Measuring The Platen Gap Values - Epson DFX-8500 Service Manual

MEASURING THE PLATEN GAP VALUES

To measure and enter new Beta values:
1. Remove the paper, ribbon cartridge, and ribbon mask holder from the printer.
2. Write down the Alpha value written on the side of the printhead.
3. Write down the Beta values written on the label on the inside bottom right corner of the printer
mechanism, under the ribbon cartridge.
4. Close the top cover.
To reset the Alpha value:
1. Turn the printer on while pressing the Tear Off, Micro Feed ↓, and Front/Rear buttons. Hold the buttons
down until the printer beeps once. The printer performs a platen gap home position seek, and the
carriage moves to column 15.
2. The control panel indicates the current Alpha adjustment value (See Tables 4-1 and 4-2.)
3. Enter the Alpha value on the printhead into memory, using the Micro Feed buttons:


Press the Micro Feed ↓ button to increase the value by 1.


Press the Micro Feed ↑ button to decrease the value by 1.
4. If you are finished and do not wish to adjust the Beta values, press the LF/FF Load button. The Alpha
value is written to the EEPROM and the adjustment is complete. Turn the power off and install the
ribbon mask holder and the ribbon cartridge.
5. If you wish to continue on to Beta value adjustment, press the Pause/Reset button. The Alpha value is
written to the EEPROM, and the printer enters the Beta values write mode.
To measure the Beta values:
6. Open the top cover and insert the 0.43 mm thickness gauge into the space between the platen and the
printhead nose. (At this time, do not shift the print head. If you do, return to Step 4.)
7. Hook the tension gauge through the hole of the thickness gauge and pull it straight to the right.
8. Gradually bring the printhead to the surface of the thickness gauge using the Micro Feed buttons:


Press the Micro Feed ↓ button to increase the value by 1.


Press the Micro Feed ↑ button to decrease the value by 1.


Press the Tear Off button to increase the value by 10.


Press the Top of Form button to decrease the value by 10.
The panel indicates the current Beta 3' adjustment value. (See Table 4-1.)
9. Adjust the Beta 3' value until the tension gauge shows about 150 (135 - 165) gf, and the thickness
gauge can still move to the right very slowly.
10. Press the Pause/Reset button.
11. Remove the thickness gauge, and gradually bring the printhead nose to the platen using the Micro Feed
buttons:


Press the Micro Feed ↓ button to increase the value by 1.


Press the Micro Feed ↑ button to decrease the value by 1.


Press the Tear Off button to increase the value by 10.


Press the Top of Form button to decrease the value by 10.
The panel indicates the current Beta 2 adjustment value. (See Table 4-1.)
12. Press the Pause/Reset button.
13. Insert the 0.43 mm thickness gauge into the space between the platen and the printhead nose.
14. Gradually bring the printhead to the surface of the thickness gauge using the Micro Feed buttons:


Press the Micro Feed ↓ button to increase the value by 1.


Press the Micro Feed ↑ button to decrease the value by 1.


Press the Tear Off button to increase the value by 10.


Press the Top of Form button to decrease the value by 10.
The panel indicates the current Beta 3 adjustment value. (See Table 4-1.)
15. Press the Pause/Reset button.
16. Insert the 0.80 mm thickness gauge into the space between the platen and the printhead nose.
ADJUSTMENT
4-13