The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.

If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
work over a distance of 2-3 feet?

If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
to the average motivated tinkerer. A few feet of tubing, a bit of
planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
to put together a system with a few extra bucks.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:39:04 -0600, C <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
>enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
>transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.
My guess is that it is just a siphon---the tubing is not all that
small.
>
>If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
>work over a distance of 2-3 feet?
Tubing diameter probably dictated by the flexing required---the siphon
does no care what the diameter is.
>
>If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
>to the average motivated tinkerer.
How so?---a siphon is also affordable........
>A few feet of tubing, a bit of
>planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
>to put together a system with a few extra bucks.

At least at MIS (inksupply.com), you can buy all the pieces.

Camel (weink.com) is pretty cheap.

**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:39:04 -0600, C <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
>enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
>transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.
>
>If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
>work over a distance of 2-3 feet?
>
>If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
>to the average motivated tinkerer. A few feet of tubing, a bit of
>planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
>to put together a system with a few extra bucks.

PS: I am currently re-filling cartridges. The only thing that
stopped me from getting a CFS is that it ties you into one kind of ink
more
**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 06:35:02 -0800, Mark Herring wrote:

> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:39:04 -0600, C <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
>>enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
>>transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.
> My guess is that it is just a siphon---the tubing is not all that
> small.
>>
>>If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
>>work over a distance of 2-3 feet?
> Tubing diameter probably dictated by the flexing required---the siphon
> does no care what the diameter is.
>>
>>If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
>>to the average motivated tinkerer.
> How so?---a siphon is also affordable........
>>A few feet of tubing, a bit of
>>planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
>>to put together a system with a few extra bucks.
>
> At least at MIS (inksupply.com), you can buy all the pieces.
>
> Camel (weink.com) is pretty cheap.
>
> **************************
> Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
> Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".


I'm not convinced ink is being siphoned. Ink reservoirs seem to be below
printheads or cartridges. Capillary action is when a liquid will travel
through a narrow space, the length of which is dependent on the liquid,
its surface tension properties and the dimensions of the space.

Siphons are too easy to "break". With the correct size tubing, capillary
action seems more predictable and reliable.

Camel (weink, i9100) uses 1/16 inch tubing in a 6-wide ribbon like
ribbon cable. This is necessary to get it to keep out of the way of
the moving print head like the electrical ribbon cable.

It works by suction. As ink moves out of the cart, it creates a vacuum
that pulls in more ink. The ink bottles must be lower than the print
head to prevent accidental siphoning. (Printer must be elevated about
2 inches. I have mine sitting on a ream of 11x17 card stock.)

The carts are the aftermarket BC-6 type with the resealing caps. I
think you can get a set from AtlanticInkJet. The ink is weink, costs
about $30 per 16 oz -- which is about $5 more than others. On the
other hand, it hasn't ever clogged -- but it gets used about twice a
week for small stuff and about once a month for a production run
(which is why I got the CRS.)

The problem is the 1/16-inch plastic "through hull fittings" and the
1/16-inch plastic "no-Leak" connectors. I can't find anything that
small in the standard industrial chemical handling parts book. I can't
find the ribbon tubing either.

If anybody reading this has a source, please post it here.

Thanks.

Jim


On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:39:04 -0600, C <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
>enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
>transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.
>
>If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
>work over a distance of 2-3 feet?
>
>If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
>to the average motivated tinkerer. A few feet of tubing, a bit of
>planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
>to put together a system with a few extra bucks.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:16:25 -0500, firebirdNOSPAM wrote:

> The problem is the 1/16-inch plastic "through hull fittings" and the
> 1/16-inch plastic "no-Leak" connectors. I can't find anything that
> small in the standard industrial chemical handling parts book. I can't
> find the ribbon tubing either.
>
> If anybody reading this has a source, please post it here.


I found 4-tube ribbons in the McMaster-Carr
[http://www.mcmaster.com/] catalog as well as some small fittings.
Another source would be Grainger [www.grainger.com] or hunting down a
supplier of scientific equipment and lab supplies. A good medical
products store should also have something useable.

There is also teflon tubing available in various sizes including sizes
smaller than 1/16". I'm guessing that this size tubing is being used
because it is the size available in ribbon form. There'd probably be some
give in tubing diameter since flowrate does not necessarily have to be
gushing.

Instead of using fittings, I believe it would be possible to drill a hole
in the top of a cartridge, insert the tube and then seal it. The effect
should be the same without the added trouble of hunting down connectors or
fittings.

How does one create the vacuum?

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:16:25 -0500, firebirdNOSPAM@exit109..com wrote:

>Camel (weink, i9100) uses 1/16 inch tubing in a 6-wide ribbon like
>ribbon cable. This is necessary to get it to keep out of the way of
>the moving print head like the electrical ribbon cable.
>
>It works by suction. As ink moves out of the cart, it creates a vacuum
>that pulls in more ink. The ink bottles must be lower than the print
>head to prevent accidental siphoning. (Printer must be elevated about
>2 inches. I have mine sitting on a ream of 11x17 card stock.)

OK--I buy suction (but not capillary)

This means they are sealing the vent holes in the carts
**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:51:57 -0800, Mark Herring wrote:

> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:16:25 -0500, firebirdNOSPAM@exit109..com wrote:
>
>>Camel (weink, i9100) uses 1/16 inch tubing in a 6-wide ribbon like
>>ribbon cable. This is necessary to get it to keep out of the way of
>>the moving print head like the electrical ribbon cable.
>>
>>It works by suction. As ink moves out of the cart, it creates a vacuum
>>that pulls in more ink. The ink bottles must be lower than the print
>>head to prevent accidental siphoning. (Printer must be elevated about
>>2 inches. I have mine sitting on a ream of 11x17 card stock.)
>
> OK--I buy suction (but not capillary)
>
> This means they are sealing the vent holes in the carts
> **************************
> Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
> Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".


I can see suction working. It's too bad these cartridged don't have
septums similar to what's on bottles of sterilized water: Insert needle
and the "wound" self-seals upon exit.

This would make filling cartridges easier and less messy.

The initial filling process is as follows:

1. attach tubing to empty cartridge with cartridge cap in place.

2. Attach syringe with one way valve to "no leak" connector.

3. Suck out air with syringe.

4. Fill ink bottles.

5. Connect vacuumed carts to fill bottles with "no leak" connector.

I've gone through about 4 ounces of black and slightly less colors so
far with no problems.

According to instructions, you may have to disconnect tubing and
re-prime if you lose suction.

You can download the instruction manual at the weink site.

http://www.weink.com

Jim


On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:35:26 -0600, C <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:16:25 -0500, firebirdNOSPAM wrote:
>
>> The problem is the 1/16-inch plastic "through hull fittings" and the
>> 1/16-inch plastic "no-Leak" connectors. I can't find anything that
>> small in the standard industrial chemical handling parts book. I can't
>> find the ribbon tubing either.
>>
>> If anybody reading this has a source, please post it here.
>
>
>I found 4-tube ribbons in the McMaster-Carr
>[http://www.mcmaster.com/] catalog as well as some small fittings.
>Another source would be Grainger [www.grainger.com] or hunting down a
>supplier of scientific equipment and lab supplies. A good medical
>products store should also have something useable.
>
>There is also teflon tubing available in various sizes including sizes
>smaller than 1/16". I'm guessing that this size tubing is being used
>because it is the size available in ribbon form. There'd probably be some
>give in tubing diameter since flowrate does not necessarily have to be
>gushing.
>
>Instead of using fittings, I believe it would be possible to drill a hole
>in the top of a cartridge, insert the tube and then seal it. The effect
>should be the same without the added trouble of hunting down connectors or
>fittings.
>
>How does one create the vacuum?
>

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 17:19:20 -0500, firebirdNOSPAM wrote:

>
> The initial filling process is as follows:
>
> 1. attach tubing to empty cartridge with cartridge cap in place.
>
> 2. Attach syringe with one way valve to "no leak" connector.
>
> 3. Suck out air with syringe.
>
> 4. Fill ink bottles.
>
> 5. Connect vacuumed carts to fill bottles with "no leak" connector.
>
> I've gone through about 4 ounces of black and slightly less colors so
> far with no problems.
>
> According to instructions, you may have to disconnect tubing and
> re-prime if you lose suction.
>
> You can download the instruction manual at the weink site.
>
> http://www.weink.com
>
> Jim



Thanks!