Building Own CIS system for R300

[Eldorado]

Instead of paying the crazy prices I'm seeing for CIS systems ($150+ and most don't even include ink!) I thought I would venture into the world of do-it-yourself

I have a good list of most of the parts needed, The Village Idiot posted in another thread some part numbers for most stuff needed on a site called www.usplastic.com, that gets me the tubing, clamps, ink bottles needed..(thanks!) -> Thread Here

But I now need to find a place that I can buy preferably CLEAR empty cartridges with 'always full' chip.. or without, if without I would also need a place to get these chips. After alot of searching I couldn't find exactly what I need..

So just a small request for some good links and maybe some good advice from those that might have done this on their own before?

[iooi]

Could you not do this with a new set of carts and use the SSC service ultilty to lock the chips on full ?

[Eldorado]

Yep I could and have considered it, but if it's not all that expensive I'd prefer having clear cartridges.. just helps in any sort of trouble shooting cases, always nice to be able to see inside the cartridge..

Just wondering, TVI suggests Nalgene bottles from this place.. having trouble finding exaclty which ones to use, do any have little holes that can be opened in the lids to allow the tube to drop in easily?

[dmagic1]

I've been looking for these clear carts aswell.

[The village idiot]

You need to drill the holes in the caps for the bottles. Doesn't need to be too neat since you need a place for the air to get into the bottles (replaces the ink used in printing). Any of the 4 ounce bottles would be fine, the wide mouth makes it easier to fill. Can't help with the carts, maybe look at MIS ink supply, they have tubes that will work better too ( 6 & 8 lines bundled together) as well as the always full chips for $15 each. They also have some do it yourself kits, and instructions. Just do a google for MIS ink, or maybe MIS associates (something like that).

[golfnut]

iooi could you tell me how to lock chips on full as you mentioned in your comments. Also when you say "new set of carts", do you mean a new empty set or a new set of original epson carts? Wouldn't the new carts have to be modified to accept the tubes and ink? Do you know where to buy these pre modified carts? Thanks for the help.

[iooi]

By new carts i ment a brand new full of ink one's.
Right click on its icon down by clock, then choose Ink Freezer. One of the options in there locks the chip at full i think. Would be better of going to their (SSC) forum and looking for the info on which it is.

Just did a google as TVI said and came up with this artical which may help you.
Here

[Cholerabob]

I know about www.ozmods.com that sells the parts, but they are expensive. And here www.atlanticinkjet.com you can get the resetting chips.

I hope it helps, let us know how it goes.

[meupc]

Movie:

http://www.ferragini.com.br/r200/r200.wmv

[Cholerabob]

The customer must send printer to have system installed

Yeah right.....

[The village idiot]

That's because they have to cut a hole in the case, and run all the ink tubes inside the printer. It is a much more "slick" look than the other systems.

[Eldorado]

Shnazzy video they have there!

Thanks for all the info guys, I ordered some parts from usplastic.com and some other from inksupply.com (MIS associates), just still need to find some decent empty cartridges with alway full chips, but that's a side issue..

MIS says they will have CIS kits for the R300 by august 1st, so hopefully they'll have some cartridges

[inkaddict]

hey eldorado,
with the help of this forum you now have the easy part out of the way. the best part you are still to face. there are plenty of clear cartridges on the market suitable for CIS's but the hard part is finding a good quality one.
i can be your saviour if you so desire and save you the legwork (and expense) of trialling all the sh1tty brand units on the market. i have both auto reset (always read full) chips and also clear cartridges available. if you are interested let me know and we'll talk more.
i've attached a picture of the cartridge for you...

[golfnut]

Inkaddict I too am looking for a source to buy a set of cartridges (6) with read full chips for my Epson R200 printer, would you please send me a price including shipping costs to 37343, Chattanooga, TN USA. Thank you.

[dmagic1]

Care to share some locations where these clear carts can be purchased?

[The village idiot]

Maybe directly from inkaddict, hence the single post and no user information in their profile. Smells a little fishy to me.

[inkaddict]

nothin'fishy here...just good contacts...let's just say it's wholesale pricing from ozmods.com
i will ship worldwide at better prices than you get from them and maybe even include the tubing if you are nice.

[vandakeg]

meupc - Do you have an english version of your website?

[Kool_Aid]

Inksupply.com has their R200 CIS on sale now.
Prefilled for $224.00

[Eldorado]

Excellent stuff, was a bit dissapointed to see their prices of the empty cartridges.. even their always full chips are crazy high - $15 a piece!

Did quite a few searches around the net and haven't come up with much in the way of sites selling empty cartridges with or without the always full chip.. anyone have some good links?

[inkaddict]

the prices at inksupply are in US dollars i presume...
if so, check out ebay. item number xxxxx

No advertising on the forum -- vitualis

[The village idiot]

Excellent stuff, was a bit dissapointed to see their prices of the empty cartridges.. even their always full chips are crazy high - $15 a piece!

Did quite a few searches around the net and haven't come up with much in the way of sites selling empty cartridges with or without the always full chip.. anyone have some good links?

That's odd, everytime I search for always full ink chip, I get plenty of places, and most all of them have the chips for $15 each. Just be aware that not all chips are of equal quality, which means some may have a short life span. The $1.50 replacement regular chips often die after just a few power cycles.

The other option is to see if you can use the service utility to freeze the ink counters, then you shouldn't need any special chips. But that software is use at own risk, see read up on the dangers that it may present. I haven't ever used it, so can't help there.

[Eldorado]

I'm mainly interested in finding empty cartridges for the R300, seems any I find are linked to CIS systems and therefore cost a bundle!

My search will continue, but in the meantime I have received all my parts, tubes, bottles, tube fitting for cartridge.. - total cost maybe $25 US. Now just need to empty out some cartridges and order some bulk ink before I put er all together. inksupply.com has good instructions on how to set it all up, and some of my parts came from them, so all is hopefull good!

[golfnut]

Eldorado have you figured a way to refill original epson cartridges, if so I would be interested in how you are doing it. Thanks.

[Eldorado]

Yep I've been doing that for quite some time... I just punch a hole in the botton of the cartridge, there is an area with a type of tape covering what looks like 2 holes, I put a small hole in the one closest to the nozzle.. fill it up with syringe, and then re-seal with glue or silicone..

I believe printerfillingstation.com has some good step by step instructions on doing it..

[golfnut]

Eldorado thanks for the reply, ever have any leaking problem doing it this way?

[Eldorado]

Yep, quite a few actually

Always my fault if I haven't sealed the hole properly or don't let it dry long enough..

[golfnut]

Me too, I tried hot glue then put a piece of aluminum tape over the hole but I just can't seem to get a good seal.