We all know the frustration of a faulty printer slowing down the workload, that’s why it’s crucial to ensure all the parts of your printer are in good working condition.
Replacing label printer parts isn’t easy, and if you’re a busy business owner, you have much more important things to do than rummaging around inside your label printer. Today we’re going to explain what printer parts may need replacing, and why you should always bring in the professionals when your machine starts to let you down.
Why is it important to replace printer parts?
Replacing printer parts helps to prevent common printing annoyances, such as paper jams. When running a business, your time is especially valuable, which is exactly why we offer expert service and maintenance packages tailored to your schedule. The expense of the consultation and replacement is quickly offset by the time you’ll save fixing avoidable printer faults. For this reason, we recommend having your printer serviced frequently. The regularity of these services depends on how much you use it, how old the machine is, and if it has had any notable faults in the past.
Faulty parts can lead not only to a slower and less streamlined printing process but also a lower print quality overall. To ensure that you are producing the highest quality products and resources for your business, it’s good to identify and replace faulty parts at the first sign of trouble. Streaky or faded prints will leave the consumer with a bad impression of your business, which in turn leads to fewer returning customers, less positive reviews and less referrals.
When should you replace printer parts?
There are many indications of faulty printer parts, for example if you notice an increase in paper jams and errors, lower print quality, or slower performance, it could be worth having the machine checked out.
With thermal printers, there is no hard and fast rule for how frequently each part needs replacing, as it varies greatly depending on how much you use your machine. If you notice a decline in print quality, the issue could be anything from expired thermal paper to a more complex problem with the printer engine or control board. Poor printhead alignment can dramatically impact the lifespan of your printer, which is why it’s so important to consult a professional rather than attempting to resolve the more complex printer faults alone, you could be making much bigger issues for yourself down the line.
Thermal printers have fewer moving parts and therefore tend to be more hardy than Inkjet printers, which require regular cartridge replacement. If you use your Inkjet printer frequently and store your cartridges correctly, you should only need to replace cartridges when you see the “out of ink” warning. For more complex part failures with Inkjet printers, it may be more cost effective to replace the whole unit rather than individual parts.
With our service and label printer maintenance package, we offer training to up to six employees teaching proper printer maintenance and crucial system knowledge. This means you’ll always have someone on hand who is qualified to spot common system faults and have them resolved as they arise.
Which parts are most commonly replaced for thermal printers?
With thermal printers, it’s common to encounter problems with the printhead. If you notice a decrease in quality or an incomplete print, this is likely the suspect. With proper cleaning and maintenance, you can usually prevent these problems from arising and prolong the life of your machine.
Here are a few other issues you may run into:
A common problem is a creased ribbon, if your print is streaky even after tweaking the pressure setting, it may be worth looking into a replacement ribbon.
Platen rollers experience a lot of wear and tear under the pressure of the print head and subsequently are more likely to be prone to breaking.
An influx of “out of paper” errors may indicate a problem with the sensors. This can sometimes be resolved by simply cleaning the sensors, but if problems persist, a replacement may be due.
It’s difficult to determine what exactly is the culprit of low-quality prints, which is why we recommend booking in a service if you find yourself experiencing any of these common faults.
Which parts are most commonly replaced for Inkjet printers?
The ink cartridge is the most commonly replaced part for Inkjet printers, and thankfully the replacement process is quite simple. Expired or poorly installed ink cartridges can also cause issues. If they are properly stored an ink cartridge can last around two years, however once opened they tend to dry up after around six months.
The paper feed mechanism is known to wear overtime due to friction.
If you are experiencing frequent paper jams, there may be a problem with the platen rollers.
Stepper motors can operate abnormally due to overheating, which often necessitates a replacement.
A common issue in Inkjet printers is a clogged printhead. As ink dries in the printheads nozzles, they can form solid blocks that prevent proper function of the wiper and spittoon, stopping the ink from flowing as intended. This can usually be fixed by using your printer’s inbuilt “clean printhead” function, but if this problem continues to persist, it might be time for a replacement. For more tips on print heads see our print head guide.
This is a lot of issues to keep an eye out for, no matter which type of printer you rely on. And even if you can identify the issue, repairing it is another challenge entirely. Some printer repairs are simple, but many others need an expert hand and access to replacement parts.
How to replace label printer parts
If you are keen to attempt to service the machine yourself, it’s worth bearing in mind that tampering with the machine without sufficient knowledge can risk further damaging the printer. Simple repairs and services can be done by hand, such as calibration issues. For these it’s best to consult your printer’s manual or search for the model name and number for precise instructions.
At Label Line, we offer expert service and maintenance that can be tailored to your schedule, this provides a safer and more time efficient alternative to replacing printer peripherals independently.
We understand how much a growing business relies on its printer, and that if it goes wrong, it greatly affects your bottom line. If you call us with an issue, our maintenance team will be with you as soon as possible. They’ll conduct a quick but thorough inspection, and we’ll organize the necessary repairs immediately.
We have access to a large supply of replacement printer parts and peripherals for all leading brands, so that repairs will be completed faster than what our rivals promise. It’s very rare that we need to order parts in, so we’ll always get you back up and running as soon as possible.