[CQ] MP-3350 faint copies great prints

[aAandy]

hello everyone

this machine prints well (except the dots, new drum going in) but copies come out rather faint - cleaned exposure lamp, reflector, mirrors, lens and CCD to no effect

this is evidently a scanner issue, i will be returning to try some changes in SP4429, 4450, 4460, 4572 & 4585, but i was wondering if anyone has seen this before and can point me in the right direction

attached first page is a print, 2nd a copy

thanks in advance

Andy

[slimslob]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

I do not see any mention of cleaning slit glass or platen glass.

[davel]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

Check again that the mirrors are clean.

[sandmanmac]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

this is evidently a scanner issue, i will be returning to try some changes in SP4429, 4450, 4460, 4572 & 4585, but i was wondering if anyone has seen this before and can point me in the right direction

Replacing Drum? Just the drum? NO.
Replace/Rebuild the PCDU.

Widely known issue (have a look through the site) that these PCU's often behave in this manner when they approach/ exceed the PM.
"Yes", I know it doesn't make sense since the copies are good.
Service and calibrate the PCU PROPERLY and the issue will be resolved

[Oze]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

Replacing Drum? Just the drum? NO.
Replace/Rebuild the PCDU.

Widely known issue (have a look through the site) that these PCU's often behave in this manner when they approach/ exceed the PM.
"Yes", I know it doesn't make sense since the copies are good.
Service and calibrate the PCU PROPERLY and the issue will be resolved

Fit a new PCDU.
This series is notorious for this symptom and a new PCDU is the resolution.

[aAandy]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

I do not see any mention of cleaning slit glass or platen glass.

opsies - naturally i cleaned both before cleaning the lamp, reflector, mirrors, lens and CCD

[aAandy]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

Check again that the mirrors are clean.

i don't need to check, when i clean something, it is spotless else i do it again til it is

[aAandy]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

Replacing Drum? Just the drum? NO.
Replace/Rebuild the PCDU.

Widely known issue (have a look through the site) that these PCU's often behave in this manner when they approach/ exceed the PM.
"Yes", I know it doesn't make sense since the copies are good.
Service and calibrate the PCU PROPERLY and the issue will be resolved

yes, i've read all the threads, and i've seen this issue before where a new PCDU did not correct the issue (machine replaced) - the PCDU in this machine is relatively new and the fault occurred 'overnight'

not to mention i've been doing this for more than 30 years, so i posted because this was outside of normal

[aAandy]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

thank you everyone for your responses, it is very much appreciated - i will be revisiting this machine Monday and i have a new PCDU so i can eliminate that possibility

sadly, a new lens assembly (CCD assembly) costs the client around $900.00 here - so i will fiddle every possible SP mode adjustment before going there

will post the solution in due course

[BLADE]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

I reckon the 'good print' is poor and needs fixing before looking at the poor copy

[Brianneoe]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

This is not really a fix but it got me out the door and also a upgrade after the lease ended. After getting my Ricoh DSM out to look at the machine {we played around with a lot of SP4xxx settings to no avail}and changing out the CCD, what i did was to simply set the lite/dark setting to where the customer accepted the quality. Went into "program as default" and locked it in. Your sample shows a drum unit problem and after you do a PM and or change out the unit your quality will improve but will still be lighter than the print. My customer is a accounting firm so any documents where the numbers looked broken up on a copy was a problem. Your customer may not be so picky.

Good luck

[copyaction]

[tufbnme]

Re: MP-3350 faint copies great prints

Laser unit, don't ask me why. Seen it, racked my brain over it. Replaced all of what you are thinking and finally tried the laser unit and that is what fixed it.