prints are coming out 2" shorter

[Wraps ink]

I am running flexi 8.0 and a falcon outdoor 62" and latley my prints are coming out about 2 to 3 inches shorter than the actual measurement in flexi. It only does it when I turn the image or file horizontal and it seems to do it on prints around 40" or longer...everything is set to 100% not sure whats going on anyone have any ideas

 

[noregrets]

what media are you using?

 

[Mosh]

I know on a roland you have to have the rip projam measure the media or the size will be off.

 

[Wraps ink]

we are using 3m Ij180 cv3 it seems like the longer the print the shorter it is

 

[Wraps ink]

it just started within the last month or so..I've never had this problem before and have had the same setup for 4 years

 

[Sticky Signs]

don't know much about those printers but I'd check feed calibration and make sure the pinch & grit rollers are clean. Maybe you're leaving some sort of white boarder around the image?

 

[gabagoo]

I suppose I should ask if the measurement loss is mathmatical. In other words can you determine from prints just how out a print will be over a defined length? if so until you figure out why you could adjust the size to compensate

 

[noregrets]

We had a similar problem with canvas a few years ago - the printer was stretching the canvas as it fed through, so was coming out shorter - significantly shorter on larger prints.....

Not sure if yours will be the same problem though

 

[radiohead223]

we had a similar problem and thought it was the brand of vinyl we started to use but after much finger pointing we thought it was just the take up roll tension was set to tight and stretched the roll as it printed

 

[SE SignSupply]

Have you checked the PF adjust?

 

[Wraps ink]

i changed the step adjust a a week ago ...we had a little micro banding but other than that we havent changed anything I think PF and step adjust are the same thing...maybe

 

[Graphics2u]

i changed the step adjust a a week ago ...we had a little micro banding but other than that we havent changed anything I think PF and step adjust are the same thing...maybe

They are the same I believe. When you do the test print for the step adjust is the measurement accurate? Could have the pinch rollers slipping or the supply roll is unwinding hard or something. But to be off 2" in 40", Wow! That's a lot. I think there may be a print size compensation setting in the menu on that printer, could that have gotten changed? Even if your sending it from RIP at 100% the Printer may be adjusting it also.

 

[randya]

I dont remember if there is a length compensation in the printer but there certainly is one in the RIP.

It should be step adjust on Falcon's and page feed adjust on ValueJets.

It can be because of feed issues, as the grit roller wears slicker media will have more transport issues.

 

[Gino]

Why don't you put some cheap white vinyl in about 15' or so and print out an accurate ruler 15' long and see if every inch mark is exactly an inch. It could be happening over the entire length or maybe the first foot or even the last two feet. I'd want to know if it was a gradual loss or if the pinchers are dragging from time to time.

 

[Wraps ink]

good idea i will try this

 

[ionsigns]

SDMP-62J Falcon Outdoor was doing the same for me...PhotoPrint 4.6
I cured problem but don't remember how except it was in the software!

I suspect Flexi as PhotoPrint is SAI product, too.