Online Resources for Copier Technicians
As a copier technician, you're expected to know how to fix everything. You probably can fix most problems, but every now and then you'll come across something you've never seen before, or something that just completely stumps you. This is normal.
There are plenty of resources online that can help you troubleshoot and find information. The manufacturer's website (such asSavin,Canon,Sharp, orXerox) can sometimes be helpful to technicians, but usually it is geared more toward the customer. If you need to download print drivers or any user-driven utilities, this is usually the place to do it.
Most manufacturers also have tech websites, where their technicians can find service manuals, troubleshooting information, parts guides, and new bulletins. (For example, Ricoh maintainsTSCWeb.netfor its technicians, but you must have a Ricoh ID to be able to use the site.) This website is also usually where you should go to download machine firmware.
In addition to the manufacturers' websites, there are other resources online that can be handy to a technician in trouble. Here are some websites that can help you out:
-CopyTechNet.comThe CopyTechNet forum is a great place to go if you can't figure out a problem and don't know where to turn. The forum is divided into different sections by product manufacturer, so you can ask technicians who work on the same type of machines about your problem. Hopefully one of them has seen it and can tell you how to fix it. If not, maybe they can at least point you in the right direction.
-eServiceInfo.comIf you find yourself working on an ancient copier, or a machine you can't get a manual for, try eServiceInfo.com. You can find many service manuals and parts guides here, available to download for free. (Some of the files are in .rar format, so you'll need a program likeWinRARto open them.)
-DeviceManuals.comAnother site where you can download free manuals, this one seems to focus more on operator's manuals than service manuals. Operator manuals can certainly come in handy, though - I had a Savin 2070 a few weeks ago where no one could figure out what kind of staples that thing took. I finally found the operator's manual online, and while it didn't say what kind of staples it needed, it did have pictures the staples being installed, so we were able to figure out what kind they were.
-WindowsNetworking.comIf your problem is with the network rather than the copier itself, service manuals probably won't be much help. WindowsNetworking.com is a good place to go to find articles and detailed information on networking and connectivity. There might just be a setting you need to change, and it's just a matter of finding it. There is a lot of information stored on this site, but the search feature can be very picky.
These sites should help you find the answer to whatever the problem of the day is. Bookmark them, because tomorrow you'll have a whole new problem to troubleshoot.
