The Dark side of Versant 2nd BTR

[PrestoMichael]

My company has a Xerox C70 and we recently had some issues with our 2nd BTR. It was leaving streaks for one but then, occasionally, it would make a grinding noise and error out with the fault code 094-322. We replaced the 2nd BTR unit and it ran a couple thousand impressions before it ceased functioning. Now, C70 does not get past the error code. 

I have followed the Xerox support article and manually rotated. I have also cleaned and checked the connections. It appears that it tries to turn as each time I see the small color strip on the roller. 

If anyone has any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated :)

Kind Regards

Michael

[TJPrinter]

This problem has not been resolved on the 280. It's still a problem with coated stock. For me it seems like it's worse now than it was on my old v80. Techs have made sure everything is up to date and still they have to keep replacing this. Now that Xerox is having serious problems getting supplies to us, I figure that the next time it needs replacing I'll be down for weeks until a new one arrives.

[Dave_PPCis]

A few years ago, we were switched to the 604K87040 Retard rolllers, which left less residue on the coated sheets.  The tech suggested it was the worn down bits of roller sticking to the sheet that were damaging the BTR and we haven't seen the issue since.

[fabianboxi]

Hello, thanks for the fast reply...

I will try your solutions... I also tried to clean manually the 2nd btr but it just worked for a few thousands

Thanks

Regards

Fabian

[Futaura]

Snap.

For a temporary fix, to finish a job, I use isopropyl alcohol, and lint free cloth, on the roller itself to clean all the toner off, and run in skip pitch mode, if required.

For us, heavyweight coated stock is the killer, whatever the brand. The most common stock we run is actually 150gsm silk, and that doesn't seem to trigger the issue so quickly, even when duplexed. But, as soon as we run 300gsm silk duplex this will usually guarantee the 2nd BTR messing up after 100 or so sheets, if it isn't a brand new unit. We don't have the performance pack option, so 300gsm silk runs slower than 150gsm - I've long suspected this may make things worse.

I spoke to one of our Xerox techs a few weeks ago about the Versant 280, and he'd only been to service one at the time - guess what part needed replacing! Nothing has been changed in the newer Versant models that improves the situation.

[Versant2100User]

Hello Fabian,

There's not really a solution for the problem unless you have service on the machine and it's free to change 2nd BTR. Xerox has made a lot of updates on the 2nd BTR, but the newer ones also give us the same problems on our 3100. Some 2nd BTR's don't last for 1 job on Silk paper. Xerox blames the paper, but we also have problems on recommended Xerox media and even on original Xerox paper. The dirt/streaking is simply just more visible on Silk paper / Coated paper.

In our experience the versant 80 is much better than the 2100 and the 3100. It doesn't waste as much color and therefore the 2nd BTR can function more normally.

We have tried so many different things to fix the problem. For example:

• Cleaning the 2nd BTR manually (Inside)
• Changing the 2nd BTR blade
• Cleaning the IBT cleaner box manually
• Changing the IBT cleaner box blade
• Enabling skip pitch mode
• Trying new scripts to change toner voltage and 2nd BTR settings

The only fix for this is to use uncoated paper that doesn't make the streaking so visible. This isn't really a fix, because it forces the customers to choose a different paper. Fx images are usually not as vivid on uncoated paper.

Xerox should just add a disclaimer that Versant machines can't run coated paper such as Silk paper.

[fabianboxi]

Hello, i am having this problem with my versant 80 and 2100, does anybody have a solution?

regards

Fabian

[k_graham]

In that case I guess its up to Xerox to state what they did differently on the 280 model if anything. Are their any Versant 280 users that care to comment, if not Xerox?

Thanks, 

Ken

[Versant2100User]

We have a 2100 and just received the newest model of 2nd BTR (2.0), the one who 3100 uses. It lasted 1 day with under 3000 impressions and then there were streaks on the paper. We only used 170gsm Xerox Colour Impressions Silk and were not able to complete the print order without streaks.

Our conclusion is that this these Versant machines are not made for Coated paper. Especially Silk paper. If we were running silk paper every day, we would need to replace several 2nd BTR's within a single week.

I'm 99% sure that Xerox will never fully fix this issue by just adjusting the 2nd BTR and making script changes. They need to make a completely different 2nd BTR and replace several parts of the machine. The machine just uses a lot of toner that is too much to handle for the 2nd BTR. The 2nd BTR's also gets damaged very easily by the edge of the paper, which will cause a scratch on the 2nd BTR, that will transfer toner dirt on the printed paper.

[k_graham]

It has been a few months now, is this still an issue on the 180 and did it extend to the 3100's ?

We are considering their new Versant 280 which is the 180 with higher 350 GSM duplex or 400 GSM single side spec. As well it has the option of Metallics but at seemingly excessive price for the option. (I think they put the decimal place 1 to far to the left for the option:(

Alternatively if they have a clearance on their 3100 models for their soon to be released new models due to release of the new ones that will do the additional metalic inks.