Digital BW, The Print

I've been thinking about the possibility of using more than 1 inkset 
on one printer. That is to say, currently I use MIS VM quadtones with 
my 1160 using CFS carts. 

Would it be feasable to set up a different MIS inkset such as the VM 
Sepia with another set of CFS carts, purging the heads when swapped?

I occasionally have to pull a cart out to get it reprimed every so 
often, as long as one cart set was left in I would think this method 
would allow flexibility of inksets.

Thanks,

Don Bryant

Don:

I swap CFS units on my 1270 between MIS Archival Color and FS-E with 
no problems.  Two things to remember: the more frequently you swap, 
the more likely you are to introduce air into the printheads, and the 
longer a CFS unit is unused, the more likely it is to develop sludge 
in the lines due to the water/solvent permeability of the tygon 
tubes.  

Jeff Randall


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "donbga" <dsbryant@m...> 
wrote:
> I've been thinking about the possibility of using more than 1 
inkset 
> on one printer. That is to say, currently I use MIS VM quadtones 
with 
> my 1160 using CFS carts. 
> 
> Would it be feasable to set up a different MIS inkset such as the 
VM 
> Sepia with another set of CFS carts, purging the heads when swapped?
> 
> I occasionally have to pull a cart out to get it reprimed every so 
> often, as long as one cart set was left in I would think this 
method 

> would allow flexibility of inksets.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Don Bryant

Jeff,
>  Two things to remember: the more frequently you swap, 
> the more likely you are to introduce air into the printheads, and 
the 
> longer a CFS unit is unused, the more likely it is to develop 
sludge 
> in the lines due to the water/solvent permeability of the tygon 
> tubes.  
>

What are the consequences of getting air inside the print head(s)? A 
blocking of ink flow obviously but would that be a fatal situation 
requiring Epson service?

How does one detect sludging of the feeder line? And how do you 
recommend clearing it?

And as Jerry Olson pointed out the MIS rivets don't provide a 100% 
seal. What do you use?

Thanks very much for your help. 

Don Bryant

Air trapped in the printhead is not always "fatal".  Sometimes just 
letting the printer sit over night is all that is needed for the 
bubbles to clear.  After that, if you are into this, its time to 
inject bubble free cleaning solution, either Windex or 9 parts water 
to 1 part household ammonia, through the printhead using a syringe 
and tubing (search the archives here or visit the MIS or Inkjetmall 
web sites for lots of info) or take it to your local Epson repair 
shop.  BTW, Epson folks strongly advise against cleaning your 
printhead your self.

Detecting blockages in the tubing is difficult. I often see small 
bubbles traveling along the tubing thus I know the ink is moving.  
Sludge can also build up in the carts.  A CIS/CFS cart will not last 
forever.  To clean the tubing is easy.  Just disconnect them and 
blow/suck water through them with a syringe and reinstall.  Some 
folks have had luck with the system repriming itself.  I find that I 
need to pull ink from the bottom exit port of the cart to reprime.  
MIS sells a bottom fill adaptor that works well.  You can pull the 
ink through and squirt it back into the appropriate bottle.

I find the rivits to work very well for me, but you could always 
place some black electrical tape (or your favorite tape varity) over 
the rivets.  Remember, the cart is vented, therefore it is not 
hermetically sealed.  Make sure to store the carts in the upright 
postion as if they were installed in the printer.  Again, remember 
the CIS/CFS system will not last for ever, so don't store them for 
long periods of time and expect instant success.  

Your mileage may vary!

Hope this helps.

Jeff Randall




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "donbga" <dsbryant@m...> 
wrote:
> Jeff,
> >  Two things to remember: the more frequently you swap, 
> > the more likely you are to introduce air into the printheads, and 
> the 
> > longer a CFS unit is unused, the more likely it is to develop 
> sludge 
> > in the lines due to the water/solvent permeability of the tygon 
> > tubes.  
> >
> 
> What are the consequences of getting air inside the print head(s)? 
A 

> blocking of ink flow obviously but would that be a fatal situation 
> requiring Epson service?
> 
> How does one detect sludging of the feeder line? And how do you 
> recommend clearing it?
> 
> And as Jerry Olson pointed out the MIS rivets don't provide a 100% 
> seal. What do you use?
> 
> Thanks very much for your help. 
> 
> Don Bryant

Opps:  CIS/CFS carts are sealed, regular carts are vented--sorry for 
any confusion.  jr


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "donbga" <dsbryant@m...> 
wrote:
> Jeff,
> >  Two things to remember: the more frequently you swap, 
> > the more likely you are to introduce air into the printheads, and 
> the 
> > longer a CFS unit is unused, the more likely it is to develop 
> sludge 
> > in the lines due to the water/solvent permeability of the tygon 
> > tubes.  
> >
> 
> What are the consequences of getting air inside the print head(s)? 
A 

> blocking of ink flow obviously but would that be a fatal situation 
> requiring Epson service?
> 
> How does one detect sludging of the feeder line? And how do you 
> recommend clearing it?
> 
> And as Jerry Olson pointed out the MIS rivets don't provide a 100% 
> seal. What do you use?
> 
> Thanks very much for your help. 
> 
> Don Bryant

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Jeff Randall" 
<jrandall@c...> wrote:
> Air trapped in the printhead is not always "fatal".  Sometimes just 
> letting the printer sit over night is all that is needed for the 
> bubbles to clear.  After that, if you are into this, its time to 
> inject bubble free cleaning solution, either Windex or 9 parts water 
> to 1 part household ammonia, through the printhead using a syringe 
> and tubing (search the archives here or visit the MIS or Inkjetmall 
> web sites for lots of info) or take it to your local Epson repair 
> shop.  BTW, Epson folks strongly advise against cleaning your 
> printhead your self.

I'd pretty much go along with this, maybe wording it like "usually" it 
is not fatal. Folks seem to want to get a cart running immediately 
with many cleaning cycles and etc, when all they should be doing is 
turning off printer and waiting overnight. I have this situation right 
now, am hoping I won't have problems after it has a rest...

However, I avoid direct injection although others have had good sucess 
with it. I usually install Epson carts first and run them for awhile. 
This clears up any problem the head is causing- the rest will probably 
be due to the CIS/CFS. The CFS is so easy and cheap to replace I 
would just do this, but I have once restored it with the bottom fill 
adapter method Jeff mentions. If I had a CIS instead, I think I would 
install new carts and flush the lines. I would probably also at least 
replace the K ink bottle.

Actually what I AM doing is trying to get back to self filled carts as 
I just can't keep a CIS or a CFS working in my climate it seems.

> 
<snip>
  I find that I 
> need to pull ink from the bottom exit port of the cart to reprime.  
> MIS sells a bottom fill adaptor that works well.  You can pull the 
> ink through and squirt it back into the appropriate bottle.
>
<snip>

 
> I find the rivits to work very well for me, but you could always 
> place some black electrical tape (or your favorite tape varity) over 
> the rivets.

Or you can use EZ-Plugs from anyplace that sells the nomorecarts CIS. 
But keep the receipt because the plastic cracks very easily, some 
suspect as a result of the solvent in the ink! I keep two pairs and 
keep sending in one pair as it cracks. Some day nomorecarts may wonder 
why they have to always replace these things and get a better design. 
But the EZ-Plugs have less tendancy to distort the rubber seals than 
the MIS Rivets (smaller diameter) and are easier to insert/remove. But 
cost $15/set.
Jim H.

> 
> Your mileage may vary!
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> Jeff Randall
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "donbga" <dsbryant@m...> 
> wrote:
> > Jeff,
> > >  Two things to remember: the more frequently you swap, 
> > > the more likely you are to introduce air into the printheads, 
and 

> > the 
> > > longer a CFS unit is unused, the more likely it is to develop 
> > sludge 
> > > in the lines due to the water/solvent permeability of the tygon 
> > > tubes.  
> > >
> > 
> > What are the consequences of getting air inside the print head(s)? 
> A 
> > blocking of ink flow obviously but would that be a fatal situation 
> > requiring Epson service?
> > 
> > How does one detect sludging of the feeder line? And how do you 
> > recommend clearing it?
> > 
> > And as Jerry Olson pointed out the MIS rivets don't provide a 100% 
> > seal. What do you use?
> > 
> > Thanks very much for your help. 
> > 
> > Don Bryant

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "jim hayes" <jimhayes@f...> wrote:

<snip>
 I usually install Epson carts first and run them for awhile. 
<snip>

What's your strategy for keeping track of how full the carts are, or do you buy 
new carts each time? I understand that the non-chipped Epsons, like the 
1160, count the number of prints rather than measure the amount of ink used 
and that it's very bad to try to print with no ink.

Michael

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "michaelrosensf" 
<yahoo@s...> wrote:
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "jim hayes" 
<jimhayes@f...> wrote:
> 
> <snip>
>  I usually install Epson carts first and run them for awhile. 
> <snip>
> 
> What's your strategy for keeping track of how full the carts are, or 
do you buy 
> new carts each time? I understand that the non-chipped Epsons, like 
the 
> 1160, count the number of prints rather than measure the amount of 
ink used 
> and that it's very bad to try to print with no ink.
> 
> Michael

1160 Epson carts have no poppet valves and are not self sealing. 
Therefore there are more chances that air will be introduced if 
removed and put back in after intial seal is broken. I have risked it 
once or twice in an emergency but I don't recommend it to others when 
serious clogs need to be cleared. You have enough things to worry 
about without the Epson cart itself causing air pockets. I almost 
always just forked up the $$ for new carts on my 1160's.

The 1270/1280/1290 Epson carts ONLY (not the 3rd party carts made in 
China, etc that you can buy empty or prefilled or in CFS/CIS systems) 
have poppet valves which are little seals that almost instantly seal 
each exit port when removed from printhead nipples. These carts CAN be 
re-installed with a few caveats....Bob Zeiss at MIS told me once he 
thought they were truely good for only about three removals before 
they started to get air in them. This I don't know about- they always 
worked well for me. The second caveat is from Epson- that once outer 
package foil is opened, cart should be discarded within six months. I 
sometimes put electrical tape over the vent holes for storage.

You will know it when you run out of ink- it happens rather fast, at 
least the two times it happened to me. YMMV since my experience is 
modest with this. ANd it is bad to let the nozzle remain dry- I always 
tried to have a fresh good cart ready to pop in within a few minutes 
at most. Leaving it dry overnight is asking for big trouble.

BTW, I and others find that Epson carts will clear clogs. But when I 
had bad ink, such as the old Piezo ink, and just last week, evaporated 
 MIS VM ink which caused an increase in mottling, that Epson cart 
running clears some (50-90%) of the problem but even if fresh ink is 
later introduced it doesn't fix the problem 100% although your nozzles 
may be clear. I seem to have a residual VM mottling problem even after 
the Epson treatment. Others have had sucess with direct injection into 
head with Fantastik to clear the old Piezo ink problem "DSS" or the 
"Greenies".
Jim H.