P10000 - constant cleaning and other annoyances

[NeilPrintArt]

I recently took delivery of a brand-new Epson P10000. Traded in my trusty 9890.

Its certainly a handsome machine and looks and feels solid and well engineered. But there are some frustrations which maybe others can shed light on?

A major gripe is the regular (like after each print) auto cleaning cycles. Yes I have turned off the 'auto cleaning' options on the control panel. And I read another post where someone had a similar problem that was solved by updating firmware. And so yes I have updated the firmware. But still the printer runs auto cleaning cycles (apparently after each print) completely on its own volition. Am hoping that somehow it will 'settle in' ?

Another concern is the paper path for sheets. Previous Epson's I have owned (9800, 9890) were great for loading sheets and offcuts. I tend to buy a lot of my media on rolls and then save offcuts when i do prints. So I have a lot of odd-sized, offcut sheets - with curl. The P10000 path has an almost 90 degree bend into a horizontal platen position and I am finding that I am getting head strikes and paper skews and just generally not as easy and forgiving trying to load sheets.

The auto cleanings started before any head strikes. And the auto cleanings don't seem to be related to missing nozzles?

The P10000 has a 'printless nozzle check' -which is exactly what it sounds like - which seems to be slightly hit and miss with regards to actually sensing missing nozzles

Like I said the machine is very new and I am hoping is just 'settling in' a bit and hopefully the wrinkles will iron out.

What is the current thinking on turning off at night?

thanks
Neil




 


   

[Terry_Kennedy]

I recently took delivery of a brand-new Epson P10000. Traded in my trusty 9890.

I have 2 of them - nice units.

A major gripe is the regular (like after each print) auto cleaning cycles. Yes I have turned off the 'auto cleaning' options on the control panel. And I read another post where someone had a similar problem that was solved by updating firmware. And so yes I have updated the firmware. But still the printer runs auto cleaning cycles (apparently after each print) completely on its own volition. Am hoping that somehow it will 'settle in' ?

I have mine set to check the nozzles after each print (I run a check myself before starting for the day). All auto-cleaning is disabled. It does a bit of "thinking" after printing (on a long job, it will do this before it cuts the roll paper). I'm running the latest firmware - FM013J4. I maintain the P10K firmware version history document which you can find in this forum and elsewhere. If you like, I can make note of all of my front panel settings.

Another concern is the paper path for sheets. Previous Epson's I have owned (9800, 9890) were great for loading sheets and offcuts. I tend to buy a lot of my media on rolls and then save offcuts when i do prints. So I have a lot of odd-sized, offcut sheets - with curl. The P10000 path has an almost 90 degree bend into a horizontal platen position and I am finding that I am getting head strikes and paper skews and just generally not as easy and forgiving trying to load sheets.

The P10K just isn't cut out for running cut sheets. It gave that up in exchange for being able to print flat on posterboard. I have a 4880 I use for sheet work. Fortunately, I don't do much of that beyond Super A3. On the other hand, the P10K can be finished with a sheet before the 4880 is done with its ritual pre-print dance.

The P10000 has a 'printless nozzle check' -which is exactly what it sounds like - which seems to be slightly hit and miss with regards to actually sensing missing nozzles.

I've found it to be accurate in the cases where I've checked. Often I'll tell the printer "just go ahead and clean yourself". If it claims there is a nozzle out, there really is a nozzle out. I don't think I've had any cases where it said things were OK but there was a clogged nozzle.

What is the current thinking on turning off at night?

I keep mine turned off. And they don't get used every day - sometimes they will sit for a week or two. You may be wondering why I have 2 of them, then. I got them at very good prices and when I need to print things, I can keep them both going flat-out with work.

[NeilPrintArt]

I have 2 of them - nice units.
I have mine set to check the nozzles after each print (I run a check myself before starting for the day). All auto-cleaning is disabled. It does a bit of "thinking" after printing (on a long job, it will do this before it cuts the roll paper). I'm running the latest firmware - FM013J4. I maintain the P10K firmware version history document which you can find in this forum and elsewhere. If you like, I can make note of all of my front panel settings.
The P10K just isn't cut out for running cut sheets. It gave that up in exchange for being able to print flat on posterboard. I have a 4880 I use for sheet work. Fortunately, I don't do much of that beyond Super A3. On the other hand, the P10K can be finished with a sheet before the 4880 is done with its ritual pre-print dance.

Hi Terry
Thanks for this.
Yes I have looked at firmware history document that you maintain, this is a helpful resource, thank you. I am on the latest version (FM013J4). But still struggling with the machine running auto cleanings after every print. Driving me mad. I have just reset everything on control panel to default and then went through it meticulously turning everything off (including esoteric things like Administrator>Timer Clean (!?)) while carefully studying the User Guide. Will see if that helps.

With regard the sheet feeding, I am getting better results as I get used to the new machine, not as bad as I originally thought. I do need to 'de-curl' any sheets/offcuts using my homemade 'd-roller'. Certainly sheet feeding is more fiddly/delicate then previous Epson's.

Best regards and thanks
Neil