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What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 1:24 am
by Roger Wilco Jr
Modern sculpture? Electronic waste?

Seriously though, I bought a large format printer (13" x 19") five years ago. I printed about 30 posters at that time, and have used it a few times a year since. Last time was about 4 months ago to print an ED synthesis chart. I tried it today to print my tax returns and the paper wouldn't feed. It just gets sucked in about 1/2", goes a little cock eyed, and gets crinkled on the bottom edge in the center. Just recently bought $80 worth of ink and the cartridges are all full. :(

Think there is any chance of getting it repaired?

It was on sale for $115 when I got it, and it's still available for $195. Unlike the old days, I can't imagine getting something like this repaired today. I don't even see a way to take it apart - it looks snapped together. Are there even repair people for things like this anymore? I think it's probably hopeless, but maybe somebody has had a similar experience and knows that this may be a simple repair that is done every day.

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 1:33 am
by Orkekum
i think it would help if people had the name of the device too

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 2:56 am
by IronDuke
Roger Wilco Jr wrote:Modern sculpture? Electronic waste?

Seriously though, I bought a large format printer (13" x 19") five years ago. I printed about 30 posters at that time, and have used it a few times a year since. Last time was about 4 months ago to print an ED synthesis chart. I tried it today to print my tax returns and the paper wouldn't feed. It just gets sucked in about 1/2", goes a little cock eyed, and gets crinkled on the bottom edge in the center. Just recently bought $80 worth of ink and the cartridges are all full. :(

Think there is any chance of getting it repaired?

It was on sale for $115 when I got it, and it's still available for $195. Unlike the old days, I can't imagine getting something like this repaired today. I don't even see a way to take it apart - it looks snapped together. Are there even repair people for things like this anymore? I think it's probably hopeless, but maybe somebody has had a similar experience and knows that this may be a simple repair that is done every day.


Most modern printers are designed to be thrown away. I remember the days when we did actually repair stuff like this. Anyway, getting back to the problem at hand: This sort of thing can happen if a paper has been pulled out after a paper-jam. Sometimes, a small piece will tear off and remain inside the feed mechanism. Open the cover (check front and back if it has access doors) and check to see if any residual paper is there. Otherwise, I'm assuming that you are based in N. America, so if you decide to replace the printer the store should accept a return on the unopened print cartridges. If you don't have the receipt ask for a store credit. Anyway, for what it's worth I hope this helps. Good luck..

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 6:58 am
by Bonsaipanda
Printer that doesn't print is an "er".

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:18 am
by AndyB
i'm with IronDuke on this one, it could be as simple as a bit of dust causing it to jam.

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:48 pm
by Walter
I had a similar problem recently with an ageing Officejet K8600 - it would persistently print just half a page and no more. I found it worked perfectly with an even more venerable Mac, but I still spent hours searching the internet and wasting paper.

You would have thought, after all these years of problem-solving, that replacing the data cable would have been one of the first things I tried.

But it was the last.

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:14 pm
by Roger Wilco Jr
Well, fwiw, it's a Canon Pixma iX6520, but it was really more of a general question. I see they have a newer wireless version for $50 less, but of course it uses different ink cartridges. I'm sure there is no paper jam, but I didn't keep the cover down so who knows what may have fallen in there. There are no access panels or anything like that. I agree with IronDuke that it's probably not designed to be repaired.

I guess there is still a possibility that the wide photo paper will feed, so I'll have to try that.

Re: What do you call a printer that won't print?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:21 pm
by Orkekum
on my small multi printer(scanner printer copy) has the issue that it cannot accept the 15x10 small photo paper, eats it halfway and calls it a jam :I