Mutoh 1624 The lengths of the prints do not match

[hube]

We have problems with the Mutoh 1624x printer and we cannot find a solution, maybe someone had a similar problem?
When printing wallpaper on SIHL FR210 non-woven fabric, which consists of several pieces (panels), they do not fit together. For example, we have a wallpaper that consists of 4 panels 100 cm wide, all of them are printed one after the other 1>2>3>4, while matching the pattern sometimes does not match. e.g. panel 1 and panel 2 fit together, but panel 2 and 3 do. NO. If we want to perfectly match a pattern that matches at the top, it no longer matches in the middle or bottom part. as if panel 3 was stretched or narrowed to some extent. This happens sporadically, regardless of the amount of printing, saturation, etc. Sometimes 4 panels match perfectly and, for example, 5 do not. As a rule, the length of each panel is 250-300 cm. I don't know why this is, the service technician has no idea. PF calibrated for material with a length of 500 mm, set perfectly. Any ideas ?

 

[GaSouthpaw]

I seem to recall there's a way to calibrate the printer's feed that might bring them a bit closer in line to each other, but it's been about 10 years since I ran one of them, so I don't remember what menu it was under. I also seem to recall you're going to burn about 10' (3m +\-) of material.

 

[hube]

do you mean the tension of the material from the roll from which it unwinds?

 

[hube]

I seem to recall there's a way to calibrate the printer's feed that might bring them a bit closer in line to each other, but it's been about 10 years since I ran one of them, so I don't remember what menu it was under. I also seem to recall you're going to burn about 10' (3m +\-) of material.

do you mean the tension of the material from the roll from which it unwinds?

 

[GaSouthpaw]

do you mean the tension of the material from the roll from which it unwinds?

No, there was a menu on the machine (in maintenance, maybe?) that allowed you to calibrate the media. It makes marks at 0' and 10' that you measure for accuracy, and adjust. If not properly calibrated, the issue you mentioned is a possibility.
I would also suggest you rotate (180 degrees) every other panel (panels 2 and 4 of a four panel project) if you aren't doing so already. This will often times help with alignment issues.

 

[Solventinkjet]

If I remember correctly, the tolerance for length accuracy on that machine is +/- a quarter inch (0.635 cm) over 8 feet (~244cm). So you should expect a little difference at the length you're printing and should add a bleed to compensate. That being said, if you're using Flexi, try running the print size compensation adjustment. It's in one of the main menus at the top of the production manager. It will print out a box at a certain size, you measure it, and then input what you measured. It will compensate automatically.

 

[GaSouthpaw]

If I remember correctly, the tolerance for length accuracy on that machine is +/- a quarter inch (0.635 cm) over 8 feet (~244cm). So you should expect a little difference at the length you're printing and should add a bleed to compensate. That being said, if you're using Flexi, try running the print size compensation adjustment. It's in one of the main menus at the top of the production manager. It will print out a box at a certain size, you measure it, and then input what you measured. It will compensate automatically.

A quarter of an inch??? Wow... that's awful. No wonder I cussed that printer nearly every day!

 

[Solventinkjet]

A quarter of an inch??? Wow... that's awful. No wonder I cussed that printer nearly every day!

It might be an 1/8th" but they don't publish that detailed of specs anymore. I'm just trying to remember off the top of my head but it's around that range for sure.

 

[Ssignature]

A bad PF encoder or a scratched/dirty disk could contribute to this issue. Another possibility is that the pinch rollers need to be replaced due to slippage.

 

[hube]

No, there was a menu on the machine (in maintenance, maybe?) that allowed you to calibrate the media. It makes marks at 0' and 10' that you measure for accuracy, and adjust. If not properly calibrated, the issue you mentioned is a possibility.
I would also suggest you rotate (180 degrees) every other panel (panels 2 and 4 of a four panel project) if you aren't doing so already. This will often times help with alignment issues.

yes, all the pieces are rotated alternately by 180 degrees but unfortunately this error still appears. Unfortunately, I don't know what calibration you mean, but I will look for it.

 

[Ahmed Samy Nagada]

99 of printers worldwide has a little bit of skew, which means that if you measure your tile length from the right side it will different than the left side. We had these issues on Mutoh, Mimaki, Latex, Epson and even Chinese Infinity. In order to get the best possible results, you need to:
1- Rotate alternate tiles 180 degrees.
2- Use proper take-up mechanism.
3- Always hang the first tile on the take-up and apply tension before starting to print. We sometimes use a leader piece of banner stapled to the media in order not to waste expensive media.

Good luck.