Dry imagers · Drystar family

Agfa Drystar 4500 M: troubleshooting and error codes

The ServiceForge knowledge base holds 13 documented symptoms for the Agfa Drystar 4500 M, with 23 ranked causes, 39 diagnostic checks with test points and expected values, and 10 error codes. Each symptom below shows its causes and the first check; the rest is one connection away. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Symptoms

Bad quality of printed images

Printing occurs but output quality is degraded; images are faint, have banding, scratches, or white dots/lines

Ranked causes

1. Consumables wrongly inserted (common)
2. Film contamination or transport obstruction causing dots/lines/scratches (common)
3. Low frequency banding in output (occasional)
4. Image quality degraded from normal operation (occasional)

First check

Verify consumables installation

Test point: All consumables (film, ink, developer)
Expected: All consumables correctly inserted per specifications

1 more check with pass and fail actions, 5 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Image quality degraded or defective

Visible defects on printed film including white dots, lines, density irregularities, or scratches

Ranked causes

1. Print head contaminated with dust (common)
2. Print head out of profile calibration (occasional)
3. Film sensitometry or system density incorrect (occasional)
4. Film sheet placed upside-down in input tray (rare)

First check

Inspect printed film for white dots or lines in transport direction

Test point: Film surface
Expected: No visible white dots or lines

4 more checks with pass and fail actions, 4 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Unit does not print

Drystar 4500 M is not printing a submitted job; may display error status or print queue issues

Ranked causes

1. Error condition present (common)
2. Power or network connection issue (common)
3. Print queue issue (occasional)
4. Floppy disk error (rare)

First check

Check for error messages on display

Test point: Front panel display
Expected: Either Clear ready screen or specific error message displayed
Tools: Visual inspection

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 4 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Film jam in input tray caution

Film is stuck in the feed section of upper or lower input tray; display shows jam location indicator

Ranked causes

1. Film loaded upside down (common)
2. Improper film stack positioning (occasional)

First check

Press Stop button to initiate stop sequence

Test point: Stop button
Expected: Printer finishes current jobs and displays 'OPEN THE INPUT TRAY' message

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 2 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Artifacts visible on mammography test image

Significant disturbing artifacts appear on the QC mammography test film when performing weekly quality control.

Ranked causes

1. Image quality degradation requiring maintenance (unknown)

First check

Print QC mammography test image

Test point: Test film output
Expected: Image with visible test patterns without significant disturbing artifacts

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Drystar 4500 M does not print

Printer does not produce any output; no film advances or imaging occurs

Ranked causes

1. Status LED indicates error or service mode (common)

First check

Observe status indicator LED color and blink pattern

Test point: Front panel LED indicator
Expected: Green constant (ready) or blinking (normal operation); not red

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Film jam from protective sheet caution

Protective sheet from film pack is jammed in front transport section; occurs when film loaded upside down

Ranked causes

1. Protective sheet facing upward (film pack loaded upside down) (common)

First check

Remove jammed protective sheet from front section

Test point: Front transport section
Expected: Protective sheet removed without damage

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Film jam from unauthorized cover opening patient safety

Film jam caused by opening printer covers or input trays while film is being printed

Ranked causes

1. Operator opened printer covers or input trays during active printing without pressing Stop button (occasional)

First check

Determine jam location from display indicator

Test point: Display screen
Expected: Pictogram shows jam location (upper tray, lower tray, front, or top section)

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Film jam in front transport section caution

Film is stuck in front section of film transport system; display shows jam indicator at front

Ranked causes

1. Unauthorized printer cover opening during printing (common)

First check

Pull front door open

Test point: Front door
Expected: Door opens to reveal interior

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Film jam in top transport section caution

Film is stuck in upper section of film transport system; display shows jam indicator at top

Ranked causes

1. Unauthorized printer cover opening during printing (common)

First check

Press button on right side to open top cover

Test point: Top cover button [1]
Expected: Top cover [2] opens to reveal interior

7 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Geometric consistency variance on annual mammography QC

Measured image dimensions or aspect ratio deviate from reference values on annual geometric consistency test.

Ranked causes

1. Image size or distortion drift outside specification (unknown)

First check

Measure distance A on geometric square

Test point: Left and right edges of geometric square on QC test image
Expected: Measured within 1.0% of reference value A_ref, <=1.0%
Tools: 30 cm machinist scale with 0.5 mm divisions

3 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Low contrast visibility failure on mammography test

Cannot see the circle in the square at density scale extremes (high 100/95% and low 0/5%) on the QC test film.

Ranked causes

1. Insufficient contrast rendering or image quality degradation (unknown)

First check

Verify visibility of circle in square at high density end (100/95%)

Test point: QC mammography test image high contrast area
Expected: Circle in square visible

1 more check with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Spatial resolution loss on mammography test

Five-dot clusters in the three ovals on the QC test film are not all visible when examined with a magnifying glass.

Ranked causes

1. Poor viewing conditions or image degradation (unknown)

First check

Examine three ovals each containing 5-dot clusters with magnifying glass

Test point: QC mammography test image ovals
Expected: All five dots of each group visible

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Error codes

Code	Meaning	Trigger	Severity
`Error status (red constant)`	Critical error condition preventing operation	Hardware or software malfunction detected	critical
`Failed (Film calibration)`	Film calibration process did not complete successfully	Film calibration procedure did not achieve required Dmax or density measurement targets	error
`Failed (Print head profile calibration)`	Print head profile calibration did not complete successfully	Print head profile or registration measurement failed to meet calibration standards	error
`Film jam`	Film is jammed in transport or input tray	Film fed incorrectly or obstruction in transport path	error
`Input tray empty`	Film supply depleted in input tray	Input tray (upper or lower) has no film remaining	warning
`Key selftest failed`	Key selftest failed or display failure in firmware	Self test performed during startup	error
`Key selftest failed due to no communication between Key and`	Key and CPU communication error during startup	Self test performed during startup	error
`Service mode (red blinking)`	Printer in service/maintenance mode; not available for normal printing	Service mode activated (requires technical access)	error
`Software selftest failed`	Software selftest failure during startup	Self test performed during startup	error
`Warning status`	Non-critical warning condition detected	Various operational warnings	warning

Likely causes and actions for each code are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Community

0 fixes logged by technicians through their AI, with outcomes, for this model.

ServiceForge knowledge base record. Field-unverified unless technicians confirmed it. A teaching summary of the record, not a service manual. Export 2026-10-14.