I have a Roland sp300i bought in 2010. My black printhead has needed to be replaced for a while now. Colours print good but I seem to have to clean it more often. It isn’t used everyday which is why I put off the head replacement knowing it will go again sooner than i would like. My dilemma is to fix it or consider buying new. I’d prefer to continue with my machine although it is discontinued and parts are hard to find as I am told. Any thoughts on what I should do? Thanks!
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Roland SP300i Replace?
- Thread starter kelly r
- Start date
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- roland 300spi
Zoogee World
Domed Promotional Product Supplier
Personally I'd keep it. They are work horses and easy to service yourself. Although parts are hard to get, 3rd party are easy enough, especially from sign-in-global. Newer machines I'd stir clear of 3rd party, but OEM are pretty impossible to get now for these and most of them work just as well. As for cleaning, even if not used everyday, keep it plugged in and on and just do a simple regular cleaning every morning when you go into the shop and do a manual cleaning every Friday, through it into your routine and it will keep the machine running fine. Do you have a nozzle test you can show. Never know, could possibly be revived depending if it's clogged or actual damage. I find with these heads, after doing a 48 hour head soak, gently pulling with a syringe from the line after the cap top helps to clear up most blockage that the head soak didn't. You can always try Netsol's remedy with 10% acetone mixed in to the cleaning fluid for a head soak, but that's at your own risk.
Solventinkjet
DIY Printer Fixing Guide
Those machines have lasted much longer than their peers of the same generation. Parts like heads, dampers, cap tops, pumps are going to be around for a while. The only parts you need to worry about are PCBs and there are plenty of used machines sitting around to steal from. I'd keep it if you like it that much. Although newer printers do have better quality and speed if you need an upgrade.
Doing a powerful clean on it now which I don’t normally do. I usually manual clean once a month and that’s it. Reason for this I know! It has very low hours on it as I still used vinyl more than I should have and I was afraid of it at the beginning! I think I may just fix it but here are some samples.
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Zoogee World
Domed Promotional Product Supplier
I'd try a 48 hour head soak, turn off the power and unplug. Make sure you clamp off the lines after the cap tops and then use the tool to lower the capping station, mover the print carriage over a bit and fill the cap tops with cleaning liquid, move the print carriage back into place and raise the capping stations. Refill as needed after 24 hours. Once the soak is done, run a powerful cleaning and see if it helps at all. You can also try the syringe technique if there is some improvement, but not complete.
Zoogee World
Domed Promotional Product Supplier
Sounds like you might need new cap tops as well, especially if their older then 6 months. After the head soak would be a good time to replace if you have spares in stock.
The black deflection happening on DX4 with EcoMax ink is normal.
Soaking never helped for me, because I think it's corrosion on the nozzle plate.
Replace the head and switch to EcoMax2 ink and your head will work for years. (As long as the caps make a tight fit, the pump works and the wipers are renewed periodically)
Parts should be available for this printer to a while.
Some older SP-300(V) parts are hard to get.
Soaking never helped for me, because I think it's corrosion on the nozzle plate.
Replace the head and switch to EcoMax2 ink and your head will work for years. (As long as the caps make a tight fit, the pump works and the wipers are renewed periodically)
Parts should be available for this printer to a while.
Some older SP-300(V) parts are hard to get.
It ended up being a 72 hr head soak by mistake. The test print printed red where the yellow shld be so I drained the line abit with a syringe and did a few medium cleans and it’s back. Prints the black the same as before. I remember long ago I put cleaning solution thru the lines to try and save the head but I can’t remember or find the video that shows it. What do you mean when you say syringe method? I am just doing what I can while I wait on a call to replace the head, hoping to get it back. Thanks
Zoogee World
Domed Promotional Product Supplier
Hi Kelly, by the syringe method, I mean that you connect a syringe to the line after the cap top before it goes into the t, before the pump and gently pull ink through, then do a medium cleaning and see if any improvement. If not, then the only real course of action is to replace.
Zoogee World
Domed Promotional Product Supplier
No, as that would mean you emptied out the cartridge. I typically pull a couple syringe full, depending on the size of the syringe. If you've done that and still no improvement, unfortunately, the head is not coming back.
I did do that then put a little cleaning solution thru too then pulled it out again. I’ll give it another try. Thanks so much!!
I ended up getting the head replaced and it’s printing great again! Glad I kept it. How do I change the head height when printing 13oz banner? I have always used the regular height. Is there just a low and high setting? Then I should program it in which I have never used either.
if you want to give it a try AT YOUR OWN RISK (nothing to lose(?))
add 5-10% acetone to the cleaning solution (no more than that unless you are really adventurous)
let that soak a few hours or overnight.
then either flush with syringe or print a huge colorwheel so we get cleaner/acetone mixture out of the pumps
i have had very good results like this, but, i generally do this kind of flush BEFORE the head is finished
You adjust the head height manually from low to high (only 2 options) by moving the lever inside the machine on the cut carriage / print head. Make sure to put it back down to normal after finishing printing banners etc. otherwise you don't get a decent seal when the print heads are parked over the cap tops and ink will syphon into the waste bottle (this was my experience anyway!)
Zoogee World
Domed Promotional Product Supplier
As far as I know the SP-300i doesn't have a head adjustment.
Apologies was assuming this was the same as sp540v