I have an HP T120 plotter, which is not used heavily, maybe 2 or 3 plots per month. It recently gave me a message about the black ink being low. Replaced the black cartridge (real HP, not a knockoff). as soon as I did that, I got this message...
Turned on/off several times, removed all of the cartridges and put them back in. Same screen after power-up.?ÿ
Anyone seen this before? Where can I get this repaired? I called a local place, they said no. About 10 years ago I had a guy come out to the office to repair the previous plotter (also HP), but they are not around anymore. Not cheap to replace (~$750), but maybe not worth enough to box it up and ship it somewhere for repair. Or maybe it is. I am sure a lot of companies do a lot of plotting and may have some insight??ÿ
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I have seen this with other stuff...used to be made in the US, now everything is made in China and quality/durability suffers.?ÿ
Odds are that the ink has dried and subsequently clogged up the vacuum system. You are likely now a plotter repairman like I am. Or you can buy a new one.
Easy or hard to fix an ink clog?
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never mind...found a video on Youtube...hope it will help
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Well, watched the video, did what it said, now I figure I need to replace the inkhead. From what I have read you should always leave the plotter on, and maybe make a test print once a week to keep it from clogging. I turned it off when I went out of the country for a few weeks...
Found a new printhead on Amazon for a reasonable price...hopefully that is all that it is.?ÿ
It's true with Inkjets - use it or lose it.
I've got a designjet 100.
Have to run Windex through the tubes occasionally. 2 syringe process. One has Windex, one only pulls it through, with vaccum. Then. Pull ink through.
I've done it once. And it's about time to do it again.
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I had an HP Designjet 500 that I was having a simular problem. Repair man replaced the inkjet nozzles and some other parts. Cost me close to $2000. Three months later the problem came back. I contacted HP and they advised me to only use HP inkjet cartridges at double the cost. After some research I learned that HP has a chip in each of their cartridges. My guess is it monitors your use. If you don't plot enough the chip send that error message so you have to buy new cartridges. The HP help desk pretty much admitted they were having alot of complaints about their ink cartridges. I went to after market cartridges, but after about 6 months the same problem came up again. Good thing was the inkjet outfit replaced the defect cartridges for free. Having to replace the cartridges in a time crunch situation became a real pain.
Long story short, there is a nice Canon 680p that hasn't missed a beat in 6 months sitting where the HP use to be. The old HP is sitting out in the shop. You can't give them away.
I have an older HP1050C and have replaced the entire vacuum system and lines along with belt. New print heads from HP for that model are not available since HP tries to force people to buy a new plotter. I have to buy re-manufactured ones and am considering trying my hand at refilling them myself.
HP goes out of there way to force folks to buy a new model at incredible expense and it is obviously good for them but a bad business model to do this to small business folks and it really makes no sense because as long as the plotter is working fine it should be supported but they actually stop making the parts and you have to source them elsewhere. And since they stop making the parts, print heads, belts, carriage, etc, it forces the vendors to in turn stop supporting the effected plotters.
They won't even update a plotter driver and you have to find a work around.
It is a thumb in your eye. It is highly unlikely that I buy another HP because of that.
I have a 1050C to give away. ?ÿ Vacuum system and belt were replaced before we took it our of service.?ÿ just got tired of those printhead errors
I decided to order a new print head. Found it on Amazon, arrived today (Sunday). $233 including tax. Also included the four ink cartridges, which made it an even better deal.?ÿ
This fixed the problem. Lesson learned, do not turn off the plotter, and make a plot every week or two, even just a test page to keep the thing from clogging up.?ÿ