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How i got my heads back.
I went away for a month.
I set up my SP540V to cycle as normal.
There would be nobody in the shop.When I got back the printer was beeping as I walked in, the vacuum on full.
It was showing no magenta ink and was making a noise about it.My heart fell when I tried a test print and it failed to print at all.
Nothing came out of the nozzles.
It was all blocked. Dried out.I called Dave Cocks, the local tech guy in the South Island.
He told me to pinch the out-pipes and fill the parking cups to overflowing.
Then park up the heads.
Leave for two to three hours, turned off at the mains.
Then do a power clean.Then try.
It Worked for me.
I got a perfect test print.
A shout out to Dave if you are lurking on here.😀
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11 Replies
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Simon
So funny that you posted this ive been speaking to another board meme be Mike who was telling me to try the exact same thing, pinch the pipe and leave the head in cap station soaking for a couple of hours.
Although my issue isn’t as bad as yours you can see the image below. I’ve got se head deflection on my cyan and it’s giving me white lines in anything that has cyan in it.
I did a couple of powerful cleans and manually cleaning bottom of head and it got better but not perfect.
Obviously bet you can guess what the suppliers said…?? You need a new head.
I was happily surprised at how much mike knew about these machines and also happily surprised that he told me his managed to fix deflection before as well.
I’m on my way in to soak the head and see what happens
What do you reckon do you think it will work?
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Dont forget the power clean afterwards.
Good luck James M8.
Many independent sign makers are depending on you! -
Word of caution when pinching the pipes ensure they are flowing freely after wards as the inner walls can stack together if they have been pinched for a while especially when the pump then apply’s a vacuum to it. Doesn’t happen every time but can when you remove what ever you used to pinch it just massage the pipe back to round shape
Kev
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What’s the best way to pinch the pipes
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Rather than pinch the pipe I disconnect the pipe before the pump and put a small screw in to block it
Never had a lot of luck with head soaks but need to give it another go before I order a new head
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I used big bulldog clips. One for each pipe. Make sure they dont contact the head when it parks.
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Always used bulldog clips myself, another little trick to use if your heads are at the point of possible changing so you have nothing to loose soak a folded up piece of good quality kitchen towel or lint free wipe in cleaning solution. Lower the heads & place on top of capping station raise back up to the heads. Really only works on printers where you can lower heads manually but may work on other type. The towel acts as a wick whilst softening hardened ink and sometimes you will be surprised at the results
Kev
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dash sod it dam tried my best ordering new head tomorrow can’t really complain one of the ones involved is a original from new around 12 years old
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we have/had the proper little plastic crimps. cheap and can be bought from your supplier. they just press in and clip instant. however, i have used some tight fitting keyring loops to pinch it. have loads lying around and works well if stuck. 😀
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Chris Wool
I suspect that a screw into the end of a pipe may not be a complete seal.
The space between the threads leave a spiral passage for cleaning fluid to escape.Simon.
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Well after some head soaking for a couple of hours and some powerful cleans my cyan deflection looked a little better but not perfect.
Ran a couple of test prints and on the third or worth test print the deflection was almost back to the worst it has been.
As it was a Sunday yesterday I thought I would give it a go and see if I can get this working….No time left I’m looks like I might just have t have the head swapped out. Got some high end bits of work that need to be printed and just can not afford to take the risk of it not looking right, especially the price the media its being printed on.
The machine itself is only 2 years and a few months old….Strange as our old XC540 went 6 years with same heads no issues.
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