Xante Platemaker probs

[Kenneth59]

Have a unique problem and just want to see if anyone with my setup has ever experienced something like this.

My Xante platemaker when printing on Myraid 2 plates has deformed print in area and if the job has lines, (as in a form job) they look like the lines on a heart monitor.

The odd thing is, it prints out perfectly on 24-28 lb laser paper AND even prints perfectly on the smooth side of the Myraid plate, its only screwed up on the textured side of the plate. Any ideas?

 

[OkiTech]

How long did you have it? Did it show up as it became cooler? I had somewhat similar issues running laser plates on HP-5000 a several years back. As winter comes the air temperature and humidity change that sometimes affect Electrostatic printing method. Make sure that outlet is grounded good and it is not really cold where ever printer and plates are stored. Try to buy an antistatic spray from Stop&Shop, spray the plate, let it dry, image it see what happens... Is printer clean inside? What is condition of transfer roller - please check.

 

[OkiTech]

Also - try plates out of different box or different brand if you have any around....

 

[Kenneth59]

thanks for the reply.

Printer is nearing 10 years old and has been a workhorse with no probs at all over the years. This prob has surfaced 2 times now, once in july 2012 and then this month it came back. I put a new fuser in it last week and absolutely no change.

The toner is being layed on the plate perfectly and looks normal until it goes in the fuser. When it comes out the print and lines are deformed, lines look just like a heart monitor line and text is split and broken.

ok today i had some time and tried to rule out various things, tried an old cartridge, same results. NOW i did find 3 old plates from several years ago and I tried one, virtually normal print, I tried another plate from the ones I found, fairly normal again. Now then i tried the new plates that i have been using and the results looked horrible again.

So you may be on to something here. The old plates are printable on the press, the box of new ones (bought in summer 2012) are not. So its narrowed down to the plates as of this moment. But what gets me, if you know myraid plates, one side is smooth one side is textured, the smooth side always prints perfectly as does any bond or laser paper, its ONLY doing the problem on the textured side of the plates, which of course is the side i use to print with.

I believe I will get some antistatic spray as you suggest and try that and see what happens. You say you had a similar problem on the hp5000, did the static spray cure yours? How did you figure out what the prob was? What kind of plates were you using?

 

[Gatch]

Been using a Xante 4 platemaker for over 5 years. Had similar problems with those plates; broken or jumpy lines or text, parts of screens missing, etc. I do believe that humidity levels affect the quality. On humid days I've even tried dummying them through the machine first, before making a plate, with limited success.

So I tested some Baseline plates a couple of years ago. We have had great success with them and I use them exclusively now. The surface is smoother and they are two sided. Have had to adjust the toner flow and fuser temperature, though.

Hope this helps!

 

[rmh1013]

Have a unique problem and just want to see if anyone with my setup has ever experienced something like this.

My Xante platemaker when printing on Myraid 2 plates has deformed print in area and if the job has lines, (as in a form job) they look like the lines on a heart monitor.

The odd thing is, it prints out perfectly on 24-28 lb laser paper AND even prints perfectly on the smooth side of the Myraid plate, its only screwed up on the textured side of the plate. Any ideas?

There are two metal contacts on one side and I believe one on the other side that make contact with the toner cartridge. After time they tend to push in and loose contact. you may have to pull them out a little. This happened at my shop and it fixed the problem.

 

[Kenneth59]

UPDATE, after trying most everything it turned out being the MYRAID PLATES. Dont ask me why, or how or wjat was wrong with the box i had, but i got a couple samples of Genie plates and my Xante spits them out perfectly. If i switch back to a myraid plate right after i print out a Genie plate it has the deformed image on them, back to the genie plate and perfect image again. Now i just have to print with the Genie plates and see how they do on the press, good i hope. Amazing since i have used myraid plates since '98 and never had any probs, only with this current box. I guess stranger things have happened.

I feel pretty dam stupid i dont mind saying.

 

[Blair Wolfe]

Have a unique problem and just want to see if anyone with my setup has ever experienced something like this.

My Xante platemaker when printing on Myraid 2 plates has deformed print in area and if the job has lines, (as in a form job) they look like the lines on a heart monitor.

The odd thing is, it prints out perfectly on 24-28 lb laser paper AND even prints perfectly on the smooth side of the Myraid plate, its only screwed up on the textured side of the plate. Any ideas?

That can come from dampness in ther surface of the plate prior to imaging. Try a plate from the middle of the box, or store your plates in a dryer area. We had to include a packge of desicant in each box for a cutomer we had who was having the same problem a few years ago.

 

[Kenneth59]

humidity level where they are stored and used is the same it has been for the past 15 or so years. Generally it ranges from 45 to 55 RH