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Head height & calibration issues sp-540v

EpicEffex

New Member
I just replaced the print heads in my sp-540v and am doing the head calibration. When I do the bias calibration I will get different results (shifts) without even making any adjustments. Also when doing the bi- directional calibration I get a head height too high message. Went into machine setting and ensured that the head height was in low (which it is on the machine) not sure why my bi-directional calibration test print looks the way it does. I got a perfect test print for the heads. And horizontal test print looks good. Just not sure about the head height issue and bias issue. I have attached some images of my test prints.

Thoughts?
 

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Joe House

Sign Equipment Technician
Is the spring in front installed and have you snugged down (just enough to keep the head plate on the carriage plate, not fully tightened) when doing the test prints?

Good Luck
 

EpicEffex

New Member
Is the spring in front installed and have you snugged down (just enough to keep the head plate on the carriage plate, not fully tightened) when doing the test prints?

Good Luck
Thank you for the reply Joe!

Yes the spring is installed.

I have been adjusting the 1.5mm allen screw to set the head alignment. I loosened the three screws on the head by tightening them and backing them off just a touch so the head will move with adjustment. The interesting thing is the test prints above were all run consecutively with no adjustment in between test prints.
 

Jim Hancock

Old School Technician
Are you tightening the screws after making each adjustment? If you aren't, as soon as the heads cap, the pressure from the capping station will move the heads.
 

C5 Service&Repair

New Member
A few things,
First make sure your bias is locked down before even running any of the other tests. When retightening the 3 head screws, always do them in order. The front one on the right, the left one, then the back one on the right. Make sure the screws that hold the head plate on are tight and you're not loosening those. Once your Black head's bias is good, Don't loosen it again. The YM head needs to move for the horizontal to meet the black.
The head height issue could be the hi/low sensor is failed so the printer thinks that the head is so high that its out of the sensor. Check and ensure the metal flag is engaged into the black sensor.
 

EpicEffex

New Member
Thanks for all the great info! I just to eliminate and change due to movement I went ahead and tightened down both heads and ran two consecutive test prints without touching anything and got two different results. I attached a picture of both test prints. I also printed a printer report and the print quality was horrible. Lots of ghosting I am thinking that it may be that the encoder strip is bad. Can these be flipped?
 

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EpicEffex

New Member
A few things,
First make sure your bias is locked down before even running any of the other tests. When retightening the 3 head screws, always do them in order. The front one on the right, the left one, then the back one on the right. Make sure the screws that hold the head plate on are tight and you're not loosening those. Once your Black head's bias is good, Don't loosen it again. The YM head needs to move for the horizontal to meet the black.
The head height issue could be the hi/low sensor is failed so the printer thinks that the head is so high that its out of the sensor. Check and ensure the metal flag is engaged into the black sensor.


Thank you I will have to check into the head height sensor.
 
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