Vertical Color Shifts; Vertical Banding

Select the best image or images below to characterize the problem your printer is experiencing:

3-1.

If vertical white bands appear down the print then the trailing cable is probably unseated or defective. Replacement of the trailing cable is most often necessary for the image shown above. Call for service.

For future reference, clean the trailing cable routinely as this will prolong trailing cable life by up to five times longer.

3-2.

If the left or right edges of the print drift back and forth or the image begins to 'walk' then the encoder strip is dirty or defective. Quite often the walking of the image will cause vertical lines (and sometimes horizontal bands) to appear down the print. Clean with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab. If the problem cannot be corrected through thorough cleaning then the encoder strip is defective. Call for service.

3-3.

If a vertical pattern appears in the middle of a print that should be of uniform color fill then typically the trailing cable is unseated or defective. First attempt to reseat the trailing cable at the Main board followed by the carriage board. Ensure power is turned off to printer before reseating any cables or damage will occur to circuits. Call for service.

For future reference, clean the trailing cable routinely as this will prolong trailing cable life by up to five times longer.

3-4.

If multiple vertical patterns or swaths appear across a print then typically the carriage bushings are dirty or defective. Clean carriage bushings with water and a lint-free towel. Call for service if problem is not corrected.

3-5.

If the image is shifted from the right margin slightly, containing small rectangular bar patterns along the right margin, and exhibits horizontal bands at regular or irregular intervals then the flex driver cable is unseated. The color of the small rectangular bars signifies the unseated flex driver cable to the carriage board. Call for service.

3-6.

If the image is shifted from the right margin, containing 4 columns of small rectangular bar patterns along the right margin, and exhibits horizontal bands at regular or irregular intervals then the trailing cable is unseated or defective. First attempt to reseat the trailing cable at the Main board followed by the carriage board. Ensure power is turned off to printer before reseating any cables or damage will occur to circuits. Call for service.

3-7.

If the color test appears abnormal (see a normal color test pictured below) then the carriage board is probably defective. Verify all other print operations are abnormal before replacing the carriage board. Ensure the printer is properly protected from electrostatic discharge (from media) by inspecting the strike plates and carbon fibers. Strike plates are mounted to the the feed and take-up roll cradles. Call for service.

Normal color tests.

3-8.

If the Deadband print pattern prints incorrectly where the left and the right sides are aligned vertically, but the center (or one side) fails to line up correctly then the encoder strip is most likely dirty or defective. First ensure all calibrations have been performed correctly. Clean with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab. Call for service.

3-9.

For prime patterns which exhibit multiple power or address line failures one cartridge is typically defective. Isolate one cartridge at a time by covering the electrical drive contacts (not the smart chip) at rear of cartridge with tape or a post-it note. Activate the prime pattern again. The modified cartridge will not print, but if the modified cartridge is defective then the other colors will return to normal in the prime pattern. Replace defective cartridge. Call for service if problem persists.

3-10.

If a vertical line appears down the image output then inspect the lower surface of the encoder stabilizer bracket for defects or air bubbles in the mounting tape. The carriage assembly may also be striking an object during carriage transfer. Inspect chain shelf and ink delivery chain during movement to verify the chain is not striking the chain shelf. Call for service.

3-11.

If diagonal banding is occurring (greater than a 10% angle from the vertical) then the servo motor pulley may be damaged or the RIP is causing the problem in most cases. The first step is to test the RIP by sending a test file to the printer. Test files can be downloaded from the ENCAD web site. In some cases the diagonal banding can be caused by dirty or defective carriage bushings, but a bushing failure typically causes near vertical swaths down the print. Call for service.

3-12.

If data changes color (reverse spotting) within the print then the print server is typically at fault. The server may not be configured properly or may be too slow for the adequate data transfer rate. Call for network administration support.