occurs.