[mod.computers.laser-printers] The LN03 Ricoh engine.

tony@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tony Della Fera) (08/09/86)

	MIT Project Athena has been using LN03's for some time now.
We have placed them throughout campus in the student workstation
clusters areas.  Our field service people tell me that the majority of
the breakdowns are print quality problems due to overworking the
engines (i.e., using them for MUCH more than their suggested monthly
duty cycle).

	We have never replaced any motors or large mechanical parts
(other than the OPC cartridge of course).  They SEEM fragile but in
reality they are reasonably solid.  The only "problems" we have had
with the design of the print engine itself are

	1) The ROM cartridges can be easially stolen or otherwise
develop legs and walk off.  We have resorted to strapping the
cartridges in with metal bands that screw into the chassie.

	2)  The radius through the fuser  is so  small  that the paper
often comes out curled.  Our Xerox 1090  tends to not be pleased  with
output when it is in this curled state.

	In general the  engine is  pretty reliable  and  has EXCELLENT
print quality.

						Tony...