Troubleshooting Epson Artisan 1430 -- nozzle checks failing
2016-02-15 by rdeloe1@...
My Epson Artisan 1430 constantly fails the nozzle check. The best I've ever been able to manage is 1/2 a day with a clean check. I'm trying to decide if I should write this one off and buy a new one. However, I also don't want to be in the same boat with a new one.
If you're using it like I am (see below), can you give me some perspective?
I'm running Eboni inks from MIS. I started out with Paul Roark's Carbon 6 formulation, and am now using his Eboni Variable Tone formulation. I've had this problem from Day 1 (over a year ago), using both Eboni 1.0 and Eboni 1.1 inks. I'm very careful about mixing it, so I don't think I'm introducing a contaminant during ink preparation (e.g., dust or particles).
I started with refillable cartridges. I went through several sets from Inksupply; they never worked for me. Carts from Inkowl worked a bit better. I'm now using a Cobra CIS, which was working quite well... but now I'm back to "normal" (hard to get a clear nozzle check, and unable to keep it).
In another posting on this forum I explained how curled paper was a contributing factor. Sometimes paper that had a strong curl was whacking the bottom of the head, causing ink to splatter. I'm now using perfectly flat sheets and my nozzle check failure problem is still happening.
When I examine the nozzle check pattern, the problem moves around. It's not always the same colour (although Cyan and Magenta are particular problems). It's not always in the same spot in the same colour; the broken lines shift around in the pattern.
I've tried all the usual advice:
* I print regularly (at least every couple days).
* The head is aligned (I ran a test and did an alignment).
* I've cleaned the capping station, wiper blade, underside of the head, spikes, etc. using the procedure in the video on Inkjetmall's website.
* I rarely run head cleaning cycles. Occasionally I'll run one if it's really bad; it usually makes it worse. Instead, I use purge prints. I'll crank out 10 full page sheets at a time, sometimes all six colours, sometimes just the color that seems to be a problem. Sometimes after running purge prints it actually gets worse!
* Letting it sit overnight sometimes helps a bit, but it never lasts.
With these procedures I can get to a clean nozzle check... but not for long. After a couple prints, I'm back to failed nozzle checks.
It's quite possible that I damaged the print head in the early days of owning the machine, when I didn't have a clue. Maybe I cleaned too aggressively, or did something that caused permanent damage. If that's the case, I'm happy to replace the printer and be more careful... However, I'm worried that it's something inherent to this combination of printer and non-standard ink sets.
I'm hoping other people using the Epson 1430 (or 1500 in Australia?) with Eboni inks can share their experiences. If it's working great for you, then I can conclude that my printer is damaged and should be replaced.
If you're using it like I am (see below), can you give me some perspective?
I'm running Eboni inks from MIS. I started out with Paul Roark's Carbon 6 formulation, and am now using his Eboni Variable Tone formulation. I've had this problem from Day 1 (over a year ago), using both Eboni 1.0 and Eboni 1.1 inks. I'm very careful about mixing it, so I don't think I'm introducing a contaminant during ink preparation (e.g., dust or particles).
I started with refillable cartridges. I went through several sets from Inksupply; they never worked for me. Carts from Inkowl worked a bit better. I'm now using a Cobra CIS, which was working quite well... but now I'm back to "normal" (hard to get a clear nozzle check, and unable to keep it).
In another posting on this forum I explained how curled paper was a contributing factor. Sometimes paper that had a strong curl was whacking the bottom of the head, causing ink to splatter. I'm now using perfectly flat sheets and my nozzle check failure problem is still happening.
When I examine the nozzle check pattern, the problem moves around. It's not always the same colour (although Cyan and Magenta are particular problems). It's not always in the same spot in the same colour; the broken lines shift around in the pattern.
I've tried all the usual advice:
* I print regularly (at least every couple days).
* The head is aligned (I ran a test and did an alignment).
* I've cleaned the capping station, wiper blade, underside of the head, spikes, etc. using the procedure in the video on Inkjetmall's website.
* I rarely run head cleaning cycles. Occasionally I'll run one if it's really bad; it usually makes it worse. Instead, I use purge prints. I'll crank out 10 full page sheets at a time, sometimes all six colours, sometimes just the color that seems to be a problem. Sometimes after running purge prints it actually gets worse!
* Letting it sit overnight sometimes helps a bit, but it never lasts.
With these procedures I can get to a clean nozzle check... but not for long. After a couple prints, I'm back to failed nozzle checks.
It's quite possible that I damaged the print head in the early days of owning the machine, when I didn't have a clue. Maybe I cleaned too aggressively, or did something that caused permanent damage. If that's the case, I'm happy to replace the printer and be more careful... However, I'm worried that it's something inherent to this combination of printer and non-standard ink sets.
I'm hoping other people using the Epson 1430 (or 1500 in Australia?) with Eboni inks can share their experiences. If it's working great for you, then I can conclude that my printer is damaged and should be replaced.