Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
I suppose the key word here is "cheap". I replaced the print head on my Canon s9000
with a head from
http://www.weink.com (USD124.99).
Rescho
"Arthur Entlich" <artistic@telus.net> wrote in message
news
KdHd.6720$u_1.1289@edtnps91...
> I have never owned one so I have never tried, but the word on "the
> street" is no. The prices are relatively high, if and when the heads
> are made available.
>
> Art
>
> Johnny wrote:
>
> > Can one buy new printheads, cheaply, for a Canon?
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > J
> >
> > "Arthur Entlich" <artistic@telus.net> wrote in message
> > news:lYQGd.99340$nN6.75582@edtnps84...
> >
> >>Asking what cases head damage is a fair question, but let's clarify
> >>something first, Canon and Epson use very different head designs.
> >>
> >>Epson heads use a piezo activation method. Basically there are a bunch
> >>of plates that are distorted by electrical current. This plate
> >>distortion changes the volume of a very small ink chamber, pushing ink
> >>out a nozzle. As the plate flattens out, it causes ink to be drawn back
> >>in the chamber from the ink source (refilling the chamber). This is
> >>done extremely rapidly, and appears like a vibration. The process
> >>involves no heat other than the small amount converted from mechanical
> >>energy of the vibration.
> >>
> >>The other inkjet manufacturers mainly use a thermal process. This
> >>involves the use of a resistor that heats up upon electricity being
> >>applied. The heat causes the water or other volatile within the ink to
> >>boil, and the bubble of steam forces the ink to eject under pressure.
> >>
> >>Epson's design is actually relatively rugged. It has to be because the
> >>heads are permanent, and are designed to be so. The piezo actuation
> >>response, is repeatable literally hundreds of millions or even billions
> >>of times before breakdown. I suspect Epson came up with this design
> >>from their parent company, Seiko's quartz watch design, where they
> >>vibrated a small quartz crystal to keep the watch in time.
> >>
> >>So, what can go wrong with an Epson head due to 3rd party inks?
> >>
> >>Well, obviously, if you put ink into the head that has a solvent that
> >>dissolves or otherwise harms the materials the head is made from, that
> >>could kill a head. The head design uses plastics, ceramics and metals
> >>which are laminated together. But most inks probably don't contain
> >>those solvents.
> >>
> >>The heads on Epson printers have changed over the years, but the basic
> >>issues have always been that the ink has to be fairly pure without large
> >>particles that might get through or clog the assorted filters within the
> >>head, and the ink needs to have the correct viscosity, not too think,
> >>not too thin, to work with the head design. If the ink is too thin, it
> >>may leak out the head nozzles, but that would likely not damage the
> >>head, but may make a mess and damage other components. If it was too
> >>thick, and could not be diluted or dissolved, it could gum up the piezo
> >>actuators and the chamber and nozzles permanently.
> >>
> >>If the ink developed clots once it entered the head chamber they could
> >>be stuck there and not allow for the ink to flow through the nozzles.
> >>
> >>Usually, however, most inks use similar solvents (water, glycol, in a
> >>high pH) so as long as the formulation isn't completely off the mark,
> >>most of the times, Epson print heads can be unclogged with a bit of
> >>patience and willingness to work at it.
> >>
> >>Thermal ink heads can be more difficult, and more easily damaged by
> >>incorrect formulations. First off, I do not know of any thermal head
> >>that is considered permanent. They are eventually burn out. The
> >>continually heating cooling process fatigues the components and the fail
> >>either structurally or electronically. In the case of HP's cartridge
> >>mounted heads, they are not designed to last much beyond one use,
> >>although some people refill several times successfully. The materials
> >>used are designed to give good service throughout the cartridge life,
> >>but will degrade this repeated refilling from use.
> >>
> >>Canon's newer heads are more robust forms of the same concept. Things
> >>that can shorten the life of thermal heads include, again, wrong
> >>solvents that damage the materials the heads are made from, inadequate
> >>liquid or incorrect boiling point for the liquid, wrong pH leading to
> >>eating away at the metal structure of the head, potential clogs due to
> >>ink that has too large particles or foreign matter or clots developing
> >>in it (this can be organic also, like molds or sludge), or inks that
> >>exhibit the wrong electrolytic qualities, which might transfer metallic
> >>molecules within the head structure.
> >>
> >>As soon as heat and resistance is involved, all sorts of chemical
> >>reactions are conceivable.
> >>
> >>Keep in mind that, in theory, at least, an electrical current does not
> >>have to pass through the ink within the head of an Epson printer, since
> >>it is a mechanical action that moves the ink.
> >>
> >>That is not to say that Epson heads don't fail. They can and do. There
> >>are some electronic failures that are known to occur, and some models
> >>appear to be more vulnerable than others. BUT, the vast majority of
> >>clogs that people believe or are informed are "dead heads" are nothing
> >>more than clogs that can be resolved as long as the person did not go
> >>and try to manually force air or liquids through the heads to clear
> >>them. That, I'm afraid, can literally blow up the piezo actuators or
> >>delaminate the head, making it truly "dead".
> >>
> >>I am sure using misformulated inks can damage Epson heads as well, but
> >>it takes a bit more to do it. Clogs, yes, but likely repairable.
> >>
> >>Canon's head can also be cleaned, since they are removable, but damage
> >>caused by badly formulated inks can probably do more real damage to
> >>them, and shorten their lives.
> >>
> >>Art
> >>
> >>Johnny wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>With a Canon IP, or with an Epson stylus 830, or with any other printer
> >
> > that
> >
> >>>uses the same printhead mechanism, exactly what is it that gets damaged
> >
> > when
> >
> >>>you use non-oem ink, and can it be rectified by simple cleaning r
> >
> > anything
> >
> >>>similar?
> >>>Cheers,
> >>>J
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
> >
>