Product

Output devices with a Thermal 2 head

Error

MPE

• MPC: Could not find edge of media after < Search attempts> attempts 38108
• MPC: No valid edge found, check edge detect strip 38116
• EHI: incorrect light level at start of edge detection - check if plate loaded is too large 45031

MCE

• HEAD: couldn't find plate edge due to dirty edge strip on drum 17013
• CARRIAGE: could not find edge of plate check that plate size is entered correctly 7011
• HEAD: incorrect light level at start of edge detection - check if plate size entered too small 17630

Symptoms

• Errors are generated.

Cause

This may be caused by:

• Head installed incorrectly
• Head installed to a very low sum (incorrect surface reflectivity (sr))
• Severe variations of sr in the plate
• Incorrect edge detect groove
• Plate has a curled edge
• Incorrect edgesr value

Solution

1. Check the head installation. Make sure that the sum is approximately 1200, and that the sum does not saturate.
2. Visually inspect the plate for discoloration.
3. Head firmware 1.03c and earlier only: Check that the sr value is consistent across the plate (sample multiple positions) and close to the value in the media tech note. See the media-specific technical note.

Note: If you are using head firmware 1.03c or earlier, consider upgrading to a controlled release with head firmware 1.04d or later. Version 1.04 d implements AGC.

4. Confirm that the edgesr value is correct. See the media-specific technical note for the correct value.
5. Confirm that the edge of the plate is not curled: rotate the plate 180 degrees and load it.
6. Confirm that the edge detect groove is set correctly. To do this, run one of the following scripts:
   • Lotem Quantum: EdgeGrooveQuantum.spt
   • TS NEWS with MCE: EdgeGrooveHydra.spt
   • TS NEWS with MPE: EdgeGroove3244.spt
   See also Finding the Correct Drum Position for Edge Detection (Lotem Quantum).
7. Find the initial and final carriage positions (before and after the expected edge). Make sure that these values are valid (i.e. is the focus laser on the plate?).
8. To see the profile of the plate edge, load a plate and run one of the following scripts:
   You will need the values from the previous step.
   • EdgeMCE.spt: Lotem Quantum, Trendsetter with MCE, Magnus 800/VLF
   • EdgeMPE.spt: Trendsetter with MPE
9. Inspect the plate and make sure that there are no variations on the emulsion, particularly around the edge.
10. If the edge detect still fails, escalate to your local PSS.

See also

• Finding the Correct Drum Position for Edge Detection (Lotem Quantum)

Technical contact(s)

Kyle Good

Submitted by

Doug Jeffery

Date submitted

11 Mar 2006