COMPATIBLE EPSON INK: INFORMATION



It is important that you ensure that your ink is compatible with the printer you intend to use it in, as well as the job required of it. Difficulties can occur, if you try to fit a 'thermal' rather than a 'piezoelectric' cartridge into machines that use an entirely different scientific method from each other.

There are two different methods used to transfer ink to the paper depending upon the type of printers small business and personal users have.

The 'thermal' process printers are dominated by the 'big three' manufacturers, namely Hewlett-Packard, Canon and Lexmark. The system involves steam and electric pulses.
Inside the ink cartridge amazing things happen at terrific speed in molecular detail. Ink reservoirs are heated by minute currents of electricity and the vapour and steam produced is used to push the ink down to the nozzles and onto the paper.

Meanwhile the printer's head has done another job. It has put all the unused ink back in the relevant reservoirs using the remaining steam from the bubbles inside and not used for printing nozzles, therefore cleaning itself and getting ready for the next process.

The second main method, which all Epson printers use, is the 'piezoelectric crystal' method which is very different in some ways but similar in others. It relies on electricity and crystals which are electrically charged to receive the information from the printer creating a reaction.

Using piezoelectric material just behind the nozzle, electronic signals are sent out from the printer to the crystals which expand or contract as necessary to force the ink down onto the paper at the right speed and intensity. Meanwhile the unused particles are returned to 'base' using electro magnetic methods, ensuring the nozzle is ready to work again immediately.

The Epson printer's head is a fixed unit within the printer and the ink cartridge is basically a simple ink tank, whereas in most of the other big brands the printer's head is fixed to the cartridge. This means that once the printer head gets blocked or damaged on an Epson printer it is usually more economical to replace the whole printer. Whereas with a HP printer every time you fit a new cartridge, you are effectively fitting a new printer head.

Because Epson's technology is different they have ensured that not only have they managed to keep the price down in many countries, but have also used the same inks and technology that the commercial and professional printers use, managing to produce often better results than their 'steam' rivals, or at least smaller drops of ink per inch and therefore higher resolutions.

Epson's large selection of inks for all needs and wishes are there ready for you. If you are looking for specialist inks, or are an occasional, rather than a regular user
of ink cartridges, there is enormous benefit in using the manufacturer's own inks, not least on the life of your printer, which will be considerably reduced by using cheap compatibles - not supplied by us. Our compatible Epson inks ensure you use the right ink for your printer giving you a massive choice of options, ensuring that the maximum quality is achieved in your printing.