- Joined
- Oct 27, 2005
- Messages
- 3,666
- Reaction score
- 1,349
- Points
- 337
- Location
- South Yorks, UK
- Printer Model
- Epson, Canon, HP... A "few"
Having spent, what?, nearly a year and a half or longer learning the ropes and using home grown Canon CIS kits I think I can probably share some of the troubleshooting routines I go through now to resolve problems.
Gradient banding across page
Problem: Overpressure
Solutions:
1. Increase the height of the printer in relation to the ink. The ink levels in the reservoirs should not be higher than the bottom of the printhead. Alternative solution is to use a constant pressure reservoir system.
2. Check there is air above the sponged compartment in the cartridge(s) affected. If ink exists above sponge, hold the cartridge over a tray, and allow air into the sponged part of the cartridge until the ink level is no longer visible above the sponge.
Horizontal or non-gradient banding
Problem: Insufficient ink flow:
The tubing or fitting running to your cartridges may be unable to keep up with the flow required to keep the cartridge supplied.
Solutions:
1. Check for any crimping of the tubing (lid or bend in tube may be reducing the ink flow)
2. Check for deposits or blockages in the tubing that may be reducing the flow, and clear if possible.
3. Consider getting a new kit or check that there is sufficient air buffer (bubble) in the cartridge to allow ink to be pulled from the cartridge.
Tip: Look for problems becoming more pronounced for particular colours or large areas of print.. Also try experimenting with the print speed to see if increasing speed increases the problem..
Slow degradation of ink density
Problems:
1. vent into reservoir blocked (air not replacing ink as it is used up)
2. tubing between reservoir and cartridge blocked (possibly clogged ink - pigments especially, glue, poor fitting, etc..)
3. air build up in the sponge (if it's a sponged cartridge)
Solutions:
1. Check that the reservoir has a vent hole and that it has been unplugged according to your kits instructions
2. Check the tubing for any blockages. May need to detach tube from cartridge and test using a syringe to try to draw ink through from reservoir.
3. Try repriming** the cartridge to remove the air bubbles that slow or stop ink flow in the sponge.
Ink flowing back to reservoir or completely gone from tubing
Problem: Air leak (somewhere between the printhead grommets and the reservoir end of the tubing)
Solution: Locate the leak and seal it before repriming the cartridge
One or more reservoirs empty of ink
Problems (these are issues I've observed more in Epson printers):
1. Reservoirs placed too high in relation to printhead
2. Waste ink modification fitted causes syphon effect which drains the reservoirs when a head cleaning routine is initiated
3. Spongless cartridges used in tandem with one of the above
4. Ink has leaked from the reservoir
Solutions:
1. Re-site the reservoirs to establish a greater negative pressure
- Consider use of sponged cartridges for their natural buffer effect
- Establish an air bubble buffer in the cartridge(s) to reduce likelihood of a run-away syphon
4. Check the reservoir for tell tale signs of a leak and replace
Added
Cartridge not refilling / zero ink flow in tubing when printing
Problems(s): Possible air leak but more likely air lock in sponge in cartridge
Solution: Re-prime cartridge ensuring that all air bubbles/foam has been purged from sponge (but not the area above the sponge!)
Bound to be a few others that I'll add later when I remember them.
** Repriming
- removing cartridge from printer
- seal output ink port using electrical tape
- detach tube from reservoir and plug syringe into reservoir end
- use syringe to draw air and ink out of cartridge until you have a hard vaccum
- crimp tube to retain vaccum then re-attach to reservoir before uncriming
- cartridge should then re-fill with ink with much less air than before
Gradient banding across page
Problem: Overpressure
Solutions:
1. Increase the height of the printer in relation to the ink. The ink levels in the reservoirs should not be higher than the bottom of the printhead. Alternative solution is to use a constant pressure reservoir system.
2. Check there is air above the sponged compartment in the cartridge(s) affected. If ink exists above sponge, hold the cartridge over a tray, and allow air into the sponged part of the cartridge until the ink level is no longer visible above the sponge.
Horizontal or non-gradient banding
Problem: Insufficient ink flow:
The tubing or fitting running to your cartridges may be unable to keep up with the flow required to keep the cartridge supplied.
Solutions:
1. Check for any crimping of the tubing (lid or bend in tube may be reducing the ink flow)
2. Check for deposits or blockages in the tubing that may be reducing the flow, and clear if possible.
3. Consider getting a new kit or check that there is sufficient air buffer (bubble) in the cartridge to allow ink to be pulled from the cartridge.
Tip: Look for problems becoming more pronounced for particular colours or large areas of print.. Also try experimenting with the print speed to see if increasing speed increases the problem..
Slow degradation of ink density
Problems:
1. vent into reservoir blocked (air not replacing ink as it is used up)
2. tubing between reservoir and cartridge blocked (possibly clogged ink - pigments especially, glue, poor fitting, etc..)
3. air build up in the sponge (if it's a sponged cartridge)
Solutions:
1. Check that the reservoir has a vent hole and that it has been unplugged according to your kits instructions
2. Check the tubing for any blockages. May need to detach tube from cartridge and test using a syringe to try to draw ink through from reservoir.
3. Try repriming** the cartridge to remove the air bubbles that slow or stop ink flow in the sponge.
Ink flowing back to reservoir or completely gone from tubing
Problem: Air leak (somewhere between the printhead grommets and the reservoir end of the tubing)
Solution: Locate the leak and seal it before repriming the cartridge
One or more reservoirs empty of ink
Problems (these are issues I've observed more in Epson printers):
1. Reservoirs placed too high in relation to printhead
2. Waste ink modification fitted causes syphon effect which drains the reservoirs when a head cleaning routine is initiated
3. Spongless cartridges used in tandem with one of the above
4. Ink has leaked from the reservoir
Solutions:
1. Re-site the reservoirs to establish a greater negative pressure
- Consider use of sponged cartridges for their natural buffer effect
- Establish an air bubble buffer in the cartridge(s) to reduce likelihood of a run-away syphon
4. Check the reservoir for tell tale signs of a leak and replace
Added
Cartridge not refilling / zero ink flow in tubing when printing
Problems(s): Possible air leak but more likely air lock in sponge in cartridge
Solution: Re-prime cartridge ensuring that all air bubbles/foam has been purged from sponge (but not the area above the sponge!)
Bound to be a few others that I'll add later when I remember them.
** Repriming
- removing cartridge from printer
- seal output ink port using electrical tape
- detach tube from reservoir and plug syringe into reservoir end
- use syringe to draw air and ink out of cartridge until you have a hard vaccum
- crimp tube to retain vaccum then re-attach to reservoir before uncriming
- cartridge should then re-fill with ink with much less air than before
