How to Test a Copier
Testing a copier, either to determine if there is an issue that needs professional service support or to ascertain if it is worth buying for your office, can be accomplished in a few steps. Copiers today are highly sophisticated devices that not only provide array of features, but also are subject to myriad issues. Some issues are readily solved while others can lead to expensive repair bills. Knowing a few steps to test a copier can relieve future stress and expense.
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Instructions
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Testing an Analog Copier
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Examine the copier. A dirty, dented or cracked covering on the copier tells you a lot about how well the copier was cared for. Check everything you can see, touch or open. Finding that the paper trays are hard to open or won't close securely is a warning sign, as are any scratches on the platen glass. The glass on an analog copier is very important and must be clean and free of any scratches.
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Run several copies. Using fresh and clean originals, make several sets of copies using any available features like stapling, sorting, two-sided and reduction/enlargements. If any of these features do not work properly, cause jams or create poor-quality copies, it is time to either place a service call (if you own the machine) or keep looking for the right copier.
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Time the engine speed. Copiers all have a specific engine speed. If, for example, the copier you are testing has a rated speed of 40 pages per minute, run a job of 40 copies and, using a stopwatch, record the time the copier takes to complete the job. Also time the speed it takes to run double-sided copies, legal and ledger-sized paper. Slight variations from rated speed are not uncommon, but variances over 10 percent are a warning sign.
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Examine the drum. The copier drum is the critical component involved in the copy process. Though drums can be replaced and are often a covered item in service contracts, a scratched or discolored drum is a sign of a worn or damaged drum.
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Ask about parts availability. You will need to contact a dealer for this part. As analog copiers are no longer manufactured, getting parts and supplies may prove to be a challenge. If the copier functions well but getting parts and supplies is a challenge, the machine may not be worth any investment, no matter how well it functions.
Testing a Digital Copier
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Complete all the above steps when testing a digital copier. Though more advanced, a digital copier has many of the same components as an analog copier. In digital copiers made in the late 1990's or early 2000's, expect to see few differences between its components and those of an analog device.
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Connect your laptop to the copier. One advantage of a digital copier is that, when equipped with a print board, digital copiers can serve as either a network or parallel printer. Connecting your laptop and loading the appropriate print driver will allow you to test how well the copier works as a printer. You will also determine whether the copier can handle prints from specific applications. For example, if you are using an application that requires a Post Script printer, you will be unable to print unless the copier is equipped with a Post Script board. Also check for image quality, print options available in the print driver and speed of processing.
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Test the advanced features. There are many advanced features on digital copiers. Some include scanning, faxing and storing images. Checking the functionality of each advanced feature can reveal potential issues.
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References
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