The Best CIS ?

[Idle]

The long piece of plastic may be intended to run along the tubes instead of across them.

I'm looking at ways to do this with my new one, which I still haven't installed (snowed under with other jobs right now.)

There's a CIS available here that does it this way -- looks good, but I didn't buy it because of its price (more than the printer!)

If it's like that one, the bottles will go on the left side of the printer, you'll use the piece of velcro to attach the plastic strip to the printer body and simply adjust the overhang of the strip until it runs right.

If you go to the URL below, you can download a (not very good, but enough to give you the idea of how it's done) video of their system working on a R210.

Apart from that, I haven't a clue.

Best of luck, and do let us know how you get on.

http://www.sinopis.com.au/index.php

There may be better info at http://www.sinopis.com in the US if you can access it (wants to install plugins that upset Firefox, so I can't tell you.)

[pixiemom]

Thanks, Idle, I do believe you're right about that. Here is a screenshot I have taken of my current setup. Assuming the image actually posts, that is...

[pixiemom]

It worked! whoo-hoo!

Ok, for those who are wondering, here are shots of my system close-up. After all the dithering and worrying I did about this, it feels really good to finally have it installed and running. Setup was pretty easy, really - thanks to the knowledge I had from this forum. I didn't have any real problems except for not being able to match the orange plastic with the grey plastic in the provided tuts. The hardest part was modding the waste-ink container and getting it open and the little tube out to put into the bottle.

The system itself seems to be running smoothly. The instructions said to go through a complicated procedure to get the air out of the tubes, but I decided to skip that step - and lo! it worked perfectly anyway with no problems whatsoever.

I'm not happy about the method of putting ink into the system for refills.... I had wanted the type you just unscrew a bottlecap and pour it in. I ended up with one that you have to inject it with a syringe instead into the middle hole on the back of the tanks. Still, maybe it'll work better.... the tanks do seem to be specially created with a thick white tube inside that goes from the top hole to the bottom hole (only visible in the yellow tank, and seems to be unique to this system). Anyway, here's some closeups:

[Captain315]

Pixiemom.... The kit you have mounts with the tanks on the left side of the printer rather than the right like most others. Actually, I like it better that way as I have both. The orange bracket attaches to the left side of the printer and sticks out to the middle at just about the same place as the T-bracket was. Just bring your cartridges out to the change position, unplug the printer, slide the cartridges all the way to the left. Leave just enough slack to keep it from kinking and then attach the bracket. OOOPS! Sorry, I see you have it done already.

[pixiemom]

The orange plastic thing is stained with a little dark magenta ink... it leaked slightly during shipping because the system was shipped filled. Oh well, not enough ink was lost to merit complaining about it, it was only a tiny bit and the tank looked as full as the other tanks.

[pixiemom]

Hi Captain
Well, do you think I have the right spot? I gave the tubes enough slack to reach as far as the right-end of the printer and no further.

[Idle]

Yes, that looks very like the way the SinoPIS one is done.

All you need there is to adjust the end point of the bar such that the tubes don't get caught anywhere, plus centre them so that they don't twist and you should be in business.

You'll find its best setting will be somewhere near the centre of the paper output tray.

The main point to watch is where the carriage goes under the left end of the frame -- the tubes should be just not quite pulled tight when the heads move to the left wiper pad, and be sitting nicely flat so they don't twist and hit the frame on one side when the heads start back to the right.

Also watch that the printer cover doesn't press on the tubes at the left end -- it will kink them and create flow problems if it does.

EDIT: Most of the above looks pretty redundant -- you seem to have it well organised -- pix look good, too.

I hope the ink leak was via one of the fill holes (or maybe a cartridge outlet) and not from a tube fitting.

[pixiemom]

I couldn't find where the leak had been, and I suspect it was indeed from one of the fill holes. The carts were not stained at all, and were even in a separate compartment in the shipping box.

The only thing stained was the box where the tanks had been, and there was a little bit of ink on the tanks and on the orange piece. After wiping it all off, I don't see any fresh ink anywhere so I don't believe there is an actual leak, just a shipping mishap.

The orange plastic thing has snaps that go down on both sides of the tubes that route underneath them and hold the tubing flat. In the picture they're loose, but I pushed them down until they snapped in. I don't *think* the tubes can get loose. ?

I think the orange bar is somewhat near the center of the paper tray, maybe a half inch to the left. Should I move it out?

[Idle]

It's quite difficult to check what the tubes are doing with the printer running -- things happen too fast.

Probably the best way to check the tube routing would be to move the heads to the exchange position and pull the power plug (or turn off at the wall) -- this will let you slide them to and fro and make it easy to work out the best spot.

Make sure they run true and don't sag far enough to get caught by the carriage or touch the bottom of the printer.

If the clips are the same as the ones on the grey tee-bars they'll be quite secure.

[macrovision]

Pixiemom, Your Cis installation looks very good indeed....Remember not to remove the carts repeatedly...not that you'll have major problems....but major head-aches.....Air is the head-ache that'll cause you need for re-priming.... The tanks(Believe it or not)look just like the printonadime tanks I got....Does it have 3 holes with rubber plugs on each tank...and the middle plug is removed only for filling? Mines has the tube inside as well... My best guess is that it's for the vent..after all it leads to it. LOL! PIXIEMOM. P.S I was all alone with my printer/CIS...For 4 days...no-one posted.... I checked regularly....I...I....Got very nerveous....And I thought I lost all my friends...where's Bidefordboy,mirot87,habs01,captain315,bodyslide... .where's macrovision?I'm not wanted anymore so i'll email my license to be human to my higher power....where's Macrovision? As usual my printer is a pain in the balls! If I stop a print job while it's printing it will auto-clean the next time I try to print and the ssc utility doesn't stop the internal firmware inbedded in the printer.... it slows it down...so evetually you'll get an auto clean cycle(good for the printer...bad for my ink)

[pixiemom]

Idle, thanks for your input! I did a print just now to see what it would do while printing. There may be a wee bit more slack than I'm 100% comfortable with, but on the other hand nothing looked to be in danger of catching on anything. The tubes moved back and forth smoothly, with no inclination to snag or twist whatsoever, and nowhere near the bottom of the printer. There was also enough slack to let it go all the way to the left inside.

Macro, thanks for your input too. Yes, it does have three holes with rubber plugs on each tank, and the middle plug is removed for filling. The instructions said to remove the top plug and move it to the bottom hole - something to do with the air vents - so I did that. Yes, the tubes inside lead from the top plughole to the bottom plughole, and are thick and white. You can see them in the picture I posted of the tanks, if you look closely.

I stopped my printer several times to cancel a print job while it was printing today, and it never once tried to auto-clean. I heard a 'squishhhh' sound the one and only time it ever did an auto-clean, which was when I powered it on after installing the carts. A little ink dribbled into the waste bottle, so the 'squishhh' sound was the sound of waste ink squirting out. I have not heard that sound except for that one time.

I don't have the ssc utility installed yet, but so far my ink levels are showing practically full.

[bidefordboy]

Hi Pixiemon. Looks like you have your system set-up just right. Good that you have the waste bottle attached, over time you will see how important this is.
I believe your system has the 'reset to 90% chips', please keep us updated on if they work or not.

Hi Macrovision. Sorry I have'nt posted for a few day's, have been busy over the holiday period. Hope you have'nt been lonely .
Sorry to hear you are still having problems with the auto cleaning. I have tried using the SSC Utility on my r300, and the only thing that seem's to work is the protection counter reset function. My printer does'nt do unwanted auto clean's, but when the level's reset it recharges the system, which waste's a helluva lot of ink. Still waiting for someone to report on these so called '90%' chips.

[macrovision]

Just kidding "guys" I'm not lonely......Yet! Just spent alot of quality time with my girl.....Was very interesting but I did get a little concerned because no-one posted for like 5 day's...I thought every-one was satified and left to find oblivion. I've given 90% auto-reset chips alot of thought and because I've been involved in electronics most of my life I figure 90% chips don't exist for the mere fact that they if they read 90% when they reset...shouldn't they read 90% when you install them? Look at it like this.... To charge the carts when their first installed, The printer needs to read them as full(100%) but if their 90% the printer will think that their already charged and I've never heard of a chip that reads 100% at first and then after that it'll read 90% forever on....Yeah right! Anyway, No-one on this forum has ever posted having a 90% reset....I haven't seen this type of reset and my CIS kit was supposed to have this type auto-reset chip....Whatever!LOL!

[bidefordboy]

I agree with your logic Mac, but why do Toppy-Jess, Printonadime & Wholesale ink all claim that their systems have the 'reset to 90%' chips ?.

Toppy-Jess.

Latest chipset that eliminates problems with previous chipsets. (This chipset will reset to 90% full when the ink meter drops below 10% . This prevents unnecessary charging, save your even more money on ink and prolongs the life of your printer.)

Printonadime.

New Chipset Features:

THESE SYSTEMS WILL NOT CLEAN THE PRINT HEAD AND CHARGE THE INK BEFORE EVERY USE!
The ink levels in the ink monitor will decrease as you print. When your ink levels drop below 10%, they will be reset to 90% full preventing any un-necessary charging of the printer.
These new chipsets will save you even more money on ink and prolong the life of your printer.

Wholesale ink.

CHIPSET WILL RESET TO 90% ONCE METER DROPS BELOW 10%

PRINTER WILL NOT CLEAN PRINT HEAD EVERY TIME A CHIP RESETS (THIS SAVES INK).

Are they all guilty of using false advertising ?

[macrovision]

That's correct Bidefordboy, Guilty as charged. I'm gonna look into the legal stand-point of this issue being that factually the promises are still being made only to reap "sucker" for all of us "Small People". I may not be the smartest person on earth, however I have never been accused of being stupid. I can understand the auto-reset/smart-chip issue but to tell people things to promote purchases and those things prove to be lies.... I won't stand by and watch others get cheated. I've tried everything I know....including leaving my printer on indefinitly, Still 100% resets and the printonadime spokes-person E-mailed me a statement like this: Dear consumer, I understand that you stated in your E-mail that you removed the carts prior to the reset.... This maybe the reason why the auto-reset chips resetted to 100%....Please refrain from removing the carts before the chips reset. Second reply: Did you turn the printer off before the reset? Please leave your printer On until the next reset and let us know what happened. Third reply: We're sorry that you still are having problems... You must have mistakenly received the old chip-set and we assure you that we do-not need money so bad that we have to advertise false information... I use the Cis and printer everyday and my chips always reset to 90%.... If you want, I'll send you the chips off my printer or I'll send you new chips...it's up to you.... And because of your problem we're willing to also offer 50% off your next ink purchase. Anyway I'm ticked off about this issue and I'm thinking alot about how to handle this matter simply because I made the purchase based on the advertisement and because the company is in this country they're liable for the advertisement...meaning I'm suppose to get exactly what they advertised or else..... This I know for fact. Lots of love and ickyness every-one. Mac

[Jikchung]

Pixiemom,

Just wondering how the inks with your setup compare (color matching) with the original Epson inks. I got some compatible cartridges from Rima.com that matched perfectly, but would like to go the CIS rote.

[macrovision]

I've been using stratitec inks and I've noticed no difference in quality. I'll post a pic later on but I'll say that using the micro-weave function(glossy photo paper mode) I noticed that the colors are unbelievable. I had a little mishap last night. Because of the routing set-up I can leave my printer while printing and come back to it later...at least that's what I thought.... I walked away while printing a photo and when I returned I heard a loud screeching sound....It was the tubing caught under the carraige. It turns out (not that I didn't observe this in the past) that when the carraige moves to the far left it tugs on the tubing.....I secured it with electrical tape when I did the proper routing but in the past few months via hundreds of print-jobs it slowly but surely moved about an inch and I didn't notice. So....Whew! I re-primed the carts...re-routed the tubing and gave it a fresh piece of electrical tape to keep the tubing from being a bad baby! Any-how the system is working like a charm and I use it alot not to mention my experience with CIS units has made me that much wiser. Much Love Every-one with lots of sticky-ness, Inky-ness, And everything that makes ya squirm Attachment: these are photos of my girl friend The photos are done with a 5 mp Kodak digital camera....The top looks better to me...it's done with super-microweave, best photo,and photo enhanced ticked before printing...the setting in advanced options is vivid with the slider at max... when choosing glossy photo paper click advanced.On the left...the second box should read "best photo" change this to "photo rpm" and you'll get the Super-microweave option at the bottom of the screen...left side. The top photo is done on generic photo paper I got at a computer show(50 sheets for $5) and the ink is from a bargain store(480ml Stratitec photo refill ink for $20). (The bottom photo was done on Epson paper with the same ink) So, What do ya think?

[macrovision]

I removed the images until later today.... I'm going to replace them with 6 colors. One plain and the other "Super-microweave. SORRY!

[Idle]

Not really on topic, but worth mentioning, I feel:

For anyone who has been contemplating downloading any of the info etc. from the OZMODS site -- www.ozmods.com -- they will be closing forever at the end of the month, so hop to it!

(Probably been killed by the cheap stuff on Ebay.)

For Australian readers: They're having a fire-sale on ink -- might be worth your while to look, especially if you're already registered as a customer (get another 40% off the posted 'reduced' prices.)

I've ordered enough to keep me running for the next two years at least for about the price of a set of R200/300 carts.

[macrovision]

Idle....Your on the subject....Always...too much...Yada,yada,yada. Thanks for the info.

[habs01]

Thanks for the heads up Idle. BTW, I found this nice little program httrack

[pixiemom]

Hi Jikchung,
I really don't know how to answer your question because I never used the original Epson inks that came with my printer. I wanted to start with an empty, clean printer that didn't have any waste ink in it, which meant that I needed to mod the case for the waste ink bottle. As long as I was going to do that, I wanted to wait for the CIS kit and install everything at once.

I don't know what brand my ink that came with the CIS kit actually is. I figured I would just either reorder ink from the same place I got the kit from, or else just go with ink that people on the forum recommend the most.

So far, my printer is doing great. I have left the lid down and it hasn't done anything it shouldn't, no scary noises or anything. The waste ink bottle doesn't have much in it. I left the printer for three days without printing, and it prints just fine and doesn't attempt to clean the heads or recharge or anything. I'm very happy with my setup so far, although I am aware that it could change if things get clogged or something.

[macrovision]

FYI, My dear Cis forum. I personally believe that the ink isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Epson (printers )has a good reputation in producing items that almost anyone can offord. Their printers currently use true photo printing techniques(more than four inks unlike bubblejet) They use more tanks for a more realistic output and more accurate color blending,..being honest with you I stated time and time again that I buy my ink at bargain stores not to far from where live. The company "Stratitec" seems to be very good....I'm gonna try Inktec next. And I'm conciderng geting a automated robot($3,000) but I wonder if I can cis the labeling unit. As for Piximom....I admire you very much. You seem to be a very proactive down to earth person but why did you buy the CIS unit you bought? I believe you stated at one time that you wanted the bigger tank unit....at least 100ml. Anyway no-one posted about the colors in the pictures I've posted....no questions? did I waste my time? (EDIT:YEAH, I DID.I saw them on a CRT monitor I'll edit the post with better scans if humanly possible)..I don't play with color control and I don't buy expensive paper...AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST the printer has paid for it self plus it is still under warranty...Really, YES I got my moneys worth and I am happy that I found the videohelp.com forum FYI When I looked at the un-edited version of this post....I Don't "GET HIGH"... I hadda be real " F "ING sleepy???????

[Idle]

I've so far tried two inks in my R310 - the cheap Chinese variety that came with the CIS from Hong Kong, and the Epson ink that came with the printer.

There is a noticeable difference in photo printing between them -- although the Chinese stuff printed quite acceptable photo's, I can't deny that the OEM ink looks better.

However, unless you're very particular, I doubt it's better enough to justify the extra cost, and no-one complained about the results from the cheap stuff (not even about the smell...)

If you search around (and possibly pay a bit more for it) you'll find ink that matches the OEM colours quite well, and even the cheap stuff can be profiled to match if you want to take the trouble.

For years I've been using an ink that perfectly matched the OEM one for my older Color 900 -- it was formulated by some-one who knew what he/she was about.

Macrovision:- I can't really comment much on the pictures you posted -- the resolution doesn't do them justice -- except to say that the bottom one would benefit from having the colour cast removed (one of the things you need to watch with digital cameras and scanners (they're not always crash hot in the white balance department.))

[macrovision]

Idle, I understand what you mean. I can tell you that if you were to see the actual photos you would think that they were from an film type camera. Even though the images are different I assure you that the camera settings were the same. I only posted them to show the microweave and vivid setting print difference. I only wanted the door and gates in the background to be compared. When you change the settings from "hard" to "Vivid" the prints look very different and if you were to see all of the photos I printed you could understand that considering the fact that I'm using very cheap ink the actual prints are truly near OEM ink print quality if not the same....I'll try making smaller prints so I don't have to "F" up the quality skewing them.

[Blaksvn]

Okay - So I read a TON of threads now and am more confused about which CIS sytem is the best.

SO to date which system is considered the best amd requires the least effort to operate. I will be installing an external ink reservoir (what type and size of hose should I use?) to prevent the well from filling up.

Any suggestions would be cool (Macrovision - I liked your posts!)

I should be getting my printer later today via UPS and will have the ink it comes with but I really want a CIS

THANKS in advance!

[bidefordboy]

Hi Blaksvn
I don't think we can say yet which is the best system, we can only report on the system's we have purchased.
My 70mm system was purchased from a seller on ebay called 'Toppy-Jess', but he is no longer a registered seller.
If you go back through the post's you will see what system it was.
So far it is working perfectly, I have just topped up the ink & everything is working smoothly.

You do not need any extra tubing to connect a waste ink bottle if you are using a Epson r200/r300 printer. Full details here :-

http://forum.ozmods.com/viewtopic.php?t=69

There are more details on the following site, with even better pic's (posted by our friend 'Idle'), but to see the pic's you will have to register (it's free) :-

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=51595&forum_id=40

You could fit the waste ink bottle even if you don't purchase a CIS. Then when you eventually get the message that your printer need's servicing, just reset the counter & carry on.
The utility you will need to do this is available here :-

http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

[jeff d]

Anyone know who the OEM of epson inks is? Is it Epson? At this point in time I'd find it hard to believe anyone is making anything of their own...

I'm confused like the others.... is the current thinking that there is no such thing as a 10-90% chip? BTW does anyone have the schematics of the chips? I'm curious what it does and curious about looking into modding the part.


macrovision, did you ever get to testing the chips you have on a clean system with out the ssc utility installed?


And what's the current feeling on the jlwsales unit? The new design seems to be more in line with what is "suggested". And it looked like some of those who had previous units are heading back to this guy's products. Is that fair to say? (Macrovision included....)

[Idle]

I don't know who actually makes Epson inks -- I doubt they'd tell anyone, and who-ever does make it wouldn't be allowed to let on either -- but delving back into my hazy memory I recall quite a to-do some years ago when they changed suppliers and everyone had to redo their profiles.

At that time ink (and/or cartridges) for the US and Canada was made in either Mexico or Puerto Rico (forget which) and for the rest of the world in Japan.

They changed to an Asian mainland supplier without telling anyone, so there was quite a lot of traffic on the old Leben list about it, and lots of people chasing old stock carts.

Presumably that's where it still comes from.

[macrovision]

Well first I apologize for not being prompt with my post... I've been doing more work than usual. The answer is as Bidefordboy stated....The best CIS? not really able to say except for the construction of the carts....If their like OEM carts then they'll have chambers and mechanical seal output valves...They will also be spongeless because sponges break apart when they wear down and this will cause permanent clogging in the print-head. The toppy-jess,printonadime,printforless,weink.com....Ect.ci s units are recommended however I donot believe there is or that it's possible to have 90% auto-reset chips. I've done a ton of research on this and the professional companies such as Inksupply.com states that they never heard of such technology....Ive been in electronics for about 25 years and with all the knowledge I've acquired through the years I've never known a chip to start at 100% and reset to 90% indefinitly....( unless your watching an episode of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE) If it was designed to reset to 90% it would most likely start at 90% when you get them. As for JLWSALES, I believe that he may have had too many complaints about his system breaking down over time and his replacement carts are OEM standard so common sense tells me that he doesn't have to spend alot to change to the "NEW GENERATION CIS" and I think this will help his sales... I would buy it because he has always been good at his consumer service and I've heard that he's giving discounts to the consumers that had major problems with his previous unit...That's an A+ in my book. " You go JLW!" as for EPSON OEM ink....Don't be surprised if Epson makes their own ink...getting ahead in manufacturing is a selfish process but I'll do some research by contacting Epson. The "Smart-Chips" are currently "Classified technology from what I've acquired...I couldn't get as far as finding the output information(such as what each pin goes to)and the ssc utility is disabled on my computer... I've been doing case lables and DVD's on my R200 and I leave it on all the time...the last time it reset I didn't do an auto-cleaning and I'm still testing to see if the ssc service utility was causing a problem. BTW I have the Epson monitor disabled as well.LOL! 8)