DesignJet Repair Leeds - Z6100
Todays, mission was a DesignJet Z6100 repair in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The plotter was juddering when the carriage was moving. It was also asking for the maintenance cartridge to be replaced constantly.
This is a well-used machine used to produce quality UV-Stable posters and needed some serious TLC.
The first issue to be addressed was the juddering. This is without doubt due to a worn carriage belt and needs to be replaced. The second, involves the maintenance cartridge, the line sensor is probably full of aerosol ink contamination. In some cases, a good clean will resolve this, however, as the pen carriage must be removed it may as well be replaced.
Removed both end covers and was shocked at the amount of aerosol contamination throughout the machine. When the ink is laid down by the printheads on to the media, it is heated to a high temperature, this means its partially in vaporous state.
Minute droplets from this float away as aerosol. These droplets land on any part of the machine they touch and set up home there. Over time other droplets join them and they form a larger community. These get bigger and bigger as more arrive until finally they clog the plotter, and it stops working. - Its asset becomes its nemesis.
This DesignJet Z6100 had certainly been doing some serious work to be in this state. The encoder strip was covered, it’s a wonder it was working at all. Unfortunately, you can only clean the encoder strip very gently before it gets damaged. It really is the better option to replace it along with its sensor. “Luckily” I had both parts with me. “20+ years of experience is a wonderful thing”.
Finally, after an epic, almost biblical struggle, the machine was fully cleaned and serviced. All the aerosol contamination had been removed from the plotter and its sub-systems. This ink is really like tar. Its thick and sticky and needs a mild alcohol-based solvent to remove it.
Time to work on the pen carriage assembly. Again, this was a right mess. Removed the old carriage belt and the carriage PCA. Cleaned the PCA with the mild solvent and a small brush. The contamination on the PCA can cause bad contacts on the flexi-strips. It can also cause overheating as the heat generated cannot dissipate correctly. It is also crucial to clean the pen carriage contacts to allow the correct seating of the printheads.
Changed the encoder sensor and the line sensor and carefully reassembled the carriage. Replaced the carriage drive belt and finally reassembled the DesignJet Z6100.
Rebooted the plotter (without covers on), which came up without a single DesignJet Error Code being reported. It was now just a matter of replacing the covers and fully calibrating the plotter before carrying out the final testing.
Due to the amount of part having been replaced, several calibrations were required. Once these were carried out the printheads were aligned and several test prints were carried out before the customer tested the plotter to their satisfaction. Once the customer was happy the machine was signed back over to them, and the call was closed.
The parts that were replaced may seem excessive, however, as part of our Total Care Solution, our job is to ensure every DesignJet Repair is carried out to a set standard. One that is designed to ensure the plotter runs at its optimal capacity and doesn’t return another problem in the in the short term.
We advise every customer what may be needed to resolve any HP Plotter Error Code. This may be one or several parts. No parts are fitted to any DesignJet without consultation and approval from the customer.
In brief, at Hutchins IT Limited our goal is not only to ensure every DesignJet Repair we undertake is carried out in a professional of a cost-effective manner, but to also provide a quality service that lasts, without the need for an expensive re-visit.
Hutchins IT Limited your DesignJet Repair Partner in Leeds West Yorkshire.
