Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley" 
<mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "thronxx" 
> <jeffrey.fass@v...> wrote:
> > Hello all,
> > 
> > I have a new Epson 1280, checks out fine. I want to set it up for 
> > B/W, but have heard that both MIS and Cone are having problems 
with 
> > the 1280 carts. I don't need the problem, especially if it's 
> > avoidable.
> > 
> > Generally speaking, and referring specifically to my 1280, will a 
> > CIS perform better than a cart? I was under the impression that a 
> > CIS system is a bottle and tube running to what is functionally a 
> > cart at the printhead anyway.
> > 
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'd like to keep my hair-
> > pulling (whatever's left) to a minimum.
> > 
> 
> Jeffrey,
> 
> I have always found the CIS to be more trouble free than the 
> cartridges, if for no other reason than the fact that most problems 
> occur when cartridges are installed and this is a one time job for 
> the CIS.

I'd agree on this point. I used self-filled carts on my 1280 for seven 
months. Occasionally (like every third time I installed them) I would 
get air trapped in the head and the nozzles would take about three 
cleanings and one or two purge patterns to clear. I could usually get 
them running in ten minutes or so, it was a mild problem. A little 
worse was when, also because of the air, a new cart would sputter ink 
blobs for a short period into the printer bed. I could avoid this by 
running two or three cleaning cycles first, but not always was I left 
with a clean printer even doing this.



 You are correct in that the CIS is nothing more than 
> cartridges attached with tubing to bottles of ink. As the print head 
> pulls ink out of the cartridge fresh ink is pulled from the bottles. 
> Perhaps since the cartridges are always full there are less 
> headaches.

I have run a MIS CFS for 1 1/2 months now with little problems. It is 
as reliable as carts, except for the install problem noted above with 
carts. Something I am worrying about with the CFS that the carts do 
NOT have is possible evaporation of the K and to a much less degree, 
the C ink in the bottles. My only evidence for this is I observe 
deposits of ink caked onto the upper sides of the k bottle, a little 
in the c bottle. I do not know if this over time will 
increase/decrease/remain unchanged the performance of the ink thru the 
head and onto the paper. The deposits in bottle seem to increase over 
time. I have heard others talk of evaporation in the bottle, and also 
from the tubing.

I'm sorry I can give no more resolution on this observation. I don't 
even know if it's a real problem yet.
Jim H. 




 People have reported some problems when they let their 
> bottle run too low but I have not encountered this.
> 
> Martin Wesley