MUTOH Falcon Outdoor Jr., Operation Instructions Manual, Page: 11 / 71

Falcon Outdoor Jr. – Operation Instructions
Page
11 PN: MAI-75039
Rev. 1.A – 07/26/05
DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE USING ‘FILE DOWNLOAD’ FEATURE OF THE SEH BOX.
Both the WEB interface (IP address in browser) or Intercon Nettools have the ability to transfer a file directly
to the IP address. This is important as sometimes the problem in the print is RIP related and if the RIP is
used to create a ‘test’ file then it could have the problem in it.
Mutoh provides a ‘test print’ file for each model of printer. For the Falcon Outdoor or Falcon Outdoor Junior
these files are a low ink density Diagonal nozzle check pattern designed to show whether ‘Step Adjustment’
is correct or not. (ignore the Distance Adjustment feature on the FO series). Once the ‘Step Adjust’ is dialed
in then images printed with the correct profile should be able to be printed.
Each of the SEH options have a ‘Download / file’ section where you will be prompted for a file. Locate the
‘testprint’ file that is appropriate
Please realize that a ‘light band’ can be either missing / misdirected nozzles or that Step Adjust is too high.
Confirm that nozzles are firing and then start this procedure for Micro Banding.
A ‘dark band’ can be from either Step Adjust being too low or it can be from the platen heater not being hot
enough. For this reason it is suggested that if no light band is showing then change the Step adjust higher to
create a light band. Then reduce the number in small steps until either you have no band or a slight dark
band remains. Once you reach this point adding ‘heat’ to the platen should then minimize the banding to an
acceptable amount for solvent printing.
Remember
1. Check nozzles first. Clean as required.
2. Dial out the light and first. Create a light band if necessary.
3. For the bark band that remains after dialing out the light band, start by increasing the platen heat in
small steps.
4. If a small dark band remains after step 3 then Adjust the ‘Step Adjust’ a little lower.
If increasing the platen heat does not remove the dark band then it may be that there is too much ink being
laid down so the RIP profile may need to be adjusted. Call your dealer for assistance with this RIP profile
possibility.
STEP ADJUSTMENT ‘MICRO-BANDING ELIMINATION ON FALCON OUTDOOR’
The nominal paper movement accuracy is
±
0.1 percent, or
±
1 mm per meter of moving distance. Different
media types may show different behavior and when the paper movement error exceeds the target
specification, banding can occur. This banding can take the form of either thin dark or light horizontal bands.
If the above happens, these bands will occur in both bi-directional and unidirectional print modes. Thin dark
bands indicate that the printer firmware is under-compensating and that print swaths are overlapping.
Alternatively, thin light lines indicate that the printer firmware is over-compensating, and that print swaths are
not far apart.
The media feed micro ‘step adjustment’ feature gives the user the ability to set the step compensation
algorithm. To eliminate micro-banding, you can enter a positive or negative percentage of compensation, (
±
3.00 percent), in 0.01 percent increments.
A positive value will extend the step and compensate for overlapping print swaths; a negative value will
shorten the step and compensate for non-butting print swaths. Some trial and error testing is typically
required to find the optimum value for any given media type.