Scanner Maintenance Tips – Protecting your Large Format Device from the Elements
With Winter quickly approaching, it seems like a good time to discuss tips for keeping your large format scanner or plotter in tip-top shape during the coldest time of the year. Generally, many of the rules which apply to large format scanner maintenance remain consistent year-round, although there are a few key things to keep in mind once the temperature outside drops below freezing.
The biggest tip we’d like to share pertains to the increased static buildup which generally tends to occur during Winter. The increased occurrence of static which accompanies wintertime isn’t a direct result of the onset of Winter, but instead comes about because people generally turn the heat up in their homes and workspaces as Winter sets in. Turning the heat up causes static electricity to build up in higher volumes within any enclosed space. As a result, it becomes significantly more likely that you or someone else in the vicinity of your large format scanner or plotter may accidentally discharge some static buildup into the device. As always, take the same basic precautions when dealing with your large format scanner or plotter to avoid accidental static discharge – remain grounded, avoid wearing socks on carpet, and if possible, wear an antistatic wrist strap while handling any electronics.
Another tip we’d like to share pertains to the drop in temperature which generally occurs during Winter time. This may sound painfully obvious, but electronic devices do not function optimally in colder weather – in fact, the performance of an electronic device, especially a large format scanner or plotter, will generally suffer when exposed to colder temperatures. For this reason, it is important to ensure that your large format scanner or plotter is kept in a room-temperature space (around 60 degrees) with as little contact with cold (and also excessively hot) fixtures as possible. Make sure the rear of the device isn’t making contact with any piping or windows, and also make sure that the device isn’t located in close proximity to an air duct or any other heat source which might disrupt the inner mechanisms.
Go Back The biggest tip we’d like to share pertains to the increased static buildup which generally tends to occur during Winter. The increased occurrence of static which accompanies wintertime isn’t a direct result of the onset of Winter, but instead comes about because people generally turn the heat up in their homes and workspaces as Winter sets in. Turning the heat up causes static electricity to build up in higher volumes within any enclosed space. As a result, it becomes significantly more likely that you or someone else in the vicinity of your large format scanner or plotter may accidentally discharge some static buildup into the device. As always, take the same basic precautions when dealing with your large format scanner or plotter to avoid accidental static discharge – remain grounded, avoid wearing socks on carpet, and if possible, wear an antistatic wrist strap while handling any electronics.
Another tip we’d like to share pertains to the drop in temperature which generally occurs during Winter time. This may sound painfully obvious, but electronic devices do not function optimally in colder weather – in fact, the performance of an electronic device, especially a large format scanner or plotter, will generally suffer when exposed to colder temperatures. For this reason, it is important to ensure that your large format scanner or plotter is kept in a room-temperature space (around 60 degrees) with as little contact with cold (and also excessively hot) fixtures as possible. Make sure the rear of the device isn’t making contact with any piping or windows, and also make sure that the device isn’t located in close proximity to an air duct or any other heat source which might disrupt the inner mechanisms.