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Cadet printer inks cross contaminating
I have an unusual problem with my printer which only occurs when I run a print with the black registration marks being laid down first.
For the first 100mm or so after printing the black registration marks I am getting some cross contamination of inks – in this case yellow with magenta (I did a test print which showed this to be the case). The cross contamination clears as the print progresses and only occurs when I print black registration marks. Without these being printed first the print is fine.
I recently started using refillable cartridges but I am currently still using up the old elite solvent inks in the black and cyan ports. The Yellow and magenta inks are now the re-usable cartridges running bio solvent from tech 8 which I am told is compatible with the elite solvent. I don’t know if this is just a coincidence or if the changeover of the inks is behind this problem
Any ideas?
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6 Replies
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Possible difference in the ink pressure between the bulk carts and the originals settling down as the print starts?
John
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Thanks for the suggestion John. The Magenta and Yellow share the same head and the level in the magenta refillable cart is currently much higher then the level in the yellow cart. The refillable carts have a small vent which is open to atmosphere therefore it is reasonable to expect the higher level would try to flow to the lower level (i.e the magenta would mix with the yellow). Not sure quite what the role of the dampers are – but do they not prevent this from happening? (can someone advise?)
On the other hand the other two cartridges (black and cyan) which are currently still the old non refillable items are not open to atmosphere but have collapsible sealed bags inside containing the ink which suggests to me they would always be in balance even if one cart was nearly empty and the other nearly full – or is that a misconception on my part?
Running a clean cycle cures the problem – but once the machine has stood idle for some time the cross contamination re-occurs (Magenta to cyan).
I’ll try topping up the yellow level so it is above the magenta and see if the magenta become contaminated with yellow instead (though this will be less obvious to detect I think)?
I opened the machine up today and discovered the sponge in the capping station was very worn so I reckon a set of replacement sponges would not go amiss. While I’m at it, I’ll change the wipers and the dampers. Can anyone recommend where I can buy these parts from?
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I’ve got the cadet plus with bulk carts and never have had cross contamination through ink levels being different. I did have yellow and magenta contamination and that was down to the pump failing on that side and not taking the ink away from the capping station. I bought my parts from digiprint. When I did the pump I changed the capping stations, they are recommended to be changed every 6 months as are wipers in my manual.
If you get the capping stations keep the tygon tubing from your old ones or get new tubing as the black tubing that comes with them is no good for for the elite ink.Steve
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if it was a JV3, it would be capping station blocked, so when the head returns to sit on the cap it soaks up the fluid into the head and maybe into the dampers too, it contaminates after while (clean routines and printing unblock it but then returns after a period of non-use) but I think the Cadet might be different with this sponge whch is not in the JV3
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Thanks Guys
Steve – do you have contact details for digiprint?
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there is a link and 5% discount code on the Boards home page.
John
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