Homebrew PCBs

Just a thought. Printing 1000 pages of checks using MICR ink, doesn't 
amount to a lot of toner. I print my own checks on standard check forms, 
three checks to a page. I don't bother with the MICR ink because the 
bank doesn't complain (yet) about processing the checks without it. 
There is far less printed on a page of checks than a page of text, so 
that a very small amount of toner would be required to print 1000 pages 
of checks, as compared to regular pages of text.

(The other) Harvey


On 10/29/2016 10:13 AM, Rob roomberg@... [Homebrew_PCBs] wrote:
>
> It sounds nefarious.
> Anyone selling refurbished $30 cartidges refilled with MICR Check 
> toner has a niche market for check counterfeiting and is just looking 
> to be busted.
> Nobody who prints magnetic ink checks shops on EBAY for their toner 
> source.
>
>
> On 10/29/2016 09:00 AM, lbattraw@... [Homebrew_PCBs] wrote:
>>
>> Unfortunately the cartridges are "branded" with the date when you put 
>> it into the printer, and after a year it will self-destruct no matter 
>> how much toner is in the cartridge.  A really horrible, rotten thing 
>> to do, and a very real risk for a printer that's only used 
>> occasionally to make PCBs.  --And no, there are no hacks to disable 
>> or reset the chip in the cartridge which might otherwise make this an 
>> amazing printer instead of a scam to force you to buy cartridges 
>> every year, more like renting a printer than owning one.  It's very 
>> annoying since laser printers are not victim to having ink dry out 
>> and toner could conceivably remain viable for years, depending on the 
>> environment/humidity.  I keep hoping someone will figure something 
>> out but as of yet nobody seems to have found a way to reset the page 
>> counter and prevent the carts from expiring.  I've noticed that the 
>> prices for the printer are a bit higher than the $25 many peop le 
>> have reported, they go for close to $40 these days on Amazon and $35 
>> on Newegg.  I figure it might be to persuade people not to buy 
>> another printer every time it runs out of toner since you can get a 
>> 1,000 page cart for $29.99 (Newegg).
>>
>>
>> There is only one seller on eBay that is selling toner (70g) and 
>> reset chip combos (Which seems suspicious, however they are in the US 
>> and have a high rating).  The combo is far more expensive ($65) than 
>> the 1600 page cart ($47.49 at Newegg) or 1000 page cart ($29.99 at 
>> Newegg).  It is labeled as being "MICR" (Toner used to print checks), 
>> and repeat that several times like it was really important.  In the 
>> description it says "Make sure You are buying " MICR (Megnetic) Check 
>> Toner."  Strange.  The same vendor also sells refurbished PB-210S 
>> ("economy" size, 1000 pages) for $94 with the reset chip 
>> installed/programmed, refurbished PB-211 (1600 pages) carts with the 
>> reset ch ip for $125, and a new printer+a starter toner cart with 
>> MICR toner for $108 (I guess they replaced the standard toner in a 
>> cart with MICR toner).  Odd how the printer/starter combo costs less 
>> than the 1600 page cart...
>> I've asked the seller several questions so I'll report back if I hear 
>> anything.  There is zero info in the auction about how many pages 70g 
>> will print, what the page limit for the chip is, how to install the 
>> chip (Not even a picture of it), and whether the chip will expire 
>> after a year like the OEM cartridges.
>> ...
>> I just got a message from the seller, telling me this for the 
>> toner+chip combo:
>>
>> "are you going to print MICR ?
>>
>> this chip is for 1,000 pages for MICR"
>>
>> Nothing else, I will update the thread when I hear more.
>>
>> -Larry
>>
>
>