A Digital Printing Network

Cadet Plus/SP540

Hi,

I have an issue with contour cut.

My maintenance people were useless and as they knew I was good, they gave me a copy of the service manual to fit parts they sent me and to make adjustments. Im good with my hands and can figure most things out.

I spent a few hours a week or so ago, making many adjustments to get the print and cut as near as spot on.

Its been great until today, when the cut is a good few mm off.

Ive gone thro all the adjustments and all appear to be spot on. However as soon as I send the job, the cut is off.

I just cant see why all the tests prove good yet with a real job I have issues.

Has anyone else had the same problems and could throw some light on it?

Any suggestions I could take a look at, in case Ive missed somthing.

Many thanks,

Brent

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Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson on March 11, 2010 at 8:11pm

Brent,
Can you post some pictures and a list of what adjustments you have made? Also any info on what parts you have replaced etc.

Thanks,

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Permalink Reply by Brent on March 14, 2010 at 2:13pm

Hi Steven,

Will do has youve asked as soon as I can.
Moveing into a new workshop at the moment and as you can guess its not an easy task!

I can list parts its had in order of fitting.

Network card 14 months ago
Mainboard 12 months ago
Ribbon cable (mainboard to head) 4 months ago
Scan motor 3 months ago

As first post, I've gone thro various sections in the service manual which all relate to print/cut alignments and anything esle that may affect it.
I had it as close to spot on for a few weeks, then it went off by a few mm. All the alighment processes show it as spot on, its when I do an actually print/cut job its wrong. I cant understand if the alignments are correct, then why a job is wrong.

Is there anything you can think of, I may have missed?

Regards,

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Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson on March 17, 2010 at 9:38am

Nothing that I can think of off hand. I am going to the tech class next week and maybe I can get a bit more insight for you there.

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Permalink Reply by Brent on April 29, 2010 at 7:29am

Finally got to the bottom of this problem, and by accident I may add.

The problem was the amount of pressure on the pinch rollers was not enough. I found this by accident when I went to remove the media and hadnt lifted the pinch rollers and the media slipped out with little effort.

As there was not enough pressure pushing down the pinch rollers, this allowed the media to slip during a print/cut operation.

There is adjustment, deep inside, which allows for more pressure. Tweaked this up a little and now the rollers hold the media as they should do.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson on April 29, 2010 at 7:42am

Good to know! Glad things are working for you now.

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Permalink Reply by Candy Mattingly on April 29, 2010 at 6:01pm

WHERE WAS THE ADJUSTMENT! ON THE MACHINE OR IN THE COMPUTER PART OF THE MACHINE. IF IT WAS THE MACHINE CAN YOU PLEASE SEND PICTURE WHERE THE ADJUSTMENT IS LOCATED

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Permalink Reply by Jody Ingram on April 29, 2010 at 7:20pm

The other thing you might want to look for is if there is a piece of media on one of your rollers.
I've had that happen to me twice where a small piece of vinyl sticks to a roller and everytime it comes around the media that's running through the machine slips and the cuts are off.

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Permalink Reply by Brent on April 30, 2010 at 3:19am

I did clean the grit rollers, you wouldnt belive how dirty they get over the years.

The adjustment for the pinch rollers is at the cartridge end. Remove the cover above the media rollers. Look where the pinch roller bar and the handle to lower them is located inside the printer. There are 2 allen screws that lock a plate in position. Loosen these slightly, and look for another allen screw which is the adjustment. Try 1 full turn (I think its clockwise), lock everything back up and see how the media is held. If still slipping, try another turn. If too tight, back off half a turn. Trial and error Im afraid. When pulling the media, you will have to hold the grit rollers as with the machine off, there is no motor resistance on the rollers. Dont pull to hard when the power is on, you may get a motor error. However you can get a feel if the media is clamped with the feel of the motor tension. When its right, make sure you have tightened the clamping allen screws. This adjustment is not in the service manual.

REMEMBER TO REMOVE THE POWER LEAD as there are circuit boards in the area. Also all the ink lines. Be very careful!!

Please do not blame me if anything goes wrong. Making any adjustments is at your own risk.