Laser printers are more complicated than we think. It works with precise instructions to print your digital images on paper.
We review the toner powder in this piece. We unravel the mysteries behind this seemingly magic printing powder.
Let’s dive right in:
Composition of Toner Powder
Finely ground plastic accounts for the largest composition of toner powder. The other components come in to enhance the toner’s efficiency. Silica is added to the toner to prevent clumping in the cartridge. Control agents are also added to maintain the toner’s charge. These are finely ground chromium, iron, and zinc.
Toner exists as dust as the particles are crushed into powder. Unevenly crashed toner will affect the quality of the prints. They will not stick perfectly on the paper. That was the case in the earlier days of laser printing. The toner tended to clump together. Further research and development have led to the kind of toner currently on the market.
Toner Powder Colors
Toner is available in four colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. This combination forms a popular system known as CMYK. Wondering where K comes from? It’s the black toner. This is the Key Color or Plate, and printers use black color here.
These four colors can bring any unique shades desired. Each of the four toners can yield 100 different shades. This printing system can yield up to 100 million color shades. The prospect of printing could be unthinkable without this concept of color mixing. You would need toners of all the colors in your design. This means the toner industry would need to have a staggering list of around 100 million colors. You would need a massive printer that accommodates that large number. Luckily, we can print any shade using only four colors. That is what the CMYK color spectrum offers.
What Makes the Toner Stick On the Paper?
Toner is sensitive to heat and pressure. The toner will be transferred to paper on the transfer belt. The paper with toner will be passed to the fuser unit with heated rollers. Toner will melt onto the paper fibers when heated up to around 220oC and pressure applied. It will be passed to the output tray after the process. That is why the papers are hot on arrival. Be careful not to touch the fuser unit while your printer is working. It gets hot, and you might sustain burns.
Luckily, the fusing process is so fast that it doesn’t result in fires. Laser printers print several papers per minute. This is different from inkjet printing which does not rely on heat. Inkjet printers sprinkle thin layers of ink to form images out of a digital document. The process is substantially slower than laser printing.
Difference between Toner and Toner Cartridge
Toner refers to the powder used for printing. It is available in four colors, as mentioned earlier in the article. Similarly, the toner cartridge is what contains the toner. Simply put, a toner cartridge is a container that houses the toner inside.
The cartridge could have only the toner inside. On other occasions, the cartridge will have a photosensitive drum. This is an essential component in laser printing. Whether the cartridge will have a drum depends on the printer model. Some printers have slots for fitting the drum unit. They use toner cartridges with toner only. You will thus need to buy an independent drum unit. Drums need to be replaced after about four rounds of toner cartridges.
You won’t have to worry about the drum unit if contained in your cartridge. It means you will be equipped with a new drum every time you replace the toner cartridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Buy Toner Powder and Refill My Cartridge?
Some sections tend to consider buying toner powder instead of a toner cartridge. They see this as a cheaper alternative that helps reduce their print cost. Indeed it’s cheaper but comes with some concerns to ponder. Of more importance is the print quality. Locally refilled toner often yields faded and uneven prints. Refilling is also a complicated ordeal that could mess up your office.
Overall, this is not a wise idea. You may even use the wrong toner, which will affect your printer. Laser printing applies varying meting points to stick the toner on the paper. You will find that each printer model operates with its specific temperature.
Avoid refilling on your own. Instead, you can buy compatible and refilled toner cartridges matching your printer brand. This will keep your print quality unaffected and still lower your print cost.
When Should I Replace the Toner Cartridge?
There is no specific time to replace the toner cartridge. You only replace once depleted. Your printer will notify you when the toner is emptied from the cartridge. The printer has a specific mechanism to determine the level of the toner.
But do not replace it yet if you want to get the most out of your cartridge. Remove the cartridge and shake it. This will help redistribute the toner powder inside the cartridge. Use it until you finally get faded prints. That is the time when you need to get a new cartridge.
Can Toner Powder Go Bad?
Toner will rarely go wrong, but the storage condition matters a lot. Toner is particularly sensitive to moisture. It’s also sensitive to extremely high temperatures. Be careful to store your cartridge in a cool and dry place. Your cartridge will go past 24 months when stored at the correct temperatures. Manufacturers recommend using them for this period.
Toner will go bad if the conditions are not favorable. You would not be able to use them even before 24 months elapse. If you keep them in suitable condition, you could even use them for over two years.
It is easy to know when the toner is no longer suitable for printer use. You will hear small particles when you pump it against your palm. Do not use the cartridge if you can hear those lumps. It could harm your printer. Toner should always be in powder form.
Should I Stick to Original Toner Cartridge?
Your printer manufacturer will advise you to only work with brand toner cartridges. They will argue that they are the ones who know the toner suitable for your printers. Some will even warn revoking the warranty if third-party products damage your printer.
Those are claims that help them monopolize the toner market. They want to be the only ones that sell toners so as to make more profits. Theirs will work perfectly well with your printer, but alternatives are available.
Conclusion
There are companies like ours that manufacture and sell compatible toners. These will work well, provided they pass through the correct manufacturing process. Compatible toners are cheap, allowing you to reduce your printing budget. They will cost a fraction of what you’d pay for original toners.
You can talk to us and never have to worry again about exaggerated printing costs. We offer factory pricing for all our products. You only provide us with your order details, and we do the rest. We will compile the cartridges on your order and organize them for shipping to your country. Talk to us today.