A Connectivity page has been added to the site. It includes links to device connectivity pages and information on Kodak connectivity to third-party workflows.

The Safety Policies for Service Engineers document has been updated. All service engineers are strongly encouraged to read the updated safety policies and reminded to always apply these policies when working on or around the Kodak output devices.

A site about Creo Feature Licensing (CFL) replaces the Creo Feature Licensing page. Click Feature Licensing under Related Sites in the side menu to access the CFL site.

A new troubleshooting item is available on the Troubleshooting page, describing a set of circumstances that can cause drum oscillation when there is nothing wrong with the drum amplifier. Specifically, if a drum stop command is the first command issued after the output device has been reset or the safety loop has been broken and closed, the drum will oscillate. (The oscillation is worse when the drum stop command is immediately followed by a drum move command.)

This problem exists in DRS firmware earlier than version 2.34. It is solved in DRS version 2.34, but at this time, no firmware releases yet contain this version. In the meantime, it is important to be aware that drum oscillation does not necessarily mean there is a problem of any kind with the output device’s hardware components.

CSC-PSS contact information for CAP has changed. A new e-mail address and separate phone numbers for Australia and Shanghai are now available.

The following Escalation pages have been updated:

• Magnus VLF and AL
• Platesetter 3244
• Thermoflex Wide and Wide II
• Trendsetter 3230 (TS4), 400/800 II base, AL, CL, and Spectrum
• Trendsetter NEWS
• VLF Trendsetter and AL

The following Escalation pages will soon be updated:

• Dolev 200 - 450, 2dry/4dry, 4Press, and 800 Family
• Lotem 200K, 400, 400 Quantum, 800, 800 II, and XL
• Magnus 400 and 400 Quantum
• ThermoFlex Mid and Narrow

Click the contacts link on the Escalation page.

Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish translations of the installation test procedure checklists are posted on the Installation pages for Trendsetter 400/800 II base, AL, CL, and Spectrum, Trendsetter NEWS, Magnus VLF and AL, and VLF Trendsetter and AL. Click the ITP link on the Installation page.

Serial numbers for the Magnus VLF and TH3 have been posted on the Machine Serial Numbers page.

The universal sensor tester (part number 90-1112B) has been improved to be more versatile. The user guide has also been updated. Information is posted on the Tools page.

The cleaning kits for optical (glass) encoders have been updated and the cleaning fluid replaced with a generic glass cleaner. See the link under Encoder on the Procedures page for the device.

See the link under Installation Procedures on the Installation page for the device. Be sure to send an Installation Feedback Report after completing a device installation.

Click the Maintenance page for the device for revised checklists (including translations) and for details on how to complete the checklist online.

Click the Chiller MSDS link on the safety page.

The ALL CTP site has been updated and now contains information about Lotem 800 platesetters.

When installing the GENINE board, the plastic film MUST be removed from the heat sinking compound on the back of the board. Failure to remove this film can lead to unexpected resets or premature failure of this board. For devices built between 1 April 2004 and 20 July 2004, please verify that the GENINE board has been installed correctly. See Checking GENINE board installation on the Procedures page

The troubleshooting note dated April 01, 2004 reported problems with control over the external chiller due to a wiring error in the interface. This error has been corrected by Polyscience and is not longer an issue.
The faulty interface resulted in a detect error on the chiller cable. Most of the chillers have been modified in-house, but if you still see this error or if you notice that the cable detect is masked, refer to the troubleshooting note or contact Al Edge for instructions on how to correct the problem.

All controlled releases are listed in a table on the Control/Settings page, along with their date of release. Bookmark this page if you often need to find controlled releases for multiple products.

Instructions on upgrading Lionel board firmware on the ThermoFlex Wide II device, the UDRC-L unit, and the Magnus VLF device have been added to Firmware Upgrades: Backing up and restoring MCE, MPE, PDB, LIONEL, and GENINE boards. The revised document is posted on the Procedures and Control/Settings pages.

On the recent version of the PolyScience chiller, which is a grey model rather than black, there is an error in the interface connector on the back. The interface has a cable detect that signals the device firmware to turn the coolant pump and the compressor on/off, but some chillers have the incorrect interface installed. See the Chiller Troubleshooting page for a workaround that will fix the cable detect and give some control over the chiller. A field change order (FCO) will be issued later to provide a permanent fix.

Creo MPE devices are no longer being shipped with metal oxide varistors (MOVs) and spark gaps between line and ground. The MOV assembly should be removed from units in the field at the next PM visit. See each output device's FCOs page for details.

The installer file for Service Shell v2.4 SP1 is generating an error message when NVS parameters are backed up. The message will read:

• Timeout waiting for:
• OK
• From this command
• stg verify flash

To avoid this problem, download the updated Service Shell v2.4 SP1 Firmware Upgrade Script from the Service Shell Downloads page and install it on any machine where the Firmware installer file release date is prior to 15 Aug 2003.

It is important to ensure that the final window is clean before swapping out a head because debris build-up can cause a serious reduction in both image quality and power output from the head. A high percentage of heads returned with image quality issues have not had the final window cleaned, and this costs Creo unnecessary money.

A new window/lens cleaning kit (Lens cleaning kit: 04-0012B BOM) is now available that will make lens cleaning easier. It includes:

• acetone
• several different types of cleaning swabs
• rubber gloves
• wiping clothes

Ordering tip: Because of the relatively high cost of shipping this kit, it is most cost-effective to order the kit in multiples of three.

Refer to the Lens Cleaning FAQ for more information.

The following documents have been posted to the MCE Info page:

• MPE to MCE: Common Status Checks
• MPE to MCE: Selected Commands and Parameters

Reminder:  Use this All CTP site as a tool to find your way to information that is in Trendsetter product sites on TechPlanet. For example, all the controlled releases and test files are listed in the hot links above. Or use the Quick Index to find other elusive documents.

This page contains information that is specific to Trendsetter MCE devices. Note that the terms Type II, TSM, and MCE are all used to refer to Trendsetter MCE in Trendsetter documentation.
All of the information listed on Trendsetter MCE Info is also available on the relevant pages within the Trendsetter 400/800, Trendsetter AL and Trendsetter NEWS sites.

This site has been updated to include links for MCE information. Currently the Trendsetter 400/800, Trendsetter 400/800 Autoloader, and Trendsetter NEWS devices in production use MCE.

When a pneumatic cylinder does not push or pull properly, it should be checked for damage and for leaking air. Methods for troubleshooting cylinders and testing for air leaks are given in Diagnosing pneumatic cylinder problems.

All Trendsetter devices (MPE and MCE) are now shipped with a UDRC for debris removal, except for Trendsetter NEWS and Proofsetter Spectrum. See the Debris Removal site for more information about the UDRC.

On VLF devices that have a 1.x thermal head, an error has been reported where part of a swath is missing on the plate, and a full swath may also be missing. This occurs randomly during a plot and may require replacement of the LC-BP and the coaxial (hotlink) cables. For details of the problem, see Missing a Partial Swath.

Creo output devices require clean, dry compressed air. An internal white paper offers general guidelines for achieving the specifications for air cleanliness, volume and pressure as outlined in the Site Preparation & Requirements document for each device. See the Installation page for the link, or go directly to Air Compressors for Kodak Output Devices.

Fretting on contacts between cable and sensor was causing loss of connection. A new cable and sensor should be installed for improved reliability. See E897 on device FCO page for appropriate kit numbers and procedure.

A very quick and thorough method to find differences between two text files is to use the WinDiff utility. The WinDiff tool graphically displays the differences between two ASCII text files, and is particularly useful for comparing NVS dump files. It is available on the Tools page.

At the request of many TechPlanet users, we have added Maintenance to the side menu on output device websites. The Maintenance link opens a page that contains the documents and scheduling needed to perform effective PMs.

Some customers find the UDRC too noisy. The UDRC kit now includes longer hoses and cables so that the unit can be placed farther away from the device operator. See the attachment kits (11-1068B and 11-1069B) on the UDRC Parts page for information.

At sites where customers use positive plates, avoid a firmware upgrade unless it is absolutely necessary. An artifact has been seen lately on Trendsetter VLFs and Trendsetter Spectrums, and it is suspected that it affects all MPE-based devices. The artifact is an unimaged strip, 0.5 to 1.0 mm wide, visible on positive plates at the away end of the plate. The solution to the problem is to downgrade to an earlier version of the MPE firmware.

If you must do a firmware upgrade because you are replacing a thermal head, or for some other reason, see the troubleshooting note for tests to verify that the plates will be free of the problem and for a possible workaround if the problem does occur.

A controlled release is a package of software components that are compatible with each other and with the hardware of a specific output device configuration. These packages are tested by Product Development and then released under an ECO to ensure version control.

It is no longer recommended to simply download the latest version of firmware or software. Rather, upgrade all components to a controlled release version. The controlled release documentation will identify the dependencies and workflow system compatibility. In some cases upgrading only one component may be appropriate, but it should be an exception.

Controlled release CDs are now being shipped with each new output device, and packages will be sent out quarterly to the regions for field upgrades. For more information about controlled releases, follow the links for any device on the Control-Settings page.

Please read the Laser Safety Bulletin for Trendsetters to be reminded of the possible dangers of working with an active laser. This bulletin also explains the correct use of the safety interlock override (SIO) keyswitch.

Creo's Response Center has compiled a quick reference guide to the serial numbers for Trendsetter and Platesetter devices, and it has been reproduced here for field service. See the Parts page for a link to the serial numbers page.

Creo has a contract with Rx Monitoring Services in Manchester, NH (603-666-6606 ext201) to provide Power & Environmental Site Surveys for the NAFTA region. The monitoring service includes voltage, current, temperature, humidity, dust and air pressure. Rx will provide the equipment to be installed at the customer site (for a maximum of 10 days), monitor it and send an e-mail report.

Air pressure monitoring is the latest addition to the Power & Environmental Site Survey. See Installing the Rx Air Pressure Sensor for details.

Creo's Response Center has compiled a quick reference guide to pneumatic hoses and fittings, organizing the hoses by dimensions and the fittings by type. Part numbers, descriptions, dimensions, item numbers and references to drawings are provided. See the Parts page for a link to the hoses/fittings page.