Building a CIS for Epson R200- anyone tried to build one yet

[Toaster]

Has anyone here tried to build a continuous ink system using the stock epson carts?

Seems to me that using the SSC software to freeze the ink levels would eliminate the need for special chips, and tubing and bottles with ink are easy enough to get... so has any tried to feed the ink tubes into the stock carts?

I'm not aware of the internal structure of the carts. Can any one help?

[SLICK RICK]

Many people here have been buying the CIS system in this thread.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=241206

[bugande]

buy this instead...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1246&item=6727876836&rd=1

nice system with ink also included.
read about the others using it on this site also

[jaxxboss]

buy this instead...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1246&item=6727876836&rd=1

nice system with ink also included.
read about the others using it on this site also

That is the same sytem that Slick Rick is talking about and referenced the thread.

[bugande]

I must have been typing when he posted 3 minutes before me!

[necer]

Here are some links for your reference:

http://www.inkrepublic.com/testimonials.asp
http://www.inkrepublic.com/VideoClips.asp
http://www.inkrepublic.com/Comparison.asp
http://www.digitalanime.com.br/epson

I have been trying InkRepublc.com's iINK system for more than 7 months, their system works really cool and I can switch pigment and dye ink back and forth, depends on my purpose.

I have tried out some other CIS systems before, they could not last more than 5 months because of sponge.

The problem that I have with Ebay's JLWsales sytem are the tubes and the connections of tubes and cartridges. sometimes it is leaking actually.

I can always use the system from inkrepublic.com to other of my printers without paying the whole system again. Literally, it does make more sense.

[necer]

I have received a newsletter from InkRepbulic.com few days ago:

http://www.inkrepublic.com/macusergroup.asp

It is a discount for Mac User.... but you can still get the discount from above link.

hope it helps.

[Bodyslide]

The problem that I have with Ebay's JLWsales sytem are the tubes and the connections of tubes and cartridges. sometimes it is leaking actually.

Where and how did the leaks occur? Do you have any photos you can share?

[RickTheRed]

You JLW lovers, stop hijacking this thread

@bodyslide
I would not take seriously necer's comment on JLW system.

[necer]

I would like to take a picture and upload it to here.
But how?

I actually did select the image file when posting another one, but looks like it does not allow the file from my local drive?

[necer]

RickTheRed and Bodyslide

Dont get me wrong, I appreciate what JLW has been done to improve CIS. I love their kit too. Even I had several problem with them, I still want to try it in a long period of time to see if it really works well.

Like what I have reviewed on inkrepublic.com's cis,
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=247634

I took more than 7 months to test and did see the great result.

[necer]

If I have described something wrong that JLW lovers do not agree with, I apology for that.
I love their kit too, but need more time to test run.

[Toaster]

I think the thread got slightly off topic... My question was originally has anyone tried to modify the original stock epson cartridges to make their own (build your own) continuous ink system?

I've done alot of read on http://www.eddiem.com/photo/CIS/cis.htm

This guy built his own for another series epson printer. He even has pictures of the modified cartridges http://www.eddiem.com/photo/CIS/2100p/v2.htm

But since I have no knowledge of the chambers and structure of the T048x series Epson R200 compatible cartridges, I dont know if this will work. Has anyone here attempted to build their own CIS?

Heres the thing: Plastic bottles (thats what the Ink comes in- so you've already got those). Tubing, available at any pet/tropical fish store. Reset chips, ok- these are expensive, but using SSC util you can freeze the ink level, so possibly no need for the special chips? Next is simply to feed the tubes into your existing epson carts, which have no foam- is this possible?

[RickTheRed]

Toaster,
Maybe I'm wrong, but I was thinking that original Epson cartridge had foam.

[SLICK RICK]

This guy built his own for another series epson printer. He even has pictures of the modified cartridges http://www.eddiem.com/photo/CIS/2100p/v2.htm

To me, that seems like alot more trouble than it is worth, considering one can be purchased for about $100.

[SLICK RICK]

This guy built his own for another series epson printer. He even has pictures of the modified cartridges http://www.eddiem.com/photo/CIS/2100p/v2.htm

Did you read that guys entire guide/story? At the bottom of the page he has listed some problems that he was having.

[RickTheRed]

@slick rick
If the toaster wants to try, let him do it. I also think it's less trouble to buy one, but there are plenty of thread on kits. If you know how, it's certainly much cheaper to build one.

[tonyiws]

You'll still need to buy new chips or a chip resetter because the SSC Utility does NOT work with the R200. I tried to use it because one of the chips that came wit hmy JLW CIS did not work. Since I did not have a chip resetter, I bought a new oem cart just to get the chip. I just figured I'd use the SSC Utility to keep the ink level up until I got the replacement chip from JLW. It does NOT work. The auto freezer, the manual freezer, or just the plain old reset all do NOT work. Luckily JLW mailed a full set of replacement chips very quickly and everything is working good now. (I notified him on 11/22, he mailed them on 11/25 from Hong Kong, I received them on 12/7 in Florida, USA)

Also, when I was researching this same idea, I found a web page that explained the R200 carts. They are very complicated inside and I don't think it would be easy to do. I'll try to find some links and post them here.

The ink bottles that come with the JLW system are nice because they automatically regulate the pressure with a two chamber system. No need to worry about the ink level. I also like that the tubing is connected to the bottom of the ink bottles. This make refilling very easy since you don't have ink covered tubing to deal with.

Like you, I like to get everything as cheap as possible and I was considering making my own. By the time you buy ink and chips you'll already be close to the cost of this system. This system is a cheap, no brainer, no hassles, with good support from the seller. I highly reccomend it.

Good luck! Post some pics and let us know if you make you own.

[Toaster]

It just seems so easy... I mean, I've been buying my ink from Sams wholesale club, for $19 I get 4oz of ea color + 8oz of black. Not a bad deal... its all DYE based ink. They each come in 4oz bottles, so the bottle issue is done.

I saw tubing at the pet store, mini air tubing for tropical fish aquariums for $1.49 for 6 ft piece with some plastic fittings, so I think 3 of those would be enough, since I doubt you need more than 3 ft for each color line. Just cut the 6 ft piece in half.

Then you read the http://www.eddiem.com/photo/CIS/cis.htm page and see how he did it, then you read http://www.refillinstructions.com/Epson/E12.htm
these refill instructions, and they talk about drilling a hole to refill the cartridge. Then http://www.refillinstructions.com/Epson/E13.htm this page shows another view of the cartridge inside, but I'm not 100% sure these are the T048 series carts...

Then see this picture http://www.stratitec.com/inkrefill/EIR595/assets/p57.png
which describes how to refill cartridge using suction... so here's what I'm thinking:

You have your ink in the bottles already. Drill a hole in the lid for the tubing, and another small hole for air pressure as the ink gets sucked out of the bottle.
Feed the tubing ($4.50) from each of the colors to your epson cartridges.
Drill the hole in the top of the epson cartridge (or burn the hole with a soldering iron so no debris goes into the cartridge), like the first refill instruction talk about (under the "S" in PUSH), feed the tubing into the hole, seal it with a little hot glue or whatever... then using the suction method from the second refill instructions, using a syringe to prime the cartridge once everything is in place, until you get the ink flowing into the cartridge from the bottles- you could then put the ink you primed through the system, back into the bottle.
Now, using the SSC util, your ink levels are frozen at whatever they are currently, so no need for the autoreset chips or resetter (at least, not right away?) and it seems to me you've got a continuous ink system for about $5.00 in parts? I mean, it seems like it would be easy ?

I dunno, thats why I asked.... if I had some extra cartridges I'd try it right now. I only have the 1 set of cartridges- and I was hoping someone more qualified might have already tried and succeeded?

[Toaster]

You'll still need to buy new chips or a chip resetter because the SSC Utility does NOT work with the R200. I tried to use it because one of the chips that came wit hmy JLW CIS did not work. Since I did not have a chip resetter, I bought a new oem cart just to get the chip. I just figured I'd use the SSC Utility to keep the ink level up until I got the replacement chip from JLW. It does NOT work. The auto freezer, the manual freezer, or just the plain old reset all do NOT work.

The SSC util I am using does work with my R200... It will not reset the chip level, but it does "freeze" the ink level. I've been at the same level (% wise) since I installed it, and I've printed at least a dozen covers, and dvd labels so far... so I can tell you it works for me

And don't misunderstand me, I agree 100%... Until I actually installed the SSC util, I would never consider building one. Because the reset chips are very expensive... and I've seen CIS systems on ebay for about $80 w/o ink and $120'ish with ink (the jlwsales one). but since the SSC util works for me, thats when I started seriously thinking my idea might work

I would like to know if someone else did it first, or at least see pictures of the actual insides of the t048 carts compatible with the R200...

[tonyiws]

Well, I can't find the web page where I saw the inside before, but I remember they looked very much like the ones you posted at this link http://www.refillinstructions.com/Epson/E13.htm . I remember the guy that posted the pics was refilling his carts and using a chip resetter. He didn't drill through both layers of plastic as they say to do He only went through the first layer of plastic and then the ink was somehow sucked into the rest of the cart. I think you'll need to preserve the original flow pattern in the cartridge for it to work right.

About the SSC... I thought it was woking at first too, but it wasn't. Please keep us posted as to whether it is actually working after more printing.

[tonyiws]

Check out this homemade system...
http://www.eddiem.com/photo/CIS/cis.htm

{edit} Duh, I see you already found this... I'll try to look closer next time.

[Toaster]

BTW: I have been printing with my stock cartridges, and the ink levels are still frozen using the SSC util...

[tonyiws]

Glad it's working for you. Still pisses me off that I couldn't get it to work tho... Pisses me off that I had to spen $13 on a new cartridge just to get the chip cuz I couldn't get it to work...

Are you using auto or manual freeze? What version of SSC?

[Toaster]

I'm using vers 3.80, which I downloaded a few days ago, set it up for R200 by the pull down menu option. Set for AUTO FREEZE and set it to load at startup. oh, and I left the epson monitor load option set to YES, since when I set that option to no do not load epson monitor, the printer wouldn't print at all.

Now we just need someone to try and build this stupid thing

[AlexT]

Try this:

http://www.ehmac.ca/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=008679