HP Designjet 90 review

[Vincent]

It would seem that I have a printhead failure (Black head) and I can't proceed with the review. I have tried all the cleaning techniques as outlined in the manual, but to no avail. I have a busy week starting from Friday 15th through to Friday 22 so I can't do anything to the review.

[Bob McCarthy]

I saw your HP review. I just received a HP 90 two weeks ago and had two small easily corrected problems. First I had a print head message as you did. In the trouble shooting section it talks about wiping the contacts on the print head and ink carts with a damp (water) rag. It cleared up the error message problem for me. Secondly, the driver shipped with my unit had a calibration problem with one of the paper types. This was solved by downloading and installing a new driver and/or firmware. I installed both . I think it was a firmware update that solved the calibration problem the more I think about it. Its under the maintenance section of the system maintenance application the install puts on the desktop.

When installing the new driver, it can message that the current app is open (which it is). Ctrl-alt-del and close the open app in the file manager allows the new driver/firmware to be installed.

Bob

[JSR]

I have tried all the cleaning techniques as outlined in the manual, but to no avail.

Hmm, HP need to invent a system in which they can clean the printhead without wasting any ink. Maybe by making the ink tanks stationary while the printhead moves...

Perhaps they should look at the new system recently developed by ... oh, waitaminute, that is HP..!

JSR

[Bob McCarthy]

HP Designjet 30/90/130 Printer series – Quick Reference Guide
29
English
How Do I Clean a Printhead? (continued)
6. Gently wipe the printhead contacts with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth.
7. If the printhead contacts are still dirty….
…slightly moisten the cloth with distilled water and continue softly wiping
the contacts until they are clean.
8. Place the printhead on a paper towel, the nozzle plate facing up, and leave
it to dry for at least five minutes.
9. While the printhead is drying, clean the contacts inside the carriage in the
same way.
HP Designjet 30/90/130 Printer series – Quick Reference Guide
30
English
How Do I Clean a Printhead? (continued)
10.When both the printhead and the contacts inside the carriage are dry, reinsert
the printhead by lowering it into place and return the small handle to
its lower position. Press down firmly and evenly on both the front and the
back of the printhead to make sure it is correctly seated.
11.Pull the printhead cover towards you, ensuring that the hook at its front edge
latches onto the tab, and then push it away from you to close the cover.
12.Plug in the printer power cable.
13.Close the rear part and then the front part of the outer flap.
14.We strongly recommend that you perform some internal calibrations on the
printhead, as well as an alignment check, to ensure the best quality printing.
See “How Do I Perform a Color Calibration?” on page 3 and “How Do I
Align Printheads?” on page 35.
There must be paper in the tray during alignment (you can use your least
expensive paper). Pre-alignment calibrations may take some time, especially
if multiple printheads have been removed and re-inserted. Check that the
alignment print has a tick on it. The tick should be cyan.
15.Check that the printhead icon on the front panel is no longer flashing. The
printhead has been re-inserted successfully.

[Bob McCarthy]

I forgot to mention, that I used a paper coffee filter which is slightly abrasive compared to a cloth towel. I also used tap water as I didn't have distilled water available.

Hope it works for you. I have found this printer "very" impressive once past the minor foibles it displays.

Almost like an Italian supercar. It performs like no other but certainly has a personality.

Bob

[Vincent]

Thanks for the input, I can assure you that I have waded through the manual and tried all the above permutations. I find it odd that there should be so much information (in the manual) on printhead failure, it would almost seem like this is going to be a common problem.

The printer and construction is very impressive as it stands, it may be more impressive when it starts to work - I will have to wait to see.

Although this is not an interactive review my testing technique is still the same, i.e. I work my way through the printer stage by stage and publish on the fly. It was suggested to me that I withdraw the review so far and only publish the completed article. After much thought I decided to keep things as they stand, after all it could be your hard earned cash and I am sure you wouldn't be too happy with a heavy paper weight on your desk.

I am sure HP will sort this ASAP.

[jo-1]

unfortunaltely bad news to hear that the DJ 90 don't work!

I am really looking forward to your results!

It would be great if you could include some thoughts to the printer's ICC profiles (if possibel) when you get it wirking

VBR <=> jo-1

[Vincent]

I have just spoken with a senior technician at HP and was given the following advice.

Hold the printhead firmly between your forefinger, secondfinger and thumb, raise the print head to 18.5cm and then using a speed of approx 15.8 mph lower the printhead to meet a hard flat surface. Repeat the action several times until the printhead responds with a favourable result. I tried this but increased the speed to 22.4 mph and the head has woken up.

I am amazed at today’s technology, in many respects some things still respond to old fashioned techniques

I have been given an extension to the loan period and rather than rush the review I will continue it from the 23rd onwards.

Have a good week.

[Kevgermany]

& now, having bashed the living daylights out of the head (assuming you're serious) if you give it a bad review, they'll blame it on abusing the print head

[Vincent]

Kev,

This is scientific advice (and serious too), I wouldn't dream of bashing the living daylight out of the printhead - my desk is too clean for any nasty mess.

My old TV used to respond to violence too, bash it on the side and it worked fine until the next time.

[jo-1]

maybe this might also help to get more ink out of the cartridges??

Just shaking a bit and you might double the ink capacity - nice ideas for my future calculation

Is the printer up and running now??

Salomon says >> I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions<<

[Vincent]

The printer is up and running now, but I am otherwise engaged so will not be able to do anything until Saturday 23rd

[Bart S.]

"Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." as a great poet once wrote

[Kevgermany]

"Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." as a great poet once wrote

Wonder who that was? I read it as 'And if you're not willing, then I'll have to force you', no doubt Dierk can improve on my translation.

[Bob McCarthy]

.

Hold the printhead firmly between your forefinger, secondfinger and thumb, raise the print head to 18.5cm and then using a speed of approx 15.8 mph lower the printhead to meet a hard flat surface. Repeat the action several times until the printhead responds with a favourable result. I tried this but increased the speed to 22.4 mph and the head has woken up.

Maybe my wiping the contacts was only a smoke screen and the reinsertion of the head forcefully was the proper cause of my print head resolution. I do remember being a bit disappointed that it wasn't working out of the box and seated it with vigor.

<G>

bob