[Genealib] Re: ALOS Z46 plus MSP3000 printer in our genealogy room

[Libby Feil]

Hi, all--
	YES!  We've had the MSP 3000 printers for a few years now. 
We had to purchase them when we bought new microfilm machines about 
4-1/2 years ago; the machines we bought only work with these 
printers.  Over the years I have investigated all kinds of options 
for replacing these printers, but haven't found any way to do so. 
(They seem to be hooked up to the microfilm machines via SCSI, with a 
proprietary interface that does not match that of any other parallel 
port cables I have seen.)  I would replace these printers if I could, 
though, because they have been nothing but trouble.  Also, we can 
only buy our ink from one source and it costs about 10 times as much 
as regular laser jet toner.
	We have Kodak microfilm readers, not ALOS Z46, and I doubt 
that the readers are the problem.  These printers are extremely 
poorly designed.  The fuser unit has ridged teeth that get gunked up 
and jam and then shred paper.  When we first got these printers, they 
were jamming a few times a week!  We had service calls just about 
every week and had to replace the fuser unit many times.  (Under our 
service contract, fortunately, so at no cost to us.)
	Our problem turned out to be two-fold.  First, the ink on the 
paper seems to rub off onto the fuser unit itself, leading to a sort 
of sticky gluey build-up on its teeth, which would rub off on the 
paper and cause jams and shred the paper.  If people did print 
something with a lot of black areas, that would make the build-up 
happen faster and cause jams faster.  Second, the printer would 
frequently pull multiple pieces of paper in at a time, and these 
would then jam up.
	We eventually worked out a solution, and now we only have 
jams once every 4 to 6 months tops.  Our solution is two-part, and 
both parts are crucial.  First, we have a service contract with Kodak 
(the manufacturer of our microfilm machines), and they come out about 
every 4 months or so to clean the build-up off the fuser unit.  They 
replace the unit if it seems to need it, too.  Second, we keep the 
temperature in our microfilm room very cool -- in the mid- to 
high-60s.  This reduces humidity in the room and keeps the sheets of 
paper from sticking together, so that now the machines only pull in a 
page at a time.  If we wait too long in between service calls, or if 
we turn up the temperature in the room, the machines start jamming 
again.
	If anyone has any ideas on how to replace these MSP 3000s 
with regular laser printers, I'd sure love to hear them!
	Meanwhile, Ann Marie, don't let your service contract 
provider wriggle out of their obligation to you.  The issues you are 
having are known faults with the equipment.  No matter what setting 
the operator uses when printing, these printers will jam, when 
"regular" ones would not.
Best wishes,
Libby Feil

>Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:55:18 -0400
>From: "Ann Marie Schlindwein" <aschlindwein at erielibrary.org>
>Subject: [Genealib] ALOS Z46 plus MSP3000 printer in our genealogy
>	room
>
>Hi-
>We've been having a lot of trouble with MSP 3000 printer that is 
>connected to an ALOS Z46 microfilm machine in our genealogy room. 
>The prints frequently get jammed and the company we have a service 
>contract with has had to replace the fuser several times.  Now they 
>are telling it is an operator error because someone used the auto 
>exposure which dumped a bunch of toner into the printer and resulted 
>in damage to the printer.
>Does anyone else have trouble with this type of printer and machine?
>Thanks-
>Ann Marie Schlindwein
>Erie County Public Library
>814-451-6957
>aschlindwein at erielibrary.org

-- 

Elizabeth "Libby" Feil, Librarian
MA, MLS
Manager, Local & Family History Services
St. Joseph County Public Library
304 S. Main St.
South Bend, IN  46601
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