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CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

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Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#31

Post by jve »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #18
nerpderp82 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have never used one, but I think it is interesting that Epson does sell a line of printers that have easily refillable ink reservoirs. https://epson.com/ecotank-ink-tank-printers

Inkjets have to be used regularly or they will suffer from clogs and in the case of Epson you're SOL if a head clean doesn't work. You can leave a laser idle for years and it will print fine.

I have a HP Smart tank I can refill with a bottle of cheap ink. Anyways, I don't print often, and it doesn't clog. But I have it always plugged into outlet - I _think_ that it manages print heads so they don't dry. I have this thought before Ink Tank printers. Printer specialist should chime in as I generally don't like dealing with printers.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#32

Post by trynewideas »

rohan_ wrote: post #9
eis3nheim wrote: post #8

The printer industry needs a revolution.

Does it? It’s a dying industry. When was the last time you printed anything?

nervously looks at the tabletop RPG and CCG shelves next to my printer

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#33

Post by RobotToaster »

bombcar wrote: post #3

I would like to see cartridges designed ecologically - refillable perhaps, or at least designed to flow as much out as possible - and allowing you to override the "toner low" warning and keep printing even if it's almost dry.

I remember when I was at school about 15 years ago there were printers that used wax(?) blocks, that were just put into it, not sure how it worked exactly.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#34

Post by colechristensen »

jonbruner wrote: post #2

Also, the difference between a full cartridge and an empty cartridge is minimal; about 20% of the toner reservoir is filled in a new cartridge, dropping to 15% when the printer says the cartridge is empty.

At least for my laser printer you can buy two kinds of cartridge: the one that’s kind of full and the one that’s actually full.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#35

Post by yamtaddle »

rohan_ wrote: post #9
eis3nheim wrote: post #8

The printer industry needs a revolution.

Does it? It’s a dying industry. When was the last time you printed anything?

Got kids? All the damn time.

Have craft-related hobbies? All the damn time. Patterns, instructions, et c. Despite having a shitload of iPads and extra laptops and such around. Paper's far nicer in many cases, and sometimes cannot be replaced by a screen of any kind.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#36

Post by loloquwowndueo »

jmyeet wrote: post #19

Never, ever, ever buy a printer that takes cartridges. They’re discounted to at or below cost where they make the money back on cartridges. They use ink to clean the heads. They say empty when they’re not. The cartridges that come with the printer aren’t full. There is a constant firmware update war to defeat third party cartridges for obvious reasons. Buy a tank printer that you fill with ink bottles.

Well - buy the printer and once it runs out of ink toss it and buy another printer :)

I did that with an HP inkjet - got me out of trouble until it ran out, then I replaced with a Brother laser that was half of what the ink refills for the HP would have been. Toner for the Brother is like 20 bucks and lasts for a couple of years given my level of usage.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#37

Post by pifm_guy »

dlmiller wrote: post #23

That's not necessarily toner left in the cartridge. It could be developer. Laser printers have 2 separate forms of powder inside of them. One being toner, and the other being developer. The developer has fine metal particulates inside that "charge" the toner, enabling the toner to be pulled off of the drum, and onto the page. Larger copiers have the Developer, and toner separate. However, the cartridge pictured is th…

Developer is, in all modern machines, a roller. It lasts almost forever - far longer than any home user will use their machine at least.

When it does run out, I don't think it's due to wear or the metal particles being 'used up' in any way, but instead because a layer of dirt has stuck to the surface of the roller, so it is no longer any good at transferring toner.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#39

Post by SapporoChris »

eis3nheim wrote: post #8

The printer industry needs a revolution.

https://www.sakura-house.com/sakura_tips/printing-and-copyin...

The revolution has already occurred in some places. If I need a print job there's a printer within five minutes walk from me, I actually have a couple of places I could walk to. It's less than 10 yen for black and white, 50 to 80 yen for color.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#40

Post by pifm_guy »

bombcar wrote: post #3

I would like to see cartridges designed ecologically - refillable perhaps, or at least designed to flow as much out as possible - and allowing you to override the "toner low" warning and keep printing even if it's almost dry.

Most are refillable if you follow an unofficial online guide.

Beware that toner dust is really nasty stuff and gets everywhere, so however careful you are you'll still have clouds of toner dust escape and stick to every surface of your house inside and out...

Top tip:. Never clean toner dust with warm water. It will stick and become permanent.

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