Forum on CISS: what is CISS - forum on CISS. CISS - continuous ink supply systems - for inkjet printers epson, canon, hp, brother

Many owners of computer equipment have probably heard about such an accessory as a continuous ink supply system or CISS. How it works this element and why it is needed, we will try to find out from this article. The reader is also invited to familiarize himself with the installation instructions for this rather necessary and useful device.

CISS: basic concepts

In any case, before purchasing a printer, users try to learn as much as possible about inkjet and laser printing technologies. Therefore, it makes no sense to describe all the disadvantages and advantages of each type of printing device. It’s better to move straight to the main question: what is a continuous ink supply system or CISS? All users know that the print head in inkjet printers is connected to cartridges that contain ink. The paint containers themselves are quite small and require constant refilling. Installing a continuous ink supply system solves most problems associated with filling ink into cartridges. From the outside, the CISS looks like a system of communicating vessels between large cans of paint and printer containers.

CISS: installation options

As for CISS options, you can find two varieties on the market today. Firstly, this accessory can be presented in the form independent decision, which is compatible with most printing devices on the market. However, it is worth noting that office equipment manufacturers do not welcome such a solution. They quickly deprive users who decide to self-installation CISS, opportunities warranty service. Also today you can find combined solutions that already contain CISS. Such printers and MFPs are very popular in the expensive price segment. As a rule, such devices are designed for printing large volumes of information in color. Therefore, the manufacturer himself is interested in the buyer purchasing his products for use.

CISS: basic parameters

Now that we have figured out what a continuous ink supply system is, we can proceed directly to a review of the main characteristics of this device. No matter how strange it may sound, the volume of containers in CISS does not play a big role. Unlike built-in cartridges, which are located on the print head, cans in CISS are accessible for maintenance. The user will be able to pour ink into containers even during the printing process. The main indicator of a continuous ink supply system is ergonomics. All buyers, without exception, are interested in the ease of installation of this accessory and the possibility of placing it on the table near the printer. There are many different CISS options on the market. Some manufacturers offer plastic containers secured with a strap, while others provide a full unit that can be placed away from the printer. The latter option, of course, will be more preferable, since the printer itself can take up a lot of space on the desktop.

CISS: branded products

A lot of tubes and plastic containers will probably confuse most CISS buyers. Chinese manufacturers do not pamper customers ready-made solutions. For this reason, many printing and office equipment experts recommend that users buy only branded products from reputable supplies manufacturers. At the very least, installation instructions are always included with such products. Of course, you can install and on our own using installation instructions found on the Internet. But in this case, no one guarantees that you will be able to correctly connect the cartridges to the tubes without disturbing the air exchange system of the bypass valve.

CISS: trust the professionals

Electricity must be handled by an electrician, construction must be done by builders, and installation CISS is better entrust to an experienced professional. This opinion is shared by the majority of users today. The main thing is to follow one simple rule. Before installing a continuous ink supply system on a printer or MFP, a potential buyer must agree on the area of ​​responsibility for the seller and the specialist who will carry out the installation. After all, if the installation is unsuccessful, someone will have to bear responsibility for the malfunction and reimburse the buyer for expenses. Experts in the field information technology recommend that users buy the printing device and continuous ink supply system from the same seller, and carry out installation by him.

CISS: installation on your own

There are also situations in which the user has to independently maintain computer equipment. In fact, it is quite possible to install a continuous ink supply system at home. The main thing here is to be patient, keep the installation instructions handy and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The user's main task is to monitor the ink levels in the cartridges. Do not allow air to enter the print head. If this does happen, you must immediately take the printing device to service center. As for connecting the CISS, everything is quite simple. You just need to connect the system containers with the cartridges using tubes, following the simple rule of communicating vessels. Then you need to fill the cartridges with paint. To remove excess air from the containers, it is necessary to open the bypass valve.

CISS: feedback

Many owners of printing devices in CISS recommend that future buyers of such devices pay more attention to the manufacturer. The problem is that there are many products on the market today from unscrupulous manufacturers. The problem with all such CISS is the same: the system of communicating vessels does not work as it should. To pump ink into the cartridge, you must constantly lift the container high from the continuous ink supply system. It is also worth paying attention to whether the CISS is compatible with the printer. Typically, manufacturers in the specifications for their product indicate a list of MFP and printer models that are supported by this device. You should definitely use these recommendations. Also, do not forget that instructions should be included with any CISS. It does not matter who will carry out the installation - the seller or the user. The presence of instructions provides the owner with a certain guarantee that he is using certified device, not a fake.

Conclusion

Having become familiar with what a continuous ink supply system is, we can conclude that this device will be in great demand among users who have inkjet printing devices at hand. Printing from large containers will allow the owner of office equipment to save not only money, but also the time spent on refilling cartridges.

Many happy owners printers have already installed a continuous ink supply system. The advantages of such a printer improvement are obvious: you don’t need to buy expensive cartridges, you can always see how much ink is left in the container, when the ink level decreases, you just need to add the required amount, the price of one printed copy is reduced significantly, and finally you can make such a system with your own hands. The author of the homemade product was also tired of constantly changing cartridges and decided to make a CISS on his own.
Tools and materials:
-Scissors;
-Adhesive tape;
-Instant glue;
-Medical gloves;
-Screwdriver;
-Syringes;
-Cartridge;
-Printer paint;
-Thin transparent tube;

We’ve definitely already heard from sellers about the CISS accessory. What it is, how it works and why it is needed can be found in this article. The reader is also invited to familiarize himself with the installation instructions for this wonderful and useful device.

Basic Concepts

In any case, the reader has already become familiar with printing technologies before purchasing a printer and probably knows about inkjet and laser technologies. Therefore, there is no point in describing their advantages and disadvantages. It’s better to go straight to the CISS accessory. What is it? This is an abbreviation, and it stands for “continuous ink supply system”.

All users know that inkjet printers are connected to cartridges that contain ink. The flower containers themselves are small and require constant refilling. So, installing a CISS solves all the user’s problems with filling ink into cartridges. From the outside, it looks like a system between large cans of paint and the printer’s built-in containers.

Mounting options

Feedback

Almost every owner of an MFP with CISS recommends that future buyers pay attention to the manufacturer. The fact is that there are many products on the market presented by unscrupulous manufacturers. The problem with all CISS is the same - the system of communicating vessels does not work properly, and in order to pump paint into the cartridge, you need to constantly raise the container with a continuous ink supply system high.

You also need to pay attention to the compatibility of the CISS with the printer. Most well-known manufacturers always indicate in the product specifications a list of models of printers and MFPs that are supported by the device. Naturally, this recommendation must be taken into account.

Do not forget that for any CISS instructions must be present in mandatory. It does not matter who will carry out the installation, the user or the seller. The presence of a manual provides some kind of guarantee to the owner that he still has a certified device at hand, and not a fake.

In conclusion

Having become acquainted with the CISS (what it is, why it is needed and how to install it), we can conclude that this device is still in demand among users who have an inkjet printer or MFP at hand. Definitely, printing from large containers will allow any owner of office equipment to save not only money, but also time on refilling cartridges.

I don’t know about you, but my close acquaintance with a photo printer began with disappointment. No, my Epson 890 fully provided the declared quality, it printed well on roll paper, color rendition was often better than when printing in a photo lab... But I was taken aback by the fact that when I looked at the ink consumption monitor after printing several A4 sheets, I was stunned ink more than half used up. Then I reassured myself that I would print at home only some urgent work, for which I wouldn’t mind spending more money for the sake of necessity. But, of course, the joy of the purchase has decreased significantly.

The second disappointment awaited me when, about a month later, the red light on the printer came on the next time I turned it on, requiring me to change the cartridge! This is despite the fact that since then (i.e. since the moment of the first shock) I have not printed anything on it at all! This is how I learned that every time the printer is turned on, it cleans the head and consumes a certain amount of ink. And if you don’t turn on the printer, the head will dry out, and washing it will also cost a pretty penny.

Yes, photo printer manufacturers do their best to support the illusion in us that you can just buy an inkjet printer and then print well and a lot at home. Yes, you can do it well and a lot. It just turns out to be very expensive. Manufacturers of photo printers, of course, are interested in selling as much of their equipment as possible, and then as many consumables for it as possible (as a result, the printers themselves can even be sold at cost; with a more or less significant load, the cost of consumables will quickly pay for any discounts). Therefore, buyers - that is, you and me - are still caught up in various advertising tricks of printer manufacturers. For example, in the “ink consumption” characteristics, where you can read that the cartridge is enough for 200 pages, the parameters are indicated not for photo printing, but for printing with the so-called 5% coverage. In reality, this is double-spaced text. How often do you print multi-colored text?

So the number of users who are not at all satisfied with the product for which they paid their hard-earned money is growing. User attempts to reduce costs (for example, refill cartridges themselves) are blocked by Epson using the so-called smart cartridge. That is, every replaceable ink tank from Epson, in any printer produced over the last 3-4 years, is equipped with a memory chip. This chip remembers the amount of ink used, and the consumption is not determined exactly, but approximately according to reports from the printer driver. As a result, the chip reports that the ink has run out, as a rule, in advance - approximately when 20-30% of the ink remains in the cartridge. Such a cartridge cannot be refilled, since the mentioned microcircuit will provide the printer with information not about the amount of ink that is actually in the cartridge, but about the amount that was there before refilling.

Epson cartridges equipped with intelligent chips.

Users, however, were still looking for various ways to reduce the cost of printing. As a result, two fundamentally different solutions were found.

1. Refilling cartridges, and for Epson with mandatory reset of the smart chip.
2. The solution that will be discussed in this article is the creation of a continuous ink supply system (hereinafter CISS).

The idea of ​​how to attach a barrel of ink to a print head has been in the air for a long time. There were many problems on the way to solving it, and they are listed here good topic for a separate article.

I would like to note right away that it makes sense to make a CISS for printers whose print head is not combined with a cartridge; it has a longer lifespan than a replaceable one, so the print quality will not deteriorate over time. Epson and Canon printers meet this requirement. I'll talk about CISS for Epson; they are more complex in design and more common in our country.

The currently widespread CISS have some absolutely similar elements, but at the same time their designs differ in some ways. Mandatory CISS design elements for Epson printers:

Photo of a CISS on an Epson 890 printer. Elements of a CISS

First smart chip deception system

It can be implemented programmatically, using various service utilities that can reset the value of Epson cartridges, or “freeze” the ink level in them so that it is not consumed. When I started working on cartridge refilling issues, I tried many of these service utilities. In principle, they work, but not always. Some of them only support a parallel interface, and do not want to function via USB. Yes and after Windows installations XP to my computer, I could not find a working utility for freezing or resetting smart chips for my printer.

The system can also be implemented on so-called “self-zeroing autochips.” What is it? Microcircuits have been developed that imitate the behavior of “native” ones from Epson. They show that the ink level is decreasing, but as soon as it reaches a minimum, the chip is reset to its original state. Autochip operation, as opposed to operation service program, does not depend on operating system computer and printer interface. Therefore, for me, autochips turned out to be the preferable solution, despite the fact that they are the most expensive element of the CISS.

Auto-zeroing chips

Isn't it possible to just make a chip that will show a constant ink level? It turns out that you can’t, because the printer will consider it faulty and refuse to work after the first printed document.

The second element which is necessary in CISS, this is a train of thin tubes, through which ink will be supplied to the print head.

Silicone cable

The cable is needed because we cannot place our “ink barrel” directly on the print head, firstly, due to its physical dimensions, and secondly, because placing excess mass on the printer head is unacceptable. Our cable must be flexible, wear-resistant, have a sufficient diameter of the tubes for ink supply, but not excessive, so as not to create additional inertial load on the moving head.

Third element, which is located between the cable and the print head, is damper capsules, or cartridges. The bottom line is that the ink tubes from the reservoirs cannot go directly to the print head. Firstly, it is designed so that to operate it requires some pressure from the liquid column, in our case, ink.

Various ink dampers: cartridges, interlocking capsules, syringe capsules, single capsules

Secondly, ink, like any liquid, is prone to evaporation. Small air bubbles may appear in the plume tubes, especially in hot weather. If you have a damper chamber, these bubbles accumulate in the upper part of the chamber and do not affect the flow of ink to the head. If there is no such damping chamber, then the bubble is sucked into the head and the corresponding color stops printing.

Thirdly, when high consumption ink of the same color, they simply may not have time to approach the print head through the thin tubes of the cable. The result is the same - unprinted image elements.

A good damper chamber is the original cartridge from the manufacturer. It is calculated and has a relatively large volume, so gas bubbles are easily damped by it, and it also creates sufficient pressure in the liquid column. There is only one drawback: cartridges have large sizes, they are installed tightly into the print head. In some printer models, clamping covers interfere with laying the cable if we use a cartridge.

Alternative: specially manufactured smaller capsules. They can be combined into a block, or they can be placed in the print head separately. Capsule systems are more technologically advanced. We can always remove or change one of the capsules. If you need to wash the head you can attach a capsule with washing liquid to the inlet nozzle of the head and wash the head one at a time specific color. Accordingly, it is much easier to lay a loop from the tanks to the damper chambers.

Capsules made from syringes do not have membranes and maintain the necessary pressure due to a liquid column of ink 2.5-3 cm high, just like in a native cartridge. At the same time, capsules from syringes are less fragile than special ones, the membrane of which can be damaged.

Bar for the capsule system of the NPC printer P300

Autochips with a capsule ink supply system are mounted on a special bar or on a block of capsules. If cartridges are used, then directly in place of the original chips.

Next, fourth element of CISS large containers with ink, from where the ink is supplied to the head. There are few requirements for them. It is important that dust does not get into them, and that they have sufficient volume, plus ease of handling. Therefore, the same vials in which the ink is supplied are often used.

Last, fifth CISS element supporting elements for the cable from tubes. They are needed so that the train does not wear out when moving and does not get jammed by the head. For systems with a vertical cable arrangement, like the R300, its use is not required.

Cable support strip in the Epson 890 CISS system.

The practical construction of CISS for me personally began with an acquaintance with the site, where I wandered in search of ink for refilling. The site is built as an online store and is dedicated to in various ways reducing the cost of printing on color inkjet printers. In addition to ink for refilling, they offer both various components for CISS and assembled CISS systems.

A distinctive feature of the site is a live, full-fledged forum. Actually, it was after talking there that I decided to buy a CISS and placed an order. The cash on delivery order came to me by mail after 13 days, and cost 15% more than the price indicated on the website due to postage costs for shipping the goods and transferring money.

The CISS for the 890, which I ordered, consisted of two cartridges with autochips installed on them and a cable made of elastic tubes glued into them. The black cartridge has one tube, the color cartridge has five. The cartridges are already filled with ink - no need to mess around. There is no need to fill the tubes of the cable with ink. The air that is in them will then accumulate in the upper part of the cartridge and will not affect printing.

In principle, you could follow the instructions: remove the clamping covers, insert the cartridges and secure them with the supplied clamp - the same one used to tighten thick wire harnesses. Now this decision seems more correct to me, but then I spent about 20 minutes using a soldering iron to melt a place in the clamping covers for the cable gasket. I decided not to hide the latter inside the printer, but to lay it outside. I made holes in the ink bottles with a thin soldering iron and inserted the ends of the tubes from the cable tightly into them so that they reached the bottom.

Air filter from a syringe needle. The ball of cotton wool should not be dense

To ensure that air enters the bottles and dust does not get in, you can not just pierce holes in the corks, but insert needles from syringes there with the tubes facing up, and plug the tubes with loose cotton tubes so that they serve as filters.

In total, the first CISS installation took me about 40 minutes.

The system that came for the 950 printer was cartridge-based in design. It is also quite easy to install.

Cartridge system for Epson 950 printer.

The first step is to remove the top cover from the print head. In general, this cover does not initially serve any function; it only covers the cartridges from above. The cartridges of the 950 printer are held on by two latches - on each cartridge they are located on the front and back. Therefore, the cover can be removed without hesitation. The lid tilts back and rocks back and forth. At the same time, it is carefully pressed out with a screwdriver at the attachment points. When the grooves in the mount and the pins on the lid hinge match, the lid will pop out of the hinge. If you are not careful, the pins will break off, but you can still put the cover back on and it will function as before. The easiest way to route the cable in the 950 model is behind the head parking area and out of the case through the ventilation slots at the back.

The system for the R300 was capsule. Its installation differs from the installation of a cartridge system.

First, we remove the top cover of the printer (this is described in detail in the instructions) and install the bar on which all six autochips are attached.

The strip with chips for the R300 system is inserted into the print head

Then we put the capsules on the receiving pipes of the print head. We lay the cable inside the printer, along the electrical cable (this is described in detail in the instructions), take it out of the body through the ventilation holes and lower it into bottles with ink as described above.

It is best to route the cable out from behind through the ventilation slots.

After this, the installation procedure begins to differ. We take a syringe and a stationery clip (they are also included in the delivery). We remove each capsule from the nozzle, put it on the syringe, and suck out the air until the ink from the bottle through the tube fills the capsule by about half.

Filling capsules

We use a stationery clip to pinch the tube anywhere, then disconnect the syringe and put the capsule on the receiving pipe of the print head. Remove the stationery clip from the tube. Repeat with each capsule.

I didn't have any problems special problems with installation of any types of systems. However, there were a couple of points worth mentioning.

After installing the system, one of the cartridges may show a zero value. For me, this problem disappeared after I wiped the contacts of the head and chip with an “architect” eraser and then with alcohol.

In the 950 system, for some reason the cable tended to get stuck. I secured the plastic support pad holding it at a slight angle, so that it directed the cable slightly upward. It helped.

The site's forum also discusses problems that may arise when installing CISS. In any case, I advise you to look there, but I’ll tell you about several issues described there here.

One of them is a violation of the tightness of the system. Actually, the system works due to the fact that the ink that is consumed by the head is sucked into damper chambers from bottles. If the seal is broken, it is not ink that is sucked in, but air, and the corresponding color disappears. The seal is most often broken either at the junction of the cartridge and the receiving pipe of the print head (can be treated by replacing the seal), or at the place where the cable is glued into the cartridge or capsule (can be treated with a drop of glue). I have not seen any cases on the forum where the cable has worn out or broken.

The forum also describes cases where people installed CISS with water-soluble ink on printers with pigment ink. Sometimes this is acceptable, sometimes it is not. However, in any case, you first need to thoroughly rinse the print head with a special washing liquid to remove any remaining pigment ink.

The economic effect of installing CISS is very, very large. Research has shown that filling an A4 sheet with one color consumes approximately 0.8 ml of ink. According to the most conservative estimates, 200 ml of ink from a bottle in terms of 15 ml of cartridge capacity equals 13 cartridges (i.e. 13 sets, respectively). However, if we remember that the cartridge in printers with separate colors by cartridges is underused by 20-30%, and the cartridge with combined colors by up to 50%, then the number 13 can be safely increased to 20-25 (correspondingly, 20-25 sets of cartridges ).

In general, it turns out that a set of CISS plus ink, costing about $150, provides an amount of printing equivalent to approximately 20-25 sets cartridges. If you buy original cartridges, then for the same $150 you can buy only 1 set for new printers, or 2-3 sets for older models. In the future, the cost of owning a CISS is further reduced by half, since a set of 6 inks can be purchased for $67, which is the cost of 2-3 original cartridges. That is, you will purchase 20-25 sets of cartridges for the price of one set or even half a set :)

The good thing about using CISS is that you have the same ink over a long period of time. Consequently, the predictability of printing results increases; you can select the color profile for this ink - the one you need, for the desired paper. If you order a printer calibration service (in Moscow it costs about $40), then it makes sense to give your hard-earned money only if you will use the results for a long time. You can, of course, buy a calibrator and build profiles yourself every time, since calibrators now do not cost as much money as before. But, in my opinion, it’s easier to still use one type of ink and several types of paper than to recalibrate the paper-ink pair every time.

On a personal note, I can add that I usually print on Lomond paper. The profiles downloaded from the website for Epson printers and Epson inks are also perfect for WWM inks, which are supplied with CISS.

The CISS continuous ink supply system (the name “uninterruptible ink supply system” is often also used) is today one of the most effective ways reducing the cost of a printed sheet on inkjet printers (hundreds of times cheaper than using original cartridges and tens of times cheaper than using disposable non-original cartridges). The use of CISS is very beneficial for users who print a lot and often.

As practice shows, the most stably working CISS are cartridge ones. Once correctly installed and correctly adjusted, the cartridge CISS subsequently shows sufficient stable work. Structurally, a modern cartridge CISS is a system of communicating vessels (special cartridges installed in the printer and external containers-donor jars with elements of a “Mariotte vessel”), hermetically connected by elastic tubes. Several tubes are usually soldered into one cable for easy installation into the printer. External CISS containers are designed for storing and uniformly supplying ink to cartridges as they are consumed. Due to the air vacuum created during the printing process inside the ink reservoir of the cartridge, ink of the corresponding color from the external CISS donor containers flows through the tubes into the cartridge. As a result, the CISS cartridge is continuously refilled with ink from a donor container of a given color, into which ink must be periodically refilled. You can refill the CISS with ink of different colors at any time by stopping printing and simply adding ink to the jar of the corresponding color. The most important thing is to strictly follow the instructions for opening and closing the plugs on the filling and air openings of the CISS donor cans when topping up. The stability of the ink supply to the printer will mainly depend on this.

Quality of CISS work different manufacturers is determined by the quality of design and manufacturing of CISS cartridges and donor jars. All systems offered by our company provide high-quality work when used correctly. The delivery set of all our CISS includes instructions for refilling and operating them.

As an example, the photographs show several samples of CISS that our store offers:

CISS "IST" ("Ink System Technology")

cheap, but high-quality CISS
with donor containers of 80 ml or 50 ml:

In many ways, the quality of work of CISS from different manufacturers is determined by the quality of design of donor jars. A uniform supply of ink from CISS donor containers is achieved by their special design. Donors are not just cans or bottles. Their design includes special elements of the “Mariotte vessel” - a classic physical device, a hydraulic stabilizer of fluid flow velocity. It is the correct design of the “Mariotte vessel” that ensures the uniform supply of ink to the CISS over a wide range of differences in ink levels in the donor jars. Moreover, in general, the “Marriott vessel” is not the structural part of the donor can (two compartments - air and ink), but the entire ink supply channel - starting from the air hole of the donor can and ending with the nozzles of the printer’s print head. More precisely, from the first air/ink boundary (between the two compartments of the donor can) to the second air/ink boundary (at the outlet of the nozzles from the head). As a result, in a “Mariotte vessel” correctly filled with ink, the speed of ink passage at the second boundary of the vessel (that is, at the exit of the nozzles from the head) should be constant (regardless of the height of the ink column in the ink compartment of the donor jar) and proportional to the height difference between the first and the second boundaries. During operation of the CISS, you need to take advantage of the opportunity to regulate the speed of ink passage in the supply channel during printing - moving the donor containers vertically relative to the print head, thus changing this height difference. (In reality, you need to set the first border no higher than the second, otherwise the ink would flow by gravity from the print head).

A frequently asked question is what does the expression “properly inked Mariotte vessel” mean? Correctly filled - when in the CISS donor container the ink compartment is filled with ink above the boundary between the ink and air compartments, but at the same time the air compartment is completely filled with air and free of ink.

If the original cartridges of your printer model contain electronic microcircuit chips that permanently block the operation of the cartridge and the printer when the ink in the cartridge runs out (chips with complete blocking are more often found in EPSON cartridges), then the cartridges from the CISS kit usually also have chips. But, unlike original cartridges, modern CISS for EPSON usually use special chips with the ability to reset (zero) - either self-zeroing or with forced zeroing by a button - which is very convenient. Cartridges with resettable chips do not need to be periodically removed from the printer and forced to be reset using programmers, resetters or other similar devices to reset information in chips. That is, a printer with such a CISS can work truly continuously, without technical pauses.

CISS kits for CANON or HP printers (if the printer model uses cartridges with chips) are often supplied in two versions - with or without chips. Most models of desktop printers and CANON or HP MFPs, as a rule, do not block printing based on a chip signal about the end of ink in the cartridge (as happens in EPSON), and therefore their chips do not require forced reset. (The CANON or HP printer maintenance program simply periodically notifies the user about the benefits of purchasing new original cartridges). Therefore, if there are no chips in the CANON or HP CISS set, and the instructions say about the need to replace chips from empty original cartridges, then the user only needs to replace the chips from their own empty original cartridges to the cartridges from the CISS set. Don't let this scare you. Rearranging the chips is done according to the instructions very simply and does not affect the functionality of the system.

For some CANON and HP printer models that use original cartridges, combined with a monoblock print head, you will find interesting CISS constructors in our assortment. Monoblock cartridges combined with heads include HP cartridges 21 22 27 28 56 57 58 59 100 102 121 122 123 129 130 131 132 134 135 136 138 140 141 901 and CANON PG-37 40 50 510 512, CL-38 41 51 511 513 . CISS constructors are universal sets of parts for self-assembly 4-color, 5-color or 6-color CISS according to the instructions. The kit of such construction kits contains all the necessary parts for assembly, except for cartridges and ink (they are purchased separately or the user already has them, so as not to overpay). You will connect such a CISS to serviceable original cartridges and they will serve you for a long time and economically. You can purchase ink depending on your preference for a particular ink brand. You need some drilling skills (you need to expand the technological holes under the labels of the original cartridges). A high-quality drill of the required diameter is included. Each CISS constructor kit includes a document written by our engineers. detailed instructions for assembling and installing CISS from a designer kit onto original cartridges. If you have long played with children's construction sets, then it will not be a problem for you to assemble a decent CISS for your printer in half an hour according to our instructions.

Based on our experience, a few special words should be said about CISS continuous ink supply systems for CANON and HP (Hewlett-Packard) printers. The design of many CANON cartridges and most HP cartridges, as practice has shown, is unfriendly to refillers. And the patent system is strict for developers of CISS and refillable cartridges. We have come across few CISS developments with empty starting cartridges for Canon printers and HP, which would work as stably and trouble-free as products for EPSON. The reason is that most CANON and HP cartridges are monobloc. In monoblock cartridges (where the print head and ink reservoir are combined in one block), there is a dense mesh microfilter on the inside in front of the print head. It is designed to clean ink from dust particles that penetrate into the cartridge along with air during printing. But in an empty cartridge (when it is a new empty cartridge for refilling or when the ink in the cartridge has been used up), the filter is an obstacle to the free flow of ink to the print head during refilling. An “air lock” forms between the filter and the head when the cartridge is empty. During the usual “non-factory” refilling of a cartridge with ink from a syringe, the air lock does not allow ink to reach the print head. It seems that you filled the cartridge reservoir to the top with ink, but the cartridge does not print! It is unrealistic to mechanically reach the air plug and destroy it in a monoblock cartridge - on the one hand, the design of the head prevents it, on the other, the filter. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you never completely use up the ink from a monobloc cartridge and do not purchase empty cartridges for subsequent refilling unless you have a special device to force the ink through the print head of the cartridge. Only with such a device is it possible, under “non-factory” conditions, to suck out the air plug from a freshly filled cartridge in a couple of seconds without damaging the internal filter and head, which will ensure the operability and service life of the cartridge. In our assortment there are 2 types of cartridge holders - and - designed specifically for pumping many black and color CANON or HP cartridges immediately after refilling with ink. The price of such a device is ridiculous, but the benefits are enormous. If you attach a CISS to a used or refilled cartridge, then the described holder for bleeding will definitely be useful to you. By the way, if you do not use CISS, but simply refill your CANON cartridge or HP, then such a holder will also not be superfluous. When refilling, an air lock forms in the cartridge, and not in the CISS. Bleeding sucks excess air out of the cartridge and removes the plug. Everything starts to work. The print quality of CANON and HP monoblocks is ensured by the cartridge. For this reason, we recommend connecting CISS constructors to new cartridges so as not to deal with the problems of airy or dried out old cartridges.

Sets of modern cartridge-type CISS may include a full set of cartridges for the corresponding printer model, or cartridges may be purchased separately (this is typical when we are talking about monoblock cartridges). Typically, external donor containers ( different shapes, designs and different volumes from different manufacturers), an elastic tubular cable made of silicone or polyvinyl chloride plastic for ink supply and instructions for installing and operating the CISS. In addition, various manufacturers can expand the supply kits of their CISS with different accessories and materials. For example: fasteners for fixing the cable on the printer, ink of various brands, syringes and clamps for initial filling of the system, air filters for cans, gloves, video materials, warranty and service obligations with different conditions and deadlines, etc.

Accordingly, the prices of systems depend on their design, materials, configuration with various accessories, cartridges and inks, warranty obligations and the level of technical service available to the user. We recommend purchasing CISS unfilled (without ink in donor jars), and buying ink separately in bottles and pouring it into the CISS yourself. Because this is the only way you can see with your own eyes what kind of ink you got, and that the CISS was filled with ink not in the distant past. Beware of those CISS that are sold with ink, especially at “junk” prices!

Advantages of using CISS:

· the user receives constant and large savings on consumables- on average 50...100 times compared to the traditional use of disposable cartridges. One set of CISS cartridges, when used correctly, lasts a very long time. There is no need to change cartridges at every refueling - no need to waste money. It is enough from time to time to top up the CISS containers with ink from separately purchased bottles, syringes or canisters;

· CISS quickly pays for itself by saving on cartridges;

· CISS does not harm the printer if you use high-quality ink and follow the operating rules of the system;

· installation of CISS in many printer models is simple and is carried out by many users independently according to the included instructions. But you need to soberly assess your skills, since in order to output the CISS cable in some models (usually MFPs), you need to disassemble the printer body or cut holes in the body for the cable output.

Disadvantages of “classic” can CISS:

· installation of a “can” CISS is not reversible in all cases. If warranty service for the printer is required, the service center may revoke the warranty of the printer if it shows signs of disassembly or tampering with its design;

· not all printer models (especially MFPs) will be able to install the CISS yourself and then configure it. Additional cash costs for services may be required. service specialists. In the future, the less often the printer prints, the more often you will have to face the need to restore the normal supply of ink from CISS cans. (Combating ink backflow when the printer is idle and airing of print heads). Especially when using pigment inks, which require periodic shaking of cartridges, cables and cans to stabilize the pigment dispersion.

How to choose the right CISS and not regret it?

· if there is a lot and often, practically without interruptions (print shop, photo studio) - a “can” CISS will suit you;

· if it’s not enough and occasionally, reusable refillable cartridges (REC) are suitable for you

2. If CISS is more suitable for your printing frequency, then first of all understand the design of your printer body:

Does your printer have a constructive ability to remove the flexible CISS cable from the housing without pinching it? This is extremely important - because of this, it can be problematic to independently install CISS in some models of printers/multipliers without drilling or cutting additional holes in the case.

The CISS cable must be brought out from the top of the cartridges and led out through some hole or gap in the printer body, in its cover, or between the body and the cover.

Printers can print from open lid, mechanically blocking the lid opening sensor. In MFPs, in many cases (but not all, especially in MFPs with a massive scanning unit), you can leave the scanning unit slightly raised by inserting some suitable object into the gap. Often the cable is output through a rectangular hole for feeding/receiving paper.

(For reference, the diameter of each cable tube is about 3mm, the number of tubes is equal to the number of simultaneously used inks in your device, the tubes are welded into a flat ribbon cable. Thus, the size of the cable in diameter is [diameter of one tube]x[number of tubes]).

If the design of the printer body does not allow you to extend the CISS cable by yourself, then you will have to contact a specialized service center for installing the CISS (we recommend), where they will provide you with the service of cutting a hole in the body (with your permission) and install the CISS on a turnkey basis. Otherwise, you and your printer will have to limit yourself to purchasing a set of refillable cartridges (“mini-CISS”) instead of a large CISS, which is less profitable in terms of the cost of a printed sheet, but is also much more profitable than printing with disposable original cartridges.

3. If the design of the case allows you to extend the CISS cable, then find out and write down information about the model of your printer and the set of cartridges for it. You will need this information to order CISS correctly:

· what is the name of your printer model (manufacturer, alphanumeric model designation);

· how many cartridges are included with your printer;

· what are the names of all the cartridges of your printer (alphanumeric designation of each cartridge);

· how many cartridges can be installed in your printer at the same time (this is important, since in some printer models the cartridges included in the kit can be installed in different combinations).

4. Check out the advantages of CISS offered by our store, our prices and make right choice. The advantages of CISS offered by us are:

· reliability of structural components (these systems have been supplied to Russia for several years, so the design of the proposed systems has been significantly improved compared to samples of previous generations);

· silicone cables for new models (silicone plastic does not change its rigidity and flexibility with changes in temperature and mechanical loads, compared to polyvinyl chloride PVC plastic);

· wide range of equipment (including special donor containers for ink of all colors, air filters, funnels and convenient cable fastening, which is not always offered for the same money);

· sale with a guarantee (the buyer is insured against manufacturing defects). We have a guarantee for all CISS;

· good prices And great deals to our customers.

Example of installing CISS on the EPSON Stylus Photo R270 printer

It seems that CISS is also installed on newer EPSON models: 1410, R290, R295, T50, T59, P50, T26, T27, TX117, TX650, PX650, etc.

And for those users who operate the printer not intensive(several dozen sheets per week), or whose device design does not allow the CISS tubular cable to be easily pulled out of the body without cutting holes (this happens with many MFPs, especially CANON), good option Refillable cartridges reduce the cost of a printed sheet and save on consumables. From time to time they need to be refilled with ink through the provided filling holes, not separate external containers, as in “can” CISS, but the internal reservoirs of the cartridge.

Refillable cartridges are completely new specially designed cartridges which the user can easily refill with either ink or cleaning fluids. Cartridges containing cleaning fluid become cleaning cartridges. In case of printing with long interruptions, cleaning cartridges can be used periodically to effectively clean the print head channels of dried ink.

Before purchasing, pay attention - CISS and refillable printer cartridges EPSON Stylus Photo R270, R290, R295, R390, 1410, RX590, RX690, T50, T59, P50, T26, T27, TX117, TX650, PX650, etc., as well as for EPSON Stylus C79, C91 and a number of EPSON CX series MFPs , V different times equipped with chips different versions and, depending on the chip version, may not work with printers of some release dates! This is due to repeated upgrades of the firmware of printer control programs by the printer manufacturer. Be sure to consult with the seller of CISS or non-original cartridges BEFORE purchasing CISS or refillable cartridges - will they fit the chip version of your printer based on its release date!