Need Help Mimaki JFX200

Hi Ludwig,

When you say "We checked the Optical Cables", do you mean that you actually swapped the fiber-optic cable out for a new one, or just visually inspected it for damage? While JFX200s are generally very reliable, as the earlier machines age we've seen increasing errors like these ones that we've often resolved by putting in a new Optical Cable. Keep in mind that even a "good" cable can cause this error if it's not installed correctly - because it's transmitting light, if the bend-radius of the cable is too tight, the light won't actually be able to travel around the bend and you'll get an error. You could also have a break in the cable that you won't see until you take it totally out of the machine.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi Ludwig,

What we have seen in our experience is this problem is intermittent based on where the break in the optical cable is. As the head travels and the cable bends the cable breaks. When the cable isn't in this position it will function as normal. You would need to check the light source across the entire table width.

What version of firmware is this machine at? I just realize that you said the HDC board was replaced as well.

Hopefully this helps!
Brian

 

ludwig apcink is correct, there is more to testing a fiberoptic cable than seeing "light come out the other end". we use fiber optics in networking and keep a whole set of elaborate testers.

the fibre is a tiny glass tube, a bend too sharp (improper lead dress) can cause a problem that can be corrected, but if the glass tube (as fragile as your grandmother's christmas ornaments) is damaged the data is corrupted when decoding happens at the far end

i have no mimaki experience, but know that is not a valid test of the fiber for that type of problem

 

This is an optical cable issue for sure. If you have the older version you’ll need to get the newer one with the conversion kit.

 

I hope this works. This is the very same error that ended our machines life. There were so many possibilities that the parts list soared to over $10k with no guaranty that those would fix the problem. We lost a board but they weren't sure what caused it. Mimaki suggested throwing the kitchen sink at it and hope. We called our insurance company and just got a new machine.

 

So the new optical cable is different then the old one so you would need the conversion kit.

E108334 - Optical conversion PCB
E108337 - Slider Relay PCB
AYG4V1F0HWH1 - Optical Fiber Code
M523231 - Holding plate
M523624 - Connector Plate

 

Here is a picture. The new version is the one in the plastic.

 

For your error message I have outlined how to get ride of the error messages.

I don’t believe I mentioned anything about replacing the Main PCB.

 

System halt 181 PCB H21 means the printer is not seeing your HDC board. So in order to get that error to go away you have to replace the parts I outlined in my previous post. So if you haven’t done this yet then I don’t know what else to tell you.

I have seen this error many times on older JFX200 printers that use the older optical cable set up.

E108334 - Optical conversion PCB
E108337 - Slider Relay PCB
AYG4V1F0HWH1 - Optical Fiber Code
M523231 - Holding plate
M523624 - Connector Plate

 

So that means it’s communicating with HDC board now. This error message means head temperatures cannot be measured.

1) Verify Optical connection by unplugging and re-seating cables from slider to HDC board.
2) make sure yellow switches on RX converter PCB are positioned the right way.
3) Test HDC for damage. Make sure LED’s 4,6,7,8 on the board are lit.

if 4,6,7 are lit but 8 is off then test resistance of the print heads for damage.

if 8 is lit but 4,6,7 are not then replace HDC board.

 

Ink leak sensor? There are two ink leak sensors one under the ink bottles Assy and one is in the ink supply pump box. If there was an ink leak and ink saturated the ink leak sensor you would have a system halt 637 error 00001 or 00002.

so your problems are highly unlikely to be a caused by a ink leak sensor. Unless you have ink leaking onto boards in the carriage somewhere.