Mimaki JV33 randomly stops printing and drops USB connection

[Daniel Evans]

I had a problem like this once, I had multiple usb’s going into a hub and it turns out that was the issue, I got a new USB hub and everything was fine

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Yep, that would be fine but mine is straight in to the pc…. Thanks for sharing though

Mo

[Andrew Martin]

There is a few other things you can try Mo
I take it your pc is dedicated to the rip only and running no AV software and no other usb peripherals as this can interfere with the rip sending to the printer.

Also if your using win7 try using xp or even win2k as that is rock solid, some might see this as a backward step but if the pc is dedicated to a rip function only then its no problem providing the rip runs on those operating systems, also try putting a anti surge protector on both the PC and printer.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

quote Andrew Martin:

There is a few other things you can try Mo
I take it your pc is dedicated to the rip only and running no AV software and no other usb peripherals as this can interfere with the rip sending to the printer.

Also if your using win7 try using xp or even win2k as that is rock solid, some might see this as a backward step but if the pc is dedicated to a rip function only then its no problem providing the rip runs on those operating systems, also try putting a anti surge protector on both the PC and printer.

First pc was the main pc with everything attached inc av running win7 pro with rasterlink pro5… So dedicated an Xperia machine torip only, it doesn’t have any other USB outputs, I’m even running it on a 3 pc master and slave system, so there isn’t even a keyboard or mouse attached now.

I think I’ve narrowed it down enough own to say its either power spikes or something wrong with the firmware on the printer..

It’s really frustrating me, I never know if I’m going to make a print now, every print is scary for me…. I can’t leave it running and I’m printing 39 plus meters a day

[Stafford Cox]

quote Mo Gillis-Coates:

Sometimes I hear my pc drop a USB port when I switch lights on and off…

I don’t understand this bit Mo.

Let’s hope it’s not the interface board of the printer, as that’s built into the mainboard!! Best guess, about £2k to replace. Hopefully, it is just firmware, what version are you running currently as there are some implications with running cheaper printheads with later firmware revisions. It’s easy to upgrade though, let me know if you want to talk through it.

Stafford

[Chris Wool]

just some things to throw in the air.

Air con or fans starting up?
Print head overheating
length of USB lead think you said it’s down to 1 metre.

had a funny the other day a customers USB stick would not work when plugged into the computer but did when plugged into a separate powered USB hub.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

I’m looking for power supplies in the unit that kick in randomly at the moment, such as the coffee machine and maybe the fridge.

Next thing to try is putting the pc on a different circuit. The office power and workshop are on different circuits. Already changed over the printer to the workshop supply.

Stafford, what I mean is, sometimes when I switch a light on in the office, I hear the sound from my pc that tells me a USB device has been disconnected.

Which is roughly the error message I get fom rasterlink when it drops the info and stops the printer. Something about error, a device attached o the system is not working then error GetOverlappedResult

Still investigating…

No USB cable issues Chris, they are all brand new, as is the power supply I have just changed in the computers…

[Chris Wool]

even the heater units in the printer ??

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

quote Chris Wool:

even the heater units in the printer ??

Printer is on a separate circuit to the pc

[Kevin Flowers]

Mo
might be worth while getting a sparky in, the fact that items on different circuits are affecting each other may mean you have a bad connection back at the fuse panel. This could be a loose wire in the incomer or bus bar etc but best to get a good sparky in before any real damage is caused

Kev

[Russell Huffer]

Hi Mo,

I have this problem with my JV33 it just stops randomly printer appears to be waiting for info but none is flowing.
Looking at some of the cooments you have had back could be spike in electric but we have nothing obveious and had the problem at our previous unit, cheap printheads not likely as we are still on original printheads.
RIP issue woulkd seem unlikely as I use Wasatch, so possably something on printer or I think the problem is my PC as when this problem starts I clean the PC and do not normally see the problem again for ages.
When I say that I clean the pc what I do is I go into internet explorer select options and deleate all history, I then go into system tools and select the cleanup pc option and select everything. When that has finished I then run diskdefrag. if it is really bad I also run chkdsk/f from a command promt to schedule a clean on next start.

I am currently running windows 8 but had same thing on windows 7, I belive that it is a problem with the amount of large temp files that a rip creates.

Kind regards

Russell.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

To be honest, I’m in the middle of wrapping 9 transit vans, and so far on the first two I have probably lost around 10 meters of material… roughly equated is about £100…..

So I’m scared to even start printing the next batch until I have it sorted..

My next step is to put the PC running the RIP on a different Elec circuit than it is at the moment.

The printer is already on a separate stable elec circuit, so it must be PC end. Thanks for input Russ. I only have one question about that. If that’s the case, surely there would be a lot more people on here with the same problem? Iv’e run the rip on a windows 7 pro system with 8g ram but not a brilliant processor. Windows XP, again not a great system….

However, now you have said that, I’m going to give it a blast on my new pc that arrived last week. It’s windows 7 pro with an intel i7 processor and 32g of Ram……. If it still does it on that then its definitely power or printer related. At least that will rule that one out if it doesn’t work…. lol thanks Russ for throwing another bloody spanner in the already complicated works!

I will update what happens next…….. it would be good if we could find a definitive answer to help others find a quick solution in the future instead of losing money working it out.

Thanks everyone for your input so far, its really appreciated

Mo

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Nope….. Just ran a print on a brand new PC completely clean with a really high spec… i7 processor, loads of RAM and nothing on the system apart from OS and rasterlink pro5 with all latest drivers etc…..

It managed 300mm of print then stopped

error message is:

printername: DRV : An error has occurred during output(W) <0000001F> [GetOvelappedResult] – (0x02088001)

So now going to change to another elec circuit and see what happens. I cant find any details of the error code online

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Ok, im going to say this has to be at the printer end now…

Tried a compleyetly different electrical circuit, computers, rasterlink versions, usb leads etc etc… no change….

Has to be a printer problem…

Does anyone think firmware?

Mo

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Ok, final fix before calling in hexpert….

Just spoke to mimaki, they have said its an inherent problem, but it should be solved by upgrading to latest version of rasterlink pro 5 just out in the last few days….. v3.11

just done that and running prints again….

Watch this space….

😮

maybe?

[Denise Goodfellow]

Hope it’s sorted for you Mo, I know what it’s like when things don’t go right.

We use rasterlink with our Miimaki and never had that problem…

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Well, I started it printing before I left work at 6.15. I have just been back to check, and its still chugging away nicely after about 8 meters..

I will go back and check in an hour or so…

All good so far.

[Stafford Cox]

That’s interesting Mo, I’ve not heard of this happening anywhere else, but I’ll certainly look out for it. I find it strange that the software would let Windows think that the USB connection has dropped but I’m all ears. Give me a buzz if you’re stuck, I THINK I have access to a JV33 mainboard you can try out if it comes to it….

Stafford

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

I think it’s got something to do with he way the software connects with the USB port. Personally I prefer network connections, they are more stable… But everything looking good at the moment.

I’m still under warranty for the next 60 days anyway so it’s not a major worry.. I spoke to the company that supplied the printer tonight, they helped me with this solution.

I will give them another call tomorrow if it runs ok and find out what was causing it to happen. But apparently, it’s completely random. Normally it’s rectified itself when the software is transferred to another pc, but it occasionally persists.

More info when know more!

[Stafford Cox]

Cool. Sounds like you’re on top of things Mo, give me a call if I can help at all.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Cheers Stafford…

Happy to report, just been in to the workshop to check the status and good old Molly mimaki is still chugging happily away after 16 meters of print….

Looks like is sorted, I will try and find out what was fixed with the update tomorrow. But I do know its to do with the USB and software….

Sleep well all, I know I will for a change..lol

Thanks for everyone’s input,it’s been vital in narrowing the problem down?

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Ok, this isnt down to my PCs or USB ports or printer. It’s down to the software and matching the PC configuration.

Updating rasterlink to the latest version solved the problem completely.

I would suggest that its just a Pro5 problem as older versions seem to be working fine on XP and prior OS.

All my problems are related to pro5 installation, on both XP and windows 7.

I’m happy to report that overnight I successfully completed over 25 meters of print without a single error.

The problem is now solved.

Big thanks to everyone for the advice and ideas as it’s been paramount in resolving the issue.

Cheers peeeps
BigMo

[Stafford Cox]

Excellent news!! Thanks for updating the post Mo, I’m sure this will happen in many other places too.

Stafford

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

no problem…… hopefully we can save someone some money somewhere..

Mo