You and your team deserve a break! But what will happen to your equipment if the business shuts down for a few days or weeks? Some simple maintenance and planning will ensure that your Roland devices will be up and running when you return, as refreshed as you are.
Regular manual cleaning
The biggest fear of many printer operators is that components will clog if left idle for a long period, leading to lengthy cleaning processes and potential damage to the system. Heads and cap tops can foul, potentially causing the nozzle heads to clog or deflect, or ink accumulating in the head can get messy droplets of ink on your print material. To avoid these issues, make sure you manually clean your Roland equipment – inside and out – at regular intervals, and particularly ahead of a shutdown.
Wiper maintenance
Each Roland system has different elements; Roland TrueVIS series users should check and replace wiper fluid if it is really dirty, while Roland VS series machines have a wiper and a wiper felt that should be maintained. Replace cleaning wipers when they are worn out or have reached the end of their service life, following instructions included in your device's user manual, to make sure they do their job right.
Running test prints regularly
Problems with clogged or deflected nozzles – which may cause banding and blurry text or lines – can be spotted early by carrying out regular test prints, so make this a priority both before a break and when you get back in the print room. Keep your Roland cleaning kits well stocked with items like swabs, so you can tackle issues as soon as possible – they're specifically designed for Roland machines so really make life easier.
Inspecting pad cutter for wear
A culprit of inefficient cutting in a print/cutter system is often the pad cutter; this strip of Teflon fitted just below the cutting blade does get worn and shredded, causing spotty or erratic cutting. Make a quick check of the pad cutter before a holiday shutdown and replace it if necessary – your equipment deserves a new vacation outfit too and they're easily obtainable from your local Roland Technical Service Centre.
Enabling automatic cleaning
Luckily, a lot of your pre-break to-do list is covered by the clever automatic cleaning systems fitted in Roland printing and plotting equipment, which work when you don't. Before you head out for long weekend (or even just overnight) remember to turn the machine off at the front panel but leave the primary power source switch on at the back. This will enable the automatic maintenance system to do its stuff, keeping the device spick and span for when you get back to the print room.
Cleaning your UV Printer
If you keep up with a regular cleaning and maintenance routine, you can rest assured that your device will survive a winter shutdown without any issues. The same is true for UV devices – although the cleaning procedure may differ in a few ways, regular maintenance is all you need to ensure that you return from your holidays with a refreshed body, mind and printer.
Ensure your printer is covered
If you want to keep your Roland device in top condition and keep your business running if anything goes wrong, take a look at our range of RolandCare warranties here.