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Encoder Strip help for a mimaki jf 1631

jdwilliams1

New Member
I have been running trial and error to figure our an origin issue and I think it may be the encoder strip. I have read where some have tried to turn it upside down with luck but if that does not work does anyone know of a reliable source for these that does not cost $1000.00 bucks?

Thanks
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
I have been running trial and error to figure our an origin issue and I think it may be the encoder strip. I have read where some have tried to turn it upside down with luck but if that does not work does anyone know of a reliable source for these that does not cost $1000.00 bucks?

Thanks


Anyone?
 

artbot

New Member
this might work

there are only two types of encoder strips for printers, 150lpi and 180lpi. the differences from there are width, length, and does is conveniently come with holes in it to accommodate the gantry.

i just put an encoder strip on my H700 (has toshiba CA4w heads, i believe your printer has CE4?) digi-print supplies, sells the H700 strip for $66! they come very long and you will have several feet left over. i still have the couple feet from mine. perhaps i can take a photo and measure the width if you are interested to possibly convert one of these.

i've even seen where an encoder strip cost $4000(?) for a vutek! that is beyond absurd.
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
there are only two types of encoder strips for printers, 150lpi and 180lpi. the differences from there are width, length, and does is conveniently come with holes in it to accommodate the gantry.

i just put an encoder strip on my H700 (has toshiba CA4w heads, i believe your printer has CE4?) digi-print supplies, sells the H700 strip for $66! they come very long and you will have several feet left over. i still have the couple feet from mine. perhaps i can take a photo and measure the width if you are interested to possibly convert one of these.

i've even seen where an encoder strip cost $4000(?) for a vutek! that is beyond absurd.

Artbot, let me start by saying thanks for the response. I see you are very active on here and I am always anxious to see your remarks to others...they are always insightful.

I would love to the encoder strip that digi-print says is for the jf-1631 they have priced at over $900, so if i can get something else from them cheaper or you that would be great. I assume you feel the encoder strip has a direct relation to the type of heads?

Also I am getting ready to post about a print head issue on this forum would lover you input.
 

Tekkie1

Tekkie of Many Things
Hi JD
I have tried swapping and turning upside down the encoder strip in a JF1631 it does not wrk as the holes that line up with the clips are out.A genuine encoder strip from Mimaki costs over 1500 dollars where I am
I had to replace with new,this was my only option but It did fix my varying origin and double image print problem.
I did try many cleans but the ink mist that accumulates over the years of UV ink could not be removed. Aligning the Jf with a dodgy encoder strip also caused many headaches, however when the new one was fitted the alignment was perfect again after it was done in service mode,however very timeconsuming to do but very rewarding with excellent print quality obtained from doing this.
Also be careful with digiprint as the warranty they give is not so good, well for my problem it wasnt.
Please post about your head issue as I have had a lot of experience with the Jf1631 and the JFX1631, so far I have replaced 6 heads on one machine due to lack of use and all good so far.
I have also recently had a encoder problem with a JFX which turned out to be the encoder reader.
Tekkie1:smile:
 

artbot

New Member
the encoder strip is totally tied to the head. if you have a head that print s 360/540/720/1440 etc you'll use a 180lpi strip. if you have a head that prints 300/600/1200 etc you will use a 150lpi encoder strip. as long as the encoder reader has that small amount of strip in it's sites, then the printer will know no different. as for the holes the h700 doesn't have any so you'd just need to match up the two
strips and use an exacto blade to pierce the strip where needed. there's no better example of OEMs skewering their customers than when they buy generic encoder strip and process it into OEM encoder strip material with a hole punch.

(shopped around. i did find that lavaink sells a 1631 for $249 http://lavaink.com/Eco-Solvent-Inks/Mimaki-Encoder-Strip/Mimaki-Encoder-Strip.html but let me assure you. it's just a generic 150 with holes.)
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
Hi JD
I have tried swapping and turning upside down the encoder strip in a JF1631 it does not wrk as the holes that line up with the clips are out.A genuine encoder strip from Mimaki costs over 1500 dollars where I am
I had to replace with new,this was my only option but It did fix my varying origin and double image print problem.
I did try many cleans but the ink mist that accumulates over the years of UV ink could not be removed. Aligning the Jf with a dodgy encoder strip also caused many headaches, however when the new one was fitted the alignment was perfect again after it was done in service mode,however very timeconsuming to do but very rewarding with excellent print quality obtained from doing this.
Also be careful with digiprint as the warranty they give is not so good, well for my problem it wasnt.
Please post about your head issue as I have had a lot of experience with the Jf1631 and the JFX1631, so far I have replaced 6 heads on one machine due to lack of use and all good so far.
I have also recently had a encoder problem with a JFX which turned out to be the encoder reader.
Tekkie1:smile:


Here is the link to my post about my print heads

http://www.signs101.com/forums/show...t-head-issues-with-test-draw-pics-Please-help

Also, can you elaborate about the comment you made when it was done in service mode
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
the encoder strip is totally tied to the head. if you have a head that print s 360/540/720/1440 etc you'll use a 180lpi strip. if you have a head that prints 300/600/1200 etc you will use a 150lpi encoder strip. as long as the encoder reader has that small amount of strip in it's sites, then the printer will know no different. as for the holes the h700 doesn't have any so you'd just need to match up the two
strips and use an exacto blade to pierce the strip where needed. there's no better example of OEMs skewering their customers than when they buy generic encoder strip and process it into OEM encoder strip material with a hole punch.

(shopped around. i did find that lavaink sells a 1631 for $249 http://lavaink.com/Eco-Solvent-Inks/Mimaki-Encoder-Strip/Mimaki-Encoder-Strip.html but let me assure you. it's just a generic 150 with holes.)


Are you saying the one in the link is the correct one or the one one digiprint supplies for $66 is the right one? Sorry to be a pain and thanks for your help. By the way do you know the what error 04 code param rom means on a jf 1631? thanks
 

artbot

New Member
the one in the link (lava ink) is most likely a generic with holes punched in it (a 150lpi). the one from digi-print supplies is probably the same strip without holes punched in it (also a 150lpi).
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
the one in the link (lava ink) is most likely a generic with holes punched in it (a 150lpi). the one from digi-print supplies is probably the same strip without holes punched in it (also a 150lpi).


Artbot have you purchased from lava ink before...are they reputable. Also the link you posted goes to several encoder strips which is the exact one i need?
 

Tekkie1

Tekkie of Many Things
JD
To align the printheads you have to be in service mode and use a magnifyer to look at each row of dots, its time consuming but when done right results and quality are excellent
Tekkie1
 

artbot

New Member
never purchased from lava ink. (have no idea which is the exact strip. ...have to ask them. digi-print supplies is a massive supplier (the site will discuss shipping in a day or so, yet my recent order finally shipped and it was placed over a week ago). how wide is your encoder strip?
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
never purchased from lava ink. (have no idea which is the exact strip. ...have to ask them. digi-print supplies is a massive supplier (the site will discuss shipping in a day or so, yet my recent order finally shipped and it was placed over a week ago). how wide is your encoder strip?


It appears to be about 9/16th of an inch. Is that similar to yours?
 

artbot

New Member
right at 3/4". which leaves a couple options, if possible. the easy one is there may be an adjustment on the encoder reader and just raise it a bit to accomodate the added height. the better fitting but more of a pain way would be to razor off 3/16 off the bottom (there's really no top or bottom to a generic). although that sounds like a back woods solution, i live in the back woods, literally so to me "what the printer doesn't know won't hurt it".
 

jdwilliams1

New Member
right at 3/4". which leaves a couple options, if possible. the easy one is there may be an adjustment on the encoder reader and just raise it a bit to accomodate the added height. the better fitting but more of a pain way would be to razor off 3/16 off the bottom (there's really no top or bottom to a generic). although that sounds like a back woods solution, i live in the back woods, literally so to me "what the printer doesn't know won't hurt it".


lol... all that makes sense. Now to me the encoder reader looks hard to get to.
 

artbot

New Member
on your printer, it looks like you'll have to dig a bit. mine took less than an hour off and on.
 
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