Toner Cartridges
This site offers a guide to toner cartridges as well as inkjet cartridges including how they work and how to use them cost effectively. Generally speaking, “toner” is associated with laser printing while “ink” is associated with inkjet printing.
Toner Cartridges
Toner Cartridge
Laser printers contain a drum which can hold an electrostatic (magnetic) charge. The charge is imparted by the roller which is adjacent the drum. After the drum is charged, the laser arranges the the required image (text or shape) on the charged drum. The required image is opposite in charge to the paper and hence printing occurs as a result of electrostatic attraction of the toner particles to te paper.
Inkjet Cartridges
An Inkjet cartridge, on the other hand, is basically a small container of “ink”, which is typically composed of plastic particles, black or colored dyes and carbon. Each toner cartridge has a compartment that houses this semi-liquid ink. Color toner cartridges have several compartments that store each individual color, while the black toner cartridge has one compartment. There are designated places to put the toners. It’s usually a horizontal bar that slides from le
ft to right when the printer is activated. Once the printer is activated with a command to print, an electrical impulse is sent to a film at the base of the toner cartridge. The electrical charge causes rapid warming; causing the semi-liquid material housed inside the toner cartridges to liquefy.
Toner Options
When you have run out of toner or ink, you generally have the following options:
1. Original brand cartridges
2. Generic cartridges
3. Refill kits
The first thing to consider is what toner products are available for your printer model. Each model is designed to work with a specific cartridge. Therefore, you will need to pay specific attention to the product identification numbers listed on your old toner cartridge or refer to your user manual so that you purchase replacements that work with your particular printer model. Even ff you decide to purchase a refill, you will still need to check if the toner is compatible with your printer. You can check the compatibility by reviewing the cartridge package, as it will list the printer models the ink is intended for. Some older model printers may not have compatible toners available, and the brand name will be the only option.
Original Brand-Name Toner Cartridges
Original brand cartridges are the best option in terms of quality and reliability. While name-brand toners are the safest to purchase for quality and maximum page output, they are also the most expensive. Sometimes, one purchase could easily cost you more than the actual printer.
Opting for an off brand (generic cartridges) can be a less expensive but could end up costing you big bucks down the road. These companies, often referred to as second tiered vendors, may provide low quality ink, can be unreliable, produce less printed pages and end up clogging the nozzle. Using an off-brand toner cartridge can also void manufacturer warranties. Other options include: