Epson R3000: dreaded PK ink globs on paper

[Stuart21]

This may not be your problem, pharma, but I have found that with the Epson L series, if the plugs are not pushed down hard into the fill ports on the ink tanks, after filling, they may not seal, then it is not uncommon to find splotches on your work. If using carts, make sure any plugs are firmly in, & give it a try.

I find it pity that Epson does not make an hybrid P400/P600 printer: both printers use the same print head, but different ink configuration. The P400 does not have light colors, which is optically not necessary thanks to the variable droplet technology, the light colors can mimicked by smaller ink droplets and by doing so the amount of ink dropped on paper is also dramatically reduced to achieve the same effect. The gloss optimizer equals any gloss difference that still exist on the P600 depending on the print made. The combined printer can be called the P500 using the P600 case and the following ink configuration: gloss optimizer (taking the place of the MK and PK combined to yield a high capacity 60 ml XL cartridge), MK, PK, LK, C, VM, Y, R. The LK will yield ABW prints and the R is from the P400, yielding better oranges and purples and skin tones. In the end: no need of switching valves, no ink spilled by switching between MK/PK, lower ink usage because no LLK, LVM, LC (compensated by smaller and variable droplet technology like the P400).

Someone who can reprogram the Epson P600 to use the aforementioned ink configuration or using an RIP ???

Can anyone reprogram Epsons? say L1800? I may have a job for you.

 

[mikling]

This may not be your problem, pharma, but I have found that with the Epson L series, if the plugs are not pushed down hard into the fill ports on the ink tanks, after filling, they may not seal, then it is not uncommon to find splotches on your work. If using carts, make sure any plugs are firmly in, & give it a try.

The reason it will drip out ink is because it is unable to establish some negative pressure inside the reservoir, this negative pressure is vital to "balance" the pressure of ink wanting to drip out and the negative pressure within the system preventing it from dripping out.
Basic CISS theory.

 

[websnail]

FWIW @pharmacist a couple of folk I've spoken to in the past have manually resolved the ink feed position manually by winding it to one position or the other and then cut the motor for the gear motor (I believe there's a post on here about that from years back). Then they've purchased another second hand R3000 and done the same but positioning the feed to the alternative black. They've then setup their printer drivers so one becomes a dedicated matt media printer with the other as a glossy media unit. No change-overs, none of the stupidly wasteful ink from same and no more issue with the feed.

If you're going to a P600 and have the room you might want to consider that as your primary machine and dedicate things accordingly. Just a thought...