Setting
up Test Print Printer Arrays
Setting
up an array of printers to test your finished product plays
a crucial role in your QC (Quality Control) program. For this
reason, setting up your printer test bed correctly will help
you to streamline this process a much as possible. This article
details how to setup your hardware and software for an efficient,
trouble-free testing system. The subject of types of print
tests, how they fit in with your remanufacturing process, and
how to create your own test files are topics certainly worthy
of discussion, but we save that for another newsletter.
It
is worth noting that some printers will automatically generate
a test print when a cartridge has been changed. Be sure to
determine which of your test printers has this capability.
Examine the print it generates, and if it accomplished the
level of QC that you desire, by all means leave them out of
this test bed array. They will do their job without being connected
to a computer. Don’t make your test bed more complicated than
need be. The fewer printers connected to your pc, the better.
Computer
specs:
OS:
Windows 2000 or XP computer with at least 512 MB RAM (1
GB recommended).
CD-Rom:
4x or greater
Video:
Nvidia, ATI, SIS, or Intel capable of a 1024 x 768 resolution.
USB
2.0 ports and a Parallel port
A quality 6
port USB 2.0 hub (AC powered, not a self-powered hub)
In
our example, we’ll connect 6 printers, 4 USB printers, and
2 parallel printers. You’ll need:
4
standard A-to-B USB cables (use quality USB cables designed
for USB 2.0).
2
USB-parallel converter cables. USB-parallel converter cable
turns your older parallel port printers into USB printers
(highly recommended).
An
Internet connection can be very useful when tracking down printer
drivers.
If
you have other USB devices installed, I recommend removing
them. When you encounter problems down the road, having only
your printers as USB devices simplifies troubleshooting.
Make
this a dedicated testing PC. Don’t try to have it do double
duty performing other tasks.
Computers
are cheap enough these days, plus as part of your QC program,
it’s a vital tool.
Step
1: Connect Your Hub To The PC
Step
2: Install And Test Your Printers One At A Time
Step
3: Write Down Each Printer As You Connect Them Including
The USB Port Number It Is Connected To. You can find this out by
clicking on the properties tab, then the ports tab.
Step
4: Rename Printers
I
find it very useful to rename the printer something more
descriptive than the default. For example, an HP 6122 installs
with the default name as Hewlett Packard DeskJet 6122 series.
If it were on USB001, I’d rename it HP6122 USB1.
Rename printers simply by right clicking and choose rename.
Step
5: Label Hub Ports
Once you have got all your printers installed
tested, and renamed, label the hub ports with each printer
and port number. This is helpful when cables get unplugged from
the hub by accident. Note: Windows will ask you every time you
install a new printer if you wish it to be the default printer.
It does not matter in our test process which printer is set to
default. Consider making the printer you will use the most your
default printer.
Step
6: Set Print Preferences
Check
to see all printers are set to print normal quality (or
fast-normal-whatever that is) on
plain paper this is done under the printing preferences
tab on each printer
Step
7: Create Print Files
By
whatever method you create your test files, convert them
all to pdf format, (using one of many shareware programs that
create pdf files from your original file) and print using acrobat
free reader. I recommend a naming convention that is cartridge
model number specific. An example is HP78.pdf, HP45.pdf,
etc. This is helpful because some printers will accept a number
of different cartridges. If you have printers that only use
one type of cartridges, name your test file the name of the
printer used. For example, the Canon Pixma i1600 uses only
PG-040, CL-41. I would name my files Black Test
Canon Pixma.pdf,
and Color Test Canon Pixma.pdf. Be
sure to pre-print the cartridge info somewhere on your test
file. You don’t want to hand write this info, and since
each cartridge has its own test file, its quite efficient.
Step
8: Test Each Printer
Using
known good cartridges, print each of your test file its
corresponding printer.
Organize
your reference test prints into a binder. Include example
of good and bad prints. This will make training personnel
easier and create a standard that is not subjective. Be clear
on exactly how many print anomalies fit within your standard.
You
are now set to proceed testing,
Printing
tips:
It
is very important to cancel uncompleted test prints before
trying to complete subsequent test prints. Print jobs are
stored in the print spooler, RAM (the computer’s memory),
and on your hard drive in a temporary (.tmp) file until
successfully completed. On HP printers, uncompleted print
jobs sometime will hang in the spooler even after you cancel
a print. This in turn usually hangs the entire printing
subsystem preventing other jobs from printing. You can monitor
each printer’s
job status by opening the properties tab for that printer.
This is also where you cancel print jobs. When you cancel
a print, and it remains in the job queue, you must reboot
the machine to clear the spooler and memory.
This
can really slow the whole process down. Minimize this by always
canceling uncompleted or unsuccessful print jobs before trying
to print again perhaps even to another printer. Note if your
printer has a cancel button, using it may help clear stuck
jobs
When
a job does not print, many people tend to re-issue a print
command repeatedly. This is not logical, always compounds
the problem and should be avoided. When the printer won’t print
without giving you an error message, check the properties
tab for that printer for stuck documents. Also keep in mind
that computers/printers are not really designed for the constant
swapping out of cartridges that occur during testing, and
sometimes will get “confused.” This is to be expected
from time to time. Restarting the computer will fix most problems
but can be time consuming. This is why it is important not
to bog the spooler down with multiple print requests. Always
try to delete (cancel), unsuccessful print jobs. Reboot
the workstation as a last resort.
Remember
that the more memory you have, the smoother this process
will go. I suggest also increasing the size of your windows “Swap
File” (A portion of your hard drive set up as virtual memory
for windows to use to store temp files such as print jobs).
By
default, it is set too low.
From
your desktop, right click on “My Computer”
Click
the “Properties tab”
Click
the “Advanced” tab
Click
the “Performance Options” tab
Under “Virtual
Memory”, click “Change”
Increase “Initial
Size” to at least 3 x the “Recommended Size” listed
right below
Set “Maximum
Size” to 110% of “Initial Size”
Click “Set”
Click “OK”
You
will need to reboot for these settings to be applied.
About
test files:
First
decide what type of test prints you need. If you plan on
including the test print in with the cartridge at point of
sale, you’ll want to spend a little more time designing
your test print. Consumer bound test prints should not only
verify a quality cartridge, but should also advertise your
company, and perhaps include a savings coupon for subsequent
purchase. Your well-defined collection program can also
be promoted here. Other campaigns such as “Tell a
Friend”, “10th Refill
Free” and “Customer
Loyalty Discount” also
work well when contained here. These test prints are the
ultimate in providing consumer confidence in your products,
and you can go a long way towards convincing a sometimes-skeptical
consumer that your product is equivalent or better than
a new OEM cartridge. When are remanufactured cartridges
better than OEM cartridges? When they contain more ink than
the OEM equivalent.
Good
luck!
Sincerely,
Vic
Johnson
R-Jet
Tek Communications Director
PS:
Keep in mind that some printers automatically print a test
page when a cartridge is changed.
Often, this
print is sufficient for cartridge testing verification. These
printers do not need to be connected to a computer for this to
occur. If this is the case, do not connect these to your computer,
as this will reduce CPU overhead and improve overall performance. |
