Serious Misalignment and Ghosting...

3951 Views 18 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Brr, Jan 17, 2013

Brr

Discussion Starter · Mar 23, 2012

Greetings everyone! Just today my Sprint started going haywire for some odd reason. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary the day before, other than clean the white ink residue off the plate that you mount the shirt on. As you know, after printing white ink on black shirts for awhile, some white ink residue is left on the plate, especially if it's the same image you're printing over and over again. Anyway, I did this the day before and the plate as well as the machine did rock left to right (I had to wipe vigorously to remove all the residue.) Today, I kept getting that error message that says Error: Reset service count. I cleaned my encoder strip and this seemed to stop. I tried printing a shirt and as you can see from the picture, each pass is laying the image down at different positions. The Transformer image at the top is bi-directional pass. The one below is one pass only. Seems as if the problem is left to right/right to left, not up and down. Can somebody please help?? I called Anajet tech support and they told me to open the back and check the table assembly. I did that only to discover that this wouldn't remedy the problem I have. Please help! Thanks!!

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1 - 19 of 19 Posts

zoom_monster

· #2 · Mar 24, 2012

Side to side? The table does not have that much play, Correct?. When you were cleaning the encoder strip, did you dislodge the spring? Did it get stretched out?

Brr

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 24, 2012

What do you mean by the table not having that much play? And no I didn't dislodge the encoder strip. Actually, now I can't even get the machine in ready mode anymore. Everytime I power on the sprint, it initializes for a few seconds and starts beeping like crazy in reset service count mode and I have to switch it off in the back to shut it up.

Brr

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 24, 2012

And this happens EVERYTIME now. I tried calling Anajet again and I think they hung up on me

Brr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 24, 2012

I'm starting to feel like this is the worst investment I ever made.

zoom_monster

· #6 · Mar 24, 2012

Brr said:
What do you mean by the table not having that much play? And no I didn't dislodge the encoder strip. Actually, now I can't even get the machine in ready mode anymore. Everytime I power on the sprint, it initializes for a few seconds and starts beeping like crazy in reset service count mode and I have to switch it off in the back to shut it up.

I was just making sure that the platen was not moving side to side. Does the encoder strip stll go through the slot in the back of tha carriage? If you tug on the encoder strip, is there a lot of play?

Brr

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 24, 2012

When you tug on the strip there's not a whole lotta play. Its not loose or anything. And when u let it go, it stays straight. It doesn't hang loose.

Brr

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 24, 2012

And yes it still goes through that loop in the back of the carriage

23spiderman

· #9 · Mar 24, 2012

does your platen jerk as it's printing, or is the image starting over. i'm guessing you need to clean the encoder strip again with rubbing alcohol, as well as the encoding disk that runs the stepping of the platen. let it all thoroughly dry before powering back on.

to reset the count, you need to run the Epson Utility Manager, but i'm guessing you already know how to do this?

Brr

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 24, 2012

Yea I reset the service count, cleaned the encoder strip a few times. What's an encoded disk? Where is that located? That might be worth a try. The platen operates as normal.

Brr

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 24, 2012

Ok new update:
I cleaned the encoder strip again, a bit more vigorously this time. I am happy to report that it's working perfectly again. Thanks so much for your tips and suggestions!!

23spiderman

· #12 · Mar 24, 2012

if the platen operates as normal, then it's probably not the encoder disk. it's at the back of the printer and on the FP-125 you have to take the hood off to get to it. it's what knows where your table is at all times, and it controls how far the table "steps" during printing. there are 2 sensors (one on each side) that reads this disk. you might want to order a new encoder strip to see if yours is damaged. i don't know how much AnaJet charges, but DTGinks.com sells them for $20.

^^^glad it's working. i posted this before i saw your update.

Reactions: 1

Brr

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 24, 2012

Great. It's happening AGAIN!!! I'm ready to throw this piece of crap out the window.

zoom_monster

· #14 · Mar 24, 2012

Brr said:
Great. It's happening AGAIN!!! I'm ready to throw this piece of crap out the window.

Barry, The encoder strip is covered with microscopic lines that are used by the sensor(on the back of the print carriage) to relay the possition of the head. If the sensor is dirty, if there are fibers on the sensor area, or if the plastic surface of the strip is scratched during the cleaning process, those microcopic lines are not read properly and the ink is dropped in the wrong area.

There may indeed be something else going on here. could be the actual sensor may have gotten solvent on it from cleaning the platten. Streaks on the lens perhaps? Just thinking to my self. I have not had anything go wrong with that in 5 years. I would get a new strip and spring ordered and installed. Inkjets do have all these little things that you have to learn so that you can avoid these problems in the future.

Reactions: 1

Brr

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 26, 2012

Zoom - Where would I get an encoder strip from? It's not available on the Anajet store page.

zoom_monster

· #16 · Mar 26, 2012

They have them. You just need to call. That said, there is probably someone closer that will have one that's compatable. EZ or Belquette might be closer and be a quicker ship. Compass micro may have them as well. Not sure where they are located

I would still contact Anajet to see if this is the only thing to check.

Brr

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 26, 2012

Ok I will call them today. This is really hurting business for me though. Tech support not operating on weekends really puts me at a serious disadvantage. I've already missed out on some great opportunities because of this. But thanks so much for your attention I really appreciate it!!

23spiderman

· #18 · Mar 26, 2012

DTGinks.com has them for $20, he's located in California. I think Compass Micro is in Oregon. So you're looking at a 4 day ground ship at least from those two.

One thing to keep in mind when cleaning your encoder strip, is always wipe towards the spring. This will keep you from streching it out.

Brr

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 17, 2013

Greetings! Just to report on this issue and what became of it:

I ended up having to send my machine to their HQ for repair. They sent me a loaner machine in the meantime. Something about my motor being blown. Thanks for all the help everyone!!

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