Hey Good Folks,
1-2 faint lines are on my prints. Images attached. I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what might be causing them. Here are some observations:
I want your thoughts on what it might be. Additional thoughts (subject to question:
Possible Solutions:
1-2 faint lines are on my prints. Images attached. I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what might be causing them. Here are some observations:
- The lines appear on every one of my drums, black and 8 color drums.
- The lines appear in the same place on every page no matter the color. This leads me to believe this isn't a case of "drying ink" on any particular drum. I'm using genuine RISO ink.
- I've thoroughly inked every drum. They were all recently pieced apart and cleaned and put back together. The ink is still within the expiration timeline.
- I do not believe this is a case of improperly prepared files. I've tried different images, patterns, test prints. Doesn't matter if an image is 100% Ledger sized or Letter size -- the lines appear on the same place on the page.
- Lines appears when printing from USB connected AND from flat-bed scanning.
- I have thoroughly cleaned the pressure roller of any ink using a microfiber rag and denatured alcohol.
I want your thoughts on what it might be. Additional thoughts (subject to question:
- Thermal Print Head? I'm skeptical because the lines aren't super well defined. I've read elsewhere that issues with a damanged/burnt TPH create well defined, sharp lines. These lines are visible, but not sharp.
- The Pressure Roller was (somewhat) recently replaced. Granted, it was an after-market manufacturer (bought from eBay, shipped from China). It's within a year of being replaced. However, it's tough to rule out that maybe there's a tiny defect on the roller.
- When I remove the master from the drum, I can't see the line burned into the master. It's so thin and faint, I can't tell if it's a defect with the master or something else.
Possible Solutions:
- My first bet is to replace the pressure roller. Easy enough to find replacements. Relatively cheap enough.
- Replace the TPH. Expensive, difficult, time and cost intensive. If it is the TPH, I'm just going to live with this, but that isn't great. As far as defections in prints go, I could be stuck with worse.
- Live with it and accept that this is the way it is now.