Digital BW, The Print

* -----Original Message-----
* From: londuck [mailto:lon_c@...] 
* Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 8:31 PM
* To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
* Subject: [Digital BW] MIS FS Sludge
* 
* 
* I have an Epson 1160 running the MIS Full Spectrum inkset with a CIS 
* bulk ink supply.  It has basically been trouble free for a couple of 
* years, until today.
* 
* I decided to do a few prints.  Since I had not used the printer for a 
* bit I decided to do a few head cleanings and a nozzle check before I 
* started printing.  Nothing out of the black head (all other heads 
* fine).
* 
* I did a few more cleaning cycles then parked the head on Windex 
* saturated the shut down sponges overnight.  The next day still 
* nothing from the black head.
* 
* I removed the supply line from the black head and attempted to push 
* the ink in the line back into the supply bottle with a syringe.  The 
* line is plugged.  I worked with the line a bit and it seems to be 
* full of a vicious sludge like material.  I still do not have the line 
* clear.
* 
* An interesting side note; I have a friend running the same setup and 
* he recently reported the exact same problem.
* 
* Any other elist members with this problem?  Any proven remedies?
* 
Lon,

It has been suggested that with CIS systems that you clean out the lines and
replace the cartridge portion at regular intervals. No one has come up with
a good time frame but usually folks suggest 6 to 12 months. The fact that
you managed to go for 2 years is a good piece of info but I think you have
done very well.

It is not just the MIS inks either. The Piezo inks do the same thing. Over
time some of the carbon pigment precipitates from the suspension and is
deposited in the lines, bottles and cartridges.

As for remedies order new cartridges for your CIS and flush the lines out
with a good cleaner and a syringe or replace the lines completely. This is
not a defect but a normal maintenance procedure.

Martin Wesley
http://www.carolyn.cc/Guests/MartinWesley/pages/MW_01.html
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html