What is a copier technician?
A copier technician is a technician that repairs the copier. That sounds easy enough. A technician that repairs the copier. This sounds like a very simple trite little saying but it contains so much. Lets unpack or truly define the term copier technician. Wikipedia has an interesting definition. A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert proficiency in technique. As such, technicians are generally much better versed in technique compared to average layman and even general professionals in that field of technology.”
Copier Technicians are also often referred to as field engineers. Here is a good working definition of that term. A field engineer is a professional who works at job sites other than the main company office or headquarters. This person often services clients at their homes or businesses. He or she may work in a variety of fields, and can be responsible for installing hardware, servicing a machine, or the maintenance and repair of already-installed products.
Expertise in the area of service, including a strong familiarity with the product, creativity, and problem-solving abilities are all good skills for a field engineer to develop. Since field engineers typically work directly with clients, it can be beneficial to have strong communication skills as well. Good fine motor skills and dexterity are often required. Now what does that mean? It means this. The average copier technician can be considered as one having a practical knowledge of theoretical principles. This means that where as an average person can say there is a problem with the copier. A copier technician can define the problem. This also means that if an engineer can define the location of the problem then the copier technician can fix it.
What skills are required to be a copier technician?
If you are in high school and reading this then lets deal with the starting point of what will help you as a technician. Copier technicians are great puzzle solvers. This means any toys or games that involve solving puzzles is great help in developing the mental processes necessary to solve copier problems. Puzzles such as sudoku, jig saw puzzles, rubics puzzles and the like are good training for copier techs. Video games are also good training. If its an rts… this teaches you process… if it’s an srpg… this teaches management of resources. if its a sim… this teaches you relationships… Its also good to be mechanically inclined. that means you are the individual who would rather fix a computer problem than pay to have it done or cook a meal instead of buying it.
Now what kind of degree is required. To be honest none really but most companies are looking for an A+. An A+ means that you understand how computers work and you are familiar enough with them that you have taken an industry standard test that proves it. There is also the comptia pdi+ This is a straight out basic copier training that says you know the basics. Its also good if you have network background. A comptia n+ certification would also be something good to have. Concerning in service certifications and trainings from the manufacturer, these are generally provided by the dealer who employs you. If you get enough of these then you are generally very proficient at what you do and can really coast around from job to job but as with anything else your mileage will vary.
Learning basic copier theory.
If you have an old fax machine then you have enough to learn basic copier and printer theory and troubleshooting. Why? Well most fax comes with basic copying and printing capabilities and its a cheap way to learn.
- 1st. lets deal with paper path.
- Paper is fed from the trays or the input section
- it then travels by the drum where it receives an image and then it goes to the fuser where that image is burned in. the paper then exits the copier and is picked up by the end user.
- lets say there is a paper jam.
- your fist step is to find out where the paper is stopping.
- once you know that then you have to see if its being blocked by a paperclip… a lose part or poor roller contact or a a broken gear.
- next lets deal with image problems
- in general the fax takes a picture of the image and then turns that image into electronic signals and then shoots them over to the drum where it is changes from a set of electronic signals into a text and images on paper.
Lets start with lines on copies…
- do an internal print like meter report or a status report. then do a copy job. if you see lines on the copies but not the prints then the part that takes the picture is bad or possibly dirty. if there are lines on the prints but not the copies then the issue is with the original or there is an internal memory problem. if there are lines on both then you might have a dirty camera or laser or fuser.
- if the fax is making grinding noises there is a cracked or broken gear. if the fax is not turning on then check the switch the outlet it is plugged into… if fax still not turning on then test the power cable with a continuity test. if still not turning on then test the power supply… if still not turning on then go to the service manual
- if service manual not useful then check the manufacturer service line
- if manufacturer service line not helpful then check the tech forums
- if tech forums not helpful then Google the problem.
- if parts are broken check the parts manual and order.
- if unable to find parts then Google the part and order.