Random misalignment of printheads on PageWide Pro 577

[rratek]

I'm having a problem with my PageWide Pro 577 intermittently printing with the printheads seemingly out of alignment.

Below is a document I created to highlight the issue. It is a simple repeating series of horizontal lines in each of the print cartridge colors:

I took that document and placed it on the printer's scanner, then instructed the printer to make twenty copies. On the eleventh page out I got an example of the issue:

Misaligned Copy

Note the strange squiggly pattern at the top of the page which was not in the original document. Note also the alternating up/down stepping in what should be perfectly straight lines. Those misalignments correspond with the printer's ten printheads.

This problem has been happening at random to all users on different computers using different applications, as well as when using the copy function directly on the machine. I would estimate it happens on about 1 out of 30 pages. When it happens, it consistently prints the black squiggle at the top, but the stair-stepping may occur on the entire page or only parts of the page. You can see this in the above image where it stopped in the last inch or so.

Firmware is up to date (MAHDWOPP1N001.2042B.00). I have tried every type of cleaning cycle. I ran a "Tap 21". I ran a printhead alignment. Nothing has helped.

[Tatt2guy]

I am also having this issue, exactly the same as you, and have not been able to fix it.

Is yours still doing it?

[rratek]

Yes, mine is still having this issue. Did yours start around the time of the latest firmware update?

I spent some time with HP support and they were unable to resolve. Suggested I take it in to a local repair center. Since that would be more time/money/trouble than the printer is worth, I'm just going to put it in less important printing role (i.e. my office) and hope a future firmware update helps.

[Tatt2guy]

Dont know if it did a firmware update, but its been doing it well over a month. The machine was two years old, and after exhaustive testing we came to the conclusion the machine was on its last legs. My boss brought the same model last week and its done exactly the same thing. brand new out of the box.

Its driving me crazy

[Tatt2guy]

Has the most recent firmware fixed your problem?