Canon TM-200: Smudges and Dark Streaks on Matte Paper Despite Clean Nozzle Check

[Lethan]

Hello,

I’m experiencing an issue with my Canon TM-200 plotter when printing on matte paper (230 gsm). The problem manifests as dark streaks or smudges, particularly noticeable in areas with color transitions (e.g., white to black) or in solid dark regions.

Here’s what I’ve already checked:

1. Nozzle Check: The test comes out perfectly—no missing lines or gaps.
2. Head Cleaning: Performed multiple times, with no improvement.
3. Paper Feed Calibration: Attempted this, but the streaks persist.

Interestingly, the issue does not occur on glossy paper, only on matte media.

Could this be related to a misalignment of the print head, a specific ink issue, or something else?

I’d appreciate any insights, suggestions, or solutions from the community. Thank you!

[Lethan]

Thank you for all your input! I will definitely take it into consideration. I’ve done quite comprehensive research and am also trying to figure it out with the help of AI. I excluded the humidity factor because I have a few rolls of matte paper, sheets of matte paper, and even checked again with glossy paper just an hour ago (the issue does not appear on glossy paper). Within a few days, I will have high-quality glossy roll paper to test further and confirm.

Since I used generic inks in this case, where the issue appears on matte paper, I honestly concluded that I was likely sold incorrectly labeled ink. So, doing a full system flush with Epson inks makes sense as a step to check. The problematic printer struggles with properly applying MBK ink on the surface, especially when there is a high contrast between colors. This raises my suspicion that the MBK ink may indeed be mislabeled.

From what I’ve read, if two identical inks (e.g., photo inks) are used, they might compensate for each other and cause banding. We’ll see. Another possibility might be the printer head, but as you mentioned, that should be a last resort.

[Lethan]

Canon TM-200 – Error EC21-2F53 & Printhead Troubleshooting

Hello everyone,

I have some updates regarding my Canon TM-200 printers. As I previously mentioned, I recently purchased a second TM-200, which initially had no issues with black bands on prints. However, in the past few days, something has gone wrong, and I’m now receiving error code EC21-2F53 on the new printer. From what I understand, this error is related to a printhead voltage issue.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. I decided to swap printheads between my two TM-200 printers.
2. I took the printhead from my older TM-200 (the one that was printing with black bands) and installed it into the new printer. Surprisingly, it was recognized correctly and printed without any black bands.
3. I then took the faulty printhead (the one giving the EC21-2F53 error) and installed it into the older TM-200, but the same error appeared, or the printer failed to recognize the printhead at all.

What This Means?

• I originally thought that the black bands were caused by a faulty printhead, but now I see that the same printhead works perfectly in the new printer.
• The printhead giving the EC21-2F53 error is completely unrecognized in both printers.
• This suggests that the issue is likely with the printhead itself and not the printer hardware.

Questions:

• Is there any way to reset or repair a printhead that is showing this error?
• Could this be related to a firmware issue?
• Does this mean the printhead is permanently damaged and needs replacement?

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Lethan]

I’m also wondering if the black bands, which seem to disappear when I put the printhead into the new TM-200, could be related to the fact that the ink waste system is almost full in my older TM-200?