Yahoo Groups archive

Homebrew PCBs

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:05 UTC

Thread

Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-06 by bighillentry

Hi all

I know that laser printers has to be used and not inkjets. I like to
know if this model #C520n prints dark enought on the first try and if
not, can you reprint a few more times.

How long can you not use the printer before the toner drys same as
injets dry up if you don't use printer for long  periods of time as I
will only be using this printer for circuit boards and Decals.

How long can you leave the toner on the paper before transfering to the
copper boards.Is there a time fame.

I just bought a new lexmark from staples depot on clearance sale for $85
with a 30 day return policy. I'd like to know if anyone here has used
this printer before I take it out of the box, as the return will be
easier.

allie

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-06 by DJ Delorie

"bighillentry" <bighillentry@...> writes:
> How long can you not use the printer before the toner drys same as

Toner is dry plastic powder, it won't "dry up" like an inkjet will.

> How long can you leave the toner on the paper before transfering to the
> copper boards.Is there a time fame.

I don't think there's a limit.  It depends on how long you can keep
the paper around without (1) damaging the toner, or (2) touching it
and getting finger oil on it.

There's probably some limit based on how long the paper will hold onto
its humidity before the fibers again become brittle (assuming you
humidify your paper before use, like I do), but I don't know how that
will affect results.  Mostly it affects getting toner ONTO the paper,
not off of it.

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-06 by Myc Holmes

A color laser printer for $85 sounds like a good deal on the surface.but I
would consider it  to be a disposable printer, After the first set
ofcartirdiges are used up then it is time to throw it away. Repalcement
laser cartidgesare ~$90 each for the  4 cartidges. Also the cartidges
provided with the printer are usually just "starter" cartridges and only
partialy filled. The manufacturers make money on the ink /t oner, not on the
printer itself.

On 05 Jan 2008 23:15:04 -0500, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:

>
> "bighillentry" <bighillentry@... <bighillentry%40yahoo.com>> writes:
> > How long can you not use the printer before the toner drys same as
>
> Toner is dry plastic powder, it won't "dry up" like an inkjet will.
>
> > How long can you leave the toner on the paper before transfering to the
> > copper boards.Is there a time fame.
>
> I don't think there's a limit. It depends on how long you can keep
> the paper around without (1) damaging the toner, or (2) touching it
> and getting finger oil on it.
>
> There's probably some limit based on how long the paper will hold onto
> its humidity before the fibers again become brittle (assuming you
> humidify your paper before use, like I do), but I don't know how that
> will affect results. Mostly it affects getting toner ONTO the paper,
> not off of it.
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-07 by bighillentry

Yes your right,that's what I was thinking also.
 It says that the Box contents are :

(1) The printer
(2) Black return program cartridge 1,500 pages*  all
(3) Cyan    "       "       "      1,500 pages*  Based on 5% coverage
(4) Magenta "       "       "      1,500 pages*
(5) Yellow  "       "       "      1,500 pages*
(6)other items I won't list.

I likely will only need approx. a dozen or less boards. At the aboves 
5% coverage per cartridge I think it should be enough toner.

 For color same amount for Decaling the project cases.
 
 Question: Could I just replace the black toner cartridge when it is 
empty. Will the printer sill work for black with out the color 
ones.I'm thinking yes, but not sure.

 I already have a good injet printer for other uses so I only need 
the above one for printed circuit boards and project case Decals.

 $85 for a dozen or so boards sounds to me, may be o.k. What's your 
thoughts on this.

Thanks for your input.

allie
  

> A color laser printer for $85 sounds like a good deal on the 
surface.but I
> would consider it  to be a disposable printer, After the first set
> ofcartirdiges are used up then it is time to throw it away. 
Repalcement
> laser cartidgesare ~$90 each for the  4 cartidges. Also the 
cartidges
> provided with the printer are usually just "starter" cartridges and 
only
> partialy filled. The manufacturers make money on the ink /t oner, 
not on the
> printer itself.
> 
> On 05 Jan 2008 23:15:04 -0500, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
> 
> >
> > "bighillentry" <bighillentry@... <bighillentry%40yahoo.com>> 
writes:
> > > How long can you not use the printer before the toner drys same 
as
> >
> > Toner is dry plastic powder, it won't "dry up" like an inkjet 
will.
> >
> > > How long can you leave the toner on the paper before 
transfering to the
> > > copper boards.Is there a time fame.
> >
> > I don't think there's a limit. It depends on how long you can keep
> > the paper around without (1) damaging the toner, or (2) touching 
it
> > and getting finger oil on it.
> >
> > There's probably some limit based on how long the paper will hold 
onto
> > its humidity before the fibers again become brittle (assuming you
> > humidify your paper before use, like I do), but I don't know how 
that
> > will affect results. Mostly it affects getting toner ONTO the 
paper,
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> > not off of it.
> > 
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-07 by Stefan Trethan

Possibly they have found some nasty way to make sure you _don't_ do that.
Often there are fiendish little chips on the cartridges, telling you
they are empty when they are really still half full, and preventing
further operation of the printer in an attempt to part you and your
money.

ST
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Jan 7, 2008 7:30 AM, bighillentry <bighillentry@...> wrote:

>  Question: Could I just replace the black toner cartridge when it is
> empty. Will the printer sill work for black with out the color
> ones.I'm thinking yes, but not sure.
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-07 by Derryck Croker

On 7 Jan 2008, at 07:21, Stefan Trethan wrote:

> Possibly they have found some nasty way to make sure you _don't_ do  
> that.
> Often there are fiendish little chips on the cartridges,

The toner cartridges I've looked at have sensors to detect when the  
toner is low, which is why it's often possible to get a few more pages  
printed by giving the cart. a shake in an attempt to re-cover the  
sensor. That's what I believe, anyway.

So it might be possible to fool the printer by hacking the sensor on  
the empty carts. to report "full".

Or just don't empty the colour carts in the first place!

-- 

Cheers

Derryck
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> On Jan 7, 2008 7:30 AM, bighillentry <bighillentry@...> wrote:
>
>> Question: Could I just replace the black toner cartridge when it is
>> empty. Will the printer sill work for black with out the color
>> ones.I'm thinking yes, but not sure.
>>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-07 by Stefan Trethan

I would not be so sure.
The chips on inkjet printers have no relation to reality and the ink
level in the cart. They are just dumb counters that happily count down
to the day when they can defraud some more money out of you.

Look around the web, usually clever people have found a way to reset
or disable those nasty little bugs. For some cartridges you can buy
"auto reset" chips too, but beware, scrupulous sellers have latched
onto the trend and sell those auto reset chips at insane prices.

ST
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Jan 7, 2008 10:39 AM, Derryck Croker <derryck@...> wrote:
> The toner cartridges I've looked at have sensors to detect when the
> toner is low, which is why it's often possible to get a few more pages
> printed by giving the cart. a shake in an attempt to re-cover the
> sensor. That's what I believe, anyway.
>
> So it might be possible to fool the printer by hacking the sensor on
> the empty carts. to report "full".
>
> Or just don't empty the colour carts in the first place!
>
> --
>
> Cheers
>
> Derryck
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-07 by Myc Holmes

$85 for a dozen boards is a bit high. I don't know where you live, but the
least expensive is to take a pdf file of your board toa local quick print
shop. I have a couple of laser pinters at home,but recently, I decided to
run a trial. at a local STAPLES office supply store.

I had them print the pcb pdf on 3 types of paper: regular, matte, and
glossy. The print quality was excellent, very dark. The total cost was 48
cents. I ran all three a the same time on the same pcb. The STAPLES glossy
was by far the best and easiet to remove.

It seems less convenient to bring it to a print shop, but it made me more
careful in the design (no dumb mistakes).

Myc


On Jan 7, 2008 1:30 AM, bighillentry <bighillentry@...> wrote:

>   Yes your right,that's what I was thinking also.
> It says that the Box contents are :
>
> (1) The printer
> (2) Black return program cartridge 1,500 pages* all
> (3) Cyan " " " 1,500 pages* Based on 5% coverage
> (4) Magenta " " " 1,500 pages*
> (5) Yellow " " " 1,500 pages*
> (6)other items I won't list.
>
> I likely will only need approx. a dozen or less boards. At the aboves
> 5% coverage per cartridge I think it should be enough toner.
>
> For color same amount for Decaling the project cases.
>
> Question: Could I just replace the black toner cartridge when it is
> empty. Will the printer sill work for black with out the color
> ones.I'm thinking yes, but not sure.
>
> I already have a good injet printer for other uses so I only need
> the above one for printed circuit boards and project case Decals.
>
> $85 for a dozen or so boards sounds to me, may be o.k. What's your
> thoughts on this.
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> allie
>
>
> > A color laser printer for $85 sounds like a good deal on the
> surface.but I
> > would consider it to be a disposable printer, After the first set
> > ofcartirdiges are used up then it is time to throw it away.
> Repalcement
> > laser cartidgesare ~$90 each for the 4 cartidges. Also the
> cartidges
> > provided with the printer are usually just "starter" cartridges and
> only
> > partialy filled. The manufacturers make money on the ink /t oner,
> not on the
> > printer itself.
> >
> > On 05 Jan 2008 23:15:04 -0500, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > "bighillentry" <bighillentry@... <bighillentry%40yahoo.com>>
> writes:
> > > > How long can you not use the printer before the toner drys same
> as
> > >
> > > Toner is dry plastic powder, it won't "dry up" like an inkjet
> will.
> > >
> > > > How long can you leave the toner on the paper before
> transfering to the
> > > > copper boards.Is there a time fame.
> > >
> > > I don't think there's a limit. It depends on how long you can keep
> > > the paper around without (1) damaging the toner, or (2) touching
> it
> > > and getting finger oil on it.
> > >
> > > There's probably some limit based on how long the paper will hold
> onto
> > > its humidity before the fibers again become brittle (assuming you
> > > humidify your paper before use, like I do), but I don't know how
> that
> > > will affect results. Mostly it affects getting toner ONTO the
> paper,
> > > not off of it.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-08 by Stefan Trethan

Yes i know, i was thinking they are often made by the same people so
they might employ similar tricks.

ST
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Jan 8, 2008 10:22 AM, Derryck Croker <derryck@...> wrote:
>
> On 7 Jan 2008, at 10:18, Stefan Trethan wrote:
>
> > I would not be so sure.
> > The chips on inkjet printers have no relation to reality
>
> I thought we were discussing laser printers?
>
> --
>
> Cheers
>
> Derryck
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Will this Lexmark color laser printer # C520n work for toner transfer on pulsars

2008-01-12 by bighillentry

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Derryck Croker <derryck@...>
wrote:
>
>
> On 7 Jan 2008, at 07:21, Stefan Trethan wrote:
>
> > Possibly they have found some nasty way to make sure you _don't_ do
> > that.
> > Often there are fiendish little chips on the cartridges,
>
> The toner cartridges I've looked at have sensors to detect when the
> toner is low, which is why it's often possible to get a few more pages
> printed by giving the cart. a shake in an attempt to re-cover the
> sensor. That's what I believe, anyway.
>
> So it might be possible to fool the printer by hacking the sensor on
> the empty carts. to report "full".
>
> Or just don't empty the colour carts in the first place!
>
> --
>
> Cheers
>
> Derryck
>
> >
> > On Jan 7, 2008 7:30 AM, bighillentry bighillentry@... wrote:
> >
> >> Question: Could I just replace the black toner cartridge when it is
> >> empty. Will the printer sill work for black with out the color
> >> ones.I'm thinking yes, but not sure.
> >>
> Thanks all for your input.

>Derryck writes  > Or just don't empty the colour carts in the first
place!<

>That's what I was thinking the other day also. I'll try to keep a chart
of  the usage, best as I can.

>Then I can go to staples for any colour printing and hopefully still be
able to use black at home  for the boards.

Thanks again

allie

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.