Suhler@IBM.COM (11/22/89)
I only got one direct response on my question about how to fix a slipping ImageWriter platen. This is from Daniel Mackay, MACKAY@DALAT.BITNET: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I use oil of wintergreen (available at your local drugstore) to deglaze the platen for my customers and myself. Be really careful with it; it will melt the CLEAR plastic parts of your IW and scar the opaque plastic parts. Use it only on the rubber roller. It'll take the top layer of rubber off, so expect to have some icky black rags when you're done. Apply with a oil-of-wintergreen soaked rag, wipe off with a clean one. Don't use paper towels; they will make a mess. Acrylic and polester rags will, of course, melt. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thanks, Daniel. Paul Suhler Hybrid Dataflow Systems
denbeste@bgsuvax.UUCP (William C. DenBesten) (11/23/89)
From Daniel Mackay, MACKAY@DALAT.BITNET: > I use oil of wintergreen (available at your local drugstore) to deglaze > the platen for my customers and myself. Be really careful with it; it > will melt the CLEAR plastic parts of your IW and scar the opaque plastic > parts. This sounds like a 'scarry' thing to do. Typewriter/Office Supply stores have products that are designed to clean typewriter plattens. This stuff works wonders on printer plattens that are gummed up. It will not hurt plastic parts. You can also get stuff that keeps plattens from getting hard. -- William C. DenBesten is denbeste@bgsu.edu or denbesten@bgsuopie.bitnet
kevind@pogo.WV.TEK.COM (Kevin Draz) (11/23/89)
In article <1989Nov21.202317.22255@arnor.uucp> SUHLER@IBM.COM writes: >I only got one direct response on my question about how to fix a slipping >ImageWriter platen. This is from Daniel Mackay, MACKAY@DALAT.BITNET: > I thought this would be a pretty well covered subject, so I kept silence. But here is how we used to do these at the Apple repair shop at the dealer I worked for (past tense.) The problem is the rubber on the platen oxidizes with age and inks, and becomes shiny and slick. This is a VERY common problem we used to treat on older printers. (1) Remove the platen from the imagewriter. This is tricky, however not difficult, requiring only standard needle nosed pliers and a screwdriver or two (I can't remember the exact sequence without looking at one). (2) Using a paper towel, saturate the towel with "Stanford's Typewriter Cleaner." available from an office supply. Any good acetone-ketone type typewriter cleaner would work. Start at one end of the platen, and rotate the platen in the cloth, gripping the cloth TIGHT. Work your way down the platen, occasionally turning the cloth. NOTE: you may want to wear gloves for this if your skin is sensitive. Acetone is really harsh and not just a little toxic. The fumes are bad, too. (3) Repeat (2) once more. The platen should have lost it's shiny appearance for an even, matte black. (4) Replace and reinstall the platen. This is also a good time to do a general preventive maintenance, as you have the machine pretty well apart. Use the solvent to clean the printhead of dried, caked ink. It just snaps in if I recall right for imagewriter I. Vacuum out excess dust, wipe greasy grit off the carriage rails. Relubricate with a very light oil suitable for phosphor-bronze bushings. Your print quality should be greatly improved, and no more slips. -- ---- kevind@pogo.wv.tek.com Tektronix Color Printers Technical Support