Canon Pro 2000 Printhead expires 3 years 3 months (EC21-2F51 error)

[jeyell]

Not sure what to make of this having owned an Epson 3800 for 8 years without a clog. I replaced that in 2017 with a Canon Pro 2000 and have been very happy with print quality and media handling so far. The software media setup has pros and cons, but it attempts for a a new icc embedded profile approach within the media type was different. My problem has arisen co-incidentally after a winter 2019 transition from Mac to Windows 10 and I was rebuilding icc profiles and media settings in MCT when the printer threw a hardware error EC21-2F51. Contacted Canon UK who replied with this:

"This is a clear indicator that the devices print head requires replacement, please contact your reseller to purchase a replacement print head". They described the error as "VH leak error at starting up, cleaning, and print starting".

I asked if 3y3m was a bit short within which to require a replacement print head. Of course they never replied. Canon UK Business support treated me at arms length, although we are all recovering from the global great unpleasantness. So i'm feeling a bit down about Canon's Pro IPF series 2000/4000/6000 print head life. For background, volume throughput has been low, auto-power off is off and printer's never moved since installation.

Planning for the new head I see a new colour calibration run will be needed which poses a question. Canon supplied the printer with HW Coated HG paper for that, but there is insufficient to do this again and need to buy more (not easy to find in UK). I noticed on Moab's site this very interesting note about print head/common colour calibration

https://www.moabpaper.com/canon-imageprograf-notes

They instruct it is important to NOT use the supplied Canon paper (for Pro 2/4/6000 printers), but to use Canon Glossy Photographic Paper 170, 200 or 240 instead.  I know this is not paper-based icc profiling, but more of a printer/head alignment towards a known Canon base standard. Has anyone come across this paper choice dilemma ? It is rather concerning that such disparity exists between Canon and Moab on something so critical. Appreciate any pointers.

[Ryan Mack]

I had the same issue after 2 years and heard from a couple of other people that 2 years seemed to be a common expiration time. Consider yourself lucky you made it to 3.5.

[jeyell]

This was my reason for posting. If the lifespan is 2 years, budget for that in your Pro 2000/4000/6000 versus Epson / HP comparisons. It feels too short for a £500 'consummable' which was 28% of the capital cost of the Pro 2000. Hoped for 4-5 years at least.

Did you read my comment about the paper base for head re-calibration?

[Ryan Mack]

So I use ImagePrint and they also use "Canon Glossy Photographic Paper 200" as the media for printer calibration before they create their profiles so I do the same. I don't think that was true when ImagePrint first added Canon support but I don't know when or why they changed it. Originally they said to run the printer calibration on the paper you are printing on. But now they say use that paper for everything I think. (Not sure if that's true for matte paper though).

[jeyell]

Thanks Ryan. I find it mildly disconcerting as I understand this is the baseline head calibration upon which other profiles sit above (If not self cablibrating). Change the paper must change the results. Think that's my path too.

[movergaard]

My understanding is that the rationale for using PhotoGlossy 170 or one of those heavier variants for PRO Series common color calibrations is that glossy paper works as a more effective (including on reflectivity) target for the sensor in the printhead that is used when the printer is checking each color for accuracy during the calibration process. It's unfortunate that, at least initially, the paper shipped with new PRO Series printers for this purpose was the HG variant mentioned above.

I have heard this recommendation for PRO Series common color calibration media from ColorByte (makers of ImagePrint) and Moab (both of them referencing Canon's advice to them), as well as from Canon directly.

It is my understanding that any ICC profiles done after a common color calibration different media should be redone after common color calibrating with the recommended media. In my opinion, Canon has not managed this situation well, but at least for Moab and ImagePrint, there seems to be movement in the right direction.  I don't know where other paper suppliers stand on this topic.

Mark

[Richard.Wills]

Similar advice received from my dealer for 8300 and 8400, regarding calibration - in our case it's a 260gsm lustre roll that we've used for the last 10 or so years...

39 months is pretty good going for heads -  I usually see them go in the 18-24 month time frame - 1-2000sq metres per pair seems normal on the two machines I've run. I just see it as part of the costs associated with a machine that is mostly relatively low stress.