MP C2500 copy quality issues

[fotocom]

Im having copy quality problem on an MP C2500 with less than 50k on the clock.
Copying seems fine, but when the customer Prints a photograph for example the quality is very washed out, its hard to explain but its not quite dense enough, almost like slightly damp paper (which is not the problem) .
Machine is fully serviced and calibrated, all test prints look fine.

I swaped another fuser unit into the machine and problem remains.
I disconnected the machine from the customers network and printed using my own laptop and a good crossover cable.
I removed the laser shutter.
I swapped over drum units.
All firmware is upgraded and up to date.

Returning tomorrrow to swap out the print controller from a working machine .

Any ideas?

[totoro]

Have you tried a different print driver? Which one are you using and what application are you printing the pictures from?

[fotocom]

Yeah I used different print drivers both PCL and RPCS, same result from both. Im using Ricoh sample test prints in JPeg format.
The prints are fine from another machine.

[Shadow1]

Something you might try first is to clean the optix and run ACC 3 or 4 times in a row. I had an old 1350 where the mirrors got dirty and the cal got so far off it just wouldn't adjust all the way back to good in one jump. Not sure if the programming is good enough for the ACC system to get iton the first shot or not, but it doesn't take long, it's free, and it can't hurt.
You would think that print and copy is the same except for the scanner, but I have seen a bad controller do similar things. I have also had NVRam go bad and cause some really odd and annoying things.

[Saviour]

I would follow up on Scott's suggestions, I also had one of these machines, where like you I had replace most units and then to my surprise i found that it was just dirty scanner mirrors dirty, then realisin that the machine was in a small stationery shop busy street with front door always open. At another site The damp or math look was due to type of paper being used in conjunction with fuser which when both replaced solved the problem.

[aabarnes1]

There is a setting in user tools for printing pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shadow1]

I would follow up on Scott's suggestions...

Scott???

[Scott_Lewis]

Scott???

Did I say something I don't know about??

[Saviour]

my mistake Scott I should have said Shadow.

[zyqwiz]

i found that it was just dirty scanner mirrors dirty

They don't tend to use the optics when printing!

[Shadow1]

They don't tend to use the optics when printing!

No, but they do use them while preforming a color cal - a bad ACC can really FUBAR the print quality.

[Vulkor]

Yeah dirty Optics and you run the ACC for print in all 3-4 Resolutions you could jack things up.

I've never heard of running the ACC multiple times to bring something back into spec. Thought one time per dv change was enough hmm.....

[bryand]

I've had a similar problem on an sp811dn printer (same engine). Photographs were very washed out-almost like it wasn't laying down black. All internal prints and demo pages had perfect density. It turned out to be a humidity issue. We installed a decent humidifier right beside the printer and let it run for a couple hours. Tada perfect prints.

[Fearless V K]

Make sure you are running the ACC for the printer function.

Also, it can be beneficial to restore the factory ACC settings for the printer, then just run printer ACC once after that for your calibration.

The values calculated by the machine each time you run ACC are based off of the previous values, and can become more and more convoluted over time as you run additional calibrations. Resetting them brings you back to square one.

(They made note of this fact in the Ricoh factory training course.)

[Vulkor]

Make sure you are running the ACC for the printer function.

Also, it can be beneficial to restore the factory ACC settings for the printer, then just run printer ACC once after that for your calibration.

The values calculated by the machine each time you run ACC are based off of the previous values, and can become more and more convoluted over time as you run additional calibrations. Resetting them brings you back to square one.

(They made note of this fact in the Ricoh factory training course.)

Haha wish I had a boss that paid for training.