Canon Pixma MX922 Printing Issues - Banding? Pinstripes?

[TamiS]

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping someone here can help me with a problem I'm having with my Canon Pixma MX922.

I'm getting tiny, thin lines, like pinstripes thru everything I print.

I noticed this problem a couple weeks ago. Since then I've tried cleaning the nozzles multiple times, deep cleaning the nozzles mutiple times, removing the print head, soaking it and drying it, print head alignment, manual print head alignment multiple times, and cleaning the timing ribbon multiple times. I've also replaced all the ink a couple times. None of these things have made the problem any better or even any worse. It just stays exactly the same.

I've had this printer for 4 years and it's always been a workhorse for me. No problems at all. I've been happily using it to print from 10 to 50 images a week for my small business. I'm using third party, K-Ink, and have been for the entire time I've owned this printer.

I've attached some images of the Print Head Alignment pattern, and the Nozzle Check pattern. Also actual pictures of close ups of my prints. I thought that the solid colors were coming out OK until I took the pictures for this post and saw up-close the pinstripes are there too, just not as noticeable.

I've tried asking on multiple groups and support and no one seems to know what's wrong. Can anyone tell me if this can be fixed or is it just time for a new printer? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions!

 

[stratman]

Welcome to the forum, TamiS.

Sorry to say that the most likely issue is that your print head has an irreparable electrical malfunction and possible could, in part, manifest in the logic assay board as well.

The spindle-like lines in the latticework of the PGBK nozzle check are most likely due to warped nozzles. This is thought to be due to excessive heat over time. It may even have to do with using aftermarket inks that do not cool the nozzles well enough. Hard to know for sure other than the Pigment Black nozzles are irreparably damaged.

The horizontal lines in the Dye-based ink nozzle check inks are too perfectly straight and evenly spaced to not be an electrical failure (versus clogs).

You may still be able to use the printer as long as the print quality is sufficient for you. It might be that using a higher print quality setting, which will cause more passes of the print head over the printed area, will cover up the tiny horizontal lines. Maybe not.

You can bypass the use of the PGBK cartridge for text if you set the printer Paper Type setting to one of the Photo Paper choices instead of Plain Paper. This will force the use of the Dye-based inks to make black for text. The text may not look as black, or be as sharp, or be water resistant like to highlighters, but you can still use the printer for text.

One way to resolve the issues with the printer is to get a new print head. I do not know it Canon still makes them. Beware of print heads out of China as too may vendors clean up used print heads, seal them in counterfeit bags and boxes and sell them as new. If if sold as "used", there is a high failure rate.

There is, however, a very small chance that both print head and logic assay board are electrically malfunctioning, and, putting in a new print head may go bad from a bad logic assay board. The risk appears to be extremely small, but it is a possibility.

The only other way to resolve your issue is getting a different printer.

If you like the All-In-One Canon then you might look into the Canon Maxify series. They are fast, sturdy, and refillable. The printed image quality is good but not that of a dedicated photo printer.

 

[TamiS]

Thank you so much for your fast answer!
It may not be what I wanted to hear, but it was informative. I've been told that it might be time to get a new printer, but no one knew exactly why. I just needed to know what and why before I gave up on this one. Your answer was very helpful!
I think I'll be using this as an opportunity to take my business in a new direction.
Thanks again!

 

[stratman]

You are welcome.

You've had a good run with your printer and you did all you could do to fix the issues.

The model number for your print head is QY6-0086. If you live in the USA then the lowest prices can be had from Canon Sales USA - if they still make or carry them. Otherwise, you may be able to find a real new print head. But Beware of counterfeits.

IMO, if the cost of an authentically new print head approaches the cost of a new printer such as the Maxify then seriously consider a new printer instead. If you want advice on a new printer then start a new thread with your questions.

Let us know what happens. Good luck.

 

[Technomaniac]

As an electronics technician with very little printer experience except from fixing my own batch of old printers, stripes suggests ripple in the power supply of the printer. If you could get an oscilloscope onto the output voltages of the power supply you might see the same pattern of pulses.

 

[TamiS]

You are welcome.

You've had a good run with your printer and you did all you could do to fix the issues.

The model number for your print head is QY6-0086. If you live in the USA then the lowest prices can be had from Canon Sales USA - if they still make or carry them. Otherwise, you may be able to find a real new print head. But Beware of counterfeits.

IMO, if the cost of an authentically new print head approaches the cost of a new printer such as the Maxify then seriously consider a new printer instead. If you want advice on a new printer then start a new thread with your questions.

Let us know what happens. Good luck.

The last time I printed a couple days ago (I usually print twice a week) out of desperation I fiddled with the print settings. Changing them from Luster Photo Paper (which is all I use) to High Gloss Photo Paper II. That seems to enhance the print quality by a teeny-tiny-only-I-can-see-under-strong-light-with-readers bit on some images. It's not much, but it might buy me a little more time to decide exactly what I'm doing with the situation.

 

[TamiS]

As an electronics technician with very little printer experience except from fixing my own batch of old printers, stripes suggests ripple in the power supply of the printer. If you could get an oscilloscope onto the output voltages of the power supply you might see the same pattern of pulses.

That sounds way above my pay grade, but I will try to check into it before disposing of my beast. Thanks for you suggestion which is totally out of the box compared to everything else I've seen.

 

[The Hat]

but I will try to check into it before disposing of my beast. Thanks for you suggestion

Well seeing as you still have a working printer for now, why not take the time to check out one of the many Maxify model range of Canon printers as an alternative for your MX922.

It has many features and quarks and it may not suite you at all but it is a rugget and hardy printer that can take quite a bit of non-use and still preform without causing any issues.. You’ve got the time so use it wisely..

 

[TamiS]

Well seeing as you still have a working printer for now, why not take the time to check out one of the many Maxify model range of Canon printers as an alternative for your MX922.

It has many features and quarks and it may not suite you at all but it is a rugget and hardy printer that can take quite a bit of non-use and still preform without causing any issues.. You’ve got the time so use it wisely..

Thank you for the suggestion. I see some very agreeable prices.
I'm still not sure if I want to replace my business printer. I'm looking at some other options. I may just be grabbing a simple home printer.

 

[stratman]

I'm still not sure if I want to replace my business printer.

What do you want to do with your printer - text, images, both? How much of each per week or month? Do you want to refill?

Is it the 10-50 images per week you mentioned in your first post? Do you need high quality images or can they be good but not necessarily best?