HP Designjet 500

[LennoxD]

Attach is a sample showing jagged lines when printing. Any auggestion on how to correct or check what can cause such quality printing?

[JustManuals]

Re: HP Designjet 500

This Parts & Service Manual can now be purchased for $12.77 and downloaded immediately after payment from

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Paul@justmanuals.com

[aab1]

Re: HP Designjet 500

From the looks of it it seems like either perhaps the optical strip the printhead scans to determine its position might be dirty or it almost looks like perhaps the paper is feeding crooked. Try cleaning the optical strips and make sure the paper is feeding straight and not at a slight angle.

Does this happen only if you print in Draft/Low quality mode? On Normal/Best quality the printer should be much more careful about preventing these print defects but they still shouldn't be that bad even on draft mode.

[LennoxD]

Re: HP Designjet 500

Paper is feeding ok. All setting are ok. What to note is that there is a rattling sound everytime the carriage assembly moves across; like the assembly is vibrating. This problem started after a tech replaced the drive belt.

[JustManuals]

Re: HP Designjet 500

This Parts & Service manual can now be purchased for $12.77 and downloaded immediately after payment from

Just Manuals ~ The Internet's largest selection of manuals ~ Instant Downloads


Paul@justmanuals.com

[Rob Sandberg]

Re: HP Designjet 500

After you clean the encoder strip do a printhead alignment. For directions see manuals for you.
Do not forget a little ulta light oil on the rail.
If this does not fix it replace the carriage assembly.

Rob s

[Desert Rat]

Re: HP Designjet 500

LennoxD,
I replaced a belt on one of these awhile ago. It had just fallen apart. The drive pully had
bits and pieces of belt imbedded in the teeth of the drive gear. Also bits and pieces were
scattered. I would make sure the belt and carriage have a very smooth operation.
Carefully push the carriage back and forth and see if you can feel any little bump or
vibration in the carriage unit. Remove the paper and give the paper drive roller a wipe
down. Could be the paper is slipping. Hand turn the paper feed and check for any
bumps.

HTH

DR

[jtymabel]

Re: HP Designjet 500

there could be paper fibers under the carriage, printheads maybe bad or there is excessive waste ink build up in the service station.

[Oldfart]

Re: HP Designjet 500

Attach is a sample showing jagged lines when printing. Any auggestion on how to correct or check what can cause such quality printing?

From the looks of your sample, the machine can't do a proper alignment due to all the jets that aren't firing in the black printhead. Clean or replace the black Printhead and run a new alignment.

[LennoxD]

Re: HP Designjet 500

I checked the printheads, the alignment, paper path and cannot find anything that would cause such problems. I was wondering if a bushing should be between the carriage assembly and the shaft. I ask this because the carriage assembly does not feel steady. There is too much play.

[Oldfart]

Re: HP Designjet 500

If the machine is printing with all nozzles firing and it completes alignment and you still have jagged lines then the problem will be in the encoder sensor or a contaminated or damaged strip. I have been servicing HP plotters since before the 500 came out and I have never seen one of those bushings come out. The bushing on the 500 carriage is a bronze oilite bushing and is molded into the carriage.

[Oldfart]

Re: HP Designjet 500

If the machine is printing with all nozzles firing and it completes alignment and you still have jagged lines then the problem will be in the encoder sensor or a contaminated or damaged strip. I have been servicing HP plotters since before the 500 came out and I have never seen one of those bushings come out. The bushing on the 500 carriage is a bronze oilite bushing and is molded into the carriage.

Oops take that back! just looked at another and I was completely wrong. IT could have been reassembled with the bushings missing, but this one has some slop in the bushings also. Was the back channel cleaned well? There is a small spring loaded piece under the back of the carriage that rides in that track.

[Desert Rat]

Re: HP Designjet 500

Oldfart,

I could use your opinion on an HP 4500C. I have a post on this site, if you have time,
I would like to hear your thoughts on this problem. I will be posting more about this
unit later today.

Thanks

DR

[hjitch]

Re: HP Designjet 500

I have seen in the back of the frame where the carriage rides back and forth I clean and relube that part of the silver frame. It helped with chatter and vibration I experienced with a HP500 in a dirty environment. Otherwise probably the carriage bushings are bad if you checked the pully and motor for belt debris.

[LennoxD]

Re: HP Designjet 500

Got it to work. there was a lot of pieces of fabric from the broken belt on the rail causing the vibration and poor printing. Just an update