Epson T3270 Printer

[CVL_ink]

I've followed this thread since shopping for a replacement for my 4880/blackmax refillable setup. I now have the 3270 installed and running and thought I would chime in.

I ran the Epson starter PK that came with the printer until it ran out, about 100' of film. Got noticeably better results with the droplet weight maxed out at 15.
Switched the stock PK cart for a refillable full of blackmax. I can't say if the black max performed any better than the Epson OEM, but at $0.13/ml vs $0.40/ml it certainly is cheaper. 15 droplet weight with the blackmax ink made a big wet mess. Settled on 11 droplet weight for blackmax (still a little wet coming off the printer), but have to turn it back up to get lower value halftones in films to wash out. Exposing on M&R Starlight.

With about 575' of film printed the other Epson starter carts haven't kicked yet.

Had registration issues off the bat and had to get in and figure out "adjust print length" settings in Accurip. Never once had this problem with the 4880. The first brand of film we used (generic) ended up with adjust print length setting of 12. Currently using Chromaline Accujet film and after the switch the registration problems came back. After adjusting the print length up to 28 the films are back in register. Huge PITA as both times we had put out dozens of screens before we noticed anything was off.

For those using this printer, how often have you had to change adjust print length settings? ZooCity's experience makes me nervous now that can I see the issue.

For those using blackmax, where are you at with droplet weight on the 3270?

What brand of film are you guys using? Is this adjust print length issue any better on Epson film or some other brand?
 

[ZooCity]

Hey just to clarify our T3270 had an issue with film feed of the printer itself.  Not a rip/adjust length problem, just bad hardware/firmware/software on that unit and Epson took it back.  It was a lemon in terms of being a film printer essentially. 

[Sbrem]

We haven't had a registration issue yet, but there's always hope...

Steve

[SteveS]

Hey just to clarify our T3270 had an issue with film feed of the printer itself.  Not a rip/adjust length problem, just bad hardware/firmware/software on that unit and Epson took it back.  It was a lemon in terms of being a film printer essentially.

Anyone else had this feed problem?

And I wonder how the whole print length setting messed up registration from one color plate to the next? How is that possible? Can you describe how it was hitting registration problem?

[Stinkhorn Press]

For those using blackmax, where are you at with droplet weight on the 3270?

OT since not what asked, but we switched from blackmax ink to chromaline accublack (when we switched from 1400 system to 4800 system). We tried other inks before AccuBlack when we went to the 4800, and nothing comes even close to it's light blocking properties (and everything else about it is no complaints). We run a 15 weight dot. 720x720 for basic stuff. resolution all the way up (no dot control there) for anything detail needing.

[ZooCity]

Hey just to clarify our T3270 had an issue with film feed of the printer itself.  Not a rip/adjust length problem, just bad hardware/firmware/software on that unit and Epson took it back.  It was a lemon in terms of being a film printer essentially.

Anyone else had this feed problem?

And I wonder how the whole print length setting messed up registration from one color plate to the next? How is that possible? Can you describe how it was hitting registration problem?

In the past now so it's a little blurry but I isolated the problem to the feed in the printer.  If we printed a thin line down the film the problems diminished significantly. 

Conclusion- if you force the print head to travel the entire film feed you get accuracy so it must be the feed setup at fault as it indexes past open/non printing areas of the film.  My knowledge of printer's isn't deep enough to determine the actual cause though, lots of potential sources.

Again, I think it was just a lemon.  Field tech confirmed that there was clearly issues but no diagnostics he had would resolve so they bought it back.  Could well have been a firmware and/or hardware thing.  These printers do go through revisions once production gets going.   Not uncommon to have earlier models with problems later ones don't.

[Jamisun]

Wow- I did not see this post about how you came up with using a line down the side until now- I am a newbie- and still learning about this board. When I was listening to the Espon T-3270 print one morning I actually said out loud that it is funny how when it fed the film it sounded completely different and it was really loud- and then I realized that was where the problem was. Hit me like a ton of bricks. Funny that I see this post now.
Our EPSON T-3270 is one of the newer ones when they first started advertising this printer for Screen printers. A buddy of mine locally bought the same printer also, at a later date- he said he had not so far noticed that anything is not printing in register so we are going to test his printer next week with one of the files I have that has big area of feed... he's out of town at the moment- but I am anxious to see if his has the same problem.

[ZooCity]

That's a great plan, after wasting so much time troubleshooting it myself, I'm also curious if the issue can be repeated on your buddies unit. 

[Jamisun]

I will let you know. Thank you. So far the only thing that works is to put a line down the side. That is one of the two options Epson has for us now- but it was after I told them that we had learned to do that. They did offer a buy back today. Which is great- but the problem is- I need a printer to output film to scale- so I am really anxious to see what my friend's printer does. Epson told me the T-3270 will perform in this manor no matter what- and even went so far as to say that all the printers work in the same way.  That areas where the printer has to feed blank space will always result it being off- even if I buy a new printer. He could not even recommend another EPSON printer to do the job. He did tell me that they are thinking of incorporating a way to have the printer print a line down the side to resolve the issue in a future generation printer. I guess they don't mind wasting film or ink, or time for that matter...There truly must be a better solution. So- still going to test my friends, and then we will go from there. I still need to be sure that all the printers have this issue.

[Maxie]

I have a new Epson T3270.      I have set it up with one black for film and CYMK for Sublimation.
The Sublimation is working well, I have not printed film yet.
I did not buy it with Accurip because I have Accurip on my 4880 which is still working.
I am going to have to upgrade my Accurip because the version I have won't run the T3270.
I haven't done this yet, we are really busy right now, I'll upgrade when it's a bit slower.
I got bulk cartridges and filled them with Black UV blacking and Sublimation inks.
If I was using the printer only for black I'd fill one cartridge with black and the other with cleaning fluid.
On the 4880 I have a few cartridges with a mixture of Windex and distilled water.
This keeps the head in working order, if the one you printing through blocks up you can switch to one of the other heads using Accurip.      I would always use Accurip even when printing through one head.      I have all black but only print through one head, get a much cleaner dot.
I have no guarantee, I bought the printer in the USA and shipped it to Israel.     Price here is more than double.   Pm me and I'll give you info on where I buy everything.