Duplo 616 questions before purchase

[printox]

We have a Duplo 645 and want to get another unit since this one is one its last leg. Have a few questions if anyone can answer one of them.

1. Are paper jams common and how do you remove them?

2. Do these run better text weight (80lb text) then the bigger units (645)? It appears the rollers are closer together.

3. Why is this so slow in specs compared to the larger production machines like the 645?

 

[Pennypicher]

645 has 4 motors for driving. 616 only has 1 so its 1 sheet from start to finish.
jams are tough as slitters are not removable like the 645.
Not sure about closer together but none of the units like lighter weight paper.
Look at the 618. Its small like the 616 but has great features like the bigger units. Not many used 618 machines out there though.

 

[tngcas]

Can you even run 80lb text through these? I've never been able to get the 618 to run text weight paper without it causing major issues.

IE if I try to run 100lb Text it will technically do it but the static build up causes paper to build up on the cutter which sends little tiny slivers of paper everywhere and those slivers get inside unreachable areas and block sensors or jam the machine up so that the only way to fix it is to disassemble the machine and/or try to find and vacuum out those slivers.

Basically unusable for text weight paper IMO.

 

[printox]

That helps and makes sense about the speed. 616 are under 10,000 and the 618 are around 40,000. Our 645 runs 100lb uncoated text very well but not coated 100lb text. Does it take a lot of effort to dismantle an area for paper jams on the smaller units like the 618?

 

[Pennypicher]

The problem with the 615/616 is when you get a jam the slitters are not on a lift out module like the larger 645/646. THe new 618 gives you the ease of lifting out the modules.
If you get a jam we find it easier to gently work with small tweezers with a 45/90 bend. If its jammed good it does require some patience and skill. Sometimes the heads need to come out which requires all the shafts etc to come out. Few hours work.
Thats why i dont recomend light weight stock

 

[TJPrinter]

I don't have any issues running 100lb gloss text or 60lb uncoated text on the 618. I have very few jams and other than removing one of the slitter units have never taken anything apart to remove a jam. I did have a lot of issues having to clean off the rollers but that was because of the the Canon C810 toner. It would be all over the rollers and paper had a tendency to slip. Replaced the Canon with Versant 280 and have no toner on rollers and no slipping. I just wipe the rollers once in a blue moon to remove paper lint.

It's the most reliable piece of equipment I have in the shop. I have seen some used 618's available and I would go with the 618 instead of 616 if at all possible.

 

[printox]

Thanks, I can't imagine spending a few hours removing a paper jam. Our Ricoh 7100 seems to be similar with leaving toner dust. Thanks for the advice. 60lb text seem unreal with what we have.
Where do you see these 618 used units?

 

[TJPrinter]

I have seen several listed on Wirebids in the past. Just remember that on a higher ticket item like this, the items on the auctions are sold "as is". Even if the seller says they're in great condition they may or may not be. I have bought several pieces of equipment from this site and had no problems but in my opinion some people are bidding much higher than they should for items that have no guarantee to work.

Check out the site and see what dealers sold them. Maybe they have a lead on one coming in and you can work with them to buy one outside of the auction.

 

[tngcas]

I have bought several pieces of equipment from this site and had no problems but in my opinion some people are bidding much higher than they should for items that have no guarantee to work.

I've bought two pieces of equipment from wirebids and both items arrived damaged and unusable even though there were videos of them working prior to the auction. Even paid extra for insurance, they won't cover the damage unless you can get the packaging company to prove that the item was working prior and that they wrapped it up well enough to prevent damage.

Unless you can pick the item up yourself I can't recommend wire bids.

 

[printox]

Yeah, I've purchased a printer and they sent me the wrong model. Seems like you have to be willing to lose and treat it as a gamble. I wouldn't gamble 20k for a duplo.

 

[TJPrinter]

Yeah, I've purchased a printer and they sent me the wrong model. Seems like you have to be willing to lose and treat it as a gamble. I wouldn't gamble 20k for a duplo.

Completely agree. I have to assume that anyone that would bid on some of the higher ticket items have either made the trip to see the equipment working in person or they have a few screws missing.

I would work with a dealer directly for an item like a 618 and not through any auction site, that's why I recommended contacting the dealers that sold them in the past.

 

[printox]

Yeah, thats good advice.

 

[TJPrinter]

I received an email from Ultimate Print Finishing that they have a like new fully loaded DC-618 for sale. I don't know anything about this company and have never done business with them. Price seemed high, but I bought mine new about 3 years ago for under $30,000.

 

[printox]

Thanks for sending that, that does seem high. I had some help on our 645 so I might be able to wait.

 

[ReproElectroProspero]

Can you even run 80lb text through these? I've never been able to get the 618 to run text weight paper without it causing major issues.

IE if I try to run 100lb Text it will technically do it but the static build up causes paper to build up on the cutter which sends little tiny slivers of paper everywhere and those slivers get inside unreachable areas and block sensors or jam the machine up so that the only way to fix it is to disassemble the machine and/or try to find and vacuum out those slivers.

Basically unusable for text weight paper IMO.

You may want to get ahold of a tech/duplo support. We run 24# text on our 618 using the perforation module all the time. We also run 20# text often, but Duplo states the minimum weight is 24# and won't support any issues we have running the 20#. Our techs can still get 20# to run fine if they dial in the settings perfectly. We don't trim a lot of 80# text, but when we do we've never had an issue.