Toshiba 3511 - "Print Data" lengthy wait times

[macmedic]

Im new to copiers, but many years experience with black and colour laser printers so pardon my ignorance.

We recently got a second hand Toshiba E-Studio 3511.

I've bumped up the page and system memory to 256/256 and all was good.

We've been using the machine for about 3 weeks now, and all of a sudden even basic print jobs from time to time when sent to the printer just flash "PRINT DATA" on the printer, the spooling has finished from our Mac's. The print status / log shows nothing about a print that is being prepared etc, I don't know if this is standard operation or not.

There are larger jobs I send like for instance a 60 page A3 saddle stitch which may sit there for 5 minutes with "PRINT DATA", but multiple people in our office have had single page text documents just sit there for 2 hours with the PRINT DATA light flashing.

The Firmware version is 370, I don't really want to go updating it unless it will particularly benefit the copier or the fact we use macs (or it fixes the obvious bug of no log / slow print speeds)

If anyone can give there 2 cents would appreciate it.


(Additionally a side issue)

The top of the print on A3, from 0 to 1.5" down is patchy on a rotation of about 3-3.5" inches. I checked the drum for damage and cleaned the charger wire which fixed other print quality issues, but the distance between this patchiness seems to suggest something other then the drum as it has about a 8 inch diameter. What would be the most likely cause? To give more depth its almost seems like the fuser is not fusing the toner to the page, but in saying that the missing toner isn't fused elsewhere so it seems as if its not making it to the fuser in the first instance.

[Mr Spock]

First slow printing can be one of several things on this model.
1. size and type of job. black and white single page vs color single page is about 8 times size difference, sometimes more.
2. how much network traffic at the time of submission, not just to the copier but every where.
3. what is the nic speed (10,100,auto) I have seen it set to auto and take jobs longer because of it trying to negotiate the proper speed on each handshake with the network
4. then there is the hardware side. hard drive has bad sectors or is just going bad. If it has a maxtor hard drive REPLACE it now before it dies.
5. the log files can get too big and cause the machine to slow down. (updating the firmware can fix this).
6. Adobe version 8.0 causes slower then normal printing issues as well. Update to at least 8.1 to fix this.
7 which driver (ppd) version are you using verses the firmware. These need to match as well (it will work but will cause slowing response issues as well).
8 Are you sending raster or bit mapped images and files to the machine?

second as to the firmware (and hard drive replacement) this is not hard but you will need the update files which only a Toshiba authorized tech can get. This are also country dependent so the one I have for the USA may not work for Australia. All you need is a 512mb thumb drive and about 20-30 minutes. If you do need to replace the hard drive you will need these files as well.

As to the copy quality issue. I would look at the fuser rollers and the transfer belt rollers and the second transfer roller.
the second transfer roller is the black roller on the right hand door.
the fuser rollers are in the upper right unit of the copier.
the transfer belt rollers are inside the black belt that rides on the drum and across the top of the machine. These can collect dirt and dust and change the transfer of toner to the belt in areas that are dirty. I would recommend a trained tech to do this or at least one familiar with this type of process.

[macmedic]

First slow printing can be one of several things on this model.
1. size and type of job. black and white single page vs color single page is about 8 times size difference, sometimes more.

Doesn't matter it basically was hanging the machine (3 hours after sending a single colour web page)


2. how much network traffic at the time of submission, not just to the copier but every where.

(this wouldnt be an issue)

3. what is the nic speed (10,100,auto) I have seen it set to auto and take jobs longer because of it trying to negotiate the proper speed on each handshake with the network

I imagine its on Auto, i can set to 100 and see if any change

4. then there is the hardware side. hard drive has bad sectors or is just going bad. If it has a maxtor hard drive REPLACE it now before it dies.

Its a 80gb 2007 Seagate, I doubt its bad, but I did connect it to a machine to see the volume structure a few weeks ago and there seems to be about 60 partitions on the drive. Also, like another 3511 I have it says that only 14977mb are available thru top website.

5. the log files can get too big and cause the machine to slow down. (updating the firmware can fix this).

How do I go about deleting them?

6. Adobe version 8.0 causes slower then normal printing issues as well. Update to at least 8.1 to fix this.

Not using acrobat


7 which driver (ppd) version are you using verses the firmware. These need to match as well (it will work but will cause slowing response issues as well).

Im using a mac PPD, its the latest PPD from the website design to work with OS 10.5

8 Are you sending raster or bit mapped images and files to the machine?

I would assume raster for PS3 emulation and bitmapped for images.

second as to the firmware (and hard drive replacement) this is not hard but you will need the update files which only a Toshiba authorized tech can get. This are also country dependent so the one I have for the USA may not work for Australia. All you need is a 512mb thumb drive and about 20-30 minutes. If you do need to replace the hard drive you will need these files as well.

From what I can tell the firmware in Aus versions is actually EUR versions.

As to the copy quality issue. I would look at the fuser rollers and the transfer belt rollers and the second transfer roller.
the second transfer roller is the black roller on the right hand door.
the fuser rollers are in the upper right unit of the copier.
the transfer belt rollers are inside the black belt that rides on the drum and across the top of the machine. These can collect dirt and dust and change the transfer of toner to the belt in areas that are dirty. I would recommend a trained tech to do this or at least one familiar with this type of process.

I've included a photo of the issue. The transfer belt would seem out of the question due to the quick repetition of the fault (and from what i know the transfer belt is quite large) And it gets worse during the print (more defined) Ill take a look at the transfer roller for damage or filth.

[tmaged]

That looks like the developer is low in one of the colors. Printing solid sheets of Magenta, Cyan & yellow seperately will tell which one it is. (looks to be cyan to me.) When DV gets low, you can usually see the auger paddles on the image.

[Mr Spock]

I've included a photo of the issue. The transfer belt would seem out of the question due to the quick repetition of the fault (and from what i know the transfer belt is quite large) And it gets worse during the print (more defined) Ill take a look at the transfer roller for damage or filth.

Not the belt itself but the drive rollers inside. They are about 3" in diameter and can cause the image issues shown. It could be the developer also but that normally shows up over the entire page not just the edge.

[macmedic]

i've got spare cartridges so ill check but Im sure the 3511 sucks toner into a special area first, plus it seems there is no toner at all on the page a those locations.

what I dont get is that assuming its a fuser problem, i would expect the excess toner to be fuser elsewhere on the page.

I would have to guess the toner is not getting picked up from the drum onto the imaging belt and transfered.

Due to the fact its getting worse with the length of the page I would also thing maybe its a pressure spring issue.

Is it possible the developer in the developer cartridge is unbalanced? could be from a recent move of the copier.

Also out of interest, if i wanted to put a new drive into the machine to test, can i just put a blank drive in and run C8 and partition it, or does it require firmware to be installed. The reason i ask is it seems funny how this drive has these 60 odd partitions... or is that normal?

[Mr Spock]

I would have to guess the toner is not getting picked up from the drum onto the imaging belt and transfered.

Due to the fact its getting worse with the length of the page I would also thing maybe its a pressure spring issue.

Is it possible the developer in the developer cartridge is unbalanced? could be from a recent move of the copier.

Also out of interest, if i wanted to put a new drive into the machine to test, can i just put a blank drive in and run C8 and partition it, or does it require firmware to be installed. The reason i ask is it seems funny how this drive has these 60 odd partitions... or is that normal?

The toner not getting picked up is why I suspect the rollers in the transfer belt being dirty. These will change the charge on the belt so the transfer is not correct. Since you stated it is getting worse then it may be the developer material needs to be replaced. Shut down the machine and power on while holding both the 6 and the Start key when test mode is displayed press 2 then start. This is where you can see how many copies are on each of the pm parts. If the developer is near or over the replacement counter then I would replace it. The developer needs to be set up after replacement. As to a pressure spring that is doubtful but possible. Also the dev unit may need to be readjusted to the drum. Not a fun job and requires special jigs to do this.

As to swapping drives you will need to partition it (clear 3 at power up option3) then flash the firmware and format the hard drive (08-690-2) in order for the copier to work. As to the partitions this will format/partition in the old fat system which only allows for a 2 gig partition so in order to use most of the drive it creates multiple partitions. Some are used for temp image storage some for file storage etc...

[alanroper]

Agree with Mr Spock re the HDD failure and feel your CQ issue is due to dev depletion. Also check the main charge grid and housing is clean inside and out as this is a prime cause of dev migration and CQ issues on both the Mckinlay and Denali models.
Best tip I can gve you is dump the 351 nad keep and eye out at the Auctions for a good 351/451 series machine. So much better in so many ways.
Good luck..

[lucky777]

Put new firmware version and newest drivers and you should be good. I do a few dozen every week or two and it solves such issues 90% of the time. Sometimes the easiest solution is often the best.

[macmedic]

In the interest of other users with this fault, a swap out of the page memory and system memory for different modules resolved the problem. A full A3 colour print from my mac only take about 2 mins to process now at high quality photo mode