Printing problem: any ideas?

[snowman]

I've owned an Epson Workforce 600 all-in-one printer(an inkjet model) for a little less than a year(I think that's right). A week or so ago I tried to print a document and the print quality was very poor -parts of lines missing, sections that were faint, etc.

I read the troubleshooting section in the manual and dutifully followed instructions for attempting to correct the problem. This basically involved a "nozzle check" and "print head cleaning", both of which the machine does by itself as prompted. When this failed to work, I bought and installed a new cartridge. When this didn't seem to help either, I repeated the print head cleaning procedure, and tried again. No change.

I strongly suspect that I'm to blame for this. I don't use the printer often, and I know that inkjet models require at least some printing on a regular basis to keep the ink flowing properly. I'm sure there have been occasions that I've let it slide for a month or more between usages.

Anyway, I thought I would place it before the members here to see if anyone has a suggestion for the next step, before I have to take it somewhere. Thank you, as always, for your time and efforts to assist.

Andy

 

[Rule3]

Carefully remove the ink cartridge(s) and with a damp cloth wipe the nozzles or any crud that you see. Reinstall and run the self clean and alignment program.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

You might try looking at these web sites for an answer to your problem:

Epson WorkForce 600 All-in-One Printer, Overview - Product Information - Epson America, Inc.

Epson WorkForce 600, Overview - Technical Support - Epson America, Inc.

Epson WorkForce 600 All-In-One InkJet Printer Problems by FixYa

 

[scooter123]

My first printer was an Epson. With what I learned from that printer the only brand that I'll buy now are Hewlet Packards. Epsons have a print head that is seperate from the cartridges, so if they clog up to badly for the cleaning function to correct you may as well thow it into the trash. HP's print heads are part of the ink cartridge, so if one gets clogged you just put in a new ink cartridge.

 

[5Wire]

If you leave Epson printers on for long periods of time without printing, they gum up. I've had to run the nozzle cleaning procedure eight or ten times to get the lines back. Turn the all-in-one printer on only for use.

I do favor H-P for occasional use but the Epsons do have the finest image potential of any of the ink jets I've run across. The H-Ps I've used seem to have problems scaling output using Windows platforms.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

My advice. Throw it away and buy a new one. Don't get an expensive one, just a new one-remember Harold's law or whatever they call it -that computer stuff doubles in utility and halves in price every two years.

 

[wuluf]

Wear a longer Hawaiian shirt.....

 

[loutent]

you could try this...

Wear a longer Hawaiian shirt.....

- funny

I have had a clogged printer head in the past and was able to unclog it by using windex. I have a Canon printer with a removable head, but from what I have read, it may work with Epson by altering the technique.

Remove the cartridge(s) and get the head to stop over the absorbing mat that should be visible. Use a folded paper towel that is soaked with windex and wedge it between the head and mat - leave overnight - repeat once or twice. After that, re-install the ink cartridges and do a nozzle cleaning - sometimes it may require many - especially if it is a pigment (not dye) printer.

Worth a try - and doesn't cost much! Be sure to protect the removed ink cartridges from drying out (use tape or something.)

 

[snowman]

Wear a longer Hawaiian shirt.....

Guess I should have been a little more specific.

Andy

 

[snowman]

Thanks to all for your input. scooter is correct that the head and the cartridge are separate.

5wire: I don't recall leaving the thing on without using it -just not using it much.

Thanks again -we'll see what happens.

Andy

 

[OLDGUNMAN]

Carefully remove the cartridges and move your Epson to the desk edge, and push it into the trash. Now go buy an HP and be happy.