How to lubricate a scanner

[palombian]

I have a Mustek Scanexpress A3, a very basic machine but all others cost 10 times more.
The scan wagon blocks regularly.
It glides on one side on a round bar as the printhead in a printer, the other side is just a plastic slider.
It is also pressed by a spring against the underside of the glass with nylon sliders.

What could I use to lubricate ?

 

[PeterBJ]

My guess is that a lubricant suitable for printers will also be suitable for the scanner. For Canon printers a lubricant Floil KG107A is recommended, but this is hard or impossible to find. A good substitute is Molykote EM-30L. It is safe for plastics and contains no silicone which could cause problems in electronics.

I couldn't find a European distributor that offered a small quantity, so I bought a 2 or 4 oz can at Ebay US. It is still available and I did not have to pay customs and VAT or a special fee for the paper work. I don't know what the rules are for import from US to EU today. I think I bought the grease in 2013. Maybe it will be too expensive? Maybe a European distributor could be found?

Edit: It looks like the grease is also available from Germany and UK.

 

[palombian]

FYI, I tried different greases and fine oil but no avail.
Finally I wiped the bar with kitchen paper with silicon spray ( I know you must take care it doesn't migrate in contacts).
I was able to do about 20 scans without any errors.
Fingers crossed, this scanner is really good for the price and as far as I know not on sale anymore.

 

[The Hat]

this scanner is really good for the price and as far as I know not on sale anymore.

It’s easy to see why.. ? Ask yourself… Would you buy another one knowing what you know now..

 

[palombian]

It’s easy to see why.. ? Ask yourself… Would you buy another one knowing what you know now..

Got it long ago new in the box for €70 (from a guy who couldn't use it on Linux), so no complaints.
I remember scanning prints to compare the Canon PRO-10 with @Ink stained Fingers 's Epson P400.

Anyway, when it breaks there seems to be an alternative for a reasonable price:
https://www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/Plus...=1679237648&sprefix=a3+scanner,aps,127&sr=8-5

 

[The Hat]

FYI, I tried different greases and fine oil but no avail.

Could you not attach a wheel bearing to it yourself..

 

[SkedAddled]

Instead of silicone, look for something which carries Teflon in it.

Here in the US, I can get something called Tri-Flow.
It has Teflon in it, carried by light petroleum distillates.
Wiping away a freshly wet application leaves well-lubricated
and clean part(s).

For an application such as your scanner, my approach would be
to clean affected parts with isopropyl, then apply Tri-Flow
using a slightly moistened swab or cloth.

This was our procedure when I was employed by an HP-certified provider
of on-site servicing for HP plotters. Plotters are essentially three- to four-foot-wide
versions of consumer-type ink printers and scanners; they are all similar
in mechanical operation. The steps are easily applied to common
printers and scanners:

1 - Clean the print-carriage path and registration strip with isopropyl.
- Be sure to remove traces of gummed lubricants and contamination.
2 - Wipe dry with a lint-free cloth.
3 - Slightly moisten lint-free cloth with Tri-Flow and apply to carriage path
and registration strip.
4 - Gently wipe again with new lint-free cloth.
This restored like-new mechanical function, every. single. time.

However, BEWARE OF PLOTTERS:
Their long, super-thin registration strips can easily make serious cuts
in your fingers, especially the steel types. HANDLE WITH CARE!