Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

I Asked some weeks ago for suggestions on B&W inksets suitable for the 3000, but before I bought any ink I wnated to test that everythng was working perfectly O.K. I've been lurking absorbing vast amounts of informatio since then.

My now issue is I get no output whatsoever from the black printhead.

I've run every cleaning cycle, nozzle checks from both the control panel on the printer and the software utilities without success.

Disassembled and removed the black printhead, placed it on paper towel damp with windex, to see if capillary action would draw leftover ink or indicate clogs, the remaining inks in the head itself came out. No clogs! 

I even used the cone editions suggestion of windex plastic tube to gravity windex feed to clean the head. It all went through.

So my question is: Is the black printhead likely burnt out, I was having problems with banding previously, printing at resolutions other than 1440 which no amount of cleaning would correct.

From my understanding it could be either the printhead, I've had to replace a 1200 printhead that lost all black output with MIS Archival pigment inks some time ago. But I have been using just ordinary Dye inks in the 3000.

Does anyone know any way to test/narrow down the possible cause as either print head or printer controller electronics before I investigate replacement parts.

Unfortunately I'm on a shoestring at the moment and definitely can't afford a service, and replacing a printhead seems a much more attractive option, but I don't want to jump to any conclusions. 

Any advice, experiences, references much appreciated

Thanks

Glenn


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