Ink flow problem with my SP-300

It doesnt EVER touch the vinyl. It may need to be primed or cleaned or both, did you ever see it print before you bought it?

 

Yikes.......Never let the print head touch the vinyl or whatever your printing. I'm not sure with the Rolands but you have to do a pre-fill up to get the inks into the lines then into the heads.
1/4 inch isin't that much, we have our heads set around 1/2" from substrate, was tired of getting a couple of head strikes.
Good luck to you.

 

Do a complete pump up including the cleaning cartridges. You'll need two for an SP-300V. Perform this as though you just got a new printer and follow the menu prompts, which should also be in the User Manual so you can follow the steps. This procedure is very important. Assuming you paid fair price, you should find a Roland dealer who can service this printer and pay them to come help you properly set it up. It'll be worth the money and you can pick the tech brain about other stuff to make sure you get you money's worth. It will also give you the opportunity to build a relationship with the dealer who you may need in the future for routine work. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Exactly what mediaman said! Ink jet heads don't touch the media like a pc 60 or 600. Don't compare to thermal...you will love this machine if you keep it maintained and clean!

Stay patient - a lot of learning curve but well worth it.

 

My cleaning cartridges also say sol-ink. All versacamms are eco-solvent ink as far as I know.

 

My (uncertified) advice is to pump some cleaning fluid through the system.
Hope you got a good deal on the machine...
Try a private message to MediaMan..
Ken

 

Sounds like you've got some clogged heads. If power cleanings aren't helping, I've heard of some clamping off the waste tubes and filling the capping station with cleaning solution. Let that soak for awhile (few hours) and then try another power cleaning. You may need new heads, though.

 

Let me ask you this;

What does the machine sound like when you run a medium head cleaning?

 

You can find a syringe and remove the line at the pump and pull ink through if there are air pockets in the lines.

If the ink is in the lines with no air pockets then you can try the capping station trick that cdiesel suggested. I have done that with great success. I think you may want to change the capping stations - if they are not sealing on the bottom of the head anymore then the nozzles plug up. I fought this for some time on mine until I changed the stations and now my machine can sit for days without printing and first print is like a dream.

YOu are not supposed to touch the print head BUT you could CAREFULLY just dab the bottom of the print head with cleaning solution - WARNING! If you do this be very careful!!! I thought I would never get my nozzles to spray again and they cleaned up after a few soakings and dabs.

I also recommend you find a dealer and have him come out to check the machine and answer your questions. It will be well worth the money spent.

Good luck

 

Careful about random cleanings. Medium and Powerful should be used judiciously! You should call Roland, get the name of the closest dealer and have it done right before you fry the heads. NEVER insert cleaning carts or ink during a set-up unless the machine asks you to insert. It is a precision instrument and I'd hate to see your untimate cost go up a few thousands 'cause you "tried things".

 

It sounds like you have the old pump set up still in that machine, they are recalled, and have been replaced with an upgrade to a high volume pump which has a much different sound. One of the symptoms of the pump failure is exactly what you are describing.