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Epson 3880 maintenance cartridge failure

Epson 3880 maintenance cartridge failure

2016-04-09 by goch@...

I know many of you use the Epson 3880. Has anyone experienced a sudden report of failure or malfunction of the maintenance cartridge? Mine went for about 30% capacity to an error message telling me I needed to replace it.


Just to be on the safe or well-provisioned side, I quickly ordered four more cartridges. They arrived yesterday. I put one in, fired up the printer, and . . . same message.


The original malfunction appeared out of the blue: I had switched from PK or MK part way through a printing session, and suddenly the error message appeared. (The maintenance tank was not even close to being full.)


Any suggestions?


Is there any way to completely reset a 3880 (in case it is just a software/firmware glitch)?


As nearly as I can tell, there is no way to get around the replace-the-maintenance-cartridge message.


Thanks in advance!

Myron


Re: [QuadtoneRIP] Epson 3880 maintenance cartridge failure

2016-04-09 by forums@walkerblackwell.com

Yes. There are many places that sell 3880 waste-tank resetters (I work at one of them) and the cost of the resetter will pay itself back in a few resets. Google it.

No-one should be throwing these away. One can pull the cotton, reset the chip, and put some paper-towel, or sponge in there and back to the races. This is very good for people printing a lot (aka QuadtoneRIP people).

best,
Walker
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Apr 9, 2016, at 8:39 AM, goch@... [QuadtoneRIP] <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> I know many of you use the Epson 3880.  Has anyone experienced a sudden report of failure or malfunction of the maintenance cartridge?    Mine went for about 30% capacity to an error message telling me I needed to replace it.   
> 
> 
> 
> Just to be on the safe or well-provisioned side, I quickly ordered four more cartridges.  They arrived yesterday.  I put one in, fired up the printer, and . . . same message.
> 
> 
> 
> The original malfunction appeared out of the blue:  I had switched from PK or MK part way through a printing session, and suddenly the error message appeared.  (The maintenance tank was not even close to being full.)
> 
> 
> 
> Any suggestions?    
> 
> 
> 
> Is there any way to completely reset a 3880 (in case it is just a software/firmware glitch)?
> 
> 
> 
> As nearly as I can tell, there is no way to get around the replace-the-maintenance-cartridge message.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> 
> Myron
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

Re: [QuadtoneRIP] Epson 3880 maintenance cartridge failure

2016-04-10 by Myron Gochnauer

UPDATE:

The problem was not with the waste-tank itself or with its chip. It turned out - - after much experimenting - - that the MK cartridge was the problem even though the error message said the waste-tank needed to be replaced.

For what it is worth: I was using refillable cartridges in all of the black positions, and Epson for colours. I purchased the refillables more than a year ago, but I don’t recall the eBay seller. They were “self-resetting”. Two of the cartridges (PK and one of the colour ones) came with their own special chips (longer than Epson chips), and for the remaining cartridges it was necessary to put in the appropriate Epson chip and then tape over one of the contacts. That may be somewhat clunky, but the cartridges themselves appear as well-made as any I have used.

Eventually I got everything going, but it may be necessary to use different cartridges in the future. I have no idea why the MK cartridge was problematic, or how I managed to get past the warning of unauthorized cartridges. 😊

Myron


On Apr 9, 2016, at 10:01 AM, 'forums@walkerblackwell.com' forums@walkerblackwell.com [QuadtoneRIP] <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Yes. There are many places that sell 3880 waste-tank resetters (I work at one of them) and the cost of the resetter will pay itself back in a few resets. Google it.


No-one should be throwing these away. One can pull the cotton, reset the chip, and put some paper-towel, or sponge in there and back to the races. This is very good for people printing a lot (aka QuadtoneRIP people).

best,
Walker




On Apr 9, 2016, at 8:39 AM, goch@unb.ca [QuadtoneRIP] <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


I know many of you use the Epson 3880. Has anyone experienced a sudden report of failure or malfunction of the maintenance cartridge? Mine went for about 30% capacity to an error message telling me I needed to replace it.


Just to be on the safe or well-provisioned side, I quickly ordered four more cartridges. They arrived yesterda y. ;I put one in, fired up the printer, and . . . same message.


The original malfunction appeared out of the blue: I had switched from PK or MK part way through a printing session, and suddenly the error message appeared. (The maintenance tank was not even close to being full.)


Any suggestions?


Is there any way to completely reset a 3880 (in case it is just a software/firmware glitch)?


As nearly as I can tell, there is no way to get aroun d the re place-the-maintenance-cartridge message.


Thanks in advance!

Myron






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