News & Events

Remote GT-Jet Problem Diagnose

Issue

“The GT-Jet does not print”

“The GT-Jet prints all the time”

“There is no communication to the GT-Jet”

Description

Above error descriptions do not help. More detail is needed. Remember that the person is not on-site and relies on the information you forward.

One the most difficult tasks of supporting a customer that has issues like the above, is to know what is really going on, without being there.

Usually, a system is installed, training is given, and 1-2 productions are made. Therefore, the most important question is: what has changed since those successful productions ?

Very important also is to describe well the circumstances, filter the noise.

Minimum Data required in order to analyzing the problem remotely

1) Controller data and the number of the head (see below the head)

Check AM34-Remote Controller Problem Diagnose first.

2) Write down a description of the problem

  1. The overall activate button works, the pumps come on.
  2. The activate head button works, the temperature goes to the right level and stays stable
  3. The purge works, ink comes out and I wipe it. I can’t see bubbles. No, I don’t purge like crazy so that air comes in. No, I short-purge 2 seconds wait until the tank is filled again.
  4. I see and feel that the ink pump works, that the level of the ink goes up again.
  5. I see that the meniscus vacuum stays stable within +/- 2 mbar.
  6. I hit the clean internal button and the inkjet begins to print. I see no missing jets.
  7. I set the distance to the photocell right and I always print a test pattern on a product because it is the best measure of print quality. The test pattern is enclosed or faxed.
  8. I set the firepulse voltage and length so that there is no more satellites.
  9. If it is a printing problem, add the test pattern. Pattern below is how it should be with a GT-Jet 64.

Sample of poorly adjusted Angle

Sample of bad transition, distance between two pairs is offset

Change distances between jetting assemblies in the GT-Jet64 Online Menu

3) Controller data and the number of the head (see below the head)

  • Name of the controller (Windows/About): for example GT-2004-0655
  • Version of the controller software (Windows/About): for example 3.52G P24
  • Version of the controller tracker software (peripheral test): for example 2AP
  • IP-number of controller (DOS console, ipconfig <enter>): e.g. 192.168.198.61
  • Subnet mask (DOS console, ipconfig): e.g. 255.255.255.0
  • Declared IP-number of GT-Jet (go to inkjet/configuration, ping it): e.g. 192.168.198.11
  • Declared print-go and print-done of GT-Jet (configuration): e.g. print-go 1, print-done 1

4) GT-Jet data

  • Type of inkjet (72, 64 ?): for example 2 x 72 heads or 1 x 64 head
  • IP-number of RIPs: for example 192.168.198.11 for RIP#1
  • Subnet mask (DOS console, ipconfig): e.g. 255.255.255.0
  • All 4 pages of settings: all 4 pages of Open WordPad (Start/Programs/Accessries), go to each page and press <CTRL><Prnt Scrn>, return to the open WordPad document and paste <CTRL><V>.

Below is only an example of a setting of months ago.

Please make it a custom to save a job (myGT) and the Inkjet settings for every install. You might need it down the road because customers change settings.