Epson Clogged Nozzles and Heat

[Racer Tees]

Sooooo happy to not have epson printers in my life anymore LOL

Is there any other option without going DTS?  DTS would be like lighting money on fire for my shop.

[mk162]

But, it's a little like you asking a repair question on an MG forum and being told "you should get a Miata!" True or not, it's not what you went there to see.

I wouldn't disagree with that either. 

Epsons are fine printers.  Sometimes terrible.  Nothing was worse than page after page of 1 line of garbage.  Most RIP companies have gotten the printers to behave pretty well.  We didn't have many problems with the 4800.

That being said, I would try to keep it in an air conditioned space.  It would make life much easier on it.

[Racer Tees]

That being said, I would try to keep it in an air conditioned space.  It would make life much easier on it.

This space is FAR from air conditioned.  I have a window unit just for the office, but the office isn't insulated and I can't get it below 80 in here.  It has been more like 95° and 60% humidity in here the whole time we were on vacation.

[Doug S]

We've had an Epson based dts a little over a year now.  I do atleast a nozzle check daily with the exception of weekends.  In a year, I've only had to do 1 power cleaning but otherwise get perfect nozzle checks.  Not like I get any vacations but if I did and was going to be over say 10 days I would flush the ink even though that would be costly but would save many headaches. 

[GraphicDisorder]

Super helpful as usual.

Your reply above is helpful? I guess a guy can't be excited about not having those issues anymore. You really should try to lighten up.

[GraphicDisorder]

Brandt has a point, Epson printers are great, but finicky...he said what many people that run Epsons wish.

But, it's a little like you asking a repair question on an MG forum and being told "you should get a Miata!" True or not, it's not what you went there to see.

If forums ONLY had people answering exactly on topic they would be a real boring place. Some people just need to lighten up. Can't even make a little joke some people so wound up over NOTHING.

[GraphicDisorder]

Sooooo happy to not have epson printers in my life anymore LOL

Is there any other option without going DTS?  DTS would be like lighting money on fire for my shop.

EPSON still probably remains the best solution (for the money), but they are frustrating. We had great luck to strings of issues with our 4880. It was never exactly predictable on how it would play that day. When we ran the epson it was in the AC, but on weekends the AC was scaled back to 80. Sometimes we had issues sometimes we didn't, even when we used to keep it in total AC at all times we still had same results, sometimes it worked sometimes it required more effort.

[GraphicDisorder]

Brandt has a point, Epson printers are great, but finicky...he said what many people that run Epsons wish.

 

[Maxie]

We also have hot conditions and on a long week end I leave tHe AC running.
One thing that helps open the heads is a cool mist humidifier.     I have a cold vapor unit that shoots out a stream of mist.     This definitely helps open clogged heads.

[Racer Tees]

Thought we were good to go.  Came in today, tried to print films for a job... Same BS... Where's my sledge hammer?

I don't think humidity is my problem.  Its 50-60% plus all the time in here.

[Rockers]

Sooooo happy to not have epson printers in my life anymore LOL

Is there any other option without going DTS?  DTS would be like lighting money on fire for my shop.

Canon printers.

[jvanick]

Canon printers

do any of the major RIPs support anything other than Epson?

I was told that it was due to Epson being the only manufacturer who provided a software interface to control the nozzles on the printer.

[Rockers]

Wasatch supports different Canon printers.
http://www.wasatch.com/canon_rip_software.html

[jvanick]

Good to know.. their list is crazy long.  (Crazy expensive too), but getting cool features like stochastic dots, etc is cool.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Wasatch supports different Canon printers.
http://www.wasatch.com/canon_rip_software.html

In my own personal experience, I went through some serious $$, significant twisting, turning and finessing complete with MUCH wailing and gnashing of teeth, only to find that Epsons work for film positives for screenprinting, Canons don't.  In the interest of full disclosure, I have Accurip, not Wasatch.

But I have yet to hear from a Canon inkjet user, who consistently prints films dense enough for our purposes.

Rockers, are you the first??

When I finally gave up on Canons (using ghost rip at the time) I had to walk a tightrope between, significant underexposure, and nearly impossible "wash out" during development. ESPECIALLY dots.

So if YOU can do it, please say so, and specifically how. I "keep my backup wheels well greased"...PLUS I've got some Canons mothballed somewhere around here.