Digital BW, The Print

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.

Cheers, Jeffrey Fass

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

Martin Wesley

--- 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