Digital BW, The Print

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

--- 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

--- 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

In a message dated 1/20/02 9:31:47 PM, paul.roark@... writes:

<< 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. >>

Hi Paul:

I haven't yet used this method with individual carts, just the CIS.  Do you 
fill from the bottom or top of the cart?  What quantity of ink do you use for 
the 1160 vs. 1270 carts?  

Thanks a lot,

Andy Darlow

Photography, Digital Print Consulting and Custom Editions
Andrew Darlow Images International
www.andydarlow.com
Author: Inkjet Tip of the Month Club (newsletter) 
To subscribe, send e-mail to: Inkjettips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

> Hi Paul:
> 
> I haven't yet used this method with individual carts, just the CIS. 
 Do you 
> fill from the bottom or top of the cart?  What quantity of ink do 
you use for 
> the 1160 vs. 1270 carts?  
> 
> Thanks a lot,
> 
> Andy Darlow
> 

Andy,

Bob at MIS was kind enough to let me have the doodads to test as well. 
I filled 1280 carts from the top. Look for the big hole about 3/32 
inch diameter in top of cart-that's where the dingus goes. I really 
took my time filling the first time, two hours...I'm sure I can cut 
that down to 45-60 minutes maybe less.

 Paul uses tape, but I found these neat 12 cent corks at Ace Hardware 
that plug the holes quite nicely and very quickly- no leakage. I also 
used a "c" clamp tightened very lightly  (just touching really)after 
vacuum pump applied to hold the K cart in the right position as it 
tends to tip over during fill. Color cart no problem. I found lur lock 
syringes in 20ml variety that are perfect for filling all chambers of 
the 1280 carts. 18ml goes in each virgin cart. The 1160 is different, 
I think K cart is 25ml and all the color chambers are 12 or 12.5, 
anyway, it is listed on MIS site, don't take my word for it.

Paul, a question...now that I have the carts filled, sitting on 
forward edge (filling position), with the corks stuck in them, when do 
I rotate them back into standard position,  with fill holes on top? 
Also when do I remove corks, does the cart need to breathe out air 
bubbles? When do I reseal, with something more practical for printer 
insertion, like tape or hot melt glue?
TIA,
Jim H.