Registration Questions

[CSimpson]

When you look at the entry level color production machines from the various manufactures which ones are better at registration from sheet to sheet as well as front to back.
This range would cover from a KM 1070, Xerox J75, Ricoh 751, Canon Imagepress 6010. If there is something substantially better at a slightly higher price point such as Ricoh 901 or KM 8000 I would entertain it. Also do these machine tend to hold that registration ability over time or does it gradually get worse with age? Also what is the difference between these machine and high end stuff like a NexPress or Indigo as far as registration is concerned?

 

[Craig]

The higher end machines will hold a 0.5mm front to back registration. I've seen specks as high as 2mm for some of the entry level boxes.

 

[msaeger]

The difference is on the higher end machines is that during registration they use some method to correct lead to trail and front frame to rear frame. The lower end machines only correct lead to trail and front to rear are left to the guides in the trays.

The Ricoh 901 and 751 registration correct lead to trail and front to rear and from what I have seen can hold the .5 mm specs.

 

[DiVision]

Some higher end machine will use a registration table to physically position the paper at a specific place when printing, adding to that the ability to digitally correct the positioning which depends on your rip and the machine itself. Usually .5 mm is a good bet. Lower end machine will do a relatively good job on paper but not on eavier stock - it is usually fed in a bypass tray on some kind of HiCap Feeder.

Also make sure that your machine provider does know the specifics of the printing industry, if he only sells to offices, you will have some service issues with him, and lastly, don't take your sales rep word for an answer for registration but ask and read the CUSTOMER EXPECTATION DOCUMENT for the machines you are looking for - it does contain the real specifics (and limitations) about your machine and they usually won't give it in advance unless you ask for it.

 

[digitalatsigonedotcom]

We got a used Canon IP 6000 last September. It will usually hold it's registration over a run if you perform paper calibrations immediately beforehand, but not necessarily from day-to-day. Still, between the software, CWS and "the dial," you can fine tune it where you need it.