Head Alignment issue and ghosting on VP-540

[Caleab Brown]

Hello,

This is my first post here! Thanks to everyone for all the helpful information I've found.

Ghosting
I recently did a head replacement on a VP-540 (it was the black head), and after the replacement, there was some 'ghosting' (that's the only word I can think of that makes sense).

I'll attach pictures so you can see what I mean.​

Ghosting 1: https://ibb.co/17ndf7p
As you can see, the black text has an odd 'ghosting' above the body of the text. I'm not sure why it's doing this, but I've check the file to ensure it's not originating in the art.

Ghosting 2: https://ibb.co/NTdDTJq
This is a spot on the same print that looks okay. The 'ghosting' isn't really an issue here.

Ghosting 3: https://ibb.co/r6BqwKX
Another spot of ghosted text for further reference.​

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Alignment
I feel that it's something to do with alignment, because I had an issue with the vertical alignment while doing the head replacement.....

If you've done a head replacement on a Versacamm, you know how you do the bias alignment with the hex key / alan wrench, and you do the vertical alignment using knobs on the front of the head carriage. Well, while doing the vertical alignment, there was no change when I did adjustments. I loosened the screws properly and everything, but no matter how far you turn the knobs on ANY of the print heads, it did not affect the test print. Am I missing something? I feel like maybe the springs on the vertical alignment screws are worn, but I'm not experienced enough to know where/how to troubleshoot.

I'll also attach a before and after picture of the vertical alignment. They look the same, but one is after a full turn on every single printhead alignment screw except black (K).​

Vertical Alignment 1: https://ibb.co/sbSFtFc
This is one of the first test prints for the vertical alignment, at this point I had only rotated the cyan knob 1/6 turn CW.

Vertical Alignment 2: https://ibb.co/RvSByrL
This is after extreme changes to the C, M, and Y vertical adjustment knobs.​

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Conlcusion
That's what I know. If there's any questions please comment and I will try to give a good answer. The two issues may be unrelated, but I really don't know where to go from here. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it! I tried surfing the web, but couldn't find anything decisively helpful, if there's a thread or post anywhere that could assist me, I would be thankful for that as well.

Hope everyone is having a good Friday,

Caleab

 

[Solventinkjet]

Make sure you clean the head mounting area first. Ink tends to build up and sort of glues the head down so it doesn't move easily. Usually that's the case.

 

[Caleab Brown]

Make sure you clean the head mounting area first. Ink tends to build up and sort of glues the head down so it doesn't move easily. Usually that's the case.

So are you saying I should take the 3 color heads out and clean around the mounting area?

I'll edit the post to include this, but I replaced the black print head, and I did clean the area around where it mounts to.

 

[balstestrat]

You just got to get it to move around. Clean it and jiggle it until you can move it to adjust properly.

And if you replaced the black why didn't you adjust that? Kind of nonsense in my opinion to adjust 4 rather than one.

 

[Caleab Brown]

You just got to get it to move around. Clean it and jiggle it until you can move it to adjust properly.

Okay, that makes sense. I thought about kinda jiggling it like you're saying to see if it broke free, but I didn't know if that was okay. Thanks for the tip.

 

[C5 Service&Repair]

All of your alignments are off. The black head doesn't have a vertical alignment. It's the color the others align to.

 

[Jim Hancock]

The black head has a locking screw that fixes its vertical position. As C5 stated, all the other heads align to the black. This insures you don't adjust the heads where they are no longer aligned front to back on the caps. As you apparently aren't getting the other heads to move, you need to remove them and thoroughly clean the adapter plate the heads are mounted on and also clean the slider plate. As Solventinkjet said, you most likely have ink buildup that is inhibiting head movement. This is a common thing on the Roland DX4 head printers. Once you do this, you will be able to easily adjust the heads. The springs are fine, they do not get "weak". You can jiggle the heads free, but removal and cleaning is the best solution.

 

[E Coloney]

Thank you, Jim Hancock, for sharing your expertise/experience/guidance.