The Best CIS ?

[poolenglish]

Just out of curiosity.... is all of this tech talk about saving ink on the printer? If that is the case.....I can put in a link to save money on ink if that would help. http://www.printforless.tk/

Tearing down, reprograming, and analizing a $95 printer just seems a little off topic
(the best cis)

[Like]

Hey Poolenglish! I haven't received my printer yet, but what do you think of printforless ink? Are you getting good quality match ffor the Epson original ink? I think I'll write Tim & see if he can get those refillable carts for my Epson 960 if you are not having any problem with yours. I had been refilling my own carts for about 2 years and haven't been good about using the printer daily, or weekly or MONTHLY for that matter. But I ordered some real cheap ganarics any let it set for a couple of days (turned on) and it came back pretty good. Refillinbg is a real pain in the butt.
Thanks!

[bidefordboy]

While I agree with you poolenglish that it is getting a bit technical here, & most of the information is going way over my head. I would love to see these tech guy's find a way to defeat the auto-recharge problem.
My Toppy-Jess system is working better than I ever expected (for the price), and the ink levels drop so slowly that the cost of the ink is not a problem. But I still hate to see good ink wasted for no reason.
If these guy's can find a way around this we will all benefit whatever system we use.


P.S.
Sorry guy's. Toppy-Jess no longer sell's on ebay. But the same system is available from Printonadime ;-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14303&item=6777785978&rd=1

[poolenglish]

like; i got the second set today (pics below) this guy sends quick! So far so good on the first set. About 25 cd's and ink is 3/4+ full. I am using my old ink til I run out.
I am not that particular about color because I can always adjust output (stronger or lighter) and I mainly print cd's.
As for the recharge cycle...I cannot say how many cd's i had to trash because the printer needed cleaning cycle, so i think it is a good thing ocassionally(to shut off then on). Also The printer seems to know when to do it, because I leave it on all of the time, and it ocasionally does it on its own, prior to printing. At least twice a week I shut it off and on. I think if i did not cycle as this, the ink would clog the head.

[Like]

poolenglish, why you change your avatar, you trying to blow my mind? . Those are nice looking carts. Do they have a sponge in them? And do you leave one of the plugs out when you go to use them, if so, which one? Darn freight eats me up living in Hawaii, ON EVERY THING.
Thanks

[poolenglish]

poolenglish, why you change your avatar, you trying to blow my mind? . Those are nice looking carts. Do they have a sponge in them? And do you leave one of the plugs out when you go to use them, if so, which one? Darn freight eats me up living in Hawaii, ON EVERY THING.
Thanks

I changed avatar because i am a big vic morrow fan (his pic) from the '60s show COMBAT!
The side that is hollow is the side you fill and leave the plug off, after filling both sides. To refill ....you just fill the chamber side while in the printer, no cart removal necessary.
It has foam in the other side,..... I think it is questionable of seller ads that say foam is bad, but time will tell.

Back when I smoked weed my brother mailed me some lau-lau (leaf-hawaiian) when he lived in honalulu in 1979, $10 an ounce! He lived there a while and wasn't considered a howlie.lol Ahh the good old days.

[Like]

poolenglish, so the end that you fill is the one oposite of the orange tab & leave that plug off? Do you have to leave that plug off to print & then put it back in after you've done all your printing? And if you just leave it off, how do you protect the ink in that cart, either from evaparation or contamination? His online directions for filling those is confusing to say the least. There, it shows clamping some kind of clip on or over the exit port. I guess that would be to keep the cart from leaking while filling it. And if that is correct, do you get a separte clip for each color? I sure hope he sends better directions with all his products than what's on his website.
Thanks

[Idle]

Macro, Jeff d et.al : Epson Electronics sell chips (including TSOP) under their own brand -- they don't make them but they back (read: put money into) a firm that does, so I suppose they just devise their own set of part numbers for anything they want to make unidentifiable (been happening throughout the industry for years -- some just grind the ID's off, either one makes an independent repairer's life hell and provides service departments with a nice little earner.)

If you do a search you'll find who probably makes them (try Epson TSOP and go on from there.)

It's quite probable that the chip in question is locked and all you can get off it is the writeable data section -- switchable chip locks are made and can be put on a board so maybe?

Poolenglish: I don't really think the tech discussion is all that off-topic, what we might come up with isn't just the analysis of a $99 printer ($200 here, btw), but a much easier method of stopping a range of the things from needlessly wasting ink.

At the moment I feel too ill to mess about much, plus I've an (I hope temporary) invalid on my hands and the combination is no fun, so you mightn't see much of me for a while.

[macrovision]

Well I haven't got much time to post but I can say that maybe your right about this being off topic but then again not exactly...the "Best Cis" in my opinon can't really exisit if the printer(Epson) doesn't allow it....ya see even the MIS Associates "Professional"($300) CIS will do Auto-Clean cycles. But to say the least...If we can bypass the Non-Sense(Ink-waste) then we will be able to determine which CIS uses less ink and is more reliable. My Printonadime CIS KIT's output is marvalous but every week I have to re-prime the carts because I get large air gaps in the hoses near the carts. However I can leave it for a week or so without printing and not get bad nozzle checks...The chips are supposed to reset to 90% to prevent auto-clean cycles....It has never done that (3 months now). The carts reset one level after the other and each time it does a heavy auto-clean...This is not about wasting ink being that I can get ink cheap here in N.Y.C. But yet the technical knowledge I have about Ink-Jet printers state that Auto-Clean cycles aren't neccessary...This I know for fact. Epson loves the $85 each time you need new carts...I guess they didn't see the CIS train coming they're way and they got caught out there. But to further explain...they created the "R" series printers to cease when one(yeah ONE)cart runs out of ink...why? And when you replace that ONE the next ONE runs out...so on and so forth. Other Ink-Jet manufaturers allow the printer to compensate by blending colors to make the missing color (HP).. Not to mention re-fill friendly carts(Canon)...Epson on the other hand makes them so hard to re-fill that they have parts inside the carts(atmospheric valves) that shut the cart down if it's penetrated...and yeah...It'll leak like no tommorrow if you fill it...Stop the auto-clean and we all have the "Best CIS"...Even if we're using OEM carts..."The Best CIS". Even if the printer doesn't cost alot...buying un-neccessary parts (Cis kits) and installing them is alot. LOL!

[BCAESE]

Hey Mac What's up!

I am still using my JLW sales CIS kit it runs fine

Does anyone have any suggstions on where I can get the refill ink for my epson r200, I need ink to refill the tanks. If someone can send a link to a site that would be great. I had my JLWsales CIS since March, works flawlessly

[macrovision]

What's up Bcaese, Have you tried http://www.printforless.tk ? I haven't used thier ink but I've heard that's it's pretty good.

[Like]

What's up Bcaese, Have you tried http://www.printforless.tk ? I haven't used thier ink but I've heard that's it's pretty good.

I have some coming from them, today I HOPE! But living in Hawaii it probably won't. You know good old USPS.
Poolenglish has been using it & likes it.

[Like]

Hey mac, I know its easy to add a waste bottle to the Epson R series, but would you know how to go about it on a Epson 960? No plate on the back & Imight have to take it apart. I love this 960, it was Epson's high end photo and print on CD/DVD's. I've done all my own refills over tthe last two years, but I let it off for a few months and it dried out.
Anyway I ordered some cheap gerneric carts and did a little windex on the cleaning pad and it's come back pretty good.
So, I sure would like to install a waste bottle. I don'd mind talking it apart, but I don't know if I would be able to leave the carts in so as not dry out the print heads. Any ideas or suggestions.
Before trying to fix it, I ordered a new R300 with CIS from printforless. Waiting for it to come.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Like]

Take a look at this guys ink 6X150ml bottles for $36.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=99320&item=6771578992<br /> <b...time doing so,

I see it didn't work

[poolenglish]

check this site out in china if you have the patience 10.80 for a set of (6)refillable carts with auto reset chips installed. $27 with sipping. they sell cis systems too.

http://www.szmicrotec.com/english/product.asp?id=122

here is the mail i recieved from them;

Pls undersand that we don't accept Paypal at this moment. And we only accept T/T in advance or via Western Union. You can pay it online with your credit card, and it is very easy.

If it is to USA, the freight cost is US$16.20. Plusing goods cost US$10.8, thus totally US$27.00.

The delivery time shall be within three days after receiving payment.

If ya want to take a risk ordering from china..check it out, and let us know

[Like]

poolenglish, here is another US site that has those refillable smart carts, but you do have to order carts and chips (expensive 7X$15) separte and install yourself. Plan on spending some time there as he is a mom & pop operation and sounds like a contrarie old farts.

http://www.colorbat.com/index.htm

My new r300 printer just came so I'm going to be off for a while as I have to rearrange my complete L shaped desk to accommadate 3 printers, 1 scanner, video dubbing setup & audio (turntable & amp) dubbing equipment. Running out of room.

Thanks all!

[macrovision]

Like, I won't be able to give you the technical specs for the Epson 960 tonight but I will try to get that information posted or PM for you by tommorrow...I've had a stressful week and I need to rest a little...BTW my fellow forumist...I've found the points on the schematics for the R300 that are responsible for the auto-clean cycles..."I wonder if this is gonna hurt"?

[Like]

Like, I won't be able to give you the technical specs for the Epson 960 tonight but I will try to get that information posted or PM for you by tommorrow...I've had a stressful week and I need to rest a little...BTW my fellow forumist...I've found the points on the schematics for the R300 that are responsible for the auto-clean cycles..."I wonder if this is gonna hurt"?

Mac, No rush, I just appreciate you offering to help. Beggers can't be chosie or rush

But I do expect them by 4AM tomorrow. LOL

Thanks Guy!

[FreeDiver]

Hey Like;
Sorry, I think this info is a bit late, but I haven't checked up on this site for a while, since I haven't even gotten my cis system yet. Just to let all of you know, Sams Club (at least here on Oahu, Hawaii) sells the Epson R200 for $77.00. That's a flat price without any shipping or handling. Also I've read where everyone is trying to find ink for a reasonable price, but like I said, on Sams Club online, you can buy the Stratetic ink for about $7-$9 a 520 ml bottle per color. So in essence, you pay about $50.00 for 520 ml of ink for all 6 colors. I just need someone to tell me how this ink holds out. Anyone out there use this ink from Sams club? I have yet to find anyone anywhere that has a better price than this. Just some info for those who care.

[BCAESE]

Which ink is the right ink? Pigment or Dye? I am trying to refill my tanks for my JLWsales CIS system.

[bidefordboy]

Dye

[BCAESE]

Where do I get syringes? the ink at this link http://www.printforless.tk does not come with syringes. Is there better ink for better price with syringes?? I like printforless's selling prices. Maybe I can get syringes from a somewhere else

[poolenglish]

he sell the syringes also, just ask him

http://www.printforless.tk

[macrovision]

As for stratitec ink....I get 420ml in a refill kit...60ml x 3 black and 60 x1 each other color... I pay $20.00 for that kit...the Quality is great....I don't see any difference between it's quality and OEM ink quality.....

[macrovision]

The above pic(cut down a little) was done with stratitec ink...I use their ink all the time. But looking at the pic on a crt monitor it looks like I should have adjusted the colors on my scanning program..Her hair looks greenish to me but in the actual pic she looks just fine...so much for scanners :P

[jeff d]

Furk, my original response was wiped out... arrgh.

Idle, Do you know that epson employes some extra security on any of the printers? Or is this extra security just speculation? I wouldn't be surprised if they do, it's just that it seems a bit excessive to me.


Macro, the cascading idea you mentioned was what I was talking about a few pages back when talking about the DSS hackers. They had a thin plastic card that wedged between the two parts and montiored and changed the serial data. Sounds like what you are talking about.

BTW, what did you find that controls the auto clean?


bcaese, get yerself a PIC line and home treatment, you'll end up with tons of extra large syringes. =)

[Idle]

Idle, Do you know that epson employes some extra security on any of the printers? Or is this extra security just speculation? I wouldn't be surprised if they do, it's just that it seems a bit excessive to me.
=)

Me too -- the number of users interested in hacking the things wouldn't justify it, I should think, and other manufacturers wouldn't have a problem with anything like that anyway -- you'd only need to throw money at it...

They're more likely to be relying on undisclosed details, like how to read/write the sections that the service programs apparently are written to ignore (note I said 'apparently' -- don't take my speculation as gospel...)

Like: Re your wish for the Photo 960 service manual, I'm not sure there is one.

It looks as though the 960 is a ROM (yes, ROM) upgrade of the 950 (just as the Color 980 was of the Color 900 I have) -- if so I have the manual, but not the service program.

I'm still down with the 'dreaded lurgi' -- so back to bed...

[macrovision]

Jeff d, The EEPROM is on one side of the processor...the output to the smart-chips is on the other side of the processor(you know what that means)anyway...the output to the smart-chips are marked with (R) and (W)....Given the theory of fooling the printer by understanding whether or not it monitors the write or looks for confirmation I believe it's definatly hackable without having to open it or re-write the firmware.....I'm still going through the 108 pages of the service manual so it's gonna be a few more week-ends before I MAY fully understand how to fool the smart-chip write...I was thinking about whether or not it's possible to have a constant level reading..."TRUE INK LEVEL FREEZING"...just think...you printed 100+ full color pages and the printer is still reading 90%.....It read 90% before you started printing...Now that's the ticket! 8)

[Like]

=)[/quote]
Like: Re your wish for the Photo 960 service manual, I'm not sure there is one.

It looks as though the 960 is a ROM (yes, ROM) upgrade of the 950 (just as the Color 980 was of the Color 900 I have) -- if so I have the manual, but not the service program.

I'm still down with the 'dreaded lurgi' -- so back to bed...[/quote]

IDle, Thanks. I gonna see what mac comes up with. I'm busy (slow do to old age) installing my new R300 & CIS for it.

[jeff d]

guys, how well is the current system understood? From what I thought was the printer on powerup reads the chips, and keeps an internal version of the values updated as printing happens, upon shutdown the values are put back on the chip. Is this correct?

If what I described above is true, how would we keep the internal values from reaching a empty state?

Let me also ask this...
On quick look it appears that IC6 is the main processor, and IC12 a comm controller, but I don't know how to read these things, I'm software...

Where do you see the cart data lines?