SP540 Head height

[Vinyldog]

Since buying my SP540 almost two years ago I have never changed the head height from the “high” position for printing both banners and vinyl. I have no complaints of the quality, especially on HQ, nor have my customers, but now I am intrigued with the “low” setting.
Can I arbitrarily switch between low and high at will without changing any other settings?
What results can I expect? Does “high speed” print quality look like Std. when printed with the head lower?
A little apprehensive because I’ve had more head strikes than I want at the high setting.

 

[jfiscus]

We used to print some things like banners & magnetics on high in the past, but now we print everything on the low setting (less ink overspray & better quality), and do not direct print on magnets. We print 99% on the regular setting & only switch to high quality on things like magnetic business cards that are meant to be read up close. Have not had any trouble with headstrikes if the material is loaded properly.

 

[Pacific Coast Sign]

Just think...High for Banners and Magnetics....Low for everything else and you'll be fine. Low setting provides a crisper image with less "overspray" as on high.

 

[Vinyldog]

Get down tonight

I had thought the print quality with the head on high was pretty amazing - can't wait to try it down now - thanks everyone - my head strike issues have all come from wrinkles, caused by too much heat I imagine or a freak insident where the material can't feed out - I don't have a take up reel yet - next investment.

 

[ChiknNutz]

I don't think I ever changed the head height from LOW in the 4+ yrs of running mine.

 

[Vinyldog]

Still up in the air

Well I did lower the arm and saw the heads come down - it made that beeping sound that I have come to hate - so I just select "low" in the head position menu and then lower it?
I can't find a reference for this procedure in the owners manuel.

 

[anotherdog]

I only switch to high for the odd material like mesh.
Most of the time its left on low.

 

[jfiscus]

yeah, go into the menu on the macine, then adjust head height then move the lever, then hit ok. (or something like that)

 

[Vinyldog]

Lol

(snickering) Yea I'm the King of doing "something like that".

 

[Vinyldog]

I'm going blind

I was finally able to relax with my owners manuel this weekend and of coarse the procedure for changing the head height is in there.
Although the only job I've printed was on translucent it does seem to print a little smoother.
Curious now as to if the hh effects the way the heads sit on the caps. Would a head-soak be more effective on the low setting?

 

[Pacific Coast Sign]

Why do you think it requires a head-soak? If your printer is running properly, with good cap tops, you should have no reason to "soak" the heads. The cap tops are mounted on springs and adjust to the heads.

 

[Vinyldog]

wet head

I do head soaks at suggested intervals or if I have a drop-out anywhere in the test print - recently I had some black places in the yellow area of the test print - not sure what that would mean - the output still looks fine.