Drum/Toner: As we will mention throughout all of these updated tech-tips, for the first time in our nine-year history, we are now using our own private sources of supplies in the remanufacturing of toner cartridges. The reasons for this principally revolve around quality and consistency. We have now switched over to Laser Group EP-N/NX toner and drum for the best combination of print density and cartridge life. While we have tested combinations which produced either darker prints or longer cartridge life, we have not found a combination of toner and drum which produces a better combination of density and cartridge life.

Unlike the toner and drum combination we were using up until now (which many of our trainees complained seemed lighter than the OEM), this new Laser Group toner and drum combination results in good dark prints (at least the equal of the original OEM cartridge), the same resolution (the documents look the same as the OEM) and with the same or better yields than the OEM.

OPC Long-life Replacement Drums: We are in the midst of a real tug-of-war here at The Laser Group on the use of long-life drums for the NX. In a nutshell, we have produced over 250 NX cartridges using a virgin gray OEM drum (treated with Laser Group Drum Treatment) with fantastic results. Primarily, these cartridges have been used in-house, but nearly 100 have gone to paying customers (without telling them that they were part of an experiment, we called all of them just to "check in"). None of them reported significant differences in their perception of the print quality, copy count or overall performance of the cartridge (and the drums all went full-cycle).

Here is the dilemma: We have advocated replacing the OEM drums with long-life drums since the advent of long-life drums. The long-life drums for the NX cost $15 - $20 and generally last a time or two (two - three uses when preserved with LGDT). Most NX OPC drum manufacturers recommend replacing their drum EVERY TIME! That really adds up. When using LGDT and the OEM drum from a virgin empty (available for approximately $5 or less), not only are you dramatically reducing the cost of the recharge (more profit for you), you are also picking up a spare OPC and mag roller sleeve (all for the cost of the empty!). It's hard to change something so radically, but we are.

The bottom line? For us and for our customers, we will be migrating over to the LGDT treated virgin OEM gray drums entirely within the next two months. So far, the results have been at least on par with the performance of the $15 - $20 long-life drums, so we are satisfied this is a wise idea. We recommend you seriously consider doing the same thing (and making far more profit at the same time!)

Drum Coatings: Following up on what we were just talking about, here is the most exciting news we have ever reported on a toner cartridge in our nine years of experience: We have been successfully using a drum coating in-house which has significantly improved the life of the OPC drum, while not affecting the print-quality or cartridge life. This coating is easily applied using nothing more exotic than cotton balls prior to each use and can preserve the OEM drum to the extent that it can be used for two or three uses (we have actually seen the OEM go four uses in house but would not recommend pushing it that far in your customer's cartridges).

The Laser Group Drum Treatment (LGDT) has shown us that when used from day one on a long-life replacement drum, it can also significantly prolong its life, as well. The exact number of uses the LGDT treated long-life drum will go before wearing out increase by at least 25 - 50%. (Again, in the lab we have seen amazing increases in the longevity of long-life drums when using the LGDT.)

The only caveat we have at this point with regard to the Laser Group Drum Treatment is: DO NOT BE CHEAP! If you find you get one or two solid additional uses out of the OEM OPC or two to three additional uses out of a new, long-life OPC, be grateful. But, do not go overboard in your efforts to reduce the cost of the replacement drums. The only time you want your customer to come back is when the cartridge is empty and when they have a smile on their face from a good experience (NEVER SOONER). If your personal experience shows that a long-life drum can be used another two or three times, lean toward the more conservative second additional use rather than going for three additional uses. Keep in mind that even a single additional use of either the OEM or a long-life drum will significantly improve your profit margins.

Wiper Blade: We still recommend when replacing the OPC drum, no matter what long-life or OEM coated drum you install, replace the wiper blade at the same time (it is a cheap form of insurance and well worth the few extra dollars).

Mag Roller Sleeves: Almost a day doesn't go by when we hear from yet another trainee who complains that, "We have done everything you recommended to the cartridge, replaced the drum, put in good, strong, graphics toner and the print is still light." When we ask them if they have replaced the mag roller sleeve, their answer invariably is, "No." As we found out over three years ago, the mag roller sleeve has a significant impact on the print quality and its performance diminishes over time. If you do not replace the mag roller sleeve with either a re-coated sleeve or a new replacement sleeve, your cartridge will get lighter and lighter over time.

We still prefer the re-coated mag roller OEM sleeves (instead of the brand-new replacement sleeves), but using either one or the other is a necessity. This single element will mean the difference between a good/mediocre cartridge and a great one.

Seals: If you are doing local pickup and delivery, you can continue to use the hard plastic seal dam (although the OEM-style seals look far more professional). Beyond aesthetics alone, for UPS shipping we use and recommend the OEM-style seal.

NOTE: Keep in mind that the newer NX cartridges have two small plastic posts on the underside of the flap where the seal is inserted which prevents either the hard plastic seal or the OEM-style seal from being inserted. We remove these two posts with a 1" wide putty knife (which has had its blade sharpened to an edge) and a rubber mallet.

In the last installment of the NX tech-tips we were testing the splitting of the NX hopper to install the new seals from Oliver Products. Although we found the seals to be wonderful, the splitting of the hopper and the clipping the two segments together, took a good deal of time, significantly affecting the value of this new seal type. A splitting and sealing device of some sort (like the one from SCC), would help, but the bottom line is the performance of the seal. For our money, the OEM-style, self-adhesive seals work extremely well and are the best value for the money.

Drum Padding Powder: One of the interesting adjuncts to using the Laser Group Drum Treatment is the fact that the drum becomes so smooth, you no longer need to use drum padding powder. This fact, in and of itself, told us that we were truly on to something, since in the eight years we have been producing cartridges we have never been able to get away from the fact the the silicone wiper blade seems to invariably stick to the OPC drum if no padding powder is used. Using the LGDT, the drum becomes so smooth and friction-free, the wiper blade no longer binds against the outer surface of the OPC. Because the OPC is so smooth, it takes the cartridge from 1 - 5 test prints before the wiper blade seats firmly against the OPC. Bottom line? If you are using the Laser Group Drum Treatment (and we wholeheartedly recommend you do), skip the padding powder.

PCR Clips: We now have also added the Primary Charge Roller clip to our list of things we add to this cartridge. (Added only to those older NX cartridges which DO NOT have a metal copper contact directly touching the metal PCR shaft). The plastic conductive bushing which holds the charge roller in place can wear. When it wears, it allows the roller to slip back and forth, enough so that the charge to the roller is not uniform (evidenced by horizonal streaks on the page). These little clips are a breeze to install, cost about a dollar and eliminate this problem. If you have the newest NX video, it demonstrates how to install the clip. If you do not: To install the clip you remove the black bushing and spring on the "crow's foot" end of the corona roller. Place the hole in the PCR clip over the small black prong you see underneath where the spring was located. The correct orientation of the PCR clip will have the clip looking like a backward "Z". After putting the clip in place, reinstall the spring and the bushing in the same orientation they were in before you removed them and snap into place.

PCR: In this cartridge (and most of the PCR based cartridges) it is an absolute necessity to have the PCR recoated or replace it with a new PCR (we prefer the coated PCRs, not only because they are less expensive, but because we find the work as well, if not better than the more expensive new PCRs). After the coating has been stripped and replaced, you can reuse the PCR up to five times (but, again, do not go overboard. It is obviously better to replace such an inexpensive component too early, rather than too late).

Recovery Blade: As with all cartridges, we highly recommend you take the time to replace the recovery blade at the same time you replace the OPC drum.

- End -

PLEASE NOTE: We are always ready, willing and able to provide technical support to any of our trainees on any of the cartridges we have taught them to remanufacture. In order to make your interaction with tech support as productive and beneficial as possible, we make two assumptions: We assume that you have followed our procedures to the letter and used the supplies we recommended during the remanufacturing process. If a cartridge is remanufactured in a manner other than what we prescribe or with supplies other than the ones we recommend, the extent of our technical support can only be "generic" in nature, since we will have no firsthand experience with either the methods or supplies in question. In addition, we assume that you have already done your "swaps" (as outlined in the troubleshooting section for each cartridge) and that you will be able to answer questions based on the results of those swaps before you call and ask for help.

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