-
DX4 Print head gone?or worse? Time to bury machine?
Can anyone help? Trying to get printer going after a short layoff. When i print a test print one of the colours just prints a block of colour and a band of the same colour for the width of paper upto the test print if you know what i mean. In other words if my test print starts at far side of media there will be a band of ink the whole width of media. I will play abit tomorrow, but am wondering if its time to put machine to rest.i’ll post a photo if it helps. Much appreciate any feedback.
-
11 Replies
-
here’s the test print. Drop-out shouldnt be a problem to fix, but seems i have a big problem on the Yellow and lt cyan. It is not a print head issue, as i have swopped heads, so the problem must lie with one of the boards. considering machine is 7or 8 years old, i think its time to scrap it. what do you think? I mean by the time i buy a new board, and a couple of new printheads, is it really worth it, i have a much newer printer which is trouble free.
Attachments:
-
I have seen this problem before on a DX4 head machine… it turned out to be the ribbon cable not located properly.
-
notice that the ribbons were loose in a couple of connectors, anyhow, now fixed securely, but problem exists. Do you think the loose connector could have caused damage somewhere else. cheers
-
This will have likely done damage.. what happens is the ribbon cable gets moved with the action of the print carriage during printing causing a repeated intermittent connection and resulting in failure of the electronics to either the head or control board or even worse.. both.
If you have swapped the heads and the same happens it more likely the control board and maybe your head is ok, also remember to isolate machine from power before disconnecting any cables and heads.
-
I’m with Andy on this one I’m afraid. I would brace yourself for an expensive repair here. I’ve seen this on Mimaki printers a few times where the head has been removed without the power being shut off correctly. When removing any parts like this, UNPLUG the printer, then switch it on again to make sure all power has been discharged fully, i.e. make sure any standby lights have gone out.
This could be either head, head cable, slider (carriage) board, or even mainboard!! It may be worth contacting one of the many freelance fellas around to get them to diagnose it for you as this sort of thing has potential for getting expensive, quickly. There are plenty of freelance guys about but I don’t think I’m allowed to recommend any on here 🙁
Best of luck
Stafford
-
Hi Chris,
Most likely to be the heads and head cables – I would start with replacing head cables and heads that are effected, in your case L-Cyan/Black/Yellow.
I’m sure your main board is OK as the fuses have not blown – I would guess that at some point in the passed, whilst someone has been trying to fix a problem, ink has got on the cables and into the cable socket on the head and caused the damage….thank you Solvent ink!
Once you have done this it might be a good idea to replace all head cables to save blowing any more heads!
Please refer to all safety advice above when diagnosing and fitting!
Good Luck,
Justin -
thanks for your replies. its not the head, as i’ve switched them over. the cables are seated properly now, the connector lock wasnt secure before, but now is. This all started by actually changing the ribbon cables to new ones, and my technician didnt secure the lock, hence ribbons came loose. So obviously there is damage, but not in the ribbons, and not on the heads. would i be right in assuming its the carriage board, hopefully, as it is not too expensive to replace. I am in Malta and unfortunately roland/unifiorm techies are non existent.:( so i will do my best
-
Having proven the heads and cables, I would say the head board would be next in line. Please don’t forget to isolate the printer as mentioned previously though.
Stafford
-
yep carriage board also could be a transistor on the main board there are to sets of 4 black transistors on a heat sink they should all read a equall pattern with a multimeter if one is different it needs replacing..]don’t believe the service engineers when they try tp sell you a new board!!!!
-
old post Elena, but I would be thinking the same…. there is issues with putting the wrong ribbon in the wrong connector, this can cause wrong voltages on wrong lines, stupid design issue.
so header board or transistors
-
I would say that the print heads must be replaced. If there would have been a bad transistor, then the entire group (B or C), should have problems. So…either the cable card, either the print-heads. Just switch 2 print-heads between them. You will realize very quick what your problem is.
Best regards,
Log in to reply.