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- Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy
- Path: sparky!uunet!mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx!sscrivan
- From: sscrivan@nyx.cs.du.edu (steve scrivano)
- Subject: DMP500 PRINTER PROBLEM
- Message-ID: <1993Jan12.222915.13125@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>
- Sender: usenet@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu (netnews admin account)
- Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
- Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 22:29:15 GMT
- Lines: 36
-
- I am posting a problem with the above named printer so all of those who own
- this printer will be aware of a potentially very costly problem. A replacement
- print head from Tandy will cost you approximately $225 so the following sugges-
- tion could save you some grief:
-
- As will all printers the normal proceduce is to thread the ribbon between the
- print head and the ribbon guide. However, if you choose to do this on a DMP500
- printer, chances are you will wear out the print head and end up with bent &
- broken pins. The problem is with the cartridge. It seems that it does not
- sit forward enough so the cartridge is flush with the printhead. As a result,
- the ribbon rakes across the printhead instead of just passing in front of it.
- The result is broken and/or worn out pins. Invision pins popping out with a
- ribbon pulling them sideways and you will get my drift.
-
- The solution is to feed the ribbon in front of the ribbon guide so it is
- next to the platen. This will give it just the right amount of distance to
- prevent this problem. You may have to adjust your printhead distance after
- you have done this. Also, I have just completed a 5 year experiment using
- this printer to see if there would be other ways to prolong printhead life.
- Perhaps you could apply this in your own uses as well. My printhead went
- through 75,000 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper over a 5 year period before even
- beginning to show signs of wear. What do I do you ask? I pop the tops off
- of my ribbon cartridges when the ink starts to fade and spray the ribbon
- with WD-40 lubricant. I set the cartridge aside for a month so it soaks in
- well and redistributes the ink. Presto! My ribbon is now good for twice the
- life and the lubricant keeps my printhead happy too. I know there are others
- that don't like this idea because of some misconception about damaging their
- print head, but I have never seen oil damage metal in my lifetime and the
- ink that is put on ribbons is oil based to begin with. Now instead of
- wearing out a printhead in 2 years, I am working on year 6.
-
- Just another problem solved :-)!
-
-
- Steve Scrivano
- sscrivan@nyx.cs.du.edu
-