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| Dec 27, 2019
Do you ever get white specks or discoloration on your printed cards? Your printer probably just needs a good cleaning.
As with most equipment, care and maintenance of your ID card printer goes a long way. Printers aren’t airtight, and dust and debris will eventually find their way into even the best printers. Regular cleaning will prolong the life of your machine and give you better looking prints. You’ll also avoid potential warranty issues with certain manufacturers. Regular cleaning also prevents larger bits of dirt from contacting the print head, which could cause damage. Be aware: The print head is usually the most expensive part of a machine to replace! Always check your manual for directions to properly clean your printer.
Most card printers use adhesive cleaning rollers, which need to be replaced on occasion. Some rollers are meant to be reused and contain a static charge that collects dust and requires occasional rinsing under water. Cleaning cards are used for cleaning important parts, such as print heads, transport rollers, and the magnetic encoder station. Some print heads can be cleaned using a special cleaning pen.
Most manufacturers recommend cleaning card printers after 500-1000 card prints, or every time after changing a ribbon. Again, check your manual for the recommended cleaning schedule for your printer.
Cleaning your printer isn’t overly complicated, but not doing so can lead to unnecessary repairs and issues. In addition to regular cleaning, preventative maintenance will maintain the system's peak performance. With an IdentiSys Service Maintenance Agreement, periodic system maintenance is scheduled to keep your machine working optimally. Worn or defective parts are replaced and your system is cleaned—all at no extra charge. Contact us for more info on pricing and availability.