Hi guys,

The other day, I came across Sprite_tm's tutorial on hacking the HP=20
print cartridges (again). I need something to print labels for Zip-seal=20
bags, and a HP #40 or #26 print-head (plus a piece of magic-tape to seal=20
the ink in) would seem to be a viable solution. The Thinkjet cartridge=20
(51604A Black) looks promising too (and I might have a datasheet for it)...

Catch is, I'd have to make a connector for the 56-pin connector on the=20
51626 (#26) cartridge, or the 32-pin multiplexed connector on the #40. I=20
could solder directly to the pads, though the cartridge is a consumable,=20
and I really don't feel like soldering wires to the cartridge every time=20
I swap it out...

One option would be to use pogo pins (spring-loaded test pins) and a=20
pre-etched PCB, but that's likely to be expensive: the cheapest parts I=20
managed to find were the Multicomp P100 series, at 32p +VAT each in=20
50-off, plus 21p each for the receptacles. That means I'm looking at a=20
total cost of =A332+VAT for the 56 pads plus four spares, or =A340+VAT for =
a=20
bag of 100 pins and receptacles... Bit expensive for a print head connector=
..

For bonus points, these pins are a couple of inches long, which would=20
make the probe assembly a bit.. well, big.

Can anyone think of another way to do this, short of hunting down an old=20
DeskJet and stealing the cartridge holder assembly from it?

Thanks,
--=20
Phil.
piclist@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/

--=20
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