Epson R320 and $50 CIS experience (w/pics)

[Dex Sinister]

Hi all;

Since a lot of the "What's the best CIS" discussion has been hovering around the $150+ CIS systems, I thought I'd share my experience with the $50 bargain system.

One interesting thing about this system is that they didn't suggest taking the grey ink-cartridge lock off to install the cartridges, or running the tubes through its opening - and in fact the tubes locate just fine in the small opening at the diagonal slope between carrier and the grey lock.

The other interesting thing is that the CIS ink cartridges worked just fine without ever installing the factory Epson ink - saving me the cost of whatever I can sell the ink on eBay for.

My only complaint so far is that the "slap" that the hoses make against the front left of the printer as the printheads go left - and the fact that the cover doesn't quite close completely if I mount the hoses high enough to close the tray unobstructed. The cover's only an 1/8" high, though, so I don't suppose I can complain.



Click on various links to see the less-interesting pictures, if interested.

Ingredients:
One new-in-box Epson R320 Printer - $125
One new-in-box "Colorfly Brand" CIS: 100ml ink tanks, comes pre-filled w/600ml ink. - $50, s/h included
Unused Epson Ink set - [-$40-$50ish] to resell on eBay

Total cost for new printer and CIS ~ $125

Procedure:
Unpacked R320

Unpacked CIS
CIS Box
CIS Out of box
CIS carts, side
CIS carts, bottom

Comparison between genuine and CIS carts from side


Ink Tanks, side
Ink Tanks, top

Before use, you have to remove air in air balance tubes (suck out with syringe, re-cap air balance tube, then open main ink tank and inject back in.)

Powered up R320, moved head to "install" position, unplugged R320.

Opened grey cartridge holder, installed six CIS cartridges,



routed hoses to left, closed grey cartridge holder.


Different view.


Variation: I replaced the provided adhesive squares with 3M Command adhesive strips for superior adhesion and removability.

Attached first interior ink tube guide centered behind round CD tray indent. Attached extra Command adhesive, further right to guide tubes.


Attached exterior 2nd tube guide.
Installed air filters in place of plugs on the tanks.
Turned R320 on, inkheads charged happily.

Installed in its location.



The prints are gorgeous, and skin-tone balance is good. I can scan one if anyone cares.

It appears from the inspection slip in the CIS box that it's only been about 2 months since its production.

In response to a request downthread, I'm adding links to scans of the manual that came with my system.
Page 1
Page 2-3
Page 4-5
Page 6-7
Page 8-9
Page 10-11
Cover

Dex

[overloaded_ide]

I tried your link, thought about grabbing a system myself.

That auction is for the system without ink? Iit says ink optional. And shipping is $25 UPS Ground, which is nuts on shipping!!

$30 no bids, $40 by it now. Did you really get yours $50 no shipping with ink too?

I am looking at $55 minimum and that's no ink?

[Dex Sinister]

I tried your link, thought about grabbing a system myself.

That auction is for the system without ink? Iit says ink optional. And shipping is $25 UPS Ground, which is nuts on shipping!!

$30 no bids, $40 by it now. Did you really get yours $50 no shipping with ink too?

I am looking at $55 minimum and that's no ink?

No, that's with 600ml of ink: It comes full as pictured. [Click on one of the links in the original post to see actual pics of it in/out of the box.]

The price I got it for was $24.95 + $25 shipping= $50 - inflating the shipping price is a way to make more as a seller on eBay b/c eBay does not take a % of the S&H price as part of their commission. That's generally why you see ridiculous shipping prices on eBay.

He was listing every 4th or 5th one at $24.95 a week ago - pro'lly this close to Christmas he's gonna stick with the $29.95 initial price.

There are a couple of people on eBay who appear to be selling this same system - (judging by the pictures) this seller just happens to be the one who seems to sell it the cheapest.

Dex

[mrtunes]

Looks cool! be sure to do a follow-up post in a few months to let everyone know how it held up.

[trhouse]

I had a CIS for an Epson 880. The only problem was if it was not used once every day or two ( such as if you are on vacation ) the printheads would clog pretty bad.

[gumby]

Thanks for sharing that with us Dex;

Would you mind checking the link I left to see if you think my system is the same as yours.....or not??

I believe it is. Mine came from the Source, Circuit City (Rad Shack) in Canada for around $70 Canadian incl tax, with ink...................But will not work in my R220. As you can see by the posts at that link. (Scroll down past the 1/2 way point)


https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265796&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=750

I have been searching fruitlessly for a solution to my problem. It appears the printer will not recognize my Ciss chips, or respond to them.
The kit I got was basically as yours was minus any, any, any, installation instructions.

Orbyx Electronics (Distributor)have not responded to my emails other than the first two in order to help at all.

I'd like to add that when I went through the tubing adjustments as you describe, I moved the carriage as far to the left as it would go. Then I gauged the maximum amount of tube that would fit in the void by pushing it gently till it touched the right internal wall. I compared that to the minimum by pulling it as snug as would be feasible. I then split the difference as a beginning point. While my system will not print yet, the carriage goes through the start up dance just fine with no issue obvious as far as the tubes go ,,,,,yet.

I hope you don't mind me posting this on your thread, I don't mean to hijack it.

Thanks for any ideas you may be able to offer me.

Gumby

[Dex Sinister]

Would you mind checking the link I left to see if you think my system is the same as yours.....or not??

I believe it is.

I don't think so - the reservoirs are different, and the brand is different. If you look up-thread, click on the link that shows a pic of the box in my original post. Mine was produced by Xiamen Colorfly Digital Science Co., Ltd out of China.

Dex

[gumby]

Thanks for getting back so quickly Dex;

Gee, the more I compare our systems the more I think they are the same. They are certainly different to most others in that they have the 'lo-rider' cart's. My tanks have the same little label as yours do too, R210/R310 with the serial number sticker very similar also.

I see on the packaging of your system contents (Ebay) they mention 6 vacuum pumps. Mine only had one. It was in a plastic bag similar to the one shown in your photo. Had a syringe, long needle, short needle with a blue end and clear plastic cover, 6 air filters, a small elbow to fit into the cart' along with 2 rubber grommets that look like would fit for attaching the elbow to the cart'. Also a short strip of double backed tape.

I have one page giving basic installation directions but no instructions as to the use of the syringe, needles etc. Or the correct procedure for initializing the system when changing the cart's.

Could I persuade you to post, or send me any special instructions pertaining to this that may be the cause of my system not working.

I take it that your R320 is not listed on the covered products, the same as my R220 is not. I am pleased to hear that even so yours is working.....gives me some hope now.

I looked at the website of your system manufacturer and may indeed contact them to see if I can get some assistance if I cannot figure this out with local help.

Thanks again Dex.............nice to get some help from you and those like yourself.

Gumby

[Dex Sinister]

I had a CIS for an Epson 880. The only problem was if it was not used once every day or two ( such as if you are on vacation ) the printheads would clog pretty bad.

Yeah, that was pretty much my experience with my last Epson printer without a CIS. That's why I'm going to the extreme of setting it up to autoprint a small pic daily:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=287592

[Dex Sinister]

Could I persuade you to post, or send me any special instructions pertaining to this that may be the cause of my system not working.

Well, I don't know that I've got any helpful advice there, but I scanned the manual that came with mine and put links at the bottom of my original post.

Dex

[thespook]

Hi
Can you tell me how much ink the ink tanks hold, and do the carts reset to 90-95% or 100%
thanks

[Dex Sinister]

Can you tell me how much ink the ink tanks hold, and do the carts reset to 90-95% or 100%

100ml each, and the manual says 99%. Haven't reset them yet, so I can't confirm from observation.

Dex

[thespook]

So when the carts reset themeselves does the printer go through a cleaning cycle.
thanks

[gumby]

Dex;

My many thanks for all the trouble you are going to to help us out.

I see with your help that I did not omit any steps, which helps confirm my suspicions of a faulty set of chips. (I would have expected perhaps one to be bad but maybe if one is bad none will read properly)

On with the quest!

Thanks again Gumby

[trhouse]

Thanks for the tip about auto printing to keep the heads clear.

[Dex Sinister]

So when the carts reset themeselves does the printer go through a cleaning cycle.
thanks

I haven't reset them yet, so I can't confirm from observation. I thought I just said that.

I will report when I reset them.

Dex

[gumby]

Followers of this thread;

"Orbyx Electronics (Distributor)have not responded to my emails other than the first two in order to help at all."

I would just like to post that I got an acknowledgment from the person I was dealing with at the Orbyx Electronics Support.

It appears information to them is slow coming as well. They are sorry about that.(So all we can do is be patient)

He did wonder about using a chip re-setter to alleviate my problem. As the printer doesn't seem to be able to see the chips at all I wonder if there is any use trying that??? anyone make a suggestion here?

Ideas welcome, Thanks, Gumby

[Dex Sinister]

So when the carts reset themeselves does the printer go through a cleaning cycle.
thanks

The carts seem to automatically reset themselves individually when they get to around 20%. They reset to where ever the fullest guages in the pic below are, and seem to go through a short cleaning cycle afterwards.



OTOH, a couple of times when the printer started a print job, it has gone through about that much of a cleaning-cycle type sound, so I'm not entirely sure what it's doing when the cartridge resets.

I've used it enough that four of the cartridges have reset, and so far have had no problems whatsoever with it, (aside from a couple of initially clogged jets in the light cyan that took a couple of cleaning cycles to purge.)

Dex

[gumby]

Hi again;

I posted on a few forums requesting help regarding a NexxTech CISS purchased from the Source(Radio Shack)

This post will conclude them all for now as I have found a solution to my immediate problem.

I knowingly purchased the CISS knowing it was listed for an Epson R200. My printer was an R220! If I knew as much about printers generally, then, as I do now, I would not have tried to use it.
Although information from NexxTech was nearly non existent, their product support was 100%. In spite of the fact it was my own fault that I had an inoperative setup, the very understanding clerk who helped me sent a completely new system for me to prove the fault.

Briefly, my trouble was that the printer would not recognize the CISS cartridges. It was an obvious problem with the chipset. Epson was one step ahead of us at this point.

After a lengthy search, making many helpful acquaintances along the way, I found a source for replacement Auto Resetting Chips at a reasonable price. This turned out to be Print on a Dime.com

http://www.printonadime.com/ -----ARC for Epson Stylus Photo R220.

I specified my printer model for clarity.

Their service was helpful, informative and prompt.

When,(IF) I prove my tubing track is correct I'll post photos illustrating the setup I concluded to be most appropriate.

Thank you to all who helped me out. I really appreciate it. It is great that so many make the time to get the rest of us on board, sharing their experiences both good and bad. The alternatives suggested are extremely helpful also.

Thanks again;

Gumby