Maintenance is an essential part of printer service. It consists of keeping components clean, replacing or rebuilding worn components, and lubricating critical areas. This relieves undo stress on the other components of the printer. Proper maintenance greatly improves printer reliability and means less down time. It also assures optimum printer quality.
Mechanical parts are often prone to a great deal of wear and tear before a serious breakdown occurs.
The majority of wear is caused from the friction produced by ordinary mechanical contact as well as by debris and dried lubricants in the drive train. Over time, any accumulation of dust, debris or toner will work its way into just about every mechanism in the printer, causing trouble such as sticky gears, slipping belts, grooved fusers, and fans that fail to turn. A routine series of cleaning and lubrication procedures can help extend the life of the mechanical parts in the printer itself. PM's might seem time consuming at first but often save more work and expense in the long run. Proper maintenance throughout the life of the printer helps to extend its life, making servicing it more predictable.