Questions about Continuous Ink Flow Systems - SLASH INKJET PRINTING COSTS from ProPrint

CIS for Epson inkjet photo printers

Question

Hi there, I'm interested in buying the C.I.S. for my Epson C84 Photo Edition.

I spoke to people in the shop where I bought my printer. They told me the ink you will supply can block up the print heads of my printer because it is different from original Epson inks. They claim the manufacturer's ink has a head cleaning agent in it.

Can you dispute this claim?

Also do you know anyone who has this system and how long have they used it?

If the print heads of my printer clog up do you have a method of clearing them.

Thanks Patrick H. McC Edinburgh

Patrick - I am curious as to the people in the shop you spoke to - are they previous customers of mine who have used the pigment (or dye) ink we supply and had the problem you describe?

do they have a vested interest in selling you cartridges?

I can tell you is that the Pigment ink we supply is made by Jettec (a cartridge manufacturer) they use it in their cartridges and we have many repeat customers who have used Jettec C84 cartridges over the years. I believe that this ink is equal to and matches Epson Durabrite in regard to "archival properties" (Anti fading). It is one of the few which does as the majority of compatibles simply fill with dye based inks. So far as I know these pigment inks are made to the same specifications as the OEM.

I have a couple of the CIS systems pre-filled with Pigment ink in stock - but I have not previously sold any pre-filled with pigment inks (I do have a couple of customers who have used up the dye based inks supplied and then filled with the pigment inks) - I should say that the ink supplied with the systems we have in stock is not ink from the same source as we supply in bottles.

Because it comes pre-filled I don't actually know much about the ink in the containers. It is about 100mL per colour.

I appreciate that you need to ask questions but I am not really able to say much more than this.

By the way Epsons are prone to head type problems anyway - In my opinion the worst thing you can do with an Epson is not use it. When in use the printer does lots of mini flushes during a print and the reason that Epson have designed their printers to do this is it assists in keeping the nozzles in the printheads clear. Many users don't even know about these mini flushes - which go on during printing - it uses up ink which simply goes to waste.

By the way if you don't need the archival properties you could use the dye based inks

Regards

Jim West

Question

I have recently purchased a Epson R220. I have been using an R300 with an australian flow system (this printer is now defective) The chip block for the flow system seems non compatable with the R220. Can u help. Brian

Some customers mentioned a difference with the R340 earlier where they described some sort of a bar or change in the case moulding which might prevent the tube travel.

I mentioned this to our current supplier of systems but they did not lead me to think that their system would not work in that printer. I took those off our list of models on the web till I can be certain they work for sure.

Recently, a customer brought in his system (for R220) he had cannibalised the side of the printer to do what he thought would be necessary - I told him I did not think that this should be necessary - anyway his situation was slightly more complicated as I got him to put back in the originals to try to see on the "Status monitor" that all was recognised but he could not get that so the problem he had seemed more fundamental i.e. until he could get the thing to work with cartridges we could not even try the CIS.

The other thing he pointed out was that the cartridge clamp would restrict the tubes. What I note in the instructions for our current system is that this clamp is removed completely to install the CIS. i.e. when removed it will not restrict the tubes.

The only other problem we have to remind ourselves of is that Epson change their cartridge chips for different territories - e.g. R200 for Europe and R210 for Far East and possibly US markets. Identical printers different chips. Whether or not these new models of printer and in particular the "Full on" chips used in the older CIS will be compatible with each other I just can't say - but if the printer does not recognise the cartridges - Even just one of the cartridges - Then that may be the issue. A new set of CIS chips for the latest printers may do the trick - I have some chips for the R200 / R210 / R300 / R310 etc but could not guarantee them for the R220

So although the printers use the same cartridge sets we cannot know what Epson will change next!

Question

Hi Jim

No I didn't buy it from you but can you help anyway ?

I bought the printer and CISS at a computer fair in Manchester a few months the original cartridges have only just run out.

Hopefully yours Neil

Hmmm - not sure I can tell you much more than what you have done - Try the company you purchased from? - There is one I know who do the fairs and if you bought from them they have a guy who I have spoken to and he is very helpful and knowledgeable on these. Clearly if I had sold the system I would be obligated to get you working. One suggestion

You might be best to get a Chip Resetter (£8) reset the originals re-instal these and make sure the printer is A OK with these back in first. Get the "Epson Status monitor" which shows all the ink levels on the screen make sure that is all working then re-install the CIS carts. It could be just one chip as they are wired in series if one is not recognised nothing will work.

You could of course work from the originals - detatch the tubes of the CIS carts. (make sure the ink tubes are held higher than the ink container or you will be in a mess) Then instal

the CIS carts singly to ensure that each one is OK - if you hit one that is not - re-instal the original and go to the next CIS cart. That way you may be able to eliminate the prob.

We keep a few spare CIS ("Full on" chips in stock)

The other possibility is - working from the originals back in the printer - download a piece of software from the web - http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

This allows you to "Freeze the counters" do that first and then instal the CIS carts again and see if that helps,

Remember to take some precautions for spillage and leakage get tissue or paper towel and spread out a newspaper to set everything on just in case.

Once you are up and running you will be fine it is just getting to that point!

Regards

Jim West

Pro Print
Unit 1 Stowmill Stow Galashiels TD1 2RB UK
Tel : 01578-730477 Fax: 01578-730478

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