Phil, What are you using to clear the blocked print head? I've got an Epson printer with a blocked head but have been unable to clear the blockage. (Glass cleaner was what was suggested to me but dfidn't seem to do the job). Richard P 2008/6/12 sergio masci : > > If you take a small bore neoprene tube (about 2 to 3mm OD - kind used for > fishing) and pull on either end it will strech a lot and become much > thiner. How about putting a much thiner piece of piano wire (1mm OD) > inside the tube and attach it to one end of the tude and seal it. Then it > should be possible for you to hold the opposite end of the tube, push on > the rod and make the tube longer and thinner (kind of like pushing on the > plunger of a syringe). Drill a small hole in the ink cartridge (smaller > diameter than the tube). Fill the cartridge through the hole, then use the > tube / rode component to plug the hole (strech the tube, insert it and > then release it so that it forms its own seal. > > Of course the tube / rode component would probably need to be short and > 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 > 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 >> cartridge, after buggering up the air intake filter on one and sacrifici= ng it >> at the altar of the Gods of Reverse Engineering... okay, that would be my >> workbench but natch... >> >> It looks like the cartridge has some form of air-maze system that pre= vents >> positive-pressure refilling - i.e. forcing ink into the cartridge. So I >> figure, what about negative pressure refilling -- creating a vacuum insi= de the >> cartridge, then using that vacuum to pull ink into the cartridge. >> >> The only problem is, I need two things: >> - A similar silicone component to fit on the end of the syringe and a= dapt >> 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 >> hole on the cartridge >> >> Now I suspect for the adapter I can use a piece of model aircraft fuel >> hose, cut to size, then force that into the hole. The silicone compresses >> around the hole, and forms an air seal. That just leaves the second prob= lem - >> sealing the hole afterwards. >> >> There's far too much ink around the hole after filling to use any for= m of >> sticky tape, and what little I remove just leaks out again once I put th= e tape >> back on. I'd also rather not use hot melt glue as it's likely to be "a b= it" >> difficult to remove and the heat might boil away the ink and fudge the >> chemistry up. Plus it's not exactly easy to cut it down to fit in the pr= inter >> without breaking the seal. >> >> The ideal solution would be to take a lump of metal, chop it in two, = then >> drill holes in it to serve as a mould. Then pour in some RTV and leave i= t to >> set. Problem being that neutral-cure RTV is a little too expensive for my >> taste (=A318 for 500g, plus another =A38 for the thickener, or the best = part of >> =A340 for a 500g "pack" of both resin and catalyst from Farnell). >> >> Somehow I don't think normal silicone sealant is going to cut it.. >> especially the acid-cure stuff that's sitting in the shed. >> >> Unless of course anyone has another ideas? >> >> I've almost fixed the printer (Epson C86) too, just trying to clear a= nasty >> blockage in the print head.. I intend to fix it as well as I can, then u= se it >> as a testbed for refill inks before I risk ruining the C64's print head. >> >> Hmm, I think this project is turning into a bit of a money sink... >> >> -- >> Phil. >> piclist@philpem.me.uk >> http://www.philpem.me.uk/ >> >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist