The use of compatible cartridge and recycled cartridge in the printers is becoming more common as compared to buying OEM(original equipment manufacturers) cartridges. The compatible cartridges are cost saving whereas the recycled cartridges save money as well as resources and reduces garbage.

Compatible Cartridge

These are brand new cartridges lapua 308 brass which are not OEM manufactured but by a third party. They are produced after careful research and testing and meet the standards of branded cartridges. A common misconception is that by using compatible cartridges the printer warranty expires whereas this is not the case.

Recycled Cartridge

A cartridge that is refilled with ink and used again is called a recycled cartridge. This is the most economic way of printing if the requirement of printing is large. Nowadays tools are available for refilling the cartridges which are easy to use and cheap to buy. When the spare parts of recycled cartridges like the heads are replaced with new ones then they are called remanufactured cartridges.

Golden Rules to Avoid Any Problem

Always follow the guidelines for installation given by the printer’s manufacturer because the compatible cartridges are made according to the same specifications as the OEM cartridges. So the same guidelines must be used.

In the case of refilling, always keep the cartridges topped up if you have printers with inbuilt print heads like Lexmark, Hewlett Packard and some Canon printers. This will prevent air bubbles and blocked heads.

If the cartridge heads are blocked then soak them in window cleaning solution or warm water and then clean with a soft cotton swab.

Always turn the printer

If the printer is not used everyday then it should be turned on at least once in two weeks so that the printer heads do not get dry. Always turn the printer off when not in use so that the heads are not exposed to air. Air bubbles are one of the common problems especially in Epson printers and cartridges. After the refilled cartridges are installed then conduct a nozzle and head clean test for good results.

If the cartridge has been filled and still the printer does not print then the circuit of the cartridge may have failed. But topping it with ink can cure the problem in some cases.

In some printers like Hewlett Packard the printer fails to recognize the cartridge after it has been put the second time after refilling. To cure this problem the HP help centre will have to be called.

The Head Cleaning Cycles Of The Printer

In some printers like the Canon printers, all cartridges must be refilled at the same time so that the head cleaning cycles of the printer can be minimized. The cleaning cycles are counted by the printer and after a certain number it will have to be reset in order to work again.

Some inks are specifically manufactured for specific printers and cannot be used in other cartridges so the ink must be checked before buying for the specific model.

Printer Ink Cartridges

All manufacturers of inkjet printers develop their own distinct designs for cartridges and ink composition. For this reason, the cartridges cannot be interchanged among brands and models. The cartridge that is suitable for one model may not work with the other brands and models of printer. When the cartridge becomes empty, the buyer has to buy a new one according to the model number of the printer and the serial number specified on the cartridge.

Modern color printers have a single-unit cartridge containing four colors or four-cartridge unit for each color. While in the case of the former, the entire cartridge has to be replaced if one of the colors runs out; in the latter case only the cartridge that is empty can be replaced.

Original printer ink cartridges manufactured by printer vendors are highly expensive.

Though the quality of the print is superior and durable, the high price of the cartridges drives some customers to third-party vendors who provide an inexpensive alternative to the original cartridges.

Third-party vendors primarily deal in compatible and remanufactured inkjet printer cartridges. Compatible or generic cartridges are newly manufactured cartridges that confirm to the high quality and reliability of original cartridges. They match the specifications and the standards of the brand-name cartridges. In case of remanufactured cartridges, the used cartridges are disassembled and cleaned thoroughly, along with the print head nozzle. Any worn-out parts are replaced and the cartridge is filled with the printer-specific ink. The cartridge is then thoroughly tested for its quality. Third-party vendors also offer the service of refilling cartridges.

They have poor fade-resistant or water-resistant properties.

Though prints produced by third-party vendor cartridges initially look nice, they have poor fade-resistant or water-resistant properties. Some of the low-cost cartridges have good print results for text but bad results regarding quality and durability. The photo 308 lapua brass prints produced by the third-party cartridges fall below expectation with respect to quality and longevity, as compared to the brand product.