Roland SC500 (converted CJ500) help needed, strange happenings.

[KeithR]

Hello all,

First off I would like to say that this forum although I am a new member has been an invaluable tool helping me along my way, so thank you for that!

The problem I have recently been experiencing with my old Roland has left me struggling to not want to give up on my small sign business.

I purchased my Roland which is a converted CJ500 (SC500) awhile back, it needed a capping station and some love but otherwise was running great. Recently though it has started to drop out all the color just on the one head (black, cyan, magenta).

I am by no means an expert but I know this machine fairly well but cannot seem to pinpoint whats going on. The heads on this machine are fairly new and have no missing lines (when running) and I have also done the following:

Replaced all dampers
Replaced capping station
Replaced all ink
Took out capping station and cleaned all lines
Flushed all drain bottle lines
Looked for any air leaks, cannot find one
Cleaned pump lines (i can hear it running although not sure if its pumping ink)
Attached a syringe to cap station, I can draw ink and their does seem to be a "lock" between heads and cap
Set flush position

I am baffled here. I have another new capping station I was going to try but I cannot see whats it wrong with the current one as it is new. As well, I struggle to align the cap station when installing it. Does anyone have any insight to what may be causing this issue. It looks as though there simply is no ink getting to the head, I'm confused, lol.

Thanks in advance.
Keith

 

[GTSTech_1]

Check to see if you over tightened the nut that attaches to the damper. Over tightening will compromise the o-ring, which would compromise the seal needed to prime the lines. Also confirm the nipple stems on the head aren't cracked or broken. Another thing to confirm is the seating of the head, is it flush to the platen?

My. 02

GTSTech_1

 

[rjssigns]

Maybe swap cables from one head to the other and run a test using only the colors from the opposite head. Before I'd do that though I'd make absolutely sure I can draw ink through the captops.

Maybe artbot will chime in. He's a master at diagnosis and problem solving.

 

[sfr table hockey]

It sounds like you are able to draw ink into the heads in order to see that the test print is not missing anything.

So I assume that is after a cleaning cycle that the heads will re charge with ink and will print for a short bit.

If you go into the service menu and do a test print with fill test pattern, (where it prints one inch stripes of each color) and a min of 24 inch wide media to make sure it is enough to use up the ink in the heads and force a recharge from the dampers. Once you have done this test print what does the normal test print look like for that head? Is there any missing now? If not do another fill test print pattern to discharge the heads again, and another test print to check for any missing. If the test print is missing after one or both of the fill test pattern, then the heads are not charging with any ink from the dampers on their own. If the test print is ok yet then you are not getting drop out till later.

Start with this info to let us know what happens.

Make sure to say if all or only one color is dropping out in the test print.

Do you use carts for ink or bulk refill? Is any of the carts on that head low on ink if you are using carts?