Recurrent problem with Roland VS-300, nozzles go missing when doing cleaning. Come back after head soak... HELP!

[psychopat]

Hi everyone, I really need to pick your brain regarding this issue.

I have a Roland VS-300 and the head was replaced a few years ago. Im running genuine ink, all original parts.
A few weeks ago, I was missing some yellow nozzles. Did an overnight head soak and they came back. Then on my next batch the following week, the yellow nozzles were missing again, as well as some of the magenta.

Did another head soak, they came back but there's a slight distortion in the yellow and magenta. Also a tiny bit of blue in the yellow. Any how as soon as I do any cleaning, normal, medium etc. I lose the same nozzles again.

I changed the wiper, felt, cap top, new fresh ink, renew ink, Im at 5 head soaks and its always the same cycle. The nozzles are back, then after some cleaning or just the printer automatic cleaning I lose them again.

Im not sure also what cause that swirl / distortion also what would make the nozzle go away again. They are not clogged because after the head soak everything is ok.

What happens when a normal, medium or powerful cleaning is done? Im trying to figure out the source of the problem and what could cause that.
Running out of idea and trying to at least to recover my yellow and magenta.

Cant afford a new print head right now Any ideas or help would be appreciated, I had this printer for over a decade and never had an issue like this.

Thank you!

 

[Zoogee World]

If they're coming back, I wouldn't say it's the print head, does sound a bit like ink starvation, could be the dampers or might be the cap top not having a good seal. When you lose the nozzles is there still ink in the lines?

 

[psychopat]

There's still ink in the lines yes when the nozzles are gone. I already replaced the cap top and that didnt help. I havent tried to replace the dampers yet, I guess I could try that as well. I never replaced dampers in the past, hopefully its not too tricky.

 

[Zoogee World]

To be honest, replacing the dampers on that printer, as it is just the one head, is probably one of the most pain in the butt machines to do it on and if the lines aren't cleared out and drip can blow the head. You could try attaching a syringe to one of the lines after the cap top and pinch off the other and see if you can pull ink through, give you an easy way to see if the seal is good on the cap top.

 

[damonCA21]

The head itself is ok as it does print fine some of the time. To be honest, pay to get a technician to come out and give the machine a service and replace captops and dampers for OEM Roland ones. The heads are not easy to work on and you can easily cause more damage yourself

 

[psychopat]

I checked the flushing adjustments after replacing the cap top and it was aligned properly. I can try to pull ink from the bottom to make sure of the seal.

Even when all the nozzles are missing, I did a CMYK yellow and magenta 12" square and still looks good at high quality which makes me wonder even more whats going on (see pictures)

Unfortunately there are not any tech in my area, closest ones are 3-5 hours away. Seems like a far and expensive trip just to change the dampers, then having to come back again if its the head.

I only ever used OEM Roland parts and ink.

 

[psychopat]

I dont understand what could be causing those "curls" in the print test. This isnt an alignment issue, the rest is fine.

Whatever it is, that's where the nozzles go missing after some time. Then they come back if I do a head soak...

I attached the full res print tests.

 

[Zoogee World]

I dont understand what could be causing those "curls" in the print test. This isnt an alignment issue, the rest is fine.

Whatever it is, that's where the nozzles go missing after some time. Then they come back if I do a head soak...
View attachment 175878

I attached the full res print tests.

That is head damage, looks like there must have been a pretty decent head strike. Sorry, not sure why I didn't see that earlier. Unfortunately a new head would be needed.

 

[psychopat]

That is head damage, looks like there must have been a pretty decent head strike. Sorry, not sure why I didn't see that earlier. Unfortunately a new head would be needed.

yikes, I have not noticed any strike. I learned the hard way to never leave media on the machine, sometimes vinyl curls on the side and can strike the head during the automatic cleaning.
Since I replaced the head a few years ago I always make sure to remove any media loaded on the printer to be safe.

Basically the print test looked like this:

Then at my next batch 1-2 weeks later, that's when the yellow was missing nozzles.
Then while trying to resolve the yellow, the magenta and curling started.

Someone on a Facebook group recommended Digiprint for a new head and kit. Is that a recommended source for genuine Roland parts? Its cheaper than what I can find here, my last head swap cost nearly 4K CAD.

Gotta make an hard decision, if its something worth fixing or maybe buying a newer model. I can only fit a 30"ish printer and already got 2 laminators that same size and all my gear.
My options seems to be:
Mimaki CJV150-75 32"
Roland SG-300
Roland SG2-300
Roland SG3-300

I think the CJV150 use the same DX7 head right? I was hoping to get a model where if I have an issue with black, I can change a single head and not the entire all in out unit like the DX7 which is pricy.
Heard the SG-300 initially had a lot of issues too. Is it still the case?
A Toronto dealer has both of those units available and they would trade in my VS-300.

Or would you recommend the latest SG3 to be more future proof? I really like the features like nozzle issue detection and being able to use the printhead until its last breath. If something like that would have been available on my VS, I could have used it much longer setting only 1x CMYK instead of double as the left colors have no nozzle issues.

Thanks

 

[Zoogee World]

I wouldn't recommend DigiPrint, they sold us a defective head and then wouldn't do anything, this was for our VS-300i, which uses the same head I believe. Unfortunately the heads for these aren't cheap, as it's a 1 head machine. If you do want to continue with a new Roland, I'd recommend the newer SG2 or SG3, stay away from the SG models, they have all those issues you've heard of, the newer models have worked out those kinks for the most part. The VS-300i as a used model might be of interest to you if you can find a decent one around you.