The Best CIS ?

[habs01]

If you want to see what's going on, your going to have to turn off the SSC utility first then start the Epson utility as both utilities conflict when run simultaneously.

I'm not 100% sure as I son't use the SSC utility anymore but that's how I would go at it.

[Mirot87]

I have the JLWsales CIS system and once or twice its gone over a week with the power off and not printing. Ive had it over 3 months and I turn it off when Im not printing.

Why make things more difficult than they need to be?

Maybe thats why Ive had such good results from this system. I installed it once and left it alone. I never removed the carts after putting them in. I never messed with any 3rd party software or anything else.

[GeoFan49]

Thanks for posting your question... I had no idea these even existed... now I am searching to find printers that have CIS available! Any recommendations for a new printer?

Froogle:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=cis+%22Continuous+Ink+System%22+p...Search+Froogle

[bidefordboy]

Just a little update.
Have just been to Western Union to transfer the money for my new chip's etc. & they have advised me not to send money to China at the moment, because of the amount of fraud there. So, back to square one

[Mirot87]

Yea thats a bad idea. Even within the US for Ebay stuff. Western Union is just sending cash. Youre putting your neck on the line there.

[bidefordboy]

Thanks for posting your question... I had no idea these even existed... now I am searching to find printers that have CIS available! Any recommendations for a new printer?

Froogle:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=cis+%22Continuous+Ink+System%22+p...Search+Froogle

If you are looking for a good quality printer for general printing & also for printing on printable cd's & dvd's, you should look at the Epson R200 or if you have a digital camera & want to print directly from the cards then the Epson R300.
A selection of CIS systems to use on these printers are available here :-

http://search.ebay.com/continuous-ink-system_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40

Or do a Google search for 'continuous ink systems'

[habs01]

Please let's not go there again if we wan't to keep this thread alive. I suggest posting factual information as much as possible. This thread is under close scrutiny.

I also turn my printer off after printing. The longest stretch it's been off so far is about 3 days. So I don't think Mirot87's on/off habits as suspicious or extrordinary. I guess your mileage may vary.

[macrovision]

Cis or OEM doesn't matter... It's the size of the nozzles, Type of printhead and as usual... Oxygen

[Acrimony]

Please let's not go there again if we wan't to keep this thread alive. I suggest posting factual information as much as possible. This thread is under close scrutiny.

I also turn my printer off after printing. The longest stretch it's been off so far is about 3 days. So I don't think Mirot87's on/off habits as suspicious or extrordinary. I guess your mileage may vary.

For the record, it's not a matter of "your milage may vary". It's a matter of how many times are you gonna let your printer sit for a week at a time before the printhead clogs. 2-3 days generally isn't pushing it, but a week at a time is. It's not like I'm making these things up, just visit any photography forum or ask around in a more specified forum (not a site dedicated to video) and you'll see Epson's are notoroius for printhead clogging. Hell contact Epson, they even reccomend you print something atleast every other day.

[bb-q]

I got my CIS but having problems with it. Its the Toppyjess model, has breather plugs u put into the top of the tanks, I got everything setup corectly except, ink not being printed on paper. getting sucked out of the tanks though. For some reason I have only been able to get the black ink to work but all nozzles are not printing. Cleaning cycles have not helped. Anyone have any suggestions

[Mirot87]

Im beginning to suspect that CIS systems are just not a perfect science. You really take your chances with ANY brand working perfectly. Maybe its just Epsons fault for making a cheap printer that relies on us buying ink carts to make them money.

[bb-q]

heh I think I had the plugs in the wrong holes, popped them into the other set of holes and now I getting color ink, not all nozzles bu most of them. Can't seem to get all the nozzles working now. And am worried about where all this ink is going thats getting sucked out of these tanks.

[bidefordboy]

@bbq
Have sent you a pm regarding setting up the Toppy-Jess system. But will repeat it here in case there are any other new users of this system.
The cart cover will have to be removed as the clip holding the tubing to the cyan cart is at the back, and you would not be able to close the cover. After removing the cover, dismantle it, and slide the black section back into place on the printer. This will help to hold the carts in place and also protect the chip pins.
The filters fit into the smaller holes at the back of the tanks, the front holes are for refilling.
Make sure the carts are pushed down firmly.
To get a good nozzle check I had to run two cleaning cycles, then print a couple of 6 colour purge tests.
My printer is used everyday and, so far, the system is running perfectly.

System - http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/viewimage.x/00000000/toppyjess/EPSONR300C.jpg?allow_ma...pt=bidpay&sp=1

6 Colour purge - http://inksupply.info/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=67&nav2=Color%2...rchival%20Inks

[Idle]

Can't seem to get all the nozzles working now. And am worried about where all this ink is going thats getting sucked out of these tanks.

It's going into the waste pads -- and if you're doing a lot of head cleans there'll be a heap of it...

I'd suggest you install a waste ink container ASAP.

It's easy, cheap and can save you a lot of hassle when the pads need to be removed and either cleaned or replaced.

When that time comes the printer will still declare them full, of course, but you can just smile and smugly reset the counter.

[bidefordboy]

Sorry, should have said 'perfectly except for the 90% chips'
Yes I agree Idle. A simple task that I had put off too long. Give's great peace of mind.

[macrovision]

And of course you should constantly monitor the protection counter because different models of Epson printers need to be reset different ways...and some need to be reset without a program...just by holding certain controls on the printer, However I heard that some will give an error message when it overflows and I may need to be reset by Epson (not the R200-R300) And here's a link that may help explain the difference between dye ink and pigment inks.. Not to mention other things about inkjet printing, http://www.marrutt.com/digital-ink-myths-2.php ... Epson states that the inks (dye and pigment) run off DVD's because the surface isn't like that of glossy photo paper... FYI, I've washed the dye ink off of a DVD after about 3 days of drying.... It faded but it didn't completely wash off. 8)

[Skith]

Epson states that the inks (dye and pigment) run off DVD's because the surface isn't like that of glossy photo paper... FYI, I've washed the dye ink off of a DVD after about 3 days of drying.... It faded but it didn't completely wash off. 8)

I suppose it would depend on what the DVDs are coated with. DVDs are made of plastic, but so are many glossy photopapers. Many glossy Inkjet papers are RC based (Resin coated, on a non-fiber base). Because the paper itself is not porous, the ink has nothing to adhere to. These papers are coated with a gel like resin which acts as the bonding surface. Initially the ink is placed on the paper and appears dry, but is not yet bonded. That is why manufacturers recommend not stacking fresh prints (or stacking with an absorbant seperation sheet) and letting dry for 24 hours. During this 24 hours, the ink cures and bonds with the resin coating on the paper.

Water/oils and even gas (ozone) can damage this resin layer. In this respect, fiber based papers are much more resistant. In addition, the combination of ink and paper can have a huge impact on durability. Manufacturers create their papers and ink specifically to work well together, which is why third party ink/paper combinations can be hit and miss. Some papers may cause ink to bead or pool with one brand of ink, but works wonderful with another.

In the case of DVDs, I suspect that the coating used allows ink to dry on the surface, but has very little bonding power (the ink just sits on top, rather than being absorbed into the resin layer).

I think in some of the paper specs on epson's site there might be some little pics of how fiber and resin coated papers differ in regards to the ink bonding.

[macrovision]

This is very true... You know what your talking about however my point is that they should make glossy matte inkjet printable dvd's... I say this because the glossy surface is made of resin but the matte surface is made of mulched paper... GO FIGURE!

[Captain315]

Does anyone know of a GOOD cleaning cartridge for the R200? I'm having problems with the heads getting clogged even though I use it often everyday. I've got the "wholesale-ink" cis system installed and am having a few problems with it. At this point, with all the emails going back and forth between us and the problems, I would not recommend purchasing one. Just my experience up to now with the system, your experience may be totally different from mine.

[macrovision]

I'm truly sorry to hear about your problem Captain315, I'm also sorry if the windex trick didn't work... I use that technique today and it worked for me as always... Maybe because I've done it alot of times... Anyway, Just a little advice.... Next time try to use this forum for known good experiences to make your decision.. I figure it'll cost you $50 for a good CIS kit but anyway, we're still testing them for long term dependability. I would goto this site for cleaning carts but it'll cost about $60, You sure you want to do that? http://www.inkjetcolorsystems.com/Epson%20Desktop%20Printers%20B.htm Good Luck

[bidefordboy]

@Captain315

This information might help :-

http://inksupply.info/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=9&nav2=Tips,%20...%20and%20Terms

[Idle]

Captain315 -- your problem looks strangely like air bubbles in the print head, so you might have an air leak somewhere or restricted flow.

Either will give you the appearance of head clogs, which are very rare in regularly used printers, and will keep recurring until you locate and fix the cause.

A real clog, once you get it cleared, usually won't come back and certainly will stay away for several days.

If you don't find any evidence of a problem in the supply system, pull the carts and have a really good look at the "O" rings and how well they're sealing to the head spikes -- if any ink is leaking, then air can get in as well.

Air being compressible, if there are bubbles in the heads then they'll just pump away and move nothing.

Today's mail brought me the InkJetsUSA CIS, and I notice it has a possible ink flow problem even before it's installed.

When packed in the carton for shipping the tubes have been wrapped tightly around the cartridge pack, and have been like that for over a week (Utah to Australia takes that long.)

Cartridges have sharp edges, and the first turn of the tubes around them has caused creasing of a couple of tubes to the extent that it may impede the flow -- as you know the tubes are very small, the suction is only two sniffs and a tickle and it wouldn't take much to block them.

I'll leave the thing sit for a while and see if the kinks come out by themselves, if not I'll have to do something about it before it goes in (perhaps warming them might help.)

Luckily he's given me a nice long piece of tube, so it won't be too difficult to cut some out, and I'll suggest to him that he take a bit more care when packing (a bit of bubble wrap round the cart pack first would stop it happening.)

Fortunately there's no rush to put it in, I'm not printing a lot right now so there'll be time to rectify it.

For the information of those looking at this system, he uses two different units and apparently supplies whichever he's got in at the time.

One looks rather like the Print-on-a-dime, and the one he sent me seems to be the empty Toppy-Jess system with the addition of a few bits (a bracket to raise the tube up the end of the tanks, a somewhat disjointed installation manual on CD, a rubber cork-like device that I assume is to hold up the top cover if I can find somewhere to put it and a 60cc syringe to fill tanks, with a tapered plastic delivery tube that's too short to reach the ink in the 4oz bottles, so you can't fill it...) and six 4oz bottles of ink.

The tanks are just straight gravity feed -- a fill hole and an air vent at the top, bottom outlet, so there's no attempt to balance pressure as there is in the JLWSales tanks.

When the tanks are full there'll be less suction required and as they go down there will be more drag on the pumps.

Whether this will have any real effect remains to be seen, but I still like that Mariotte bottle notion...

[macrovision]

Idle, Your a scary dude... How the heck you know enough to work for Epson? I'm proud to be in a forum with you because my field is basically obselete....I used to repair home electronics but now Extended warranties and Equipment replacement in most cases devices are disposible or it's recycled daughter-boards.... we throw the boards away (technically, Sell them to recycling plants) we replace the bad daughter-board and charge the consumer near new prices...this is because surface-mount technology can be found inside the circuit board,on top and on the bottom...And the inside may have more than one layer....it's just not cost effective to repair... when the repair cost more than a new unit? I don't think so... But anyway your right again.. I reprimed my cis because I had large air pockets in two of the tubes...as I reprimed I noticed that the ink didn't want to go into the syringe so I checked the tubes....some were sightly twisted and I didn't believe that was it so I used them and got the same air pockets so I took the carts back out of the printer, untwisted the hoses that were twisted...reprimed each one and now... ALL IS WELL! COOl 8)

[Idle]

How the heck you know enough to work for Epson?

Epson wouldn't employ me -- stupid enough, but not young enough...

FWIW, I turned 81 the other day.

[bidefordboy]

My Toppy-Jess system also arrived from China with the tubing tightly wrapped around the carts. They had then put a couple of layers of bubble wrap around the tubing, but, like you said Idle, they should have put a layer between the carts & tubing. The tubing did have creases in it, but not enough to cause a blockage. But if the system was stored like this for any length of time it could be a different story.
My system cost $64.99, with ink (buy it now) + shipping, and I see that printonadime are selling the same (70ml) system for $105 (free shipping), with ink. One seller on ebay uk is trying to sell it for £75 (about $142).

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=69932&item=6767376529&rd=1

Just a little annoying when I could have purchased the same system empty, direct from the manufacturers for $18 !! (+ $24 shipping to UK). But too risky to send money to China.
If anyone wants to take the risk the address is :-
http://www.szmicrotec.com/english/index.asp
Ask them to send you a quote for the New Arc Chips, & CIS for Epson R200/R300.
Only problem is, the site takes forever to load.

If you want any other details, this is the last email they sent me :-

Good morning!
Have you received my mail about the PI? Would you pls advice us your thought, so that we can move on .Hope we will cooperate very soon.
Wish to hear from you soon.so we can offer you our best price and service .If you have any questions ,pls do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Best regards

Cesi

Microtec Technology
Tel: +86-755-83324806
Fax: +86-755-83324396
Website: www.szmicrotec.com
MSN: doris_microtec@hotmail.com

More information about this manufacturer here :-

http://01wholesale.com/import-export-itemdetails-29435-Ink--Paper-and-other-Consumable...eset-Chip.html

NEW INFORMATION

Since posting the above information I have found a new seller on ebay, who is selling the above system (empty) for $49 with free shipping. And you can pay using Paypal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16200&item=6770557894[/b]

[Idle]

I found the creases in the tubes mostly come out with application of hot water to the affected area -- needn't be all that hot, just enough to feel uncomfortable when you put your hand in it (not over about 70-80' C.)

Make sure you keep the water away from the cart chips!

I saw the CIS ad from Microtec some while ago but didn't follow it up -- assumed it was to attract bulk orders rather than individual sales, although it did seem a bit strange that they quote prices.

At retail level, of course, prices are a must, but farther down the chain they're usually carefully guarded.

I agree about the risk of sending cash transfers to the mainland -- I try to avoid them anywhere.

If a vendor doesn't use Paypal or a similar traceable method I mostly just forget it -- even then there are risks, of course.

As with many mainland China sites, Microtec's is very slow and not all that comprehensible to 'foreign devils'.

[macrovision]

I wonder what happened to this topic... No-ones posted here in several days... I'm still DVD printing with no problems.... I had a few twist in my CIS kit tubing ( It was almost un-noticable) and when I turned the carts( One time) the tubing was perfect... Since then I had no air gaps in the line and printing hasn't been an issue. I use the ssc service utility and the printer hasn't auto-cleaned yet, Even though the levels resetted. I hope this topic isn't dead but if it is I still got something out of it. 8) LOL!

[Captain315]

Deleted

[DJMIKEY]

I just installed my Print On a Dime CIS, I think I read it was the same system macrovision has, all I can say is EASY install and no problems so far but its only been 2 hours, so now I should do the waste bottle thing right? I already cleaned the waste pad like macro says to. If you can think of anything else I should do please post. This is my first CIS. Thanks for all the info people

[bidefordboy]

No, I'm sure this topic's not dead. It will just be a matter of time before new user's have problem's & will need advice.

Macrovision

I'me glad you got the SSC Service Utility to work ok. Perhap's I will give it another try, though since I installed the waste bottle I'me not too concerned.
My system is still working great. It's one of the cheapest available & working better than my last system ever did.

Captain315

I have never changed a chip but the following link might be helpfull :-

http://inksupply.info/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=42