JLWsales Epson R200 CIS Review

[dun4cheap]

The thing I dislike about HP is they never print straight.

[bidefordboy]

Well CIS fans, the JWLSales system that I have been encouraging everyone to buy here over the last four month's, is now on it's way to the local landfill site. Here's the story :-
Recently had two day's holiday so did not use my printer (r300). Came back with a camera full of pics, promising my friend's I would send them a set. Started the printer & printed the first pic, terrible, colour's were way off, no blue, no red, & everything had a yellow cast.
Did a nozzle check, black ok, cyan broken up, lt. cyan nothing, magenta ok, lt. magenta nothing, yellow ok. Did a head clean, then another nozzle check. This time black ok, cyan nothing, lt. cyan just dots, magenta ok, lt. magenta just dots, yellow ok. Did another head clean, tried again, still crap. Printed a 6 colour purge test. Black was ok, cyan was pale pink ?, magenta nothing, yellow ok, lt. cyan was a very pale yellow ?, lt. magenta nothing.
Tried everything again half a dozen time's, still no better.
Turned printer off & went to work.
Ten hour's later tried again, still same problem's. Removed system from printer & put in a cheap set of carts that I had been keeping in reserve (just in case). Printed a nozzle check....PERFECT, printed a 6 colour purge test....PERFECT. So obviouselly the problem is with the JWLSales cart's.
I know there are way's to clear the cart's, using a syringe to suck the ink through etc., but I am not willing to do this everytime I don't use the printer for a couple of day's.
Just hope that not too many people have been influenced by previous comment's I have made in this forum, and have gone ahead and bought this system. If they have the only advice I can give is to print something EVERY DAY to avoid problem's.
The set-up & operation of the system has been great, and I have saved at least the cost of the system on ink saved. Shame it is let down by the cart's used.
Will probably get another CIS, or refillable cart's in the future. I still have 200+mls of each ink colour.

[macrovision]

Oh! and mr jtoolman2000 you must not know but print quality depends on more than the manufacturer's name for example the Epson photo prints suck unless you optimize them...you must not only select the best photo option but goto advanced and select photo enhance and move the sharpness all the way up...use good quality glossy photo paper and you'll have pretty impressive prints...the Epson "R" line prints at one of the highest optimization levels thats why it looks so good but the Canon Pixma IP 5000 prints at a higher optimization level so the prints look even better!!!!! If you want me to, I'll get the optimization specs and post it on this thread but your right ...when optimized the photo prints look better than every other low cost printer on the market (except for the Canon Pixma IP5000)

[Riktar]

Well CIS fans, the JWLSales system that I have been encouraging everyone to buy here over the last four month's, is now on it's way to the local landfill site. Here's the story :-

Maybe you shouldn't have posted anything. Now you will have to be destroyed for leading us all astray.

Seriously though that does suck. While I think that extended periods are bad for ANY ink system 2 days is just plain bad. Did you contact JLWsales to see what kind of support he might lend? Warranty?

If he is a smart business man he should find some type of solution that is equitable to both of you. If not he will soon learn how the blade cuts both ways.

Gotta run. I have to print something since it's been more than a day since I last used my system.

[macrovision]

hey Dun4cheap....I never had a problem out of my HP PSC 1210....I use to use it for photos...never had a problem...I use it everyday for dvd case labels...never have a problem....and I refill it with the same ink I use in my cis...never had a problem...and the cart has a serial number embedded in it so it can track ink usage...not a problem...reset without a resetter...use two tiny pieces of tape for three seconds and it will not only tell you that a new cart is installed but it will automatically print an alignment page....what HP you got, DUDE?

[macrovision]

I told you guys that the jlwsales carts are hollow inside and the OEM carts have chambers...I think that you should try repriming your kit and yes it is done by holding the cart upside down and using a syringe but be careful with the jlwsales cart because the outlet port in not a valve...it's a cheap peice of rubber and if you break it you'll really be pissed...trust me....that's why I had to buy my printonadime cis kit....it's carts has chambers and the outlet port has a valve...Just like the OEM...I believe the chambers manipulate the amount of ink the head outputs when the cart is charged by the printer

[dmagic1]

Yes I believe sooner or later everyone with the system will have to use a syringe to fix the carts.

Everyone probably already knows about my past issues with the lt magenta. I also had the same problems with my cyan. I had to fix both at different times with a syringe. The good news is I havent had more problems in a long time. I've let my printer sit for a long as 3-4 days since fixing it with no issues.

[macrovision]

I'm using a printonadime Cis for now...The tanks are really small but it's the best so for....no auto cleaning cycles,no mis-matched colors, It doesn't use that much ink and I also noticed that when I used the jlwsales cis I had to use the +2 or +3 setting in the epson print cd program....with my new cis +1 is almost too much....as I stated before...The carts have chambers just like the OEM carts and the outlet port is a valve just like the OEM carts....I'm heavily involved in science and technology...The chambers manipulates the ink when the carts are charged by the printer...like the stream vs. the spray setting on a bottle of windex!!!! I'm still modding my jlwsales cis with the newer carts...His cis carts are hollow...The chambers aren't there for decorations....I'm sure of this!!!

[habs01]

Well CIS fans, the JWLSales system that I have been encouraging everyone to buy here over the last four month's, is now on it's way to the local landfill site.

Be kind to the environnment and fix your kit.

But seriously, I often go a day or 2 without printing with no consequences...so far. Just wandering, do you turn your printer off or do you leave it on. I know Epson recommends turning the printer off when not using it for a period of time although I can't say why that would cause the CIS any trouble. FYI, I turn my off.

[dun4cheap]

Macro,

Hp printers never print straight. The prints are always skewed. Even the HP techs will tell you this. I don't know why, I just know I have never seen an HP printer print straight. I have had many hp printers, I still have a 1115, 1215, 1100dtn, I have had the 660, 500, and a couple of others as well.

[nickelzy]

I don't know Mac, a little harsh I would say. If you want to say "screw epson" you probably ought to say that to the vast majority of companies in the world. Regards to HP and Epson print quality, you may very well be right in your comparisons, but definitely not mine. I've done a lot of testing with two different HP printers that I've owned versus a couple of Epson Photo printers (R200 being one) and when I've shown various prints (all with different settings for experimentation purposes and to get the best of what the printer being tested could produce) to people I've gotten unanimous feedback that the Epson photos were a little better. Therefore, in my testing and use over the years, if the majority of my printwork was photo based, I'd stay with an Epson Photo printer. However, if I was more concerned with text and graphics that isn't quality critical, I'd go with HP.

Just one man's opinion for what it's worth.

[macrovision]

read carefully...I said that the Canon pixma IP5000 was better than Epson......My HP 1210 prints all of my DvD case labels and their never skewed.....I use it every day.....and yes the companies other than canon are blood suckers....that's why they chip and serial # the carts....It's O.K. Epson is good up until the print head needs changing...you'll see....... No gripe here....I'm what you would call passive! And by the way I sell DvD's....Never a complaint about the cases....maybe I need a protractor,ruler,capiler,and a magnifying glass....Oh yeah and some bifocals!!!!!!

[dun4cheap]

macrovision,

Only you can speak for your vision. The images are definately skewed. In most instances this does not matter. But when you are trying to complete something that requires to be more accurate, then I would not rely on the hp.

It is ashame that we cannot get the canon here with the CD printing option. It hardly seems fair that something like this could have a patent.

[ultraman36]

hey Mac which do you like better for printing dvd (quality wise) the inks from Jlwsales or the inks from printonadime? i think im gonna get the printonadime cis when my jlwsale inks run out since you said the tanks on printonadime are better

ps the 70ml tanks from printonadime are suppose to come in either the end of this week or beginning of next week

[macrovision]

ultra...I like the printonadime cis because of the autoreset chips....it never does a autoclean cycle....The tanks don't worry me either...as far as my HP PSC1210...as long as I continue to make money from it (it has paid for itself....I still use the cart it came with...No problem) I don't care if it S**ts on itself.....just as long as I get my money's worth...and I got it...I scan disc labels and print with my R200...who cares...someone said how can I say screw Epson and still use their printer!? Well I wasn't born rich and from my knowledge....I got to start from the BOTTOM and work my way to the top....The bottom is the EPSON to me..I know of better printers...unfortunatly I don't have $5000 or $7000 just for a damn printer but I've made close to that with my economical DVD copy buisness...."WE PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY MOVIES AT DISCOUNT PRICES!" Anyway I want my girl to be happy....as for me..I'll take your car apart and reassemble it in your living room...and It will run!!!! I wonder why I can do those things...took my epson apart...did you know that the printhead ressembles a solar cell!!Piezoelectric.....the element in the speaker for digital watch alarms...it's not really a speaker...it's a crystal!!!!!!!!! Oh, the printer still works!!!!!!! Let me go...I'm getting schizoaffective now.

[macrovision]

I want all to know...I got my tail between my legs and my head down because I owe dun4cheap an apology...In all of my pride I made the worst mistake and insulted the integrity of this fellow forumist....The hp psc1210 does in fact produce skewed prints.....I thought about my past experience with my HP and remembered two events that makes the skewing issue valid...first when I printed photo's with my hp about 12 months ago I was not happy...It refused to use the bulk of a 4x6 sheet of photo paper...it left approximately 20% untouched...and recently...about a month ago I printed a make-shift dvd case label...5x7 and it looked smaller that the original scan so I printed the same scan with the epson R200 and as sure as I'm irrational it was indeed bigger.......SORRY DUN4CHEAP, I was wrong!...man I just gotta be right... huh ? anyhow, A wise man once told me " A FOOL IS A PERSON THAT KNOWS EVERYTHING". And just so that we set the record straight...I've had more of the skewing than that in which was just reported.DAMN!!!

[macrovision]

Dun4 goto hppt://www.expansys-usa.com and in the search bar type Canon pixma IP3000......It's a european warehouse located in the U.S. This one prints cd\dvd however be cautious...it might require european power format...I think that's more than 120vac...I was told that a american power supply can be ordered to replace the power supply inside this unit.... it's price is kinda steep and I don't like the fact that the carts are sponged!!! But I was told that the power supply issue is as easy as taking one out, putting the other in... I'm a Technician...Sounds right being that this is a transformer issue (step up/step down)

[dun4cheap]

macrovision,

no appology needed. The last few years on the epsons I could not stand them. The vertical gravity fed feeder used to always jamb. I understand going to the gravity fed paper feed meant less moving parts, it sure took a while to get it working. I loved my original epson color stylus which had the old style feeders and big carts.

Here is how I look at it now with HP, Epson and Canon. I like the looks of the canon printers, I live by canon, thats why I own a Canon Digital Rebel and Conon Optura 20 so you would thing I would own a canon printer. I may in the future, but with the r200 only costing $79 it is a highquality disposable printer. I purchased a backup r300 new from costco for $99.99 which is still new in the box. Costco has a great return policy so the receipt is taped to the box and when that printer fails Costco will get it back.

Now my HP1100dtn is a work horse. It takes large carts and prints 20+ pages a minute and has multiple bins. It never prints straight no matter which media I use, plain paper, envelopes, ID cards what ever. It is always skewed. The HP skewed prints have always been there but this is usually not a problem unless your looking for more precise accurracy.

I just replaced 2 HP1215 printers with R200 basically because with the amount of printing we do in our small office, the r200s will virtually pay for themseleves in just 2-3 cartridge replacements.

Next year, most of these printers will be replaced when I upgrade my copier to a network printing copier. Just waiting for my lease to be over on the one I have now.

So I imagine next year this time, we will all be talking about the new new hot printer, and we will all go and buy it and sware to it until the next best thing comes a long. Its a viscious circle but we will keep coming back for more.

[macrovision]

Dun4, I took my old R200 apart because I'm a Tech...It would make like it was printing but no output...This was all my fault and your right it is a disposable printer however I'm only mad at epson for the stationary printhead and the whole auto-cleaning bit....but it's a cheap printer so who cares....I replaced my entire system and can replace again tommorrow (this includes the CIS)...I found that it was my fault from trying to flush the printhead manually...There is a ribbon cable that connects the printhead to the motherboard...the printhead carraige also has a daughterboard ...when I flushed the unit I used too much solution causing corrosion in the ribbon cable connecter...I was under the impression that the ribbon cable was connecting at the top of the carraige....WRONG...it's at the height of the cones and if the heads are flushed manually it must be done with a syringe or cleaning cart...still not recommended...if it's under warranty allow Epson their due otherwise use the non-functional unit for parts and experimental purposes only....Mines is still under warranty and if epson doesn't want to replace it that's fine with me...I'll use it for parts because the replacement part isn't worth the trouble...when I reassembled it it still does what it was doing.....Always took things apart....always was threatened as a child about my Christmas toys....Got good at re-assembling..Became a technician...And I want to go into Electronics Egineering....I'd like to go to M.I.T.

[macrovision]

It seems this forum is dead...I think I'll print a memorial!!!

[Idle]

Hi -- just found this thread, would be a shame to let it die...

I have the R310 and found it quite difficult to set up the CIS on it.

First tried the front mounting method with lashings of electrician's tape, which worked OK except for the squeak when the tubes rubbed at the end of the carriage stroke -- decided this wasn't the way to go.

Now have it set up with the supplied kit, but still can't get the tubes away from touching lightly at the top of the case when the carriage goes under the far end -- probably this will do no harm, as it doesn't actually rub.

However, the main gripe is that the tubing is just barely long enough for the R310, which has that big bulge with the keypad and LCD -- a couple more inches would make all the difference, as it is I can't open the card-reader door without moving the ink tanks first.

Now, has anyone tried printing from the card reader?

I tested it when I first unpacked the printer (stand-alone, no connection to computer) and found it used huge amounts of ink -- did a full head clean every time it was told to print, had a quarter-inch of ink in the external container (60mm square, so about 5 square inches by a quarter inch deep is a LOT of ink) in no time.

Since connecting to computer it doesn't do this -- has auto-cleaned heads twice in three weeks (and I turn it off at the wall every night -- don't like leaving electronic devices on standby, I've seen houses burn down...)

Maybe I should just forget the card reader?

[nickelzy]

I believe that this thread is FAR from being dead. There are too many topics that folks need and want to discuss regarding their CIS systems. I would think that if anything, CIS Systems should have it's own section on the forum (just look at the amount of posts and views). At any rate, I wish I could help you Idle, but I don't have any experience using the R310 with a CIS system.

A question that I'm a little confused about is regarding my black ink. First, as suggested on this thread, I went ahead and bought replacement ink from atlanticink and got it yesterday. Since my black ink was the only one critically low, it was the only one that I added ink to yesterday. Adding ink with the syringe was very simple and the chamber is now full. However, I've noticed that the hose that runs from the black chamber of the CIS system to the cartridge in the printer is empty. This may very well been the case prior to adding ink, I can not really say for certain. The ink level prior to adding ink last night was extremely low. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. Most importantly, I want to know if there is anything that I need to do right now or is it just a matter of time before the CIS system pulls the ink through the hose and to the cartridge. I've been printing some text documents this morning and everything looks good (but the black hose is still empty). Any thoughts or suggestions on this?

[macrovision]

I ain't got thought for you nicklzy...You remember me?...when I said this forum was dead I said it because I was the only posting for two days(CIS FORUM ONLY....) and I have my E-mail notify me on my mobile when there's a new post...the was non...it pissed me off because I like helping you guy's ....and you guy's helping me!!!!!!as for your black cart. problem NICKLZY>>>>LISTEN CAFEFULLY....NO JOKING!!!!
You have to reprime the cart...It's empty because you used all of the ink from the cart and it's not gonna refill itself because there is too much air in the cart....BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DOING THIS!!!!! I told this forum that the JLWSALES cart outlet port is a rubber cap...Not a valve so you must be careful not to damage this rubber cap...First turn the cart upside down...Then take a syringe that has no neddle attached and carefully insert it into the outlet port...Draw the syringe plunger back and HOLD you will feel the plunger pull back down...(Do not let go because it will pull back and send air into the cart)....You will see ink rush into the tube and the plunger will no longer pull back...carefully remove the syringe and push the plunger back down...carefully reinsert and pull the plunger back again...you will feel the plunger pull opposite...DON'T LET GO...you will see ink enter the syringe....Your all set when this happens! FROM THE MAKERS OF TYLENOL

[macrovision]

Idle...Did you see the posts on proper routing....Page 21 of this forum...You can get there by clicking the page numbers at the top or bottom of this page....Do you have it setup like nickelzy"s pics???

[macrovision]

I believe that this thread is FAR from being dead. There are too many topics that folks need and want to discuss regarding their CIS systems.

I was referring to the unusual time-frame that past(two day's) No-one posted Except for me....I was scared....I LOVE YOU GUY'S!!!!! :P

[nickelzy]

Thanks Mac, I actually got it figured out earlier this afternoon but didn't get a chance to post. All I did was by using the SCC utility, I performed a black only head cleaning, and this caused the black ink to move from the chamber, through the hose and to the cartridge. Everything is printing great now! Thanks again Mac - I appreciate your willingness to help out.

[macrovision]

Waaahhhh....I want AN R800 with CIS Kit.....R200 Dye ink comes off with water and I have to use Krylon clear gloss to protect my DVD prints....And R800 pigment ink stays on without Krylon clear gloss!Waaahhhh!!!

[macrovision]

Nickelzy....I tried black only head cleaning before...it said "your device does not support this function"....Everything is great with my printonadime CIS....I did about 50 full color DVD's this week...It won't even consider doing an auto-head cleaning no matter how much I turn it on and off....I like this!!!!

[Idle]

Idle...Did you see the posts on proper routing....Page 21 of this forum...You can get there by clicking the page numbers at the top or bottom of this page....Do you have it setup like nickelzy"s pics???

Yes, I do -- if I had an R200 printer that would be fine.

With the R300, as I said, the tubing is a bit on the short side and there's no way to take it straight over the end as in the pix (all the control buttons and the LCD are in the way), so it has to be taken round the front and routed at an angle via the cartridge change area, which means the tube goes out to the crossbar at an angle.

This puts just enough stress on the tubes that they don't quite run straight the other side of the crossbar and tend to flick upward when the carriage moves to the cleaning wiper at the far end.

During normal printing there's no problem, even with the very fast movements printing CD's -- just when the carriage moves to the extreme end.

If it had a little more slack, I could put a second bar on to line it up, but there isn't enough tubing to do that -- it pulls tight at the far end already.

Having watched its operation very carefully, I don't really think there will be any problem -- but I'd be happier if it didn't touch anything.

[ultraman36]

hey i talked to a guy who has an r800 nd he said that if he wets his finger a little bit and rubs his dvds it still smudges. So on R800 its not water proof on dvd just pictures. From what he told me you cant use the gloss cartridge on dvds just on pictures. i guess pictures are waterproof not the dvds