Moving a two-drum Risograph

Moving a two-drum Risograph
Difficulty	Intermediate
Duration	20 minutes (prep)
For series	MDMEMFMHMV
Tools	Phillips #2 screwdriver Tape

A two-drum machine weighs roughly 370 lbs (168 kg)—this guide goes over some best practices and options for moving them.

Overview

The big challenges to deal with when moving a Risograph are: (1) actually *moving* it around at all, given how heavy it is, (2) protecting the components that are most likely to get damaged, and (3) securing moving pieces so that the don't bang around in transit.

There are a few different options:

• Standard procedure—the official method involves securing the MMUMaster Making Unit, and then using a series of carrying handles for 4 people to lift the machine. However these handles are quite rare, so most people find alternate ways to carry or move it (including lifting from the base, carts/dollies, etc.). This is the recommended method for people who don't have much technical experience disassembling their machine.
• Partial disassembly—for those with more mechanical expertise, the weight of the Riso can be decreased significantly by removing some of its more modular components. This both makes it easier to carry, but can also fully isolate some of the movable components (like the MMU). This method is much more complicated, and is only for people how are comfortable taking their machine apart and putting it back together again.

Standard procedure

Remove both drums

With the Risograph on in normal mode, remove both drums. If the machine cannot be turned on, you can manually remove the drums. The rest of this process will require keeping the Risograph turned off, so this step should be done first.

Secure the Master Making Unit

Under normal operations, the MMU moves between the two drum positions to make stencils on each drum. It is driven back and forward on a track between the drums and the scanner bed. However, it has no braking system on its own, so it can roll freely when the machine is being transported. Further, it can bounce off of its rails and crush other components in this part of the Risograph. Additionally, the MMU houses the TPHThermal Print Head and the PCBPrinted Circuit Board which manages it—both of which are sensitive to vibrations/jostling, so securing the MMU also helps stabilize those components.

1. Turn off and unplug the Risograph.
2. Remove the upper right cover (the one on top of the Risograph, to the right of the scanner table) by taking out 5 screws (2 along the scanner glass, 1 at the back of the Riso, and 2 along the side). If you have an [[MZ|]] there may be 1 additional screw within the back compartment in this panel.