Homebrew_PCBs

Anyone know anything about or have any experience with using a
"QMS magiccolor 2" color laser printer for Toner Transfer?

Someone GAVE me one yesterday, and it does work for printing on
regular paper (Printer Test Page) but for how long I don't know
as it has a "replace fuser" message after the self test.

The resolution is set at 600dpi right now (same as my Laserjet 4v)
the 1200 & 2400 dpi resolution settings have the windows "caution"
or "warning" icon next to them, I guess not enough installed memory
for those resolutions, or it may be because I'm currently using the
Micro$oft drivers. I'm having trouble downloading the OEM drivers
right now.

Anyone have any experiences with this printer ? Good or Bad, I'de
like to hear them.

Thanks

At 08:31 PM 7/30/2006 +0000, you wrote:

>Anyone know anything about or have any experience with using a
>"QMS magiccolor 2" color laser printer for Toner Transfer?

No. But I have experience with one of these for their 'normal'
purposes .. see below.

>Someone GAVE me one yesterday, and it does work for printing on
>regular paper (Printer Test Page) but for how long I don't know
>as it has a "replace fuser" message after the self test.

That's probably why they gave it to you. ;-) There's a page counter
running on the fuser, and when it runs out the message appears. It does
NOT indicate the fuser has or is going to fail alltogether .. just that
for 'best' quality printing it should be replaced. Your prints will get
more and more faded-looking.

There's a tiny fuse in the fuser that opens (blows) when the fuser
unit is inserted into the printer. To get rid of the message, and
reset the counter, that fuse can be replaced. Some on eBay sell the
fuse .. a .25 cent part for about $10, with instructions on how to replace
it (it's really simple). The fuse doesn't seem to be commonly available
(and I don't remember the part number), and it's a really low-current
fast-blo fuse (about 65mA, I think). It's not a fuse made only for
Konica/Minolta, tho.

If your printing doesn't look 'faded' (assuming there's still toner
in the cart(s)) the fuser may have some life left in it. I ran mine
almost twice its 'expected' life with no problem (after replacing the fuse
to get rid of the message).

There's a guy selling refurbish 'kits' for the fuser (just the
sensitized roller and a fuse) .. I think the ebay name is printerdoctor.
DON'T DO IT! His stuff is crap .. I tried it. The fuser worked WORSE
with his new roller than with the original worn Minolta roller.
(I shouldn't have been so surprised .. and disappointed). Don't buy his
toner refill, either .. will REALLY make a mess in your printer and
doesn't print worth a damn, either. :( Another lesson learned the hard
way.

If you don't have it, the user manual is available as a PDF from
the Knoica/Minolta site.

>Anyone have any experiences with this printer ? Good or Bad, I'de
>like to hear them.

I love(d) mine (Magicolor 2300DL) .. but replacing four carts gets
really expensive (over $300 each time), and now I need to replace
the fuser, too. If anyone knows of an aftermarket solution that works
I'd love to hear about it .. privately please, as it's off-topic here
(isn't it?). Thanks!

So, now I'm back to my old mono LJ and DeskJet for color. The 2300 is in
a closet until I get the nerve to either raid it for parts .. or toss it.
What a pity, as it performed -really- well for me. Zero problems and
almost no paper jams .. the few that occured were my fault. I'm still trying
to decide whether to get another color laser (cheaper than 4 carts and a
fuser for my 2300 .. you don't think this is by design, do you?? ;-) haha)
.. but I really miss having one. I do a lot of graphic design and need one
for that.

Good luck!!
Ron Yost

a worn fuser causes faded prints?
Isn't that a worn drum instead?

When i had a worn fuser it would put vertical lines on the paper...

ST

On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:27:06 +0200, Ron Yost <musik42@...> wrote:

> That's probably why they gave it to you. ;-) There's a page counter
> running on the fuser, and when it runs out the message appears. It does
> NOT indicate the fuser has or is going to fail alltogether .. just that
> for 'best' quality printing it should be replaced. Your prints will get
> more and more faded-looking.
> There's a tiny fuse in the fuser that opens (blows) when the fuser
> unit is inserted into the printer. To get rid of the message, and
> reset the counter, that fuse can be replaced. Some on eBay sell the
> fuse .. a .25 cent part for about $10, with instructions on how to
> replace
> it (it's really simple). The fuse doesn't seem to be commonly available
> (and I don't remember the part number), and it's a really low-current
> fast-blo fuse (about 65mA, I think). It's not a fuse made only for
> Konica/Minolta, tho.
> If your printing doesn't look 'faded' (assuming there's still toner
> in the cart(s)) the fuser may have some life left in it. I ran mine
> almost twice its 'expected' life with no problem (after replacing the
> fuse
> to get rid of the message).
> There's a guy selling refurbish 'kits' for the fuser (just the
> sensitized roller and a fuse) .. I think the ebay name is printerdoctor.
> DON'T DO IT! His stuff is crap .. I tried it. The fuser worked WORSE
> with his new roller than with the original worn Minolta roller.
> (I shouldn't have been so surprised .. and disappointed). Don't buy his
> toner refill, either .. will REALLY make a mess in your printer and
> doesn't print worth a damn, either. :( Another lesson learned the hard
> way.
> If you don't have it, the user manual is available as a PDF from
> the Knoica/Minolta site.
>
>> Anyone have any experiences with this printer ? Good or Bad, I'de
>> like to hear them.
> I love(d) mine (Magicolor 2300DL) .. but replacing four carts gets
> really expensive (over $300 each time), and now I need to replace
> the fuser, too. If anyone knows of an aftermarket solution that works
> I'd love to hear about it .. privately please, as it's off-topic here
> (isn't it?). Thanks!
> So, now I'm back to my old mono LJ and DeskJet for color. The 2300 is in
> a closet until I get the nerve to either raid it for parts .. or toss it.
> What a pity, as it performed -really- well for me. Zero problems and
> almost no paper jams .. the few that occured were my fault. I'm still
> trying
> to decide whether to get another color laser (cheaper than 4 carts and a
> fuser for my 2300 .. you don't think this is by design, do you?? ;-)
> haha)
> .. but I really miss having one. I do a lot of graphic design and need
> one
> for that.
> Good luck!!
> Ron Yost

At 10:32 PM 7/31/2006 +0200, you wrote:

>a worn fuser causes faded prints?
>Isn't that a worn drum instead?
>
>When i had a worn fuser it would put vertical lines on the paper...
>
>ST

Ah, yes! Oops. Drum is indeed what I meant .. the photosensitive
green thingy. Thanks for the correction! And appologies to the original
poster.

Ron Yost ..can't tell his fuser from his drum ... been a lifelong problem. :)

On Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:38:26 +0200, Ron Yost <musik42@...> wrote:

>
> Ah, yes! Oops. Drum is indeed what I meant .. the photosensitive
> green thingy. Thanks for the correction! And appologies to the original
> poster.
> Ron Yost ..can't tell his fuser from his drum ... been a lifelong
> problem. :)

So now the question is if the OP sees "replace fuser" or "replace drum".
If he sees replace fuser either the heater circuit or the thermocouple
might have a break. Check it.
Might also just be a stupid counter "you ought to give us some money
again" - see service manual for how to reset it.

If printer manufacturers would only do their job instead of making life
difficult with traps and user annoyances like those fuses or chips... I
mean a software counter that displays a message and then goes away easily
- OK, but do not attempt to prevent me from doing whatever i like with the
hardware i paid for - it will only make me angry and then i will
definitely find a way to circumvent that _without_ giving the company any
money, ever again. Stupid rubber cell world - i'm damn well capable of
damaging my printer when i want to and there is nothing they can do to
stop me!

I'm waiting for printers with a credit card slot - "you have printed 3.5
pages, to continue printing please insert your credit card". 'Cause that's
what they do - build a bloody copy shop in your house and you are just a
customer to your own equipment. Well, not with me!


ST

Stefan Trethan wrote:

> a worn fuser causes faded prints?
> Isn't that a worn drum instead?
>
> When i had a worn fuser it would put vertical lines on the paper...

The fuser has a high-temp sponge pad the width of the roller that
wipes off toner. It gets clogged and is a regular replacement item.
You can clean it yourself.