New guy to digital printing

[inkandsolventguy]

Gentlemen, I am based out of Spokane WA with a shop that does screen printing, digital prints(Colorspan 5465, Sieko 6600 running Wasatch 6.3 rip)
and vinyl cut production (Mimaki units).
I was hired on as the last person left this position when we got our first Colorspan unit. Many issues and personal later, we shipped back the original, and for the past month have been trying to get the new 5465 running long enough to due some production.
I too, love the way this thing prints. We use 1200x600-production-normal mode. Wonderful quality on Mactac, durabond, formcore, and currently trying a run of paddleboards (yes from school days type) on 1"pine, 5.75x36" bundled 3up for direct printing and laser cut afterwards. Boy is this going to be fun.
However, I have a board failure, jet head issues, and communication errors.
And yes, my screen will jitter at any given moment.
I have had the e-board and print head replaced. Currently tweaking the print heads for a cleaner print.
We updated to Wasatch 6.3 from 6.2 this week after going around and around with HP/Colorspan and Wasatch on why the ripped job will:

"receiving job-screen flash-finishing job" and unit will be idle for 1-2 minutes before "X cancel" button appears. Then will repeat the same each time job is sent.

also but seperate, after rip and print, the host computer wil indicate a printer communication error (2) meaning the Local Area Connection is disconnected. When opening up network properties on said connection, and just clicking OK, the unit is reset and appears normal. Until job is sent again.
So after numerous calls to both parties and having the cat5e cables, numerous reboots, network card and the Eboard replaced, I surmised that it HAD to be software. Colorspan won't fess up to it, although it stopped the comm errors. And neither did Wasatch. We were given 6.3 and I loaded it in yesterday. Hmmm works good now!
I have the opinion that this is a good machine....but it does need to be looked after...at least til the bugs are addressed.

I came into a mess of poor PM if none at all on the Sieko. It is a good machine, just time for the overhaul and tune up. I am not hesitant to pulling it apart, but due to the time passed since last maintenence, I scheduled the tech.

We are under GEI service and I have the utmost respect for these guys. The tech department at Colorspan is great, once I can put in words what was happening here. Got a bit frustrated, just starting, new machine, plethera of issues and didn't knows..hahaha!

I look forward to gleening info and tips in this fun and challenging field. And would be more than happy to help if I can too.

[gtjet]

Welcome

[FLSignMan]

Welcome Inkandsolventguy.

I was just reviewing recently posted threads on flatbed printers and came across your posting on your 5465.

We are also new owners (installed early Dec of 2007) of a 5465 and have generally been happy with our machine. That being said, we had a pump failure last week and the techs are actually coming out tomorrow to replace them with the next gen of pumps.

We have also had recent difficulties with the pinch rollers "slipping" on smoother substrates such as Scooterboard and acrylic. Have you experienced similar issues or have any suggestions to help with the problem?

Can you provide any more detail on how long you operated your original 5465 before shipping it back to the OEM? I don't think we're in that position yet, but it has become increasingly frustrating to not be able to consistently print 4x8 sheets without relatively high levels of spoilage.

Any help that you could provide would be a tremendous help! If you have any questions about the unit feel to ask away and I'll provide you any help that I can.

Thanks!