Toner Cartridge ‘Build Quality’ Determines Toner Refill Frequency

Given the unwavering popularity of toner refill kits, consumers are now turning to the Build Quality of toner cartridges. The reason is of course obvious. Users want their toner cartridges to last more than the recommended 3 refills, which presents potential savings in the long run. There is no longer a monopoly by OEM cartridges because third party manufacturers are also producing compatible toner cartridges that are able to meet the quality standards set forth for OEM consumables; but priced by at least 20% less.

The War of the Toner Cartridges, so to speak, is on and the brand that satisfies build quality the most will likely get a hefty share of the printer consumables market. This so called cartridge war will benefit the end user as both OEM and third party manufacturers will be determined to produce a toner formula that would capture the blackest black and the sharpest color prints.

What to expect in a ‘build quality’ toner cartridge? Similar to OEM cartridges, the unit components of this type of cartridge include the Organic Photoelectric Drum (OPC), the Primary Charge Roller (PCR), magnetic rollers, wiper and doctor blades. But unlike the regular toner cartridge, the components of a build quality unit have been designed to last much, much longer than 1 or 3 print cycles. To further guarantee print quality; said cartridges are outfitted with durable seals and end foams to prevent toner leaks; to deliver optimum printouts up to the expected life cycle of the toner cartridge. Users should always check the label on the OEM cartridge’s packaging for this statement: The cartridge may contain recycled components. Cartridges built from recycled materials will definitely turn out with lower life cycles compared to those produced from virgin components.

With build quality already secured, the user can now turn to the equivalent toner refill kit – the other half of the printing partnership. OEM and refill toner undergo rigorous laboratory print tests to come up with the desired color quality. This test will produce printed pages of solid blacks and a series of halftones which would assure that text printed are sharp and clear. Color tests performed on cyan, magenta, yellow and black toner include complete solid prints on several gradations to reach as much as 250,000 color hues that is required for the printing of photos, graphs and other graphics. Since compatible toner also undergoes similar laboratory tests, this would further boost the stature of refill toner – to really stand ‘toe to toe’ with the OEM toner in the intent of giving users the best color printouts but at more affordable prices.

A perfect example of compatible toner that meets or even exceeds industry standard is the toner supplied with the Brother TN-670 toner refill kit. Said consumable can be used to refill the cartridges of the Brother HL-6050, HL-6050D, HL-6050N laser printers. The kit retails at $13.95 and is likewise rated 7500 pages at 5% page coverage, just like its OEM counterpart. Compare this to the OEM toner cartridge that is sold at $85 and you definitely have a budget consumable at your disposal.

Always look for Build Quality toner cartridges to enjoy more than the standard refills and considerably save on toner consumable expenses.

The Real Deal about Toner Cartridge Smart Chips

From the looks of it, consumer advocates are unanimous in saying that toner cartridge smart chips a.k.a. reset chips are a ploy by printer manufacturers to entirely bar the refill of cartridge units with compatible toner. Who then can question the motives of advocates when the smart chip does not only serve the tracking of toner supply status but also includes all other functions that make it all too controversial? This includes a unique ID system that will only recognize an OEM toner cartridge coming from the same printer company through the serial numbers imprinted on the cartridge. The manufacturing date of the cartridge is also stored which likewise serves as basis in disabling printer operations once the expiry date is breached; as if toner really has an expiry date.

How does the smart chip work? The smart chip is a data memory bank integrated into the cartridge. The chip stores information about the printer type, cartridge serial number, the OPC drum’s total revolutions, the manufacturing date, number of pages counted (page count), amount of toner left and all other pertinent data. Data stored in the chip are communicated to the printer by way of radio frequency (RF) or infra red (IR) signal. And when certain limits are breached or perhaps when a non-compatible device is loaded, the chip automatically disables the printer’s operations. Example, the printer automatically responds when chip delivers information about the breached yield capacity or designated total revolutions in the case of the primary charge roller (PCR).

Does the smart chip really furnish the laser printer with accurate information? Well, as culled from consumer testimonials over the Internet, the answer is a big NO because it has been noticed that the smart chip tends to disable printer operations even when a substantial volume of toner is still left in the cartridge’s toner chamber. This gives consumers the notion that smart chips were really devised to encourage the premature purchase of replacement cartridges while preventing the conduct of refills on the unit.

Well, these assumptions are likely wild speculations because the smart chip is an electronic device that must be subjected to ideal or laboratory-like conditions in order to function seamlessly. The smart chip operates with an RF circuitry and must be provided with a self-calibration feature to render it immune from damaging thermal conditions, noise, power deviations inside the cartridge and particularly during the manufacturing process as it passes through several variations – factors that cause the chip to malfunction.

In the end, the cartridge should be outfitted with a high grade smart chip that passed superior standards set in its manufacture in order to get an accurate feedback of toner supply status, among others.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges.

Universal Toner for Laser Printers - Is that Possible?

Why do we need a universal toner for our laser printers in the first place? The general concept is to only have a one - toner formulation standard that could be used for laser printers. The reason is obvious so a user can refill the empty OEM toner cartridges without the risk of getting fake or low quality toner. This is like when your car runs out of gas, you simply do not buy a tank full of gas but you go to the service station and gas-up your tank. But because we have over a hundred toner formulations in the market, selecting the exact toner formulation that suits your printer's specification is a hard bargain. We pick one reliable toner product reseller and when the result is satisfactory, we immediately stick to them.

Gas is entirely different from toner because gas comes from substances extracted out from the innards of the earth. So, whether oil comes from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas all exhibit the same characteristics, being fossil based. However, in the process of refinery, it produces by-products like regular or premium quality gas (for cars and classified as leaded or unleaded), diesel for heavy equipment and utility vehicles, high-octane for aviation use, and bunker fuel to run our oil-fed power plants. With a universal toner, a user can only be given a choice for general use (for regular laser printers), high-speed toner for very fast printers and special toner for photo printing. This arrangement suits well with most consumer demands.

Is the creation of a universal toner really possible? Of course it is probable, particularly when aided by government legislation. But such move will stunt the growth of the laser printing industry, remember that toner is a formulation of substances and by creating a standard it deprives manufacturers of the desire to improve the product. And how can HP Hewlett Packard coax Samsung, Brother, Lexmark, Canon to name a few to accept their toner formula and vice-versa. Certainly each printer manufacturer believes on their toner product as the best in the industry and no amount of laboratory tests could sway their belief otherwise. Besides, having only one toner formula would void their printer design, requiring OEMs to rearm in order to suit the new toner standard.

So, in the end a universal toner is no longer necessary as each laser printer exhibits different specifications, not only from toner formulation but also in granule size (in microns) and melting properties as well to sustain print quality requirements. And the only option left for the industry is to weed out unscrupulous toner retailers to help consumers make a precise choice.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges.

What you need to know about Post Consumer or Recycled Paper?

A decade ago recycled paper did not fare well in the mainstream, particularly with laser printer users. The quality of paper fibers constituting recycled media obviously did not meet the standards of most users to thus merit its low patronage. For one, paper dust particles teeming in recycled paper consequently affected the quality of printouts.

A sizeable build up of paper dust over the feeders and rollers of printing equipment can cause malfunctions while the grainy and abrasive surface of recycled paper expedited the wear and tear of printer components. Moreover, recycled paper fibers absorb too much moisture, affecting toner adhesion to paper and causing paper to crease easily which is the precursor of paper jams.

Well, these were all true when Ronald Reagan was still president. Since then, paper manufacturing technologies have improved a dozen times over and recycled paper - also known as post-consumer paper has now attained level status with virgin paper.

In fact in a few States such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, SC and Massachusetts among others; the Federal Government now puts more preference on the use of recycled paper over those produced with virgin paper components. This is in line with the government’s thrust to conserve our shrinking resources. Although trees used in making paper like Oak, Maple and Pine are renewable reserves, still it takes around 20 to 30 years to grow a replacement that is eligible for use as paper material. Cutting trees incessantly just to serve paper requirements swings the ecological balance to dangerous levels, thus prudence needs to be exercised and recycling used paper is seen as the most viable option.

In order for paper to be classified as post-consumer paper it must pass certain criteria that are related to a laser printer’s specification in terms of speed, fusing temperature, paper surface quality and texture. Set criteria are listed as follows:

• It has the highest post-consumer content.
• It does not contain chlorine or chlorine derivatives.
• Paper component does not include old growth timber content.
• Paper is produced in mills that comply with substantial environmental regulations.
• Recycled paper can be used sparingly on laser printers.
• Cost per ream of recycled paper is competitive or even lower than virgin paper.

An example of recycled paper that passed the mentioned criteria is the Badger Envirographic, a 100% post consumer paper.

Print quality is not only dependent on laser printer media. Certainly, a sufficient supply of toner powder contributes to the enviable performance of the laser printer. Always remember though that recycling begins with laser printer users; so that when an OEM toner cartridge runs out of toner, a compatible toner refill kit is within reach to resolve the issue.

Go Green with Toner Refill Kits!

Toner refill kit manufacturers have only one aim in mind – to help countless laser printer users cope with the burgeoning office and household printing costs. Through the years, third party manufacturers envisioned how the business of refilling empty toner cartridges could directly help the environment by reducing in part the over 1million pounds of trash pumped into dumpsites and landfills annually while conserving as much as 2 million quartz of oil. Know that around 3.5 quartz of oil is required to manufacture a single cartridge. Ridding the earth of its e-garbage trash is a gargantuan task that requires personal commitment and the collective efforts of electronic equipment and accessories users.

The world's annual e-garbage volume - if it can be literally converted into cubes; then the pile of trash would likely equal the height of the now defunct WTC twin towers; but then still taller by over 110 floors. Now consider the $150 million development cost for the twin towers and that amount is only about 10% of the total annual expenditure for toner cartridges. In effect, if we patronize refills for empty OEM toner cartridges, we not only help the environment and collaborate with global conservation efforts; but also generate savings of as much as 80% over the cost of OEM retail cartridges.

The most effective method of recycling empty OEM toner cartridges is still through the use of a compatible toner refill kit. Just a single refill effort on an empty cartridge will nominally help reduce the pile of e-garbage to as much as 35% on the amount of trash dumped into our ever shrinking global garbage disposal facility. Note that over 110 million toner cartridges are dumped annually on the average. Consequently, a 35% reduction in e-garbage disposal would likely result to a summary reduction in the manufacture of cartridges (of the same rate) as well.

As Americans it becomes our social duty to lead others and show our concern for the environment. Let us not leave a legacy of uncontrolled trash to the generations after us. Recycle now and reload empty toner cartridges with toner refill kits!

How to refill HP 2600 color cartridges?

The color cartridges of the HP Laserjet 2600 series of laser printers are refilled through the melt and pour method just like most OEM toner cartridges. But what’s unique about HP cartridges is that it does not come with a fill hole/fill plug component that allows the easy transfer of fresh toner powder into the toner supply chamber. Moreover, a waste chamber – where used toner is collected, forms part of its design; to thus add a step or two into the refill process.

Well, that shouldn’t discourage you from reloading an empty HP cartridge. Just prepare the necessary materials and tools; follow instructions to the tee and you can never go wrong!

Materials and Tools:

• Empty HP Q6000A, Q6001A, Q6002A or Q6003A
• HP 2600 Toner Refill Kit 4 Pack (Includes 4 color bottles of fresh toner powder, 4 funnel caps, 4 pairs of latex gloves, toner wipes and instructional manual)

• Replacement / Reset Chip (Should be supplied with the kit)
• Refill Tool
• Electrical Tape
• X-Acto knife
• Toner Vacuum (optional)
• Trash Bin

Procedure:

Cleaning the Waste Chamber

1. Pull out the refill tool and plug into an outlet. Allow it to heat up for 1 to 3 minutes.
2. Once heated up, gently push the refill tool’s tip over a specific section of the cartridge (see manual) to create an opening for the waste chamber. Be sure to remove the circular plastic piece carved out by the tool if it should fall into the bin.
3. Turn the cartridge upside down over a trash can to empty toner residues filling the waste bin. Apply suction using a toner vacuum (optional).
   
4. Seal the hole with electrical tape thereafter.

Cleaning the Toner Supply Chamber

1. Melt a second hole on another section of the cartridge (see manual) using the refill tool to create an opening for the toner supply chamber.
2. Perform the same set of cleaning instructions intended for the waste chamber but do not seal the fill hole just yet.

Replenishing Toner Supply

1. Pull out from the kit the bottle of replacement toner that corresponds to the color cartridge being refilled.
2. Shake the bottle gently to loosen toner powder
3. Attach the funnel cap to the mouth of the bottle and position the cap’s end into the fill hole.
4. Carefully pour toner from the bottle to the fill hole to replenish the cartridge’s toner supply.
5. Seal the hole with an electrical tape thereafter. Do not attempt to cover the hole with a fill plug as the plug will block a rotating blade from the inside of the cartridge.

Replacing the Reset Chip

The cartridge’s reset chip needs to be replaced to reset the print counter and get rid of the low toner message. Being a lockout chip, the printer will keep reading the refilled cartridge as empty and you won’t be able to proceed with print jobs.

1. Locate the reset chip. This is found on the rear of the supply chamber.
2. Carefully cut the plastic tabs holding the chip with the use of an X-Acto knife.
3. Insert the knife blade beneath the chip’s base and slide it upward away from its housing.
4. Pull out the replacement chip from the kit and insert it into the housing with the (gold plated) contact side of the chip facing out.
5. Gently shake the cartridge from side to side to distribute the toner evenly and load the cartridge back into the printer to conduct test prints.
   

What's Inside a Toner Refill Kit?

Manufacturers of toner refill kits put a premium on convenience and that is the reason why the refill procedure is so easy to follow through. Just like the order of champagne in hotels, the bottle comes packed in ice and glasses for expediency. This is the concept behind the design of toner refill kits - to provide users a hassle-free conduct of the refill process. As such, the user not only gets supplied with a bottle of replacement toner powder, but also all the other tools necessary for a successful refill.

Let us look into the materials and tools that are typically bundled with the toner refill kit:

Compatible Toner. The bottle of compatible toner is the most important part of the kit since the supplied fresh powder will replace the depleted toner supply of the cartridge. Compatible toner is made of high-grade carbon and polymer components that is 100% compatible with the cartridge subject for refill.

Funnel Cap. The kit also comes with a funnel cap. Said device is attached to the toner bottle rim to assist the user in the transfer of toner powder to the hopper and avoid toner spills in the course of the refill.

Latex Gloves. Since contact with the toner powder could not be avoided, a pair of latex gloves is an integral part of the kit. The wear of said gloves during refill helps prevent the onset of stains and blemishes over the hands.

Lint-free Toner Wipes. The item is used to clear toner residues lingering over cartridge surfaces which is typical during the course of the refill.

Instructional Manual. Of course, the user can't proceed with the refill without an instructional material that would outline the step by step refill process. The procedures come illustrated with photos which only simplifies comprehension of the set procedures.


Other tools, though not bundled with the toner refill kit, may be required such as:

Reset Chip. Toner cartridges such as the HP Q6000A are outfitted with a lockout chip that prevents the cartridge from performing print jobs after the printout of a particular number of pages. As such, the lockout chip needs to be replaced with a third party reset chip which is either supplied with the kit or sold separately.

Refill Tool. While other cartridges are designed with fill plugs to conceal the toner hopper's fill hole, toner cartridges such as those of HP do not have fill holes to begin with. Thus, the need to create a hole on the casing, leading to the toner hopper becomes necessary. The refill tool comes in handy to this end and allows the user to melt holes over the toner hopper and the waste chamber as well.

Get your toner refill kits and refill accessories from legitimate vendors such as Laser Tek Services, Inc. Expect our toner products to be 100% compatible with the cartridge you intend to refill.

How to Handle Toner Spills and Stains?

Have you been refilling toner cartridges lately? Learn about unanticipated - sometimes unavoidable, scenarios that might come about in the course of toner replenishment and the suitable measures that should be taken in response.

Toner goes airborne. Toner is made of fine powder which could easily get airborne from a little wind movement. Thus in the course of refill, toner refill kit users must turn off fans in the room or shut ventilation ducts to prevent the spread of toner. In case such a mess happens, users must leave the room to allow toner to settle down before retrieving the dust and cleaning the room.

Toner spills on fabric. At times, toner can attach to clothing to therefore leave marks and blemishes on the fabric. Given the said situation, users should take in mind to NEVER rub toner particles sticking to the fabric as this will only produce permanent stains on the material. When toner gets into your clothing, the following removal steps are recommended.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravik694/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

1. Blow off toner particles on the fabric or simply use a specialized vacuum cleaner intended for this purpose. Do not use a regular vacuum cleaner since toner powder is static-charged and could produce fire.
2. Put ink remover over the toner residue and let it rest for a few seconds or until toner lightens.
3. Scrub the toner with a brush or an abrasive sponge.
4. In light or gentle mode, machine-wash the fabric. Remember to separate the fabric from any other garment while washing to prevent staining other clothing as well, just in case toner residues have not been completely removed.

Toner spills over furniture. Simply wipe off the spill with a damp cloth on affected area. This should clean the affected surfaces furniture.

Toner spills on hands and powder getting into the eyes. Toner sticking to one's hands and eyes can be very unsettling. But then there’s no need to worry. Just wash your hands and clean the affected eye over cold, tap water until such time that toner is removed. Do remember though, never to use warm water as heat will melt the toner and will cause permanent stains.

There is practically no reason to fret when a toner spill occurs because the residue can be removed easily whether on fabric, furniture, and some body parts.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges. LTS offers an extensive line of refill kits compatible with the cartridges of leading laser printer brands such as Brother, Canon, Samsung, HP, Epson, Xerox, Lexmark, Konica Minolta, Dell, Okidata and Sharp. So take note of your printer's model or cartridge number today and place an order on our site www.lasertekservices.com.