Epson R200 Printing up to the hole

Yep,
In the software that comes with it you can select the inner diameter you want to print to. I print right up to the edge of the hole. Its a great printer and i have been really impressed with mine so far.
Mike

Hi

Don't play the DVD until it has the ink has dried for 24 hours is the Epson advice, if you print to the centre.

Regards

I have a 200 and a 300 and think they are great for the money.
I print to the hole, lift it out of the tray and straight into its case, no problem.
A word of warning, take great care of the CD/DVD tray, the plastic insert is unforgiving if they become damaged.

I recently purchased the R200 and had been very pleased with the printer, and the price of replacement cartridges from Lynxdv. However, my disc tray has recently been vary erratic in accepting discs to print. I have only printed off a couple of dozen discs, and it appears my tray is now "worn out". There is no sign of physical damage and I cannot believe that the tray has been reduced in thickness for the rollers to be unable to pull the tray into position. I have yet to change my original ink cartridges.

Could it be that something is acting like a lubricant upon the surface of the tray and will not allow the rollers to grip properly? Might this be excess ink that has somehow got on the tray or some form of silicon grease that is applied to the rollers, or near that area during manufacture. Apart from trying to clean all mating surfaces, has anyone tried "roughing up" the edges of the plastic holder where it comes into contact with the rollers, and if so, did it work! I'm tempted to try doing this with some fine grain emery paper or wet and dry, but thought I would pose the question first.

I've been on the Epson UK website, but have been unable to find a working link to send a technical enquiry regarding this issue. I believe that they will replace the tray FOC, but having read reports on other forums, it is a short term solution, and does not cure the fault. If you give the tray a helping hand in, it will generally work, but sometimes it just goes too far and shoves the tray out of the back of the printer and is unable to grip it properly to pull it back to the front.

All that said, this is a great value for money printer, giving stunning photo quality images on glossy photo paper, and great cd and dvd printing when followed up with a spray coating of fixative lacquer.

If only there were something that would make the tray work reliably, I would be as pleased as I was when I first purchased the printer and printed off my first disc.

Any thoughts or ideas welcome.

Rick.

My tray can be problematic on occasion as well, anyone have contact details for getting a replacement?

I'm sorry John, that's what I was trying to do from the Epson website, but couldn't find a working link. Out of interest, can you see any physical damage to your tray, and have you done anything to the printer to try to rectify the problem?

Hi

The DVD tray has a tendency to push out from the mark, I think I pushed it in once (Too far) & it clonked against the print head.

The result was that the thin plastic on the leading edge was bent, I straightend it & its OK now.

However the tray doesn't always load or eject correctly & have have to press eject, reload the tray & continue.

However it can print a dozen DVD's or so in a row without a problem, I've nearly finished the original ink & LynxDV's ink will soon be tested ;)

Rick, I think that a search for 'replacement tray' throws up a posting by akanga (June 2004) where the problems with the Epson tray and replacement are discussed. Tony C.

I've been googling and came up with this thread http://forums.cdcovers.cc/archive/index.php/t-105124.html
Amongst many posts, there are three solutions that may work:

1. If you use the printer mainly for cd/dvd printing, the printheads can leave deposits of ink on the rollers. If you load up ten sheets of A4 and let them feed through it can help clean up the rollers. If this doesn't cure it, try q tips with a cleaning soultion on the rollers.

2. The plastic tip that gets damaged can be cured by doing this:
http://discussions.hardwarecentral.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162648
I have no damage to the tip as far as I can tell, and also the tip doesn't do anything until the tray gets moved into the printer about 1 centimeter; if it isn't dragging the tray in at all, then the tip cannot reach the rollers.

3. Quote
"About once a week take a paper napkin and blot up the excess ink from a sponge located inside and to the far left inside the printer. The ink cartridge apparently uses this sponge to clean the print heads and excess ink can build up on it causing smears on your printed DVDs. This happened to be once and since I started blotting up the excess ink it hasn't happened again."
If this excess ink can smear a cd/dvd, then it must also be able to get on the rollers.

Rick.

Thanks Tony, I'll try a search. I seem to remember this thread, but as I didn't own a R200 at the time, although I was considering buying one and may even have posed a question in the thread, I didn't bookmark it.

Rick.

Thanks again to Tony, the link he refered to has a posting of a phone number for Epson customer services. Have your receipt at hand and call the number:

Epson phone number for replacement tray
08701 637766

I'm sorry I didn't make a note of the member's name, and so can't credit the contributor who gave this information, but whoever you are, thankyou very much.

Rick.

i have a Espon r200 and never used it for disk printing, am i right in saying that this printer will print directly onto the disk, or do i need special paper.
thanks
john.

yep.....directly onto a "printable" disc

Thanks dvcam,
john.

The printing direct to DVd is superb but it will smudge if you carelessly handle the disk with damp fingers - that ice cold bottle of beer might just do it!
Solution is a fixative spray but also worth looking at is the "laminating" service offered by Lynx (by the way i can really recommend their inks - used several cartridges now and they work very well). Not tried the laminating service yet but seems like a great idea and a good price.
My tray is still working well after about 60 disks but i am eyeing it suspiciously as i type.
Mike

I tried printing on the cd/dvd tray and having no luck, i put the printable dvd in the tray, inserted it in the printer, waited for ages and nothing happened, do i have to actually push the tray in or what,also there is a plastic type cover does that sit on top or is it just a transit packaging thing.
thanks
john.

Hi

If C:\ is your system drive, try this link from your manual
If anyone else clicks on the link, it won't work, unless you have the R200 ;)
C:\Program Files\EPSON\TPMANUAL\ESPR200\REF_G\INDEX.HTM
UPDATE OK johnxls it ain't a link, copy & paste into your browser & it should take you to the helpfile page?

Or open your online manual

Programs
Epson
ESPR200 Reference Guide
How to Print

Introduction
Printing Text and Web Pages
Printing Photos
Printing on CD/DVD
Printing on Envelopes

These instructions are good IMO

Thanks john

i am not near the machine at the minute and just wanted to know some basic questions about the printer as stated in my post.
jon

OK, there's no point in going into too much depth unles the animated instuctions don't help. (Lining up to marks on the tray etc.)

This sounds like the 8 cm adapter which needs removal for full sized DVD printing.

thanks again john

do i push in the tray or does it take itself in?

John

Push the tray until the white arrow marks in the tray line up with the black arrow marks on the guide, use my link to see it illustrated (Picture paints a thousand words etc.).

Not related to the above answer
Replacement tray

Just been here for a replacement tray, 10 minutes + wait after loads of number pressing to get to the rigt department
Get your serial number ready & date of purchase

The give you a ref number, so have your pen & paper ready

john thanks

what link?

See my post Today, 09:55 :confused:

anyone else know?
thanks john

Johnxl1s, I think John meant this:

C:\Program Files\EPSON\TPMANUAL\ESPR200\REF_G\INDEX.HTM

in a posting of his from the previous page.

What software are you using to try to print your discs? The supplied program,
Epson print cd, feels pretty basic, but is actually very good. As johnpr98 has advised, if you read the manual either where he has indicated or direct from the disc that came with the printer, it shows an animated tutorial explaining what you need to do to print onto cd/dvd.

Johnpr98, I have not tried the phone number I posted, but I'm glad you eventually managed to get through. Did you have all the relevant information to hand and if so, did they say how long you would have to wait for your replacement tray to arrive?

Rick

rbarry

Epson said the tray would arrive in the next few days

I had all the relevant info, I wasn't sure which number was the serial number. so I noted the 2 numbers ;) (It's the top one with the barcode)

Johnxl1s

My link may not be useful to you as I suspect you have a Mac & I'm talking Windows speak ;)

Anyways, thanks for listening

Johnxl1s

Considering you wanted an answer urgently yesterday, how about some feedback which may help other users.

Have you printed onto a DVD yet?

Cheers

hi john

no, i have'nt printed yet, time... when i get the time i will feedback.
many thanks
jon

If the printer is under warranty then Epson UK will provide a replacement CD tray free of charge. Otherwise they are on Ebay at about £8 including P&P.
I found extending the length of the tray using a method similar to Rick's second link (24 May} solved the problem completely. IMHO I think the tray lip is not deep enough

My replacement tray has just arrived

ordered 1st June 2005 11:00
arrived 3rd June 2005 10:30

The old one is behaving at the moment so I may not try it out for a while.
Some of my inks are under 20% left (How long)

After the 20% point they keep going for quite a while longer.If you carry on the printer i think tells you it empty and stops. I use this method and then either put in compatible's or bulk refill mine.

Johnpr98,

Glad you got the replacement tray so quickly, pretty good service. I must get on and give that a number a call. I too have had a 20% low warning, on one of the cyan's I think. I got another 20% low warning soon after (I think it was for the same cartridge, but I didn't take that much notice), but this time it asked if I would like to be reminded again when it was down to 10% low. This is a great facility; if you're just printing one offs' as I generally do, then you can be pretty confident that you will be warned before the ink runs out and not waste time and paper on a print job. If you are printing an unattended batch job, then you have the option to change the cartridge in good time so as not to spoil the print run. Hurrah for Epson!

Rick.

2nd June 2005, 16:00 #29johnxl1s
Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ireland
Posts: 392

hi john

no, i have'nt printed yet, time... when i get the time i will feedback.
many thanks
jon

Did you ever work it out johnxl1s

Regards

Christ! That sponge was really full of ink. Must be wasting an auful lot.

No answer forthcoming on how johnxl1s got on with his DVD printing

Why ask so many questions without an update?

btw I'm using a lower ink setting now ;)

Hi John,

What do you mean by "lower ink setting" ?

Sorry, just a tongue in cheek remark about my change from bold blue to blue in the last 2 posts of mine.

I would not bother getting in touch with Epson UK they don't recognise it as a fault and they don't take any notice of complaints etc in "forums" that was the reply I got by e-mail from them.Yet in American Forums it is quoted as being a "design" fault, the answer is just to push or apply a little pressure to the tray to ease it in.Thats what I have been doing since mine started giving me problems and have had no problems since bit of a pain in the bum but saves having to purchase a replacement.
Mick

And not get a free replacement tray?????

Hi Mick,
John98pr got a free replacement tray 12 days ago, so if you try 'phoning the number I posted you should get the same (John has confirmed all this information earlier in this thread!)

I don't agree with the description and cure you posted about the tray, admittedly what you describe is generally what happens, but I have had my tray fail to grip when it's been pulled half way through the printer, and also, as I have already posted, had it go through to the other side of the printer and not return. I am convinced it is a problem with the rollers becoming "lubricated" by excess ink, and so cannot grip the cd tray.

John98pr: now I feel stupid!

It would be nice to hear if Johnxls has got to grips with DVD printing though, wouldn't it?!

Rick.

barryr

wouldn't it :D

It would also help if I could get your name right johnpr98 :o

http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=34072
Hi Johnx(1ls)

We were worried about you

http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthre...6&goto=lastpost (Edit, this page link)

Drum Roll (I know a drum teacher ;) , in joke for Gavin G)

Does this mean Johnxls has a spare cd tray to give away for an Epson R200/300? !!!!!

(not to mention the printer)

Rick

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for an answer from past performance

btw I'm very please with the Epson R200 DVD printing

Silver discs & full colour, full disc printing are a very nice facilty, I don't think the TDK 100 can do this?
http://www.macuser.co.uk/macuser/reviews/51316/tdk-lpcw100.html

I'm sticking with the R200

btw My ink is getting really low now

Regards

Hi I have the same trouble with the R300.
the tray is now sticking after several months of light use. Otherwise the printer is great although very slow to re-act to
commands. I would be interested to know how to contact Epsom about a replacement,
I haven't tried compatible inks yet, I've
heard horrific stories about them.
Roy

Go back to page 2, post 2;
http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=33636&page=2&pp=10

Regards

Hello all. I too had similar problems with DVD tray not feeding after moderate use. Found to be like my printer at work where rollers need to be cleaned. Fold the dvd tray holder in the upright position, now black rollers are visible underneth. Using rubbing alchol and a Q-tip clean left 4 rollers as they are the ones that contact the tray, also clean bottom of dvd tray with alchol and Q-tip.
The oils on are hands get on the bottom of the tray and then transfer to the rollers, cleaning removes the oils and printer works great again. I clean the rollers & tray about every 100 disks now and have not had a problem since.