Over the last couple of years I've noticed that there is still several ml still left in the cartridge after the print says its time to change...So over the past several months I've had an idea to open up the empty cartridge and pour he remaining in a storage jar. Well, I had a jar of magenta that had approx. 500ml in it....So today I opened up an empty cartridge, pulled off the plastic piece on the pouch, cut the pouch,and poured approx. 200ml in it... Put it back in the machine ......Well it just over flowed the cap top and contaminated the yellow and poured magenta all over the vinyl outta the printhead. It was like it couldn't regulate the flow??? Why wont this work? Isnt it the same principal as bulk ink system?
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Saving Ink? Why wont this work?
- Thread starter jason91
- Start date
Solventinkjet
DIY Printer Fixing Guide
Cartridges and bulk systems are designed to pull back slightly on the ink system. They use different methods but to the same effect. The dampers counter act this effect which allows them to do keep ink flowing the the head while the printer prints. That is why if you take the dampers off, you get a few drops but then all of the ink travels back to the cartridge. In your case, you broke the cartridges natural ability to pull back by allowing air into the system and messing up the pressure. The result? Ink just falls right through with nothing to hold it back. Even refillable cartridges with no bags in them use a raised septum and channel method to achieve pull back on the cartridge end.
If you can get this to work it still may not be cost effective as you could cause damage to your print head. As soon as ink is exposed to air, it starts to dry and clump, dust can get to it from being exposed out of the cartridge and the solvents can evaporate so much that the ink consistency will be off. I think it would be pretty cool if it worked but just be aware of the risks.
If you can get this to work it still may not be cost effective as you could cause damage to your print head. As soon as ink is exposed to air, it starts to dry and clump, dust can get to it from being exposed out of the cartridge and the solvents can evaporate so much that the ink consistency will be off. I think it would be pretty cool if it worked but just be aware of the risks.
So the bulk ink cartridges won't do this? Do you recommend doing bulk if I print 3 rolls a week? It could save a lot of money if the bulk in system works? Do you guys sell them?
The way you would have to do this (if it can be done) is use a hypodermic needle to inject the ink back into the new cartridge in the same spot that the printer
injects into the cartridge when it is placed into the slot, at least on a Roland machine.
The down side of this is there is an expiry date on the inks, as well at the bottom of the bag there may be chunks of pigments and things that should stay at the bottom, and not be reintroduced into your ink flow.
injects into the cartridge when it is placed into the slot, at least on a Roland machine.
The down side of this is there is an expiry date on the inks, as well at the bottom of the bag there may be chunks of pigments and things that should stay at the bottom, and not be reintroduced into your ink flow.
It's just physics. The rigid bulk carts won't collapse on themselves and a pouch will, thus creating a void of space that has to be offset somehow. Well, that offset is ink flowing b/c of positive pressure. We tried to build a bulk system with a 5L soft jug. NOT a good idea. The jug collapsed on itself, just like a balloon losing air, and the ink went everywhere. Very tough lesson learned, but led to good designs.
As the last poster said, the best way, if you're willing to take the chance, is to use a needle and inject the ink back into the bag. Be very careful not to puncture the neck of the bag. Done that dozens of times...
Why not just get a proven bulk system?
As the last poster said, the best way, if you're willing to take the chance, is to use a needle and inject the ink back into the bag. Be very careful not to puncture the neck of the bag. Done that dozens of times...
Why not just get a proven bulk system?