Digital Copier/Press Facts v Fiction

[CathieH]

I've got to chime in on the KM 6501 here - I'm totally with Alith. We had an extremely old KM 8 months ago (can't even remember the model number - I hated it so much, it flew out of my mind the day it left us) and replaced it with the KM 6501 after looking into Canon and Xerox machines. I've been running that machine with so few problems and the color consistency is wonderful. I also run a separate Creo and I happen to like it's user-friendly environment, but then I've never run a Fiery so my opinion is a bit lopsided.

As with any machine, however, and this is just a production suggestion, be sure to lower the output speed when printing on gloss stock, especially text. I ran an entire job on a fast setting and it all stuck together. When I slowed down the output speed, everything was fine.

Anyway, that's totally off the subject. I just wanted to throw in my $.02 for the KM 6501. What the others are suggesting as far as click charges, add-ons and service are imperative to factor into any digital press purchase. Click charges and Service top the list. I've heard that in many areas, Canon service is deplorable, but I've had no problems or significant down times with my KM machines (I also have a 1050 and that requires the most tech calls).

Good luck with your decision.
CathieH

 

[alu]

you DON'T need all the fancy add-ons, and the Large-Capacity Tray is useless! Don't let them fool you on that boat anchor.

Hi,
How is the lct useless? With 100#+ Cover stocks, you would rather run through the bypass tray, or am I missing something?

Thanks


EDIT EDIT EDIT ----- ERM... maybe I should read the whole thread before responding...
I've heard you can't good registration without the lct, now I hear it hurts registration.. ugh.

 

[chrisban35]

Office Equipment owner - Adding advice

Office Equipment owner - Adding advice

After reading through these comments I largely agree with most. I would however like to add a little bit of change to a couple suggestions.

First - Are you predominantly running thicker paper? if the answer is yes, then you'll be fine. If you also run standard paper through these machines you will have some jamming issues because the thicker paper makes some wear to the standard tolerances in gap. That's on any of your choices.

Secondly - As for the person who was talking about service agreements, they are spot on with the exception of staples. Always pay for your own staples because we factor the costs in our service agreement and of course we ALWAYS over factor to protect us. In the long run you'll pay more than if you simply buy them yourself. There are plenty of great sources on the web, look for a great buy then stock up!! Remember, there is no shelf life on staples like there is toner, and other supply items, so staples sitting around isn't as big of a problem.

Third - I couldn't help but notice that you left Canon out of your research. May I ask why you did not consider Canon products? I've been a color specialist for over 22 years in this industry and spent 18 of those with Canon products. I'll be the first to admit that on a strict cost per copy basis, where standard paper and standard finishing is your primary job; Xerox and even Konica Minolta will always win out because Canon is more quality based than anything. But when you mention that your largest runs will be thick paper, there is no substitute for Canon color. Consistency, quality and durability on thicker stock is one of the best selling points of Canon color production machines. Again, cost pr copy will be a just a bit higher, but the incredible copy quality along with the durability of the machine, you win a much higher ROI with the Canon product. Just my professional yet humble opinion.

 

[chrisban35]

I've got to chime in on the KM 6501 here - I'm totally with Alith. We had an extremely old KM 8 months ago (can't even remember the model number - I hated it so much, it flew out of my mind the day it left us) and replaced it with the KM 6501 after looking into Canon and Xerox machines. I've been running that machine with so few problems and the color consistency is wonderful. I also run a separate Creo and I happen to like it's user-friendly environment, but then I've never run a Fiery so my opinion is a bit lopsided.

As with any machine, however, and this is just a production suggestion, be sure to lower the output speed when printing on gloss stock, especially text. I ran an entire job on a fast setting and it all stuck together. When I slowed down the output speed, everything was fine.

Anyway, that's totally off the subject. I just wanted to throw in my $.02 for the KM 6501. What the others are suggesting as far as click charges, add-ons and service are imperative to factor into any digital press purchase. Click charges and Service top the list. I've heard that in many areas, Canon service is deplorable, but I've had no problems or significant down times with my KM machines (I also have a 1050 and that requires the most tech calls).

Good luck with your decision.
CathieH

The reason the text and the other parts of the document didn't print as well is because of the fuser temperature. When you run these machines in high production speed, the fuser has to really turn itself up to properly "fuse" the toner to the page. This applies to any job with glossy paper. Most aren't aware of this but it can easily be distinguished.

Once you have completed a long run, say 100 plus pages, take the page that has just printed out and hold it up to a fresh blank sheet of the exact same paper your runs were printed on. Look at the white color difference.The one you just printed is almost 10 shades darker than the original. Why? Because the fuser gets so hot it actually melts the glossy coating, and that glossy coating turns a slight hue of gray.

The problem with this is three fold. First and foremost, the quality of your print job is greatly diminished (for two basic reasons, one - toner is a subtractive color and when you reduce the white's brilliance, you reduce the color quality and appearance, and two - the coating actually mixes or bleeds in with the toner, and can cause there to be inaccurate shading.) Secondly you're spending extra money for a certain white brightness and you are actually getting a less brightness than what you paid for. And the last reason, which is the most compelling reason NOT to run coated stock through a high production device - That coating also comes off and sticks inside the machine and to your fuser unit, guides, tires, sensors, etc. Over a period of time, this coating that melts and plants it's residue in places can greatly reduce the life of your consumable parts, the ability for proper function and can even kill a machine in time.

So when it's all said and done, can we get you to stop running coated stock? Of course not, no one would listen, so we go to the next level which is to get you to slow the machine down. This allows the fuser to still fuse the toner, but at lower more tolerable temperatures. Adding life to your machine, consumable parts and giving you back some of the quality in your finished documents.

 

[Jack Flash]

Why not look at the Konica Minolta C6000 or C7000 with its own inbuilt controller. I do simialr volumes as you and in 4 months I have not had a tech out once for a problem and had maybe 2 paper jams. My print test sheet is the same now as when the machine was installed, you hit print and the machine just runs, I never had that experience with Xerox.