Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

[copyman]

I know I have posted about not using vacuum, meter, etc except maybe a few times a year. Was cleaning tool bag out and realize I haven't used a test chart in months if not years. I print internal test pages and use them as test chart to test copies & ADF.

Anyone else finding this to be true for them?

[KenB]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I have always felt that the best test charts are docs that the customer actually copies and prints on a routine basis.

Copies of a factory provided test chart are meaningless to a customer.

Get a few examples of "what looks good" (also a good idea to have a customer approval signature) and keep them with the machine so that anyone servicing has access when needed. Feel free to keep a few copies stored elsewhere, too.

This is especially true for color. If the machine has a Fiery (or similar) keep a copy of the job (or jobs) in the hold queue so that it can be called up easily without even bothering someone to print it, then compare it to your target print(s).

[copiertec]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I can remember, back in the day, having to use them all the time. And, if you left it behind, some clients would take them and not let you know it was left behind, then, would try to use it to test there copier with... as, if the chart was some holy-grail or top secret tool.
The test chart was an important tool... today, not so much, but it's nice to have to diagnose scanner, document feeder issues with, such as crooked copies or dust on optics.

[xring1958]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I use them when I need to compare copy color to original color. If I get a customer who complains that the color doesn't match what the monitor
shows or that a different make of machine makes the colors different. When a customer states that the colors are correct on their monitor I always ask who calibrated the monitor and what the pantone number of the color is. Of course neither are known or done. Once we relied on the grey scales to adjust CQ but much of that is gone. It can be helpful when a customer wants copies darker but not too dark. Did any of you have one of the aluminum test charts?

[exCSER]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I think I still have an aluminum chart somewhere- they never warp or wrinkle! Haven't used it in years!!!

[blackcat4866]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I do most of my diagnostics with PDF gradations printed from USB. Rarely, you may find a scanner related issue, but a lot less often since halogen exposure lamps and their attendant cooling fan have gone away. =^..^=

[JR2ALTA]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

You learn to make due after you've lost every single one you've had.

[copiertec]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I use them when I need to compare copy color to original color. If I get a customer who complains that the color doesn't match what the monitor
shows or that a different make of machine makes the colors different. When a customer states that the colors are correct on their monitor I always ask who calibrated the monitor and what the pantone number of the color is. Of course neither are known or done. Once we relied on the grey scales to adjust CQ but much of that is gone. It can be helpful when a customer wants copies darker but not too dark. Did any of you have one of the aluminum test charts?

I never had an aluminum, but did get those more expensive ones that were made out of some kind of plastic. The service manager used to get pissed when you lost the 5 you were issued, in a few months time. He used to complain and say" that was your years supply, if those were dollar bills you would not forget them," Blah, blah, blah.

[copyman]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

Good replies. Forgot to mention the name of test charts, the old timers will remember these names: sel-drum, Ames supply and Densigraphix (still around in Canada)

Ames was a good company, was my go to place back in the day for parts, platt tool cases, tools, vacs, etc. One of the only places us Indy's could get aftermarket parts back in the 80's.

[Phil B.]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

after 30yrs ( and having trained countless newbies )... what i see not being used much anymore by the techs in the field is:

Common Sense and GOOD LOGICAL Troubleshooting Skills

NO ONE wants to RTFM..... and THINK about the process of image formation thru to the exit of the finished product.

Far too many people I see here are swapping boards instead of looking at the the image as it forms and progresses.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

I overheard 1/2 of a phone conversation ... made me laugh:

"So you found the adjustment, and adjusted it to 10. ... That wasn't enough? Hmmm, what to do... I don't know ... maybe adjust it further?"
=^..^=

[mikadonovan]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

after 30yrs ( and having trained countless newbies )... what i see not being used much anymore by the techs in the field is:

Common Sense and GOOD LOGICAL Troubleshooting Skills

NO ONE wants to RTFM..... and THINK about the process of image formation thru to the exit of the finished product.

Far too many people I see here are swapping boards instead of looking at the the image as it forms and progresses.

The Detailed Description Manual is your friend and a great resource, although a newer tech might read it and have his/her brain translate it as blah blah blah blah......

[Iowatech]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

Back in the GR days, Riso came out with a quick reference poster with all the adjustments and circuit diagrams. It was printed on both sides of a durable piece of a paper that was made of a rubbery plastic, and was prefolded to the metric size closest to letter size. It was the single most useful thing ever when working on Riso equipment back then, but since apparently everything I like causes cancer or disadvantaged children or whatever else is the outrage of the week Riso stopped making those after the GR and TR lines. Oh well.
Actually, if you've ever worked on analog Canons, they used to have something like that too. I'm sorry I liked those as well.

[copyman]

Re: Speaking of what's not being used much anymore....

Panasonic had a folded tech chat like that. It was made of a durable type of paper. It had a weird Jap name that I can't think of right now.

[yakyitz]

TORANO-MAKI charts Great tools