Could this be a damaged transfer belt?

[Beastfury12]

Last week, I was printing large amount of colors on matte stock thick 4 and ran out of paper only to notice 3 hours later...
Had a couple of sheets left, printed perfectly then the next day I noticed lines on all pages being printed (sometimes faded, sometimes dark).
Ran some blank pages on single colors C, M, Y, K and all 4 different pages were showing the lines.
My black drum needs replacing soon but I'm not sure its the issue here.
Also, the lines are like half the page only and the other half is perfectly white.
Printer: Bizhub C308 - Attached pictures of the prints with lines.
Thanks for your time :)!
4948849489

[tech51]

Almost definitely the black drum.

[Phil B.]

Last week, I was printing large amount of colors on matte stock thick 4 and ran out of paper only to notice 3 hours later...
Had a couple of sheets left, printed perfectly then the next day I noticed lines on all pages being printed (sometimes faded, sometimes dark).
Ran some blank pages on single colors C, M, Y, K and all 4 different pages were showing the lines.
My black drum needs replacing soon but I'm not sure its the issue here.
Also, the lines are like half the page only and the other half is perfectly white.
Printer: Bizhub C308 - Attached pictures of the prints with lines.
Thanks for your time :)!
4948849489


what are the life counts on the rest of the drums and dev units?

what is the life count on the ITB and fuser?

total page counts?

did you specify EXACTLY what gsm the media was?

are you using Genuine OEM toners and drums?

[blackcat4866]

To me, this look like toner built up on the heat sleeve. This can happen if the temperature is not high enough for your stock ... or if your stock is too heavy for the Thick4 setting. It's simple enough to confirm. Look at the fuser roller/sleeve.

What I would do is set a tray for Thick4 but install 200gsm media at the full width of the roller, then print off white pages. The toner build up will print off onto the paper.

You haven't specified what media: gsm. 300 gsm is extremely optimistic for this machine. =^..^=

[Beastfury12]

what are the life counts on the rest of the drums and dev units?

what is the life count on the ITB and fuser?

total page counts?

did you specify EXACTLY what gsm the media was?

are you using Genuine OEM toners and drums?


Drum Life: CMY 48% and K 3%.
Fuser: 80%
ITB: 59%
TR: 77%
Total Page Count: 117k
The media i usually print are 80, 130 and 280gsm (max i ever ran through was 300g).
Yes, I am using all genuine toner / consumable from our local KM dealer.

[Beastfury12]

To me, this look like toner built up on the heat sleeve. This can happen if the temperature is not high enough for your stock ... or if your stock is too heavy for the Thick4 setting. It's simple enough to confirm. Look at the fuser roller/sleeve.

What I would do is set a tray for Thick4 but install 200gsm media at the full width of the roller, then print off white pages. The toner build up will print off onto the paper.

You haven't specified what media: gsm. 300 gsm is extremely optimistic for this machine. =^..^=

The fuser roller is perfectly clean and smooth no traces of anything. Running an a3 page and opened the side door, and the marks would start when in contact with the ITB.

I did ran empty thick 4 pages (mainly 280g) and 20 copies later the lines would darken.

Media is 80, 130 and 280. Very Rare use of 300.

[blackcat4866]

Transfer belt cleaning issues typically do not look like this, and typically stay the same from pg1 to pg30. To be sure though, just pop the door open sometime around pg 25 and take a look at the transfer belt.

It could conceivably be the black drum, especially at 3%.Just examine the drum. If it's not cleaning, you'll see it on the drum or on the primary transfer roller.

Based on your consumable yields, I'd say that the black drum is the most likely. =^..^=

[blackcat4866]

One more thought: You said that you were using Thick4 media type ... on 80 gsm? Incorrect heat setting too hot OR to cold will produce the same effect. If you're using 80gsm try Plain paper media setting. =^..^=

[tech51]

Don’t forget the black drum is always touching the belt so wears faster.

Also I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that got to 3% of life that didn’t need replacing.

[copier tech]

Last week, I was printing large amount of colors on matte stock thick 4 and ran out of paper only to notice 3 hours later...
Had a couple of sheets left, printed perfectly then the next day I noticed lines on all pages being printed (sometimes faded, sometimes dark).
Ran some blank pages on single colors C, M, Y, K and all 4 different pages were showing the lines.
My black drum needs replacing soon but I'm not sure its the issue here.
Also, the lines are like half the page only and the other half is perfectly white.
Printer: Bizhub C308 - Attached pictures of the prints with lines.
Thanks for your time :)!
4948849489

Best way to diagnose is to run gradation test prints in CE mode 1x of each colour om on A3 etc.

Also your samples were these printed SEF or LEF ?

However the print defect looks black & your black drum has 3% remaining I would suspect that is the issue.

[Beastfury12]

One more thought: You said that you were using Thick4 media type ... on 80 gsm? Incorrect heat setting too hot OR to cold will produce the same effect. If you're using 80gsm try Plain paper media setting. =^..^=

Oh no, maybe i wrongly wrote it but Thick 4 i use on 280gsm matte and 80gsm Plain Paper.

[Zesti]

I can see the shaded lines repeating pattern..Seems K drum....Set Background voltage of K to 3 if already 0 (default), this should single out K drum.

[Beastfury12]

Best way to diagnose is to run gradation test prints in CE mode 1x of each colour om on A3 etc.

Also your samples were these printed SEF or LEF ?

However the print defect looks black & your black drum has 3% remaining I would suspect that is the issue.




I will run the gradation test prints by tomorrow if the problem still persists.

A4 - LEF / A3 - SEF

Yea, Will replace the drum tomorrow.

[Beastfury12]

I can see the shaded lines repeating pattern..Seems K drum....Set Background voltage of K to 3 if already 0 (default), this should single out K drum.

I don't really want to mess with the voltages, but after replacing the drum I shall give it try is it's not fixed.

[Zesti]

Oh it's not messing up...it's there in setup and presumably for the same purpose... we usually do this to check same type of drum problems..... I would not change these settings after new drum......

[Beastfury12]

Update: Changed the drum today and problem solved.

Thanks a lot for your time and help guys!