Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Bob Frost" <bobfrost@b...> 
wrote:
> Jim,
> 
> I think it is ridiculous that Epson won't supply us with the 
printhead Setup
> software; from the info in my 1270 Service Manual it is childishly 
simple to
> use!

Preaching to the choir Bob<g>...I even leveled with the local service 
center which is a small user friendly place about my situation, and 
asked them if they could sell me the software or absentmindly leave a 
copy on the counter....no dice.

 The most important part of the setup seems to be not the 
alignment
> (which could probably be done by trial and error),

you think so? That wouldn't take awhile? Maybe. Being two or three 
different alignments to do in a row might be tricky.

 but the 
correction
> voltages for the piezo head (each is different, due to manufacturing
> differences, and the correction code printed on the printhead has to 
be
> entered into the EEPROM).

true. If the printer had been used a LOT might also be nice to reset 
the ink counter (# of ink cleanings before shutoff).

> 
> If Epson were to supply us with this software, many more spare 
printheads
> would be sold, instead of which we dump our printers in the bin and 
buy new
> ones!

Are you surprised? In the most optimistic way I can look on the 
situation, Epson is benololent and just doesn't want us to get 
confused and fry our EProms- they're looking out for us.

Um, RIGHT.<g>


 A new head for my 1270 installed by an Authorised Service 
Agent is 50%
> of the cost of a new 1290, not economic! The printhead alone is 25%, 
which
> would be an economic replacement.
> 
> This only favours Epson, not Agents who lose the spare parts 
business when
> we throw our printers away.

Sure, because the service center near me could have made a buck or two 
on selling me the 1160 head. Those that still want the center to 
install get charged the labor too- but they also get the buisness in 
"parts" of the do-it-yourselfers.
Jim H.

> 
> Bob Frost.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jimhayes361" <jimhayes@j...>
> 
> > Here in the US I called three "service centers" within 20 miles of 
me
> > and asked them detailed questions about how they replace an 1160 
head.
> > I mentioned the two floppy disk software that Epson gives out to 
their
> > official techs that runs only in Win98 over the LPT port that does
> > three alignments or so- a "bidirectional" alignment, an "angular"
> > alignment, and I think there may be one other...two made excuses
> > saying they were either not familar with the software or it 
"really
> > wasn't needed". The third service center it turned out was the 
only
> > one officialy authorized by Epson to repair printheads, and knew 
right
> > away what software I spoke of- and that they used it when
> > reparing/replacing heads.
> >
> > Most of this I got from reading the shop manual for the 860 
printer.
> > There is a good section of the manual devoted to use of this 
software,
> > and the splash screen pic clearly shows it is to be used with 1160 
as
> > well.