This message is in MIME format.  The first part should be readable text,
  while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools.

---1463809521-1815677012-1213235846=:1194
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE


If you take a small bore neoprene tube (about 2 to 3mm OD - kind used for=
=20
fishing) and pull on either end it will strech a lot and become much=20
thiner. How about putting a much thiner piece of piano wire (1mm OD)=20
inside the tube and attach it to one end of the tude and seal it. Then it=
=20
should be possible for you to hold the opposite end of the tube, push on=20
the rod and make the tube longer and thinner (kind of like pushing on the=
=20
plunger of a syringe). Drill a small hole in the ink cartridge (smaller=20
diameter than the tube). Fill the cartridge through the hole, then use the=
=20
tube / rode component to plug the hole (strech the tube, insert it and=20
then release it so that it forms its own seal.

Of course the tube / rode component would probably need to be short and=20
you might need to use small pliers etc to manipulate the tube and rod.

Actually thinking about it, it might be a lot easier to use much larger=20
bore neoprene tube.

Regards
Sergio Masci


On Thu, 12 Jun 2008, Philip Pemberton wrote:

>    Well, I think I've almost figured out how to refill an Epson T044 type=
=20
> cartridge, after buggering up the air intake filter on one and sacrificin=
g it=20
> at the altar of the Gods of Reverse Engineering... okay, that would be my=
=20
> workbench but natch...
>=20
>    It looks like the cartridge has some form of air-maze system that prev=
ents=20
> positive-pressure refilling - i.e. forcing ink into the cartridge. So I=
=20
> figure, what about negative pressure refilling -- creating a vacuum insid=
e the=20
> cartridge, then using that vacuum to pull ink into the cartridge.
>=20
> The only problem is, I need two things:
>    - A similar silicone component to fit on the end of the syringe and ad=
apt=20
> it to the fill hole, forming a good air seal around the joint.
>    - A decent sized silicone rubber plug of some description to plug the =
fill=20
> hole on the cartridge
>=20
>    Now I suspect for the adapter I can use a piece of model aircraft fuel=
=20
> hose, cut to size, then force that into the hole. The silicone compresses=
=20
> around the hole, and forms an air seal. That just leaves the second probl=
em -=20
> sealing the hole afterwards.
>=20
>    There's far too much ink around the hole after filling to use any form=
 of=20
> sticky tape, and what little I remove just leaks out again once I put the=
 tape=20
> back on. I'd also rather not use hot melt glue as it's likely to be "a bi=
t"=20
> difficult to remove and the heat might boil away the ink and fudge the=20
> chemistry up. Plus it's not exactly easy to cut it down to fit in the pri=
nter=20
> without breaking the seal.
>=20
>    The ideal solution would be to take a lump of metal, chop it in two, t=
hen=20
> drill holes in it to serve as a mould. Then pour in some RTV and leave it=
 to=20
> set. Problem being that neutral-cure RTV is a little too expensive for my=
=20
> taste (=C2=A318 for 500g, plus another =C2=A38 for the thickener, or the =
best part of=20
> =C2=A340 for a 500g "pack" of both resin and catalyst from Farnell).
>=20
>    Somehow I don't think normal silicone sealant is going to cut it..=20
> especially the acid-cure stuff that's sitting in the shed.
>=20
>    Unless of course anyone has another ideas?
>=20
>    I've almost fixed the printer (Epson C86) too, just trying to clear a =
nasty=20
> blockage in the print head.. I intend to fix it as well as I can, then us=
e it=20
> as a testbed for refill inks before I risk ruining the C64's print head.
>=20
>    Hmm, I think this project is turning into a bit of a money sink...
>=20
> --=20
> Phil.
> piclist@philpem.me.uk
> http://www.philpem.me.uk/
>=20
> --=20
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
>=20
---1463809521-1815677012-1213235846=:1194
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist

---1463809521-1815677012-1213235846=:1194--