scuffing on z3100

[shaun]

Hi

I am getting scuffing on hpz3100 using matt somerset velvet 255gms on A2 sheet material. Most noticeable in deep blacks and in direct of printhead i.e. across the image. Anyone know how to remedy this.

Shaun

[Mark Lindquist]

By "scuffing" do you mean "head Strikes"?  Are the lines sharply defined and consistently spaced?

If so, you may try using a different profile.  Are you using "fine art more ink" to create your profile?

Sometimes head strikes can occur using smaller rolls tightly wound....

It would help if you gave more information.

[shaun]

Hi Mark

It's A2 sheet material. I'm using fine art >250 setting on printer. It's most noticeable at the end of sheet which is last to be printed. Looks like i've taken a needle and ran it the width of the print with spacing consistent. Perhaps I need to support the paper as it is coming to the end?

Shaun

[artobest]

Sounds like you need to calibrate the paper advance for that paper. You can do it from the front panel.

[GeraldD]

Hi Sean

Yes supporting the sheet is the easy solution, sometimes on feed in and out.
I've got to the point of supporting A2 sheets as a matter of course, though sometimes I forget and it's OK, but not always.
It doesn't have to be absolutely flat, just not too much bend.

Regards

Gerald

[shaun]

Thanks so much for your help. Paper calibration plus supporting the paper seems to have sorted out the issue.

Shaun

[Mark Lindquist]

Glad it worked out for you.  If this persists, however, you may have an issue with the rear carriage bushing.  It is one of the components that set the height of the print heads over the media.  It could be broken which would cause scraping, or scuffing as you called it.  Ironically, it's just a flimsy piece of plastic that costs about $19.00.

Just an after thought.

[shaun]

Thanks Mark i'll keep that in mind should it arise again

Shaun

[Mark Lindquist]

Here is an interesting quote from Neil Snape who used to use the Zseries printers:

"...That is still a problem for which I think is due to thick paper that when raised while printing will cause a head strike. Seems that if you try to hold a roll flat against it's curl while it is printing you can set up a head strike, and the transport behind also if you try to hold the paper flat at the end of the roll , this too can cause a serious problem behind the printer in the feed path.
This lesson taught me to never hold the paper flat while printing, nor try to assist the last part of a very curly roll after it falls off the carton roll core even if it binds behind the core /roll holder and chassis.
I'm not sure if this has permanently damaged the feed system or not. I haven't been loading rolls lately so I can't say if the loading is still wonky.  I do know that when I took the housing off the feed path sensor it immediately become better at loading..."

I understand you're printing sheets, but this would be important to consider using any heavy sheet, especially if on a roll.  I was getting head strikes on a roll of thin substrate that had the small core.  The strikes occured at the very beginning of the print where the curl was worst.  I just created a large sheet size in PS and put the print farther down the paper.  The few scuff marks that would have damaged the print were in the extra white area that was subsequently cut off.  Needless to say, I moved to a different paper, soon after the roll was finished.
-Mark

[artobest]

This is all interesting viz head strikes etc, but the OP's problem looks like a classical case of uncalibrated paper advance, especially the description of needle-width lines running lengthwise across the print.

[Mark Lindquist]

This is all interesting viz head strikes etc, but the OP's problem looks like a classical case of uncalibrated paper advance, especially the description of needle-width lines running lengthwise across the print.

Yes, so you said, earlier, and you are correct that it is (sometimes) the cause.  There are many causes for needle width lines, including head strikes, from the carriage, or debris, etc. 

According to HP:

Print the Image Diagnostics Print. See Using your printer.
4. If the printheads are working correctly, go to the front panel and press the View loaded paper key to see the paper advance calibration status. If the status is RECOMMENDED, you should perform paper advance calibration: see Using your printer.
If the problem persists despite all the above actions, contact your customer service representative for further support. (implying that there are other causes as well).

The paper advance calibration does not always solve the problem, particularly if there are other things going on which don't appear obvious.  The idea here is to share information based on experience.  You have yours (no doubt extensive, and I have mine), having had a Z3100 44" since it first came out, and subsequently two others, (Z3200 24" and Z3200ps 44") in addition to Epsons and Canons in the studio.  I have found that the simple fixes are not always the long term solution with these printers.  I have one torn down now, refurbishing it.  It's great to come across threads where ALL sorts of issues are discussed, especially when one comes to a dead end.  It is great when it is a simple fix, if it lasts.

Discussing printing techniques, and practices, such as issues regarding supporting the material or not is also potentially helpful.  Neil Snape worked with HP in regard to this printer, and I believe was one of the first to review it. 

I'm not sure why you felt it necessary to reiterate, unless you feel strongly that people should only post along the lines of what your answer would be, and not contribute additional information from experience that may benefit others reading the thread. 

FWIW / YMMV

[artobest]

Put simply, Occam's razor.

Head strikes can be a problem with some papers - especially older cut sheets, I find, but the description of the OP's problem doesn't sound to me like a head strike. Your experience may differ from mine, but I've never had a head strike or debris that left needle-width gaps from left to right across the print. But I have on numerous occasions fixed exactly this problem with a paper-advance calibration.

[Mark Lindquist]

Frequently Murphy's Law brings out the big hammer and slams Occam's Razor.  Others who have this problem and find Paper Advance Calibration isn't the cure, especially when the problem persists, may be interested to know where to get the rear carriage bushing when it has broken.

Edit: http://www.lpscomputer.com/p-3338-q5669-60687-designjet-carriage-bushing.aspx