Konica Minolta's IQ-501

[clvrtrvr]

My shop just recently got the C12000 with the IQ-501. I love the print quality but we are currently battling an issue that seems to be impossible to fix by the third party techs.

The issue is print size. If I create a 12x18 box on a 13x19 sheet, the 12x18 box is not a true 12x18. its not the CD dimension that is the issue, it is the FD dimension. It isn't 18" in length its about 3/16" shorter. According to the tech's everything is within their specs. Granted we can modify the paper profile to stretch it etc but with the IQ-501 attached, when it checks it will just revert back to the incorrect size. I've managed to get it close by messing with the FD-Mag, but I feel that I shouldn't have to if the IQ-501 was setup correctly, but I have no way in telling if it has or not.

update: Techs have gotten the size "pretty close" and I have learned that the IQ-501 tells the main engine what to do. Regardless of the FD-Mag settings etc.

I feel that the IQ-501 should be a lot more accurate in the scheme of things. I think the biggest thing is metric vs standard measurements. (we are a shop on Ontario Canada and all our other shop equipment uses the standard measuring system). Maybe we are asking too much?

 

[Digi_Wiz]

Is your paper 100% at size , even paper that is 1/16th'' off can cause the final printed piece to be shrunken.

 

[narseman]

I know nothing about the IQ system.. But generally.. Sounds like a magnification calibration issue.
"Specs" may all be fine, but if it's miscalibrated, you're just compensating for error. Not fixing the problem.

 

[clvrtrvr]

For the most part our stock is relatively accurate. (I am sure we all know how mills are nowadays lol)

Not sure if this matters, but whenever I do an automeasure the chart it prints out is not centered nor is it straight.

 

[kslight]

I second the accuracy of your paper comment. I don’t have a KM machine anymore but the IQ was always squirrelly for me. I did end up back trimming certain papers to like 12.8x18.8 and making new profiles, this helped on stock that varied, but some papers were still a challenge every day, especially heavier stocks.

 

[clvrtrvr]

If the stock is out a lot we do trim two sides. Mostly it's barely out 1/32nd. Before our C12000 we had a ricoh 7110sx and sizing was never an issue. The sizing is off not just by overall. For example, we print 24 up business cards on 12x18. 3 Columns of 8 cards. If you were to measure one of the columns going down, the 1st and 2nd cards measure to be exactly 2", then the 3rd, 4th, 5th are not 2". Usually around the 6th card down, it starts to go back to being 2 inches.

 

[kslight]

If the stock is out a lot we do trim two sides. Mostly it's barely out 1/32nd. Before our C12000 we had a ricoh 7110sx and sizing was never an issue. The sizing is off not just by overall. For example, we print 24 up business cards on 12x18. 3 Columns of 8 cards. If you were to measure one of the columns going down, the 1st and 2nd cards measure to be exactly 2", then the 3rd, 4th, 5th are not 2". Usually around the 6th card down, it starts to go back to being 2 inches.

It sounds to me like perhaps the machine’s speed is varying slightly while imaging.

Is it off differently per sheet, does it change if you run simplex vs duplex, is there a pattern to the variance?

I used to have a test pattern I made several years ago that was basically a fine grid across the sheet horizontally and vertically where you can more easily see where it’s getting off. Maybe try making that and try a few different papers?

 

[clvrtrvr]

it always seems that its the non-operator side mostly. Funny I actually made my own test pattern file to print LOL. I have 3. one for 11x17, one for 12x18 and 1 for 13x19 stock. I've attached my 13x19 PDF here.

Personally, I believe it has something to do with the IQ not being setup correctly. I read somewhere on this forum someone saying that basically the techs needs to be on their A game when setting it up because if it isn't set right, you're just P* in the wind lol. Since the main machine does what the IQ tells it. We are dealing with a 3rd party dealer for KM and not dealing with KM Directly.

 

[Digi_Wiz]

It's possible if youre receiving these error messages frequently:
[Spot was detected by inline scanner1]

[Spot was detected by inline scanner2]

[Spot was detected by inline scanner1/2]

and use of the cleaning tool is not often or working that you may need to have your technician come and basically take the thing apart vacuum it all out then put it back together for you.
Our shop had an issue with image walking off the sheet and this was able to solve that.

 

[clvrtrvr]

It's possible if youre receiving these error messages frequently:
[Spot was detected by inline scanner1]

[Spot was detected by inline scanner2]

[Spot was detected by inline scanner1/2]

and use of the cleaning tool is not often or working that you may need to have your technician come and basically take the thing apart vacuum it all out then put it back together for you.
Our shop had an issue with image walking off the sheet and this was able to solve that.

What do you mean by "walking off the sheet"? Like the image was in position but as you ran a job it would slowly go out of position? Cause we do get that. I hope its not dust related as this thing hasn't been in here longer than 3 months lol.

 

[Digi_Wiz]

What do you mean by "walking off the sheet"? Like the image was in position but as you ran a job it would slowly go out of position? Cause we do get that. I hope its not dust related as this thing hasn't been in here longer than 3 months lol.

Yes exactly that. Your previous comment about the auto measure chart being skewed/off center every time is another reason to escalate to getting a technician out to do a thorough cleaning and resetting the IQ.

When you run your print mode auto measure setting how many sheets per batch and how many batches do you run before acceptable front/back registration?

 

[kslight]

It's possible if youre receiving these error messages frequently:
[Spot was detected by inline scanner1]

[Spot was detected by inline scanner2]

[Spot was detected by inline scanner1/2]

and use of the cleaning tool is not often or working that you may need to have your technician come and basically take the thing apart vacuum it all out then put it back together for you.
Our shop had an issue with image walking off the sheet and this was able to solve that.

Used to have this issue constantly on the KM we had. What a piss poor design.