MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

[chris_c]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

Thanks to everyone again for your input. The issue was somewhere in the main drive assembly. I didnt find any broken gears, but after replacing the whole assembly the problem was fixed. I think the issue with the yellow toner had to do with the hv board. I unplugged everything and re-seated all the connectors, recalibrated the machine and after 1000 copies, all appears to be ok. Going back to the customer today!

[chris_c]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

I just replace the main drive assembly. Seems to have fixed the issue I had with the black images..............but, now I'm having an issue with the yellow. It just went haywire after 200 copies. Can't win for trying. I officially hate this machine. Replaced the drum unit, and will install a dv unit this morning. Is it Friday yet?

[mxm]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

Broken gear or broken drive pin housing on gear in the main drive unit probably on the black drum drive is my educated guess.

The fault looks mechanical to me. only happens on black. colour is ok right.


Black dev,drum,main transfer unit & transfer separation clutch are all driven by one motor DVM k


Transfer drive is ok as colour is fine
Transfer sep clutch is ok cos you are getting an image
Can't be dev unit.
got to be drum or drum drive ( I think )


Caused by... A flipped drum blade some time in the past.

[mojorolla]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

Gotta love these head scratchers....
Have you tried changing the actual REG_F and REG_R sensors?
Do a panic stop. Run ten copies and pull a door open during the run. Try to stop it before it enters the transfer section. You can then pull the paper out and look at the image. You can also pull the drum and IT unit with the toner still on them, narrowing it further. If it is off, you can eliminate the transfer section without throwing parts at it. May I also suggest the following:
-ADJ 1 & 2
-Clean or replace 1TURC. This clutch controls the 1st transfer rollers inside the belt.
-2nd transfer unit. If a roll is loose or dented (I have seen a few dented ones), it can shift the image.

Good luck.

[chris_c]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Just replaced the Hv pwb and I still have issues. It took longer to show back up (200+ copies this time), but it's there. I did run sim 64-1 and noticed in the 10 pages it printed out that the black strip moves on the page. Half of the run has the black and cyan touching while the other half, there is a thin gap where the white of the paper shows through. Sim 64-5 looks good, but I'm not sure if that's just because it's harder to get the machine to act up now. I was told by sharp to try the hv pwb and the mcu board. But now I'm back to checking all of the process hardware. It's had two drum units, a new dv unit, and new primary belt unit, a lsu, the hv pwb, recalibrated, gears checked for wear, and a partridge in a pear tree. The only thing I have not replaced yet is the transfer unit.

I miss working only on monochrome machines.....

[Akitu]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

I've been discussing it, and there's a possibility it could be a faulty DIMM2 memory chip. First thing to check is sim 64-01. Set up as a=11, b&c=2, d=255, multicount=10. This test is built into the lsu control board and is not using the mfp in any way. If this test gives 4 perfect halftone vertical stripes, you know the lsu, drums, dvs, belt & fuser are ok. If this page fails, then the problem is related to image processing hardware.
If 64-01 works ok, then test 64-05. This is the pcl test page, which uses the mfp board. If this page fails (but 64-01 works ok), then the problem is memory related (any memory module on the mfp can possibly be at fault, even though they are specific for system, copy & print).

[mojorolla]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

I am gonna go out on a limb hear. When I look at the image, I see compression and zooming along the same horizontal plane, indicating stalling or binding. I edited the image and re-posted.
ar-m455n_20101020_102546-003.jpg
This would lead me to a drum unit or, as already suggested, belt drive gear.
My 2 cents.

[Akitu]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

It's a 2010 model so it has the new hv board already, but I'm still gonna try a new one. Also, I ran a 50-20 and my readings were bad off. I think one of the magenta settings was at 2. I set everything at default, ran 50-22 again, and locked it in with a 46-24. It doesn't distort as bad, but its still there. I did pull out the drive gear to check it and I didn't see anything. Gotta be a board. Starting with HV then mcu if that doesnt remedy it....I'm awfully close to "fixing" this thing with a hammer, tho.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Let us know how the HV/MCU turns out.

[chris_c]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

It's a 2010 model so it has the new hv board already, but I'm still gonna try a new one. Also, I ran a 50-20 and my readings were bad off. I think one of the magenta settings was at 2. I set everything at default, ran 50-22 again, and locked it in with a 46-24. It doesn't distort as bad, but its still there. I did pull out the drive gear to check it and I didn't see anything. Gotta be a board. Starting with HV then mcu if that doesnt remedy it....I'm awfully close to "fixing" this thing with a hammer, tho.

[DAKOTADAN]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues


If your main belt gear is Ok I would look at MFP-TB-399, see if your problem machine fits in this age bracket. I know you are getting good readings from your HV board, but I have had 2 machines that would give strange prints and copies after it warmed up. I changed out this board and it fixed my problems. Hope this helps with your problems. Dan.

[Akitu]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

No problem. This drive gear breaking can cause all kinds of funky things. In my last instance, all the colours would respectively shift about 2-3mm respectively from lead edge to trail edge, my black was totally 100% fine but all my colours were off, I had thought it was the main drive pack, then assumed laser before finally checking the drive gear on the new belt I had installed. I was heartbroken to find it was the drive gear after less than 5k copies after driving 4 hours out of town and back TWICE to replace the main drive pack (what a nightmarish job!) and the LSU (not quite so bad).

Good luck in your findings!

[chris_c]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

I did forget about that. I will take it apart and check it this afternoon when I get back to the shop. Thanks!

[Akitu]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

I was receiving a persistent Sub Magenta Front 32 error when my drive gear had broken. Have you had a chance to check it yet?

[chris_c]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

Just changed the settings in sim 50-10. Checked toner sensor with 25-1 and all are normal (120-130). I did have to run a larger amount of copies before it messed up again. After three hundred the distortion on the black toner came back. I ran a 50-22 again before rebooting the machine and I am getting a Main Magenta Rear 77 error. This is similar to the first error codes I encountered, but I remember them being Sub Black errors.

[mojorolla]

Re: MX3100 BK Distortion Issues

DATA_SUB_K_F_Head 10:
SIM 50-10 set A to a value of 110. Run SIM 50-22 again.
You could also pull out the toner and run SIM 25-1 and see if the readings are normal.