[Misc] Is this normal for KM C258?

[nitro912gr]

Hello I try to figure out something with my tech guy from afar, if the visible pattern on my print is the actual quality of C258 and I just ask for too much from it in terms of quality.
See the pics for the horizontal lines.

He have already sent someone 2 times and changed K drum and transfer belt (the whole unit of transfer belt, not just the belt) but this pattern persists. I though maybe are the end of life for the color drums (as seen in the ghosting on the orange print for example, this I know is the color drum) but it happens in K prints too (pure black printing forced through the driver).

Machine have around 269K prints but I print heavy stock with special textures, so when it jams... it hurts and the plastic gears go bananas. I'm a bit afraid if they are wear out from this use, so if I have to replace them and the 3 color drums, may as well get the newer 250i and give the C258 for a discount.

But if this is normal and I'm just expecting too much, getting the newer machine is not gonna change anything.

So I though about asking your collective knowledge, if what I see, is what this little printer deliver or it have, in fact a problem.

Thank you!

IMG_20231107_121547.jpgIMG_20231107_121541.jpg

[D Colour]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

I assume they have given the lasers a good clean?

If you can print the CMYK pages from test mode (in service), halftone, may give you a better idea of what unit is the problem.

[occus]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

Are you shure about 100% pure black on your black print sample?
Printout a pattern from servicemode.

And add manual toner black before stabilsation/grad. adjust.

[nitro912gr]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

I did the prints from the service menu, the CM prints show the pattern, black and yellow are either clear or not visible. Did the gradation test too, the cmyk gray clearly show the pattern.
I want to believe they did cleared the lasers, my guy is very good, but lately he sends others to do the job because his business have escalated and he is in the forefront with the big clients now. Understandable, but I don't know the other guys abilities.

[Konicatech]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

I did the prints from the service menu, the CM prints show the pattern, black and yellow are either clear or not visible. Did the gradation test too, the cmyk gray clearly show the pattern.
I want to believe they did cleared the lasers, my guy is very good, but lately he sends others to do the job because his business have escalated and he is in the forefront with the big clients now. Understandable, but I don't know the other guys abilities.

Ok so if cyan and magenta are showing the pattern then that narrows it down, could be needing new C & M drums or could be needing C & M dev units, or could be both!

What toner is the machine using? OEM? or aftermarket?

[nitro912gr]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

everything is konica, the only "not by the book" that we do is to use the black drum for CMY by changing the plastic fronts.

Hm maybe I should give it a go with replacing the drums, but I don't want to keep on spending to just give it back for like 600euros in buyback price.

I will think about it, maybe I should get the guys come look once more with some used drums to make sure that is not just drum replacements. This is not gonna be a big cost.

Thank you for the help.

[Shaun]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

everything is konica, the only "not by the book" that we do is to use the black drum for CMY by changing the plastic fronts.

Hm maybe I should give it a go with replacing the drums, but I don't want to keep on spending to just give it back for like 600euros in buyback price.

I will think about it, maybe I should get the guys come look once more with some used drums to make sure that is not just drum replacements. This is not gonna be a big cost.

Thank you for the help.

swap the Y and M drum and see if its moves the problem. you can use the K drum in color but need to swap the chips for it to pick up. if the problem moves to Y then you know the issue is on the drum

[tsbservice]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

When you print on heavy media and with a lot of coverage drums can last sometimes only 30-40% of their expected life. What are color drums drive counts?
Most likely new drums are your answer.
As for C250i stay away as your demands are not for this model at all!

[nitro912gr]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

swap the Y and M drum and see if its moves the problem. you can use the K drum in color but need to swap the chips for it to pick up. if the problem moves to Y then you know the issue is on the drum

I will check it out.

When you print on heavy media and with a lot of coverage drums can last sometimes only 30-40% of their expected life. What are color drums drive counts?
Most likely new drums are your answer.
As for C250i stay away as your demands are not for this model at all!

This can explain how the last K drum didn't last more than a year and died in around 40%. I knew the heavy and textured media I pass for invitations will kill it sooner, but didn't realized that sooner.

What is with the 250i? isn't the next gen of the 258? I know it is not an upgrade but I though that maybe it is better to get something brand new when thinks start to increase in repair costs.

[femaster]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

When you print on heavy media and with a lot of coverage drums can last sometimes only 30-40% of their expected life. What are color drums drive counts?
Most likely new drums are your answer.
As for C250i stay away as your demands are not for this model at all!

+1 on this. As for copy quality, you will most likely see worse copy quality from the i-model machine then you would from a properly working 8-model. Konica changed the way they reproduce the images / colors, and quality suffers because of it in comparison to older models.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

... What is with the 250i? isn't the next gen of the 258? I know it is not an upgrade but I though that maybe it is better to get something brand new when thinks start to increase in repair costs.

The "8" series typically does better than the "i" series as color goes.

My opinion? Install some new drums in your "8" series. =^..^=

[nitro912gr]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

wow, thanks for the info I could have downgraded then. I don't want to get down I want to get up, I guess I will get this repaired till I can move to something on the production line.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

wow, thanks for the info I could have downgraded then. I don't want to get down I want to get up, I guess I will get this repaired till I can move to something on the production line.

It sounds like you really do need a production print device. =^..^=

[nitro912gr]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

It sounds like you really do need a production print device. =^..^=

I do, in quality side I 100% do need it. But on the volume side... well. I'm just a graphic designer in a small town doing low volume printing alongside everything else, I don't sell enough prints to afford a big one.
I'm planning on expanding my market online this year by selling stickers and hope I can sell enough of them to be able to move at least in a refurbish bizhub 2XXX or 3XXX from the production line.

Thank you all for your suggestions, I have booked my tech to come and find whatever is doing this.

[nitro912gr]

Re: Is this normal for KM C258?

I just wanted to give an update on the matter, after having my tech coming 2 trips on site to see the machine, we concluded that I damaged the relatively new transfer belt by using some heavy stock that was never meant for this level of printer, it was obvious that the problem was the transfer belt (lines in print are present in the belt too) but we couldn't get our minds around how and why a belt with so few passes could do that.

But not only I was pushing the machine already with heavy specialty paper stock and 300gsm velvet, I recently started using PVC stickers to print that seem the hit pretty hard on the transfer belt once the paper reach it.
I run the machine with heavy stock since I got it back in 2017 and this happened alongside me ramping up production with the PVC sheets, so I don't really believe original brand new transfer belt (actually all the unit is new, we didn't just changed the belt) just got those lines out of nowhere. So it must be the PVC

Anyway, I will not change it now but I hope this is the problem.