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does anyone know this roland pc-600 printing problem?
I just had my pc600 serviced last week and it was working fine and the engineer even said the print head was like brand new.
i tried to do a print tonight but its only printing some of it,its leaving huge gaps in the print even though it was printing perfect last time i used it and it was printing ok when engineer printed out the report and done test prints,i have not used it since then until now.
worst thing of all was i was trying to demonstrate it to someone who was interested in buying it from me,talk about embarressment i thought it was just a case of setting it away and everything would be fine.
does anyone know what this could be or had the same thing happen on theirs?
i will upload a photo of the print tomorrow
thanks -
28 Replies
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Sorry to hear you’re still having problems Widget,
Cant offer any advise I’m afraid. just hope you can get it sorted.
Peter -
if you have had your pc600 for a while….then you will probably know it could be a bad ribbon or dirt from the vinyl caught on the head… 😀
i really feel for you….specially when showing a promising buyer and it goes belly up 😥 post a piccie…and im sure someone will be able to help you out!! 😉
nik
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I don’t think it can be anything serious. These machines can safely be left unused for a long time with no ill effects (no inks to dry up in the head). It’s probably just a misalligned ribbon as Nik has already said.
It is embarassing though for this to happen when you are demonstrating the machine. Next time do a test print before the customer shows up (though I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that now 🙄 ).
If you’re still having problems with the print in the next few days or so – post a picture so we can have a look at the problem. There are quite a few of us here that have a lot of experience of these machines and I am sure one of us will recognise the fault you have described 😀
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I had this same problem with great bits missing from the print and the reason for this was I tjhought at tyhe time the head wasn’t generating enough heat.
To find out if this is the case get the machine to print a report and it should give the head number and if I remember right the firmware downloaded to it to set the head temperature.
If its not there in the print this will be the reason for whole bits missing on the width of a pass and you can scrape it off after as well.
Get with your man who put the head on and get the file from him and download the firmware to it again.
It worked for me but you have to have the right file for the head number It comes with the head apparently and if you are lucky you may have it If you dont then you need to speak to Roland or the service engineer.Of course this may not be your problem but something to look at.
Goop
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The heads themselves dont lay the resin down and it it was a blown head it would have white stripes going thru the print.
Its bound to be one of a few reasons
1) The grey printing platten is not rocking or its dirty on its surface
2) dirty vinyl or ver poor quality vinyl
and
3) the most likely cause: The little foam roller next to the head is graunched or dirty or has chunks out of it or is not functioning properly , this roller actually presses the ribbon the the vinyl and it transfers the resin , not the head , the head only heats the ribbon.
It could be a temperature thing too , a photo would be a big help however in diagnosing what it could be. -
there doesnt seem to be anyway for me to upload a picture in this forum ?
i have checked the little roller it looks like brand new.
nothing has changed from when the engineer left so i dont think its anything to do with settings or anything.
i have put some chrome vinyl under with a torch and the head looks ok no obvious signs of burning etc.
i dont have the money to get an engineer back out i already spent £100’s on it last week and if i need to spend anymore i may as well just give the machine away free 🙁
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think i have found the problem with the help of you people 🙂
the black platter thing is loose and wobbling back and forward.
next question is does anyone know how it is fixed in? or how to secure it,i cant see how it fastens in.
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i am not convinced it is the platter.
any way of uploading a photo so you can see? -
try one of the other forums-show us your stuff may be appropriate?
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The platen MUST rock , if it doesnt you have problems , its that wide rubbery strip.
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Widget, stick your pictures in this forum
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewforum.php?f=19 -
ok uploaded it here
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … 215#116215
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The print looks like the Exact same problem that I had
I never said the heads were blown.
Have you printed out the service file to see if the head number is there.
If it isn’t download the firmware to it you don’t need the engineer to do this. You can do it yourself but you do need the right file to do it and if you had the head fitted you should have it.Goop
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i have not had the head exchanged,the engineer said it was still like brand new,trying to print report but cant read it unfortunatly 🙁
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Did you print that vertically or horizontally , wierd that there should be vertical stripes running from top to bottom of the letters if printed horizontally. Did you check the little foam roller on the swing arm on the side of the head? Is it in perfect condition?
Have you tried printing on another brand of vinyl? -
Another thing to eliminate is the possibility that the cartidge ribbons you are using are in some way at fault. Try printing with some different cartidges.
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i checked the little roler it looks ok.
i tried some different vinyl as well.
they are the same cartridges that i printed with last time i used it,if the machine has been set back to factory defaults is there anything i would need to do to set it up again etc?
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the print has got worse now,its hardly leaving anything at all on the vinyl and doing a print report is totally unreadable 🙁
do you think the head has gone ? -
i have managed to get a readable report,anyone know what it all means?
firm ware a290
booter b100
temp head 22deg.c env 20deg.c
head 71deg.f env 68deg.f
record print 14m
cleaning 0
<in 0 gin 0
***factory settings***
offset-headscan 6 step headfeed 3 step holder -26 step
toolforce-min 0 max 255
solenoid current min 30 max 110
grit distance 6
head- id ______ register 3000.0 blkoffset 0
density adjust all 0’s
stitch up 5 stitch lo 5 regoffset 0 tofs2=0
head voltage -4***user settings***
autosheet cut=off
autosleep = 30min
front edgesense = on
offset = 0.25mm
cropmark = off
prefeed = on
beep = on
ribbonsaver = on
line space 0 -
try turning your ribbon saver off…the same thing happened to my prints when i turned it on……..its worth a go 😀
nik
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just the same 🙁
i think the heads not getting hot enough voltage says -4 does that sound right ? -
Could it have anything to do with the recent cold weather. Is the machine in a cold room or is it heated.? Make sure your are running the machine in a warm room. (There is a sensor which normaly prevents the machine from operating below a certain temperature – however, this may be turned off).
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the machine is in my house and its nice and warm in the room where the machine is.
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There goes that theory then 🙄
Have you tried printing onto a different vinyl? I once had problems printing onto a clear vinyl. The problem was solved when I was sent another roll of. At the very least ensure the vinyl surface is thoroughly cleaned with isopropyl alcohol before printing 😀
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i have tried several different vinyls.
i have also used the same vinyl that it did print onto ok when the engineer was here and also the same vinyl that i used last time i printed with it.its a head buster but i think it needs setup if the machine has been reset.
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Widget,
Cant you get the engineer to come back and sort it? if they repaired and serviced it, and it is now not working, dont you have some sort of come back on them?
or at least phone them and see what they have to say?peter
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i think after reading these posts every one is trying there very best to help you but i think the best reply has come from peter
we can all try to help with ideas but you said in another post you have spent hundreds on this
if you spent hundreds getting your car fixed and car broke down would you not call the workshop and ask them to have another look ata car can go in for a service and be given back but that in know way means that the gearbox will not blow up 10 miles down the road
but I’m sure the man from the workshop would have a look f.o.c just in case it was something they did !!!i hope you get it sorted
rich -
that is looking like my only option.
only trouble is engineer lives 100’s of miles away from me 🙁
he is very kind though and has offered to help me out by sending the machine to him and he will take a look at it.
i dont think it could be anything he has done as its a different fault to what he originaly repaired.
dont look like i am going to get much return on the machine now though 🙁
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