Lexmark C770 Toner Refill Kit: Cuts Network Color Printing Expenses by 70%!

Depending on workforce size, a typical office layout might just need only a single network laser printer to serve intermittent color printing requirements. The Lexmark C770 is one such printer. Designed with a powerful 800 MHZ processor that directs the series of information coming from networked PCs, the printer is also supplied with onboard RAM of 256 MB. Should network complications transpire in line with limited memory status, RAM can be expanded up to 768 MB. And since a network of this magnitude regularly handles severe traffic information streams, the manufacturer included a 40GB hard disk as an option to increase capacity of its storage bank.

Nevertheless, the most important consideration in the aspect of network color processing is the maintenance of the color laser printer, particularly that of its consumables. The bundled toner cartridges designed for the Lexmark C770 laser printer is retailed at $1400. Each cartridge comes with a rating of 6,500 pages at the standard page coverage of 5%. Therefore, an office that requires monthly cartridge replacement would have an annual toner consumable expenditure of as much as $16,800. Despite the exorbitant pricing, one positive aspect would be the minimal Cost Per Page (CPP). CPP for OEM color cartridges is pegged at 12 cents and 2.6 cents for the monochrome cartridge. By industry standards, said CPP readings are already tolerable and much cheaper when compared to the charge of offset printers if print jobs are outsourced.

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Color Printing FAQs for the Xerox 7760dn Laser Printer

Although most color laser printers are now retailed around lower cost parameters, the price can still be restrictive that buying a unit actually requires careful assessment. If a color laser printer is intended for office use, a network printer with sufficient onboard memory and designed for easy connectivity, efficient paper handling and reliable print speeds will prove to be ideal. The mentioned bundle of features will be useful to a workplace environment where the laser printer unit is typically shared by departments and among employees. A color laser printer that would not be able to accommodate the expected information streams will practically contribute to reduced workplace efficiency and productivity.

Let us look into the capabilities of the Xerox 7760dn color printer if its features are well suited to an office environment through a set of FAQs or frequently asked questions.

Does unit cost commensurate to its features and functionality? The Xerox 7760dn currently retails for around $4,500 and based on its design and performance specifications, the printer could perfectly fit any office environment. The only drawback to this unit is the cost of its consumables, particularly the 4 color toner cartridges that load the printer. Given its bundle price $730, getting a replacement for 4 empty toner cartridges can really be budget restrictive.

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Quality Toner Plus Good Fuser Equals Excellent Laser Prints

Laser printers are designed with several components working in sync to deliver the laser printouts that appeal to most consumers. Each printer component contributes to the entire printing process. The laser scanning assembly transforms information originating from the PC into dots. The OPC drum forms the image while the mechanical components move the paper. But what dictates printout quality is the make of toner particles supplied with the cartridge and the fuser assembly that bonds toner to paper.

What is quality toner? This refers to toner manufactured on the merits of sound substance formulation; properly controlled particle shape and size, and low melting points. Quality toner also passed stringent laboratory tests to guarantee the expected yield and print performance. Toner powder formulation for the OEM HP CC364A toner cartridge and the HP P4015 toner refill kit falls under the category of “quality toner.” And since compatible toner powder is manufactured based on the same set of standards as the OEM toner i.e. weight properties, particle shape, melting point and water based emulsion technology – then expect both toners to deliver similar print quality and yield of 24000 pages at 5% coverage.

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Top 3 Considerations When Buying a Laser Printer

What do users look for in laser printers? Interested buyers of color laser printers ought to consider the unit’s TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), the prevailing cost of OEM consumables and if its toner cartridge can be refilled with compatible toner. Now in case the printer unit satisfactorily meets the buyer’s TCO preferences along with consumable and refill considerations, then a sale will likely proceed.

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Toner Refill Kits Work In Tandem with the Clean Air Act

Why was the “Clean Air Act” enacted? The primary reason for its endorsement is to curb air-pollution and provide a cleaner air. Each one of us can help in the drive for a cleaner environment. If driving a car, see to it that it is fine tuned always to reduce the emission of harmful substances. Now for some of us who are laser printer users, recycling empty OEM toner cartridges is a sure way of reducing air-pollution. Recycling delays the disposal of empty cartridges into landfills and dumpsites. At the same time, recycling minimizes the manufacture of toner cartridges that pumps CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere during the production process. The vicious cycle that ultimately harms the environment can be minimized if each one of us contributes in a little way.

How large is the contribution of OEM toner cartridges to air pollution? The manufacture of 100 OEM toner cartridges can generate a ton of CO2; roughly the volume of pollutants pumped by a Boeing 747 in its extended flight to Manila, the Philippines from Los Angeles, California 7,307 miles away. The United States alone discards 110 million OEM toner cartridges annually - equivalent to over 1 million tons of CO2 that pollute our air-environment. And to think that only about 10 million OEM toner cartridges are recycled annually, the ease out of CO2 pollution generated by the printing industry is still a long tedious process.

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Understanding the Laser Printer’s Print Engine

The print engine of the laser printer is the mechanical part composed of different moving components. It is responsible for moving paper (medium) from one component to the next in the process of printing. However to print accurately, the print engine is aided by devices like the controller boards, RAM and several software integrated into the unit by the its manufacturer. It is no longer an Industry secret that different printer brands actually run on the same print engine as manufacturers now utilize the technology and expertise of other companies to supply the printer unit's print engine. A perfect example would be HP and Canon laser printers. The laser printer lines of both OEMs are outfitted with a similar print engine which renders its toner cartridges interchangeable.

Think of your laser printer the same way you look at your car. Just like any other vehicle, the laser printer also comes with a print engine that dictates its capacity in terms of speed and performance. For instance, Toyota Motors USA developed several car models that run on a particular engine design under the hood. The same way with laser printers, over 500 models have been devised in the last decade using just 10 or so print engine designs. This information is relevant to the user on the lookout for a laser printer. Different printer brands may run on the same print engine but then again, the cost of its replacement OEM toner consumables significantly vary e.g. Canon toner cartridges retail at a much lower price than HP cartridge units.

In terms of engine performance, consider how a small four-cylinder gas engine works inside a sports car and what it does when placed under the hood of a mid-sized car. Naturally the sports car will accelerate and deliver higher speeds - being small, lightweight and not to mention the unique transmission and gear ratio plus several other features engineered for the sports car. On one side, the mid-sized car will be able to carry more passengers and may even be packed with luxury features but will not perform at par with the sports car. This will prove that two laser printers using the same print engine will also perform differently.

The same can be observed from the supply of OEM toner consumables as one brand may be more pricey than the other. Although the 2 printers have an identical toner cartridge design, quality of toner supplied with the cartridge varies. If Hewlett Packard thinks that supplied toner with its cartridges is superior, nobody can question the pricing of their OEM toner cartridges. But the barometer for toner cost is the compatible toner supplied with toner refill kits. The HP CP3525 compatible toner refill kit (black) is retailed for only $40.95 and delivers the same print quality and yield of 10,500 pages as the OEM toner. Again this will show that toner cost is really low considering that both toner products pass the same stringent production processes and laboratory tests.

In the end, the balance between consumable cost and printer performance still determines the true worth of a printer - not just the print engine.

What’s all the fuzz about Toner Dust?

In 2006, a laboratory report discussing the emission of toner dust from the laser printer was circulated. Said publication started the debate on health and related safety issues confounding office personnel exposed to toner particles. In response, a number of offices enclosed and isolated the laser printer while designating only select personnel to operate the machine in order to avoid toner dust from contaminating the workplace. Although the report was yet to be verified by another round of tests, it already created a sense of uncertainly for millions of laser printer users.

What started out as a scare was finally revealed as farce and unsubstantiated today. Recent studies conducted by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI) in collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia revealed that what was often detected as ultra fine particles emitted by the laser printer is not toner dust but volatile organic compounds. Adding more teeth to these findings is a simple experiment wherein a laser printer was made to run continuously without toner and paper. The experiment resulted in the discharge of similar, organic compounds which therefore concludes that toner and paper do not contribute to the release of volatile compounds - instead, the compounds originate from the printer unit itself.

The study further indicated that in the course of printing, the laser printer generates high temperatures which affect the various substances used by the different printer components. Extreme heat causes the evaporation of volatile substances integrated into printer components such as paraffin and silicone oil which combine to form nano-particles. The formation of ultra-fine, volatile compounds can also be produced from heating, particularly when performing domestic chores like cooking, baking and using the bread toaster. Findings from the WKI and QUT study finally laid to rest questions about the laser printer and its potential of becoming a health hazard.

The toner scare was actually what pushed various printer manufacturers to develop new generation laser printers that operate at lower temperatures (so as not to trigger the emission of volatile compounds) and produce less noise while rated as energy efficient. Concurrent with this development are advances on toner powder production. Toner particles now fuse at low temperatures to reduce waste produced in the printing process. Third party toner manufacturers likewise are not far behind as they have also produced compatible toner used in toner refill kits as a feasible alternative to the OEM toner. The toner consumable market is now a healthy mix of OEM, compatible and remanufactured toner cartridges and toner refill kits such as the Lexmark C710 that is suited to duplicate the performance of its OEM toner counterpart.

So, what is the fuzz about toner dust and laser printers is all in the past and never to haunt

In House Printing: Take the Xante Ilumina 502 and Toner Refill Kit Duo

As the US business climate is gradually showing signs of recovery, big name corporations are now working to rebuild their financial infrastructure. One important issue affecting any U.S. business entity involves corporate printing expenditures that could eat up a decent share of operational expenses. Corporate printing expenditures take a leap in the production of inter-office memorandum, reports, and marketing materials that would likely hit an astounding figure if not handled prudently. Before the economic downturn, print jobs such as marketing brochures, product packaging, and even business cards have been outsourced. But in line with reduced economic activity, companies are turning towards ‘In-House Printing’ as a way to manage printing expenses.

In-House Printing becomes necessary as businesses are just starting to rise from the ashes and could therefore not really afford to stock up on brochures, packaging and several other collaterals. Most businesses often produce printed materials on an as-needed basis. To this end, in-house printing becomes a sensible option. In line with this urgent need, the Xante Ilumina 502 Digital Color Press can effectively fill the void and deliver astonishing printouts on any medium of up to 502 gsm and along affordable cost parameters. This is a proven fact, because whether a print job involves 50, 100 or even 1,000 pages; the cost per page (CPP) stays the same with the Xante Ilumina 502 - unlike local printers where CPP drops only once a particular print volume is reached. This makes the total cost of the print job restrictive.Another approach that could drastically pull down printing expenditures is the use of Xante Ilumina toner refill kits. Compatible toner supplied with toner refill kits replenishes an empty cartridge's toner supply. The simple refill procedure can help extend the serviceable life of a Xante Ilumina cartridge by up to 3 print cycles.

The bundled cost of the OEM monochrome and color toner cartridges is a little over $1,000 for an expected yield of around 15,000 pages at the industry yardstick of 5% coverage. Meanwhile, the rainbow pack of a 100% compatible toner refill kit is available for only around $300. This cuts color printing expense by as much as 70% without sacrificing print quality and yield. Ultimately, the use of toner refill kits on an empty 502 OEM cartridge will prove beneficial for business entities shifting towards the use of the Xante Ilumina Digital Color Press.

In the end, shifting to compatibles such as the Xante Ilumina toner refill kit for in-house print jobs is one practical way of managing burgeoning business printing expenditures.

How SMBs can benefit from toner refill kits?

Small and Medium Business (SMB) entities cannot survive without a laser printer to back up their day to day print requirements. But unlike large businesses that belong to the top 500 corporations, SMB’s usually operate with a limited budget and could hardly cope up with escalating printing costs. And with OEM toner cartridges slowly eking up in costs, this puts undue pressure on the SMB unit’s budget for business printing. Luckily, they can now turn to the aftermarket for printer consumables for more affordable options.

One of the most practical consumable to be released by the aftermarket is the toner refill kit. Not only is the consumable affordable, it also allows printing to continue without even purchasing a new cartridge unit. Instead, compatible toner powder is loaded into the cartridge’s empty toner hopper.

Can compatible toner compare to OEM toner in terms of print quality? We Americans are a stickler to fine equipment and accessories, and that includes printer consumables. Products with questionable quality will definitely not sell in the US; more so if this impacts print quality and yield coverage in the case of laser printer consumables such as the toner cartridge. The fact that toner refill kits are competitive in an 80 billion printing industry is a testament to our penchant for taking only the best. The men and women who crafted the manufacture of good quality and yet affordable printer peripherals truly deserves our gratitude.

As of writing, the aftermarket for printer consumables (that includes toner refill kits of course) has already captured around 20% market share and has moved at least 7 billion dollars in the printing industry. This figure is on the rise as more and more laser printer users are becoming dependent on the quality and yield performance of compatibles. It also helps that compatibles are at least 60% cheaper than its OEM counterpart; thus giving business users more elbow room to spend saved funds to finance their going concerns.

The hard facts are portrayed in the refill of an empty Samsung ML-1710D3 toner cartridge which loads the ML-1710 laser printer. The genuine cartridge is retailed at $80 for its rating of 3000 pages at 5% page coverage. The compatible Samsung ML-1710 toner refill kit on the other hand is available for only $8.95 and duplicates in every way the print and yield performance of the OEM cartridge. And because Samsung tolerates toner refills on its cartridges, the unit is designed with a fill hole for refill convenience.

So for SMBs out for a great deal on printer consumables, cross the line and move in with Samsung toner refill kits to experience more financial flexibility.

How toner cartridge components operate to produce a laser print on paper?

The process by which laser printers affix the printed image on media (paper) can be a bit fuzzy; though it’s clear that the machine relies on static electricity to run the entire printing cycle. Unlike inkjet printers that literally spray ink through micron size nozzles, laser printers use the negatively charged OPC drum to attract the positively charged toner particles into the image set over the drum surface by the laser scanning assembly. Simply put, charged toner particles freely jump into the rotating photoreceptor drum.

The host computer and printer work in tandem to generate and process the image on the printed document. Data is supplied by the host computer and received by the printer control board which deals with all the incoming signals and places the deciphered information on the page as directed. Since the information has been converted into a serial bit stream it is forwarded to the laser scanning assembly that emits it as multiple dots on the photoreceptor drum.

The photosensitive drum revolves as the laser scanning assembly transfers the stream of information across the surface of the drum. The process is referred to as registration. But before the action of the laser assembly commences, the drum is first exposed to a set of erase lamps that will clear the component from residual traces of the previous image. As the drum is now left with a neutral electrical charge and as high voltage is applied to the corona wire it creates a charged negative field. This conditions the drum to accept a uniform negative charge (-1000V) applied across it. As the images is being made by the laser scanning assembly, the toner cartridge works to apply toner on the negatively charged dots.

The toner cartridge is outfitted with a developer roller that turns simultaneously with the photosensitive drum, and expels a measured amount of toner through a restricting blade. A regulated AC voltage is applied to assist toner particles as it leaves the cartridge and literally jumps into the negatively charged dots on the drum’s surface. But toner cartridges like the Brother TN-350 are programmed to gather toner excesses from the drum and recycle it back to the cartridge. Prior to reuse, the recycled toner is first subjected to an additional positive charge before it enters the toner chamber. Once the image formed on the drum has been transferred to paper, the whole ensemble (paper and toner) moves to the fuser assembly that binds toner to paper permanently.

Toner refill kits when used in the laser printing process must be of similar formulation to the OEM toner; not only in terms of substances and grain size but also in the aspect of melting point to meet the equipment specification. Thus laser printer manufacturers insist that toner must be of high quality and similar to the original toner to avoid inconsistencies in the printouts.