fundamental question re Ricoh Printers

[Greybeard]

Is it possible to flush out the gel inks and install dye sub inks ?
My searches always turn up "Don't install the standard inks first", but no clear answer to converting an existing set up.

If some one could give me a quick answer, I'd be very grateful. The details can wait !
John

[Paul]

Hi john,
this is only theory as I never done it before with ricoh.
i think it is. very doable. First power clean (fresh instal) should fix the problem as it suck as much inks to fill all pipes. I have done it few times with brother printer and it worked! Brother printers works same way as ricohs.

[Greybeard]

Hi Paul, encouraging words.
Did you use a flushing solution between the two inks, or put the new carts in, then power clean till it started to give 'proper' prints ?

Regards
John

[Paul]

I injected cleaning solution to the pipe system. about 5ml to each colour. then i installed my sublimation inks and gave it couple of charges. then i printed about 20 pages of CMYK. then test page.... and pressed it
it worked

[Greybeard]

Thanks Paul. That's exactly the sort of practical detail I need.
Regards
John

[socialgiraffe]

In theory you can and Paul is correct.

However, I would have thought that the diluted dye sub ink would make it financially not viable.

I say this because you load up the pipes with cleaning solution to rid the printer of normal ink, you then put dye sub ink in, which will require quite a few head flushes to draw through the pipes. This is the part that I am not sure on. If that takes half a cart to achieve pure dye sub ink then you have spent more than a new "supported" printer.

Just saying

[Greybeard]

...... which will require quite a few head flushes.......If that takes half a cart to achieve pure dye sub....

Hi Simon, that's a good point. I'd have to look carefully at the possible volume that might be involved, but as I already have two Ricohs doing nothing which would have no support anyway, the possibility of getting them on line is tempting.
I would also look at putting cheapo ink in them, on the same basis.
If it works, great. If it doesn't I have two big doorstops, which they are at the moment anyway !

John

[Paul]

if i would do this little project, i would avoid cleaning solution. i would put ink in straight in as i'm not sure how ricoh would act with some random fluid in its print heads. so inks in and super charge

have fun lol