Alignment Failure - HP DesignJet T1600 MFP

Image Diagnostics Print

The Image Diagnostics Print consists of patterns designed to highlight printhead reliability problems.

It helps you to check the performance of the printheads that are currently installed in your printer, and whether any printhead suffers from clogging or other problems.

Procedure

To print the Image Diagnostics Print:

Use the same paper type that you were using when you detected a problem.
Check that the selected paper type is the same as the paper type loaded into the printer. See View information about the paper.
At the printer's front panel, tap , then Print diagnostic.

It takes about two minutes to print the Image Diagnostics Print.

The print is divided into two parts, both of which test printhead performance:

Part 1 (top) consists of rectangles of pure colors, one for each printhead. This part represents the print quality that you will get from each color.
Part 2 (bottom) consists of small dashes, one for each nozzle on each printhead. This part complements the first, and aims more specifically to detect how many faulty nozzles each printhead has.

Look carefully at the print. The names of the colors are shown above the rectangles and in the center of the patterns of dashes.

First look at the upper part of the print (part 1). Each colored rectangle should be a uniform color without any horizontal lines across it.

Then look at the bottom part of the print (part 2). For each individual colored pattern, check that most of the dashes are present.

If you see horizontal lines in part 1 and also missing dashes in part 2 for the same color, the printhead responsible needs cleaning. However, if the rectangles look solid, do not worry about just a few missing dashes in part 2; these are acceptable because the printer can compensate for a few clogged nozzles.

Here is an example of a gray printhead in a good state:

And here is an example of the same printhead in a bad state:

Corrective action

The following steps provide the complete procedure for this topic.

Clean any faulty printheads (see Clean the printhead). Then reprint the Image Diagnostics Print to see whether the problem has been solved.
If the problem remains, clean the printheads again, and reprint the Image Diagnostics Print to see whether the problem has been solved.
If the problem remains, consider cleaning your printheads manually (see Clean the printhead). You could also try reprinting your current print job, in case it now prints satisfactorily.
If the problem still remains, replace any persistently faulty printheads (see Handling ink cartridges and printhead), or contact HP Support (see Contact HP Support).

Align the printhead

The following steps provide the complete procedure for this topic.

Precise printhead alignment is essential for accurate colors, smooth color transitions, and sharp edges in graphical elements. Your printer has an automatic printhead alignment process which runs whenever the printhead has been accessed or replaced.

You may need to align the printhead after a paper jam or if you are experiencing print-quality problems.

Load the paper you wish to use, see Paper handling. You can use a roll or a cut sheet; plain white paper is recommended.

CAUTION:
Do not use transparent or semi-transparent paper to align the printhead. HP recommends plain or bond paper.
Ensure that the scanner is lowered, as a strong light source near the printer during printhead realignment can affect alignment.
From the front panel, tap , then Align printheads.

Note:
Printhead alignment can also be started from the Embedded Web Server (Support > Print Quality Troubleshooting), or from the HP Utility (Windows: Support > Print Quality Troubleshooting; Mac OS X: Information and Print Quality > Align).
If the loaded paper is satisfactory, the printer runs the realignment and prints a realignment pattern.
The process takes about five minutes. Wait until the front-panel display shows the process complete before using the printer.

If the printer cannot complete the printhead alignment successfully, you may be asked to clean the printhead and try again.

Clean the printhead

As long as the printer is kept turned on, automatic cleaning is performed periodically.

This ensures there is fresh ink in the nozzles and prevents nozzle clogs, thus preserving print quality. If you have print quality problems, please see Image Diagnostics Print before proceeding.

To clean the printhead, go to the front panel and tap , then Printheads, and select the color group including the color that needs cleaning (Clean all, Clean MK-Y, Clean C-M-PK-G).

The front-panel display recommends reseating or replacing the printhead

The following steps provide the complete procedure for this topic.

Remove the printhead, see Remove the printhead.
Clean the electrical connections on the backside of the printhead with a lint-free cloth. If moisture is needed to remove residue, do not use water-based cleaners in the electrical contacts: such cleaners may damage electrical circuits. In some locations the use of cleaner products is regulated. Ensure that your cleaner follows federal, state, and local regulations.

CAUTION:
This is a delicate process and may damage the printhead. Do not touch the nozzles on the bottom side of the printhead, especially not with any alcohol.
Reinsert the printhead, see Insert the printhead.
Check the front-panel display message. If the problem remains, try a new printhead.

Remove the printhead

The following steps provide the complete procedure for this topic.

CAUTION:

Make sure the printer wheels are locked (the brake lever is pressed down) to prevent the printer from moving.

CAUTION:

Printhead replacement must be performed with the printer powered on.

From the front panel, press , then select the Printhead tab, then Replace.

The front panel may ask whether the replacement printhead is new or used.

Note:
You can cancel the process at any time by pressing .
The front panel asks you to open the window.
The carriage moves automatically to the left side of the printer.

CAUTION:
If the carriage is left in the removal position for more than three minutes without inserting or removing the printhead, it tries to move back to its normal position in the right-hand end.
Raise the blue printhead cover.
Pull the blue cover back towards you, raising the black piece to which it is attached.
Leave the black piece approximately vertical.
Grasp the printhead by the blue pieces on each side.
Lift the printhead out of the carriage.

Insert the printhead

The following steps provide the complete procedure for this topic.

Note:

You cannot insert a new printhead successfully if a connected ink cartridge has not enough ink to complete the printhead replacement process. In this case, you should replace the ink cartridge before inserting the new printhead. You can use the old cartridge later if it still contains some ink.

Remove the orange protective caps by pulling them down.
Insert the new printhead.

CAUTION:
Insert the printhead slowly and vertically, straight down. It may be damaged if you insert it too fast, or at an angle, or if you rotate it as you insert it.
Check that the printhead is correctly aligned with its ink connectors.
Lower the black piece over the printhead.
Close the blue cover and make sure that it is properly closed.

When the printhead has been inserted correctly and is accepted by the printer, the printer beeps.

Note:
If the printer does not beep when you insert the printhead and the Replace message appears on the front-panel display, the printhead may need to be reinserted.
Close the window.
The front-panel display confirms that the printhead is correctly inserted. The printer starts checking and preparing the printhead. The default routine process takes 10 minutes. If the printer finds problems in preparing the printhead, it takes longer, up to 45 minutes. After the printhead is checked and prepared, the printhead realignment procedure runs automatically if paper is loaded, see Align the printhead.
You are recommended to perform a color calibration after inserting a new printhead. See Color calibration.

Alignment Failure - HP DesignJet T1600 MFP

Image Diagnostics Print

Procedure

Corrective action

Align the printhead

Clean the printhead

The front-panel display recommends reseating or replacing the printhead

Remove the printhead

Insert the printhead

Additional support options

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