Digital BW, The Print

After a couple of days of non-use I get really bad nozzle checks.  I 
was advised to keep the printer on.  A couple of cleanings and the 
checks get better, so I made 4 prints which looked very good.  Did 
another nozzle check and darned if there still aren't some empty 
spots.

Is it better to shut the printer off when you're not going to use it 
for a few days, or should you leave it on.  Should you print something 
just for the sake of pushing ink through the hoses?

isabel

* -----Original Message-----
* From: Isabel Cutler [mailto:billswife_1999@yahoo.com] 
* Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 2:27 PM
* To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
* Subject: [Digital BW] Niagara II CIS with MIS pigment inks Epson 1280
* 
* 
* After a couple of days of non-use I get really bad nozzle checks.  I 
* was advised to keep the printer on.  A couple of cleanings and the 
* checks get better, so I made 4 prints which looked very good.  Did 
* another nozzle check and darned if there still aren't some empty 
* spots.
* 
* Is it better to shut the printer off when you're not going to use it 
* for a few days, or should you leave it on.  Should you print 
* something 
* just for the sake of pushing ink through the hoses?
* 
Isabel,

The common wisdom has been to turn off Epson printers when they are not in
use to ensure that the heads are fully parked on the parking pad that covers
the nozzles when not in use. Also the Epson runs a short start up cycle when
first turned on which seems to include a cleaning cycle and you won't get
this if the printer is left on. Also make sure that the printer is turned on
and off with its own switch and not by using the switch on the power strip
it is plugged into.

Overall there seems to be a lot of variation in the experience people have
with your set up. I typically let my 1280 with Piezotone Selenium grays and
MIS UT black in a CIS sit for 2 or 3 weeks between use. 2 or 3 cleaning
cycles gives me a good nozzle check and I am ready to go. A second 1280 with
Epson dye inks that is used just about every day frequently clogs up on me.
A lot of this seems to depend on the individual printer as much as the ink
being used.

You just need to find what routine works the best for your printer. Don't
worry so much about flowing ink through the lines of the CIS. You mostly
need to be concerned about the nozzles. I would also suggest replacing the
CIS cartridges and cleaning out the tubing once a year and occasionally
cleaning the bottom of the print head.

Martin Wesley
http://www.carolyn.cc/Guests/MartinWesley/pages/MW_01.html
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html

Thank you, Martin...I guess it does depend on the individual printer.  
The man who set up my printer has been leaving his on and advised me 
to do the same.  I just shut mine off.  I'll see how that works for 
me.  I hope by the end of year's use I get brave enough to do the 
maintenance...this is a very scary system to me!

Isabel-