posted
Hey fellow Versacamm users. Just curious how often you've had to replace your printer heads. Also interested in comparing some of the cost here.
I just shelled out 999. (just the part cost) for one this morning ... $1250 total w/ service cost ... and that kinda hurt. haha I'm told my other printer head needs replacing also.
I had replaced one about 4 years ago.
Just thought I'd check on here to be sure this seems in line.
Feel free to email me if you'd be more comfortable doing so.
~ janette
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
We haven't replaced our heads and we've had ours about 6 years. To be honest, we are probably due, plus we are having our fair share of other problems with our machine right now.
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Ben, thanks for the reply. I'm abit perplexed, as after such a cost, my prints really don't look much better. I would feel a heck of a lot better if they did.
So I probably need to replace the other ones too. Dang... it sucks.
Hey, when you do a test print, you'll see if the lines are out of wack. That's the symptoms of the heads on their way out.
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
I haven't done anything yet...well over 6 years old now. I'm amazed at its performance. I do expect to shell out replacement heads within the next year though....just cause I think its due...although the output is still fine.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Pete Payne: be sure to change the wipers regularly, thick hard buildup on the wipers will damage the heads
You can also replace the "wiper wiper (I don't know the real name)". It's a little clear piece that sits in behind the wipers that scrapes them off, and can get gunked up with all sorts of stuff. It's real easy to replace (no tools required) and doesn't cost much. We have an SP300V and I have had to replace the encoder strip, the pump, the pump motor, the scan motor, the laser eye, the cap motor, the data strip (twice) & our servo board is probably in need of replacing, but I have yet to have to change the print heads. We do manually clean ours every few weeks & I always make sure the heads are properly capped (even if I have to do it manually).
[ March 22, 2011, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: Ben Diaz ]
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Just curious Karyn and Ben, on your test prints, are the lines still straight, and are you missing any of them?
Pete, thanks for the tip on the wipers. ... and also about the clear plastic wiper Ben. The teck did replace my clear one yesterday, and it was VERY gunky.
I've had my printer for 6 years also, and this is my second head on the black ... and now looking like the magenta needs it too.
That's why I was curious about others. I am going to up my manual cleanings and do them more frequently.
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
I replace wiper blades and that little plastic strip probably 3 or 4 times a year. As far as the test prints...yeah I may get a few lines out of place on the black but nothing to make me feel I need to replace the head...not yet...but probably soon. Just curious if people who've had to replace alot of stuff...was your machine a demo? just wondering how bad they get beat on when someone is demonstrating and the machine is moved from show to show.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
We've replaced one pump, and the encoder strip, wipers a couple of times, and really have been lucky so far with the heads. The black is starting to show signs that it is wearing out which our tech guy said will last a while longer until you see it getting fuzzy on your prints.
So far in 6+ years we've had to spend about $1500. on repairs which comes to an average of $250. per year which is not bad. We print something just about everyday but not for hours on end. It has been a great machine and worth every dollar.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
and now for my smartass comment READ THE MAINTENANCE PART OF YOUR MANUALS AND FOLLOW IT! funny how we service printers all the time and inform people about maintenance and the manual when we do set up, yet continually see 2 and 3 year old machines that haven't been touched, but the same people are anal about regular oil changes for their car. There's also good info on things you can do yourself to help print quality, banding etc instead of calling a tech to visit:)
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
quote:Originally posted by Pete Payne: and now for my smartass comment READ THE MAINTENANCE PART OF YOUR MANUALS AND FOLLOW IT! funny how we service printers all the time and inform people about maintenance and the manual when we do set up, yet continually see 2 and 3 year old machines that haven't been touched, but the same people are anal about regular oil changes for their car. There's also good info on things you can do yourself to help print quality, banding etc instead of calling a tech to visit:)
There are many types of maintenance that can be done on these machines that are not in the manuals. The wiper wiper thing I previously mentioned isn't in the manual, nor is the encoder strip that should probably be cleaned every once in a while (and has specific cleaning procedures like using non-alcohol wipes). I believe the only consumables that the manual actually mentions are the blades and the wipers, but as time passes, some of this stuff just takes some wear and will need to be replaced. I don't think that it is necessarily operator error. I do wish that the manual would cover more of this stuff, or that Roland would put out some sort of newsletter to let you know of errors that you may be having such as warning the consumers of the faulty pumps that were built into the SP series. For that matter, the manual doesn't ever mention how often maintenance needs to be done, and aside from the machine telling you that the wipers need to be replaced or the drain bottle needs to be emptied there is no guidelines for maintenance.
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My brother Ben knows the ins and outs of that machine. To date he has been able to fix most of the problems himself, by calling and asking for replacement parts and installing it himself. We have had error codes pop up on this machine that the techies who work for our distributor haven't heard of.
We may have only spent a few hundred dollars a year on replacement parts, but he has had to spend hours and hours on the phone and online trouble shooting the many problems that have occurred, then taking the machine apart, installing the replacement part and putting it back together. And we have wasted God knows how much material.
I think it is unrealistic to expect the average everyday, hard working, sign maker to be able to do some of the things that Ben has done to this printer.
And if you are like us, located hours away from the techies that would normally service these machines, you are screwed and have to deal with days of downtime, in some cases. We can't afford to have them come anymore, and that is why Ben has made it his mission to become our onsite printer repair guy. And we are glad he has. He is getting pretty good at it.
After saying all that. I don't think the problem is the actual product and in many cases it's not the user. We do take care and maintain that printer, but it still breaks down. I think it is just the nature of the beast. The more complex the machine, the more that can go wrong with it. and when you have a printer that is more than a few years old, parts just start wearing out. You talk to any sign maker and they have the same issues with different brands. While working for another shop, I had even more problems with a Mutoh printer.
-------------------- Joe Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, IL 61764 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 538 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
true, but we continually see machines with 2and 3 year old wipers that are like a chunk of sandpaper, as for the encoder strip i don't recommend cleaning it unless it needs it, usually print cut varies widely and wanders, it's very easy to damage and scratch
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
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Just for the record, I had been changing my wipers pretty regularily. However, that clear wiper I had no idea about. Now that I do, I'll pay more attention to it.
I appreciate the input here. I just need to get better at taking care of things here apparently, and I will. Believe me, I can't keep paying these kinds of costs for not doing so.
I initially called them out because my prints were fuzzy and grainy. I had taken it apart, and did a manual cleaning. Ran some more cleans. and then still had problems. The print test did show uneven lines, especially in the black. Some lines missing too. Incidentally, there was unevenness and missing lines in all colours. The black was just the worse ... by far.
The tech tells me I need to replace both heads.
So, is there any reason my heads seem to be messing up quicker than most? I would just like to gain an education here and keep it from happening if I can. I don't print everyday ... could it be that I don't run the versacamm as much as other shops?
I would love to know how to keep the heads longer. I would also like to know if the problem with my prints really are because of the heads.
Hey, I'll be the first to admit that I am not saavy when it comes to this type of hardware mainenance, or figuring out problems with it.
I am going to take Pete's advice and refer to the manual more for things. (arg)
thanks for letting me vent alittle here, but mostly, for enlightening me. Any more insight or advice is invited, and appreciated.
~ janette
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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We have a regimen of weekly manual cleaning on our Versacamm - and log down who did it and when. We clean around the heads, the capping stations, the wipers and (less frequently) the wiper wiper. It all takes around twenty minutes a week and is time well spent.
-------------------- Graham Parsons Signs 'n Such Ltd Swift Current Saskatchewan Canada. www.signsnsuch.com
"Saskatchewan - hard to pronounce, easy to draw" Posts: 710 | From: Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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We KNOW, Janette! We are very proud of both of them. And thanks for commenting on them!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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![[Frown]](frown.gif)
haha I'm told my other printer head needs replacing also. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
However, that clear wiper I had no idea about. Now that I do, I'll pay more attention to it. 
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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