Toner "chipping" on edges

Muddy

Well-known member
We printed an order of business cards on our KM6501 that has a very dark brown background. When we put it in the cutter to trim them to the final size the toner chips off the edge and leaves a white "halo" on the edges of the card. One side appears a little better than the other but is still unsatisfactory.

We tried an uncoated 100lb cover, a gloss coated and a dull coated and we still get the same result. Can anyone offer some advice here?
 
What brand of paper are you using? I have the same problem occasionally and I use all kinds of stock- that's the only variable that keeps changing for the toner chipping to occur occasionally. Haven't had time to test it out. Something else I found out recently that proves paper stock can influence finishing quality- cracking when folding. I was using a certain inexpensive (costs less than my preferred brand) brand and it would crack bad, even with a score with the grain. So I tried my preferred brand (Mohawk),scored it AGAINST the grain and it did a hell of a lot better than the other brand. So I called my paper supplier and he said he has been getting a lot of complaints like that about the European sheets.
 
Also, make sure you are using the correct settings for paper weight. From your post, it looks like your cards are 2-sided. If you are using 100lb, you CAN'T auto duplex it, it's too heavy. Don't try to fool the machine, it won't work.
 
make sure all finished cut edges are behind the knive (i.e. under the clamp). This will prevent some chipping...probably the difference you are seeing between the two edges. Of course that means you need to run all cards with gutters so you can always make the finish cut with the product under the clamp. Other than that you'll probably always have some of this especially with a digital machine. Paper stock does make a difference so try some different stocks.
 
Having said that, it could also be your total coverage is too high - if the colour breakdown adds up to, say, 300%, that's a thick layer of toner and will crack easily.

A work-around could be laminating... but that probably won't stick to the thick toner background anyway. Ah! The joys of digital!
 
To go with what others have said, likely hood in this order:

Wrong paper setting.
Machine needs service call.
Poor quality paper.

In my experience, flaking of the toner is always a fusing issue. I run this same machine and I can duplex 100# coated cover with heavy coverage and never get flaking. Yes, I know it's past the grammage but digital machines are an easy sort: it fuses or it doesn't. I don't condone blatantly running past weight but it works for me. We also use color copier specific stocks. The only time I see toner flaking at the cutter is from a Xerox machine and I know it fused just enough to not scratch off but is releasing when cut.
 
patch

patch

this is a fusing problem, there is a patch that your tech can put in for flaking toner or alternately he can install version 3.1 software which has the patch built in.
 
Blade blade blade blade blade... sorry I just ran an Annual Report and my guy came to me complaining about toner chipping... told him to change to new blade and rest of job was perfect.
 
I'm bringing this thread back from the dead.
I'm currently printing on a canon c6010 and i've tried printing on various paper stocks and thicknesses but i'm still getting chipping on the underside of every sheet on our final cut(under the clamp) We're using a Challenge Titan 200 and we recently installed a HSS blade thinking it would solve the issue but still happening. Anyone have any ideas? I've even tried it on a different printer (Indigo). I've kind of narrowed it down to the cutter but its almost 4 months old. Can anyone help? Its been frustrating the hell outta me.
 
plut094:
Does it only happen on dark/rich black areas? Or on lighter areas as well? (On lighter areas would be a real weird problem.)

Have you tried different paper stocks? I've experienced "chipping" the worst on coated papers, whereas uncoated papers trim fine.
 
plut094:
Does it only happen on dark/rich black areas? Or on lighter areas as well? (On lighter areas would be a real weird problem.)

Have you tried different paper stocks? I've experienced "chipping" the worst on coated papers, whereas uncoated papers trim fine.

You see it more on dark rich black areas but even on light areas you can faintly see the paper chip away. I actually cut on paper with no toner and when I rub my finger against the bottom edges you can feel it rough. Its like the toner enhances the chipping.
I've tried on coated and uncoated stocks - I'm pretty stumped.
 
Are you back-trimming? i.e. making sure that the finished product is always on the inside (flat side) of the blade and the waste is towards you, on the angled side of the blade?
 
Just a guess, but are you using paper made for digital? We use Cougar and Endurance cut size digital paper and the dryness of it causes the edges on high coverage areas to look crummy. If I cut some non-digital paper, like some Domtar Lynx or Springhill Index the problem goes away, although now you get curling, which also sucks. Maybe play with the voltage settings on your paper profiles.
 
Back of blade cuts will help.
Also check with your blade people it's my understanding that digital/litho blades are ground at different angles.
I think there will always be some chipping with toner machines lamination is the only answer.

Hope this helps
 

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