1. WHAT IS COMPATIBLE CARTRIDGE?
3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TONER AND DRUM UNIT?
A Compatible cartridge is a product manufactured by third parties other than Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). OEMs are brand name companies such as BROTHER, CANON, DELL, EPSON, HP, LEXMARK, SAMSUNG, XEROX, etc. The compatible product functions just like the OEM in every way. The major difference is the price, you can save up to 70% using compatible cartridges as a replacement of OEM cartridges. For some compatible cartridges, the color may be slightly different from the OEM, but on a whole the quality of output you can expect from a compatible printer cartridge is superb. Some monitor and printer calibration may be required for accurate color profiling. This is just the same as the Original OEM cartridges, they too require monitor, printer, scanner calibration to print accurately what is on screen. As with the OEM additional reprographic software such as Best software may be required of the discerning graphic artists amongst us.
TIPS FOR INKJET CARTRIDGE
1) Do not let you inkjet cartridges dry out.
If you are going to go on vacation for an extended period the Ink Cartridge left in you printer may dry out. Think of it just like leaving the lid off a paint tin, eventually the ink will thicken and cause blocking to your print-heads. Take the time to remove these cartridges before you leave. Make sure you follow the instructions provided by your original printer maufacturers manual before you do this. Wrap them in plastic food wrap then place then in a Zip-Lock plastic bag until you arrive back. This way they can be re-installed once you arrive back.
2) Cleaning Cartridges:
It would be a good practice to use cleaning cartridge, if available, to "wash the print head in between changing the inkjet cartridges. Even if you are using OEM cartridges, it would keep your printer head and general printers performance in tip top shape. Make sure you follow the instructions provided by your original printer maufacturers manual before you do this.
3) If you do suffer from Clogged Printer Heads:
In some occasions it is impossible to avoid clogged inkjet cartridges. On many occasions, those cartridges with built in print heads like most the HP and Lexmark range can be unblocked by the following steps:
IMPORTANT! All the information shown on this page has been provided as a general guide. Feel free to use our hints & tips, but at your own risk. Be careful when working with electronic equipment, do not use water or other fluid around electrical equipment. Please consult an expert if you are unsure in any way before tampering with your printer. All trade marks are acknowledged.
What is the difference between the toner cartridge and the drum unit for Brother printers?
The toner cartridge and drum unit are different consumables. They are used in the Brother machine, and the machine requires both consumables.
What is the toner cartridge?
The toner cartridge contains powder (toner) used for creating letters and images.
You need to replace the toner cartridge when the toner is running short or print quality becomes poor because of toner deterioration.
What is the drum unit?
The drum unit transfers the toner to the paper.
The laser printer puts the toner on the roller called "The photosensitive drum" inside the drum unit, and then prints letters and images by fixing toner to the paper by heat and pressure.
To keep good print quality, the Brother machine detects the quality deterioration of the drum unit automatically. If the Brother machine displays "Replace drum" error message, you need to replace the drum unit.
