Finalyy: refillable cartridges for the Epson Pro 3800 !!!

[klein]

My OEM LM is running low now. I am thinking of buying a set of 3800 refillable cart. The website http://www.refill-cc.biz/cartridges.htm looks a bit fishy to me. Anyone got carts from them besides pharmacist? Sorry for my lousy English. It is my 3rd languages.

pharmacist, would you let me know what is the alternative solution you mentioned?

 

[lordpain]

Hi, I am interested in getting a Epson 3800, but in Singapore, there is only a 3850 (different region) which uses a different set of cartridge numbers. (3800 - T5801 to T5808 VS 3850 - T5899).

Anyone has any idea where I can get a set of refillable carts or will the bridge chip work with the 3850 chips? Please help!

 

[pharmacist]

Lordpain,

the manufacturer has different tuning/bridge chips for the Epson Pro 3850C printer (asian version). These chips work similar to the ones I have, only another region code.

 

[klein]

Has anyone tried this? http://www.inkjetfly.com/product_info.php?cPath=191&products_id=207

Anyone has experience with this company?

 

[pharmacist]

Hello Klein,

the first cartridges I received works very well, however: the cartridges look a bit flimsy and the sealing were very poor. Not sure how long they will last long. So the manufacturer send me the latest design and they look a whole lot better and very well made.

I once consider to buy the ones from inkjetfly.com, because they look better, so I contacted an user who already bought a set of these cartridges and he send me the pictures to me and they seem very happy with it, but he points out the rather flimsy design of the cartridges and he is afraid they won't last longer than a few refills before the cartridge will broke down.

Here some pictures:

Notice the rather weak sealing where small globs of glue are oozing out from the sealing.
Also the same hole were ink goes in and out, which might be risky on the long term.

These cartridges are the ones I received from the manufacturer for replacement: notice the monolithic design and the sturdy material it is made from.

As you can see: the different refill and ink outlet hole. The manufacturer ensures me the cartridges are equipped with a special micro filter inside the printer which filters and cleans the ink before it enters the printer. This feature is certainly an advantage over the ones from inkjetfly.com as this dramatically reduces clogs from dirt particles from the refilling process (for example dust in syringes and/or needles).

Something else but also very important: the ones I have are also far more cheaper than the ones offered by inkjetfly.com. I do not think the ones from inkjetfly.com are bad at all, but the flimsy design of the casing and the way it must be refilled disturbs me a bit and makes me wander how long they will last.

 

[klein]

pharmacist, thank you for reply. New cartridge looks promising. Do you know if the new cartridges you received use bladder inside like the inkjetfly one?

Are you able to open it? I will prefer the one has similarity design (use bladder) as OEM cartridge.

 

[pharmacist]

Klein,

Thanks for the internal pictures. Yes I know the version of inkjetfly uses a bladder, but the way it is refilled: through the same hole where the ink coming out and enters the printer is upsetting me.... So: dirt in is dirt out. Epson fills these cartridges in a sterile room, unfortunately I and most of us do not possess a clean room to do this and therefore a microfilter to stop any small particles before the ink enters the printer is compulsory for such an expensive printer.

I saw inkjetfly is selling other cartridges for the Epson R2400/R2880 and others and they are filled from behind and they all have FILTER to clean the ink !!! This special feature must certainly be installed in such an expensive printer like the Epson Pro 3800. Inkjetfly is certainly selling good products, but this a design error. I know this, because I once contacted another user who bought these cartridges and send me the pictures, because I want to compare them with mine. He says the design is a bit flimsy (especially the sealing around the cover).

How do you get this: did you already bought these cartridges ? Because you once said you are going to buy a refill kit because your LM cartridge went empty ? So I don't think you can take this picture yourself, aren't you ?

 

[lordpain]

hi pharmacist,

the picture is avail on the inkjetfly website.

 

[klein]

pharmacist,
No, I have not bought their cartridge. I will probably go with their ink because it has better longevity and wider gamut than image specialist ink. However, I have not decided which cartridge to buy. As I mentioned earlier, I prefer the one that is similar to OEM cartridge.

 

[pharmacist]

Klein,

what you are saying is bit strange: Inkjetfly is actually combining their own ink + Image Specialists ink because their own black is not so black as IS black, so you are saying that Image Specialists ink from inkjetfly is better than Image Specialists ink from IS itself. So this doesn't make sense. I think they should reduce the price of the refill ink from $ 139.95 for 9x100 ml to $99.95 for 9x120 ml to make their inks competitive. Then I would give their inks a try.

Similarity between OEM and the refill is not something one should make a decision from, but from the features, advantages and disadvantages. Nobody will prevent you from buying from inkjetfly.com, if you prefer them, but could you first give someone a good reason to buy them instead of saying "I prefer the one that is similar to OEM cartridge".
Something else: the inkjetfly cartridges are quite expensive, mines are alot cheaper.

I just visited inkjetfly.com to see about inkjetfly's comment about the cartridges. In fact he is right about the problem of printer should suck harder after a while, but he is forgotting something fundamental: the cartridge is actually under pressure so the ink is pushed into the printer, not sucked ! So the cartridge must be very sturdy and completely sealed to maintain pressure.

The first cartridges which are depicted on the first page of this topic actually shows the first batch I received, but they are a bit flimsy. They worked flawlessly, but I was worried about the integrity after long time use. So I have them replaced by the manufacturer, because I was afraid of leaking.
The last batch of cartridges are very well built and solid: a huge improvement, not only in material but also in internal design and how it is refilled. I am convinced they will last a long time.

Maybe inkjetfly should think about it's design to make an extra refill hole in the bladder and place a microfilter system before the ink flows into the printer, but this will force you to have some kind of plug on the ink outlet or ink will splash around on your table during refilling. Then the problem with filtering would be solved. So an extra refill plug and then seal the ink outlet hole, which is enhanced with a microfilter system just like their other cartridges for the R2400/R2880.