From: ZsdbUse1+noZs_0609@Zbigfoot.Zcom.invalid   
      
   On Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:23:56 -0400, Rick  wrote:   
   > Mike Y wrote:   
   >> on it.  This is used to index where the head carriage is.  I've seen these   
   >> get dirty and now the head position gets confused at certain spots.  I've   
   >> had some luck using a 'gun patch' LIGHTLY doused with alcohol wiped   
   >> over the strip.  Also examine the sensor that reads the strip and use a   
   >> small hobby/model paintbrush to brush away any foreign matter.   
      
   Yup.   
      
   >> The other problem can be friction of the head carriage assembly.  In some   
   >> sequence' generates a known degree of movement.  In these cases, the   
   >> carriage 'registers' it's position, usually at the left, and as it moves out   
      
   Yup.   
      
   >> can be because of 'friction' on the rails or it can be because the motor   
      
   That's been my experience.   
      
   >> and not necessarily friction.  However, SOMETIMES, it can be corrected   
   >> by reducing friction.  But then you're just hiding the problem for another   
   >> day.   
      
   Maybe a day far, far away...   
      
   > Both of the printers I've had this problem with used a stepper motor to   
   > do print head positioning. And AIRC the problem happened when the print   
   > head was in travel - not when it got as far as reaching a left or right   
   > end of carriage sensor. Like when it reached an end of paragraph line   
   > somewhere in the middle of a page and went to move itself right-to-left   
   > to begin the first line of the next paragraph. Something like the   
      
   And then it sticks.  BTDT!   
      
   > Regardless, I've eventually given up on the printers and found something   
   > else - usually in the trash but fully functional. Light lubrication did   
   > help, but the frustration was never knowing when the problem would occur   
   > again. It always did.   
      
   I did the BreakFree CLP wipe on several MX-80's and 100's, some later   
   model Epsons, my C.Itoh 8510 and several of the IBM branded version, a   
   couple NX-1000's (one of which is still on the closet shelf, and still   
   appeared to work fine after I goosed the old ribbon with WD-40 ;), and   
   one of the Star color printers that was almost identical to the NX-1000.   
      
   The CLP seemed to last a very, very long time.  But it did tend to   
   attract paper dust, and that would gradually dry out the bearings again,   
   especially if the users like to brush away the oily dust.   
      
   Oh, those printers prior to the Stars were in schools -- two high   
   schools and a couple of labs at a junior college.  The Epson MX units   
   and the C.Itoh's were darn near indestructable.  One of them had a lousy   
   worm gear that some people would strip trying to turn the knob on the   
   side to position the paper.  Other than that it would last forever.  We   
   ended up taking off the knob to save the printers.   
      
   > That Star NX-1000 9 pin was a favorite. Got a lot of mileage out of that   
      
   No doubt.  Most reliable impact printer I ever used, and quite respectable   
   print quality (for the time) as well! But not as robust as the older ones.   
      
   sdb   
      
   --   
   Wanted:  Omnibook 800 & accessories, cheap, working or not   
   sdbuse1 on mailhost bigfoot.com   
      
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