Magenta Issues - Believe it or Not. ;)

I've been operating an iGen3 for over a year now, and have still failed to find a solution to the following reoccurring problem:

Along the inboard & outboard edges of a 4-color, full-coverage print there is a higher density of magenta. It feathers in from 2 inches of each IB & OB edge, and is printed on a 12.375" x 18.125" sheet. It resembles an aged & discolored sheet of yellowing paper, or a similar effect one might add to a photo's border, except its magenta, not yellow, of course. I've only had this issue with magenta, which I understand is known for its build-up & spitting issues.

I've performed the following with no resolve:

Replaced all Restring Wires, Grids, Pin Scorotrons, PR Belt, Fuser Roll, Pressure Roll, Cleaning Brushes, & Spots Blade. I've vacuumed all the color housings and cleaned all the rollers under the PR Belt, the Tab Blade, Carrier Bead Magnet, MOB & ETAC sensors. I've set & tested the Contact Arc Adjustment and even reduced the TC Nominal for magenta.

The techs have done what the "book" allows without a solution. Any exterior insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks & Happy New Year!

-Solomon

 

see your toner purge, NVM 16228, 16229, 16230, 16231.
it should be on 80, if they are higher (depending on area coverage)
this can cause the magenta contamination.

 

Harold23:

Thanks. Yep, they're set to 80. I've been running them at that NVM since day 1, because, just as you said, the coverage area. The majority of my work is advertisements, full-color, full-bleed, hi-res, etc. I typically perform a developer change every 65-75K.

I appreciate the response.

-Solomon

 

Check yellow fuser applicator roller. If too green in center, have tech replace roller. There is no fuser fluid getting to outside sheets.

-Igenie-

 

IGEN 3 Volume ??

I understand the volume on an IGen3 is very high on these machines, (what is the best volume run per month )
warming up then keeping it running below 600,000 copies a month is an issue, After reading the reviews ( and problems)
more customer maintance to keep machine up and running prime, there seems to be alot of problems with other operators having colors off from one print to another, line streaks of cyan and magenta, toner build up on grids. There also seems to be alot of color management with the graphic designer and operator working together to make sure copies come out clean and sharp, not a problem but cannot get an answer from Xerox on really how long something like this takes ?? An hour, two or more than one day ?? Seems like a pretty big machine to take on just printing for one company , one shift, in this kind of economy. Any feedback pros or cons ??

 

Hi
It sounds to me like you need to have your Xerox Tech clean out the manifolds on the developer housing, I would do all colors. I do this on a regular bases. Have your tech show how to do this.
What happens is the ink will build up and not allow an even flow of ink to the belt.

Igen Jim

 

Problem Solved!

The problem was resolved and it was a matter of my own lack of education. I eventually spoke with the right person and performed a diagnostic procedure called Image Uniformity (dC0614) and it corrected the issue.

I can't speak for the other operators out there but I know that most of the issues with color build up, streaks, etc. are due to irregular maintenance and inexperience. 95% of the time, now, I'm able to see a problem arise and handle it within 15 minutes. The average occurrence for such is only a handful of times per month, if that. The regular maintenance simply needs to be scheduled into the work week and you'll be looking at 99%+ uptime.

Color between runs will always vary based on the control of your environment, age of developer and paper acclimation. You can request (from your Xerox Specialist) a booklet showing the allowable shifts in color "during a run" and "between runs" to better gauge if your press is out of spec or not.

I hope this helps. Thanks for all the great feedback.

 

Is it possible that the machine just does not print all the way to the edge? Regardless the size of the sheet.

 

Hi Klatu50-

Welcome to the forum!

The issue I had been encountering was roughly 2-3 inches in from the edges of the printed sheet. It wasn't a matter of printing to the edge as much as it was a problem of over saturation of magenta along the edges.

I've attached a photo. It does not do justice to what's visible in person, but you may notice how the left edge is much "redder" than toward the center and on to the left of the print.

I currently have the print setting at 3mm from the edge in all cases.

Thanks for the comment!