Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> Mike,
> 
> >If you have not already done so, could you explain the vacuum 
loading
> technique.
> 
> >I got tired of going to work with ink under my finger nails, so I 
bought
> latex gloves, >but loading carts with a syringe is still a pain and 
a messy
> proposition.
> 
> Yes, you can do this procedure without having ink under your 
fingernails,
> and 90% of the time the first nozzle check is perfect.
> 
> The key to the system is a "T" junction that has a soft plug in it 
that a
> sharp syringe will go through.  One short tube from this junction 
is shoved
> into the hole in the cart.  Another short tube from this junction 
goes to
> the vacuum pump (like the CIS unit).  You pull a vacuum, crimp the 
tube to
> the pump, stick the sharp needle of the syringe full ink through 
the soft
> plug, and the ink gets pulled out of the syringe into the cart.
> 
> I've re-used these "T" junctions 10 times now, and there is no sign 
of
> leakage yet.  They will eventually need replacement.  So far, we 
don't know
> how long they'll go.
> 
> This method not only keeps the fingers clean and gives perfect 
nozzle checks
> (usually), but it also preserves the 1 micron screens at the bottom 
of the
> cartridges.  This should help our printers keep working well longer.
> 
> Paul
> http://www.PaulRoark.com


Paul,

That's sounds good - where do You get this special "T" -junction with
the soft plug?

I have a feeling that much of the bubbles in the "residual foam" 
explodes under vacuum - and that helps not getting air in the 
printerheads .

I don't however think it's totaly clean when in my experince you 
refill a cartrige - a/ you stil have to close the outletports with 
rivets or/and tape b/ residual foam is coming into the tubes when 
pumping up vacuum - but I might be wrong here - there might be 
another trick to this?

By the way - I have three CFS's and one printer - can confirm that 
it's easier to stay with just cartriges if you shift often.
The 1280(90) has very small chambers in the head - and doesn't need 
more purging than two/three cleaning cycles. 
Pulling CFS/CIS out and in is not a good idea - while each time you
get more and more air and inkfoam in the cartriges. OK it helps if you
clamp the inktubes near the cartrige before taking them out.
I thought I solved this by pumping some full 60cc syringe of ink 
right throu the whole system from the buttom of the cartrige back 
into the bottles - I don't really know why - but it doesn't work - it 
seems as if the system needs some air in the cartrige to "level" the 
pressure in the cartrige. Or did I not let it rest long enough?
(Or is the sponge still holding the inkfoam?)


Perhaps someone did solve this in a better way?
I'm not talking here about that it does't work BUT - 
I like QUICK switching on my printer for FS, VM, Arch ink and dye....

Did you manage in a simple way?

Anyway it works - but it's a bit messy. 
I wonder how many cartriges Paul R. has filled - and still getting
along.

The big problem doesn't seems to be clogging - it's the foam I think 
that's giving you airpockets in the heads.
The big enemy is inkfoam!

So - did someone carve out the cartrige - just to hold the chips - 
and put a filter and a stopcock on the tubs and attaced it directly 
to the printheadinlets?

Of cause the easy way - purchase more printers - put a dedicated 
CFS/CIS to each one of them - and be happy!

Whatever - I like my digital darkroom - I messed in my wet one - so 
nothing new here. The digital result is superiour or more correct - 
it's another division.

With colored fingers,

Bo Wrangborg