Roland pausing, while printing,

[escortle]

I'm running Versaworks, and running two Roland XC-540s off of the same PC. I usually do not have a problem, but we usually only print regular size stuff, posters, stickers, etc....

I am trying to run a 32 ft wide wall mural. I cannot for the life of me get it to run without pausing. The intermittent pausing causes the ink to create striped, where the machine paused. making my print look kinda like corduroy, striped of uneven color across the print.

I started with a postscript that was 150 megs out of InDesign, but since I've done everything from trying to run a 20 mg jpeg, and tiled inside Versaworks to individual jpegs and/ or pdfs individually.

We've had this problem once before while running a single Roland, but though it was a networking issue. I've moved all the files to the RIP PC desktop, and am ripping from there, to try and troubleshoot the issue. I've come to think it is just the RIP computer that is not fast enough, but the file is only 10 megs now?

Any ideas???

I have been trying to run this mural for 2 days now, with the machine pausing while printing no matter what I try.

 

[JoshLoring]

I had that problem once. However my antivirus was running scans. A quick disable scans worked.
Try a reboot on the pc and the printer, assure your hard drive has enough space left. Doesn't sound like a rip or printer issue, sounds like a network or pc issue.

 

[Scott Reynolds]

Had the same problem with large files when I got my first printer. Ended up being data speed to the printer. Could be a computer problem too. (speed, Ram, Bus)

How are you connected to your printer?

 

[escortle]

I believe its a crossover cable running through a network switch. They previously had it being leapfrogged through three mini switches, now the Roland is plugged directly into the main switch in the server room.

 

[escortle]

I've added a gig of RAM, cleaned out any dust in the CPU, and deleted any unused software.

to no avail.

 

[Sticky Signs]

Had the same problem. New computer fixed it.
It's most likely the network card. Open up task manager and click on network. It will show you a graph of how much info is being sent to the printer. Every time that number drops to zero, the printer will pause. Some cards are better at managing data that others.

 

[toomeycustoms]

We had a similar problem on our SC-545, but it mainly occurred when printing the registration marks. When it is paused, does it sound like it is cleaning? If so, I have found if I disable "periodic cleanings" in the menu, it will solve this problem.

 

[lilb93]

The printer is just waiting for the computer to catch up. Without replacing the computer, in Versaworks click down to head speed it should be set 750mm to 1000mm change it to 500mm. It will print slower carriage speed and give it time for the computer to catch up.

 

[ucmj22]

I had this problem with my XC-540. I replaced the switch closest the the computer (it was pretty old) and haven't had an issue since.

 

[scuba_steve2699]

The printer is just waiting for the computer to catch up. Without replacing the computer, in Versaworks click down to head speed it should be set 750mm to 1000mm change it to 500mm. It will print slower carriage speed and give it time for the computer to catch up.

Not gonna say this is a bad idea, but there are so many other things that this could mess up that I will not say it is a good idea.

Usually I see issues with the printer pausing as a network issue. Get another network card and run the printer straight from that and not through a switch or router. You will not have issues after that.

 

[baasman73]

Try sending as an uncompressed tif at 120-150 dpi

 

[CarolinaCabinet]

Could you send it to RIP first? After that's complete, send it to print without using the computer for anything else.

 

[splizaat]

Make sure the computer is also not going to sleep during the printing....