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-P/PX 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.

OPC Drum Replacements: Finally a number of replacement drums have become available for the EP-P/PX cartridges. These drums have not been on the market long enough to tell with any degree of accuracy how long they are lasting. While we do have some long-life drums on their third or fourth cycles, we can only guess how long they will go. If we assume 3 - 4 is the maximum (or 5 - 6 with the LGDT discussed below), the cost per use is still high in relation to some of the other old standbys like the SX or LX, but low enough that we cannot justify not using a long-life drum. The key is, if you use the LGDT on the OEM, you should be able to get at least 2 or 3 good uses out of it before you need to purchase a replacement drum, at all, making the cost per recharge quite reasonable and the profit margin quite attractive.

Drum Coatings: Now for 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 whether you install a coated OEM or long-life drum, replace the wiper blade at the same time (it is cheap insurance).

Mag Roller Sleeves: As yet, we have not found a company to recoat the mag roller sleeve for the PX (nor have we found any replacement sleeves). At this point, our recommendation is to thoroughly clean the OEM mag roller with HL Platen cleaner and then reuse it.

Seals: There are no hard plastic seals available for the PX cartridge so your only choice is the OEM-style seal. Even if you are only doing local pickup and delivery, there is no easy and clean way to put the cartridge back together without a seal.

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 off of the OEM PCR and replaced, you can reuse the PCR up to five times.

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.

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.

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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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