Xerox Docucolor252 Registration Problems (REALLY need advice)

PrintingFools · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 04:14 AM

We are running a 252.
We have ran it on the same paper and sheet size for a year.
Now we are down and have been down for about two weeks. After many service calls, now xerox techs are just missing in action.

We are running 13 X 19 3000 GSM C2S stock at full Color Max image size.

Problem: We will get everything set up perfect, then start running, it can get 3 pages in or sometime even 25 pages then it starts printing the images at different places on the page.

Example: One print will be 1/4 an inch higher than the one before it...then out of the blue a print will come out 1/4 of an inch lower than the first...so that means it actually moved 1/2 an inch to get there. But, most of the time it moves 1/4 of an inch going vertically only.

Because we have ran this machine for a year on this being our house stock......we really need to get back up and going. Any Ideas ???

Thank in advance for any help , B

Keith · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 08:47 AM

I've had a 252 for 6 months now and noticed an image movement of the exact same description you provided, BUT only on stock over 300gsm. I figured that's the reason the machine is only rated for 300gsm. Perhaps the gripper wheels are having trouble? After a year they could be worn. Just a guess. Sorry it's of not much help.

Have you called the tech?

tppsg · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 11:21 AM

Have you tried printing the same images on lower grammage 13" X 19" stock? Or you could request the techs to bring in a few sheets of SRA3 silk coated 280gsm colourtech paper for testing purposes?

Johntron · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 02:17 PM

Is your printer set up with a skew adjustment thumbscrew? This is a simple kit that can be installed to allow someone to adjust the angle at which the paper's lead edge hits the first print rollers on the main unit. If you DO have that thumbscrew, and it came loose, I suppose that could account for the variance in image placement.

Otherwise I have no idea...

PrintingFools · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 06:41 PM

1. As we move down in stock weight the problem does get to be less and less, But it never will go away. We tested 110 LB , 100Lb and so on....By the time you get to 100# Text it moves only by 1- 2 millimeters , Xerox considers that within tolerance, We would LOVE only a mill or two movement on the thicker stocks, we could deal with that, if that was the worst thing we had to deal with. NOT the 1/4 to 1/2 an inch.

2. But, as I mentioned we have run this 300GSM as our house stock for a year on this machine. This is a new problem

3. We have had many techs on site but they cant figure it out either, now we are down and we all know being down sucks, everyday is more money lost.

4. Does anyone have any thoughts on it being software ????

5. We did try the registration assembly issue as mentioned

Thanks, B

tppsg · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 02:16 AM

Just a wild guess. Are the previous stocks of the same grain direction with the current stocks you have now? Grain direction can affects registration in heavy stocks sometimes due to paper curl behaviour.

X33 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 09:24 AM

Are you using a bypass tray or an Oversized High Capacity Feeder?

PrintingFools · #8 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 11:18 AM

1. YES, We are using a High Capacity feeder for all of our runs.

2. The stock is Long Grain

X33 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 11:36 AM

1. Have you seen the 1-0 white switches? Have you played with them?

2. You should use short grain.

lkl7255 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 03:26 PM

PrintingFools-- Which RIP do you have?
I know you've had your machine for a year and it has ran fine so this may or may not help... but when I've seen an issue like you have where the registration is off by a 1/2 inch, I always set the imposition to "1-up" on the RIP and the registration is then almost right on...