Digital BW, The Print

Sorry to jump into the middle of this thread without reading any
previous entries, and as a further disclaimer, I haven't been filling
my own carts for 1 1/2 years now so I may be out of date but...

Why do you want to fill the carts from the bottom? Of course it can be
done easily, and you probably won't have a problem but the possible
disadvantages are: 1) Running a slight risk of damaging the filter
(either a mesh screen or a fiber construction, don't know what they
use these days); 2) The filter doesn't get to do it's job: filtering
out impurities in the ink that may just happen to be there. If you
fill from the top, the ink has to flow past the filter before it can
enter the head. From the bottom, all the junk can get trapped below
the filter and turn around and exit as cart is used into the head.

Perhaps the cart design has changed to prevent top vacuum filling? Or
you don't want to invest the $$ and effort (it is more complicated)?

In the files section of this list somewhere there is a detailed 7 page
pdf I wrote quite some time ago on instructions for (top) vacuum
filling of carts. I don't know if it would still be up-to-date. And I
was too lazy to include pictures. But it describes the method I used
to fill most of my carts and I rarely had a problem. It is far more
detailed then MIS instructions were. Just about all the parts are
available (or were) from MIS.

Also with vacuum filling you don't have to mess with rivits, the seals
stay intact until carts are installed. 



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "byushooter"
<jellerbe@j...> wrote:
> A couple more questions ... I have read the info on the MIS 
> website.  To fill the carts from the bottom it looks like I will 
> need a syringe (which I have), rivets (which I assume I can get from 
> the hardware store)

or just buy from MIS to be sure you get the right diameter. There was
some speculation as to whether using the MIS rivets would over time,
destroy the seal through expansion. The rivits are larger in diameter
than the nipples in the head (the things that receive the ink from the
cart by sticking through the cart seals- conducting it into the head).
Then the CIS folks were offering an $$ alternative with nipple sized
pins embedded in plastic. The only problem was the ink attacked the
plastic and cracked it very quickly!
I don't think anything was ever determined, and I've used the MIS
rivits just fine.

 and a device to attach to the syringe to insert 
> into the carts.

MIS sold that as a "bottom fill adapter". Very cheap if they still
have it. Let me know if you can't find it I may have an extra one, not
sure.

  Is there any type of device for that that would be 
> available locally?

I wouldn't take chances on a jury-rig because of the possibility of
damage to the filter as stated above. I strongly emphasise this, but
again this is just the teutonic way I work.

  If not, I can order it from MIS but it would be 
> great if I could get started on this sooner.

I understand the excitement, or perhaps you are working under a
deadline for a client. I feel the same way, but it can be painful if I
rush things without having the right parts, if I jury rig a tool it
may not work right. Still, of course use your own judgement. 

> 
> Also, the rivets ... do those stay attached to the carts even when 
> they are installed in the printer?  Or are they removed before 
> installation?

Mandatory they be removed before install. Otherwise the carts wouldn't
even go in. The seals have to slip over the head nipples, and for this
they need a hole, not a hunk of impassable metal greeting them as you
press the carts down. How would the ink come out either? The rivits
come out well if you have a solid fingernail, or if you've chewed them
off in nervousness first :-), I will sometimes use a small swiss army
knife to get them started then pull the remainder with my finger.
Pulling out three from the color cart without getting ink leaking all
over is much easier than you think- it doesn't flow out that fast. But
have a paper towel or two handy to be safe.

Jim Hayes
> 
> Thanks,
> Jenny