Samsung ML-1510 print quality

[dandp]

I have a Samsung ML-1510 laser printer, just 2 years old and little
used (only 596 pages to date). I found that the 'starter toner' ran
out quite quickly - or at least the print quality deteriorated in that
it became faint although fairly evenly spread. I refilled with toner
from Cartridgeco without difficulty but I have still found difficulty
in obtaining a good, crisp, even and suitably dense print quality -
certainly not up to usual laser standard.

Is there a likely fault (fixable or not) or merely some adjustment
needed? Some people suggest that one should completely remove
residual toner and clean out unit before refilling - but my print
quality deteriorated before the original unit was first refilled.

Advice needed please - and not just glib suggestions that I buy a new
and different printer!

 

[Vic Dura]

I have a Samsung ML-1510 laser printer, just 2 years old and little
used (only 596 pages to date). I found that the 'starter toner' ran
out quite quickly - or at least the print quality deteriorated in that
it became faint although fairly evenly spread. I refilled with toner
from Cartridgeco without difficulty but I have still found difficulty
in obtaining a good, crisp, even and suitably dense print quality -
certainly not up to usual laser standard.

Is there a likely fault (fixable or not) or merely some adjustment
needed? Some people suggest that one should completely remove
residual toner and clean out unit before refilling - but my print
quality deteriorated before the original unit was first refilled.

Advice needed please - and not just glib suggestions that I buy a new
and different printer!

The "starter" toner cartridge is only about 1/4 filled. They want you
to buy a new one as soon as possible. The faintness you saw is typical
of what you get when the cartridge is running out of toner.

When I refilled my first cartridge, it printed very light; as if the
toner saver was on (it was not). Nothing I could do would get it to
print dark and crisp. I finally bought a new samsung cartridge and got
beautiful copies.

I concluded from this that the toner I refilled with was not quite
right for the cartridge. Now I just use new samsung cartridges. Since
the toner refill cost me $35 delivered, and a new cartridge costs
about $60, I decided it wasn't worth another try to refill.

 

[Davy]

I have refilled my ML1510 a few times, done about 3,400 pages and been
OK but now the print is 'greying' which is noticeable on text... I've
give the ol OPC drum some clobber doing PCB cad mind... guess my case
I want a new toner unit as the OPC could well be worn.

I understand these only last two or three refills.

Point is, here in the UK the toner unit is about £45 + del. you can
get a new printer for a tenner more, at least with a new printer you
are getting 12 month warranty... and half full toner..!

I did see a place in the UK where the OPC drum is available as a
seperate unit for £8... be darned if I can find the site again now
that I want it... and yes I have had the top of the toner unit just
for the fun of a peep.

One thing that could make sense is the actual toner if it's a
different structure be interested to know if there are any such
variations etc...!

I can still print text but the graphics, the solid black areas are
past their best, they just ain't solid black anymore, never had any
problems after my refills.

Davy

 

[Tony]

I have a Samsung ML-1510 laser printer, just 2 years old and little
used (only 596 pages to date). I found that the 'starter toner' ran
out quite quickly - or at least the print quality deteriorated in that
it became faint although fairly evenly spread. I refilled with toner
from Cartridgeco without difficulty but I have still found difficulty
in obtaining a good, crisp, even and suitably dense print quality -
certainly not up to usual laser standard.

Is there a likely fault (fixable or not) or merely some adjustment
needed? Some people suggest that one should completely remove
residual toner and clean out unit before refilling - but my print
quality deteriorated before the original unit was first refilled.

Advice needed please - and not just glib suggestions that I buy a new
and different printer!

See the reply from Davy. In addition to that I offer the following.
The Samsung cartridge does not have a waste toner compartment. That means that
waste toner is recycled into the new toner hopper. This will cause light print
in due course unless the toner is completely cleaned out when refilling. This
does not explain why your print became light with the original cartridge, that
could be due to a deteriorating drum or developer roller (less likely). It is
unlikely that anything else in the printer will cause light print but it is
possible. The only adjustment is to check that you are not printing in some
sort of draft or toner save mode.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[dandp]

Thanks for your comments, gents. The real problem with original
cartridge (as supplied with machine) was that it stopped printing after
about 300 pages of normal A4 text, hence need for a refill. I queried
this with Samsung and got complete apathy. But the quality after
refill was never sparkling and I have only done another 300 copies
since then!

From advice here and elsewhere, it seems likely that residual toner

from original fill has interfered with print quality after refilling,
assuming refill toner is not incorrect or faulty. I am asking toner
supplier whether toner was correct (although I did specify ML-1510 and
was sent 'Samsung Universal Toner') and why instructions showed
slightly different cartridge and did not specify a clean-out. I will
proceed after I get a response, probably by emptying out and cleaning
cartridge before refilling it, and post my result here in due course.

 

[Davy]

quote="Tony"

could be due to a deteriorating drum or developer roller (less

likely).

"Drat..... double drat...."
So if you happen to be right Tony and I got a new toner assembley I'd
still be no better off... the developer rollor I assume you mean the
pink fuser rollor, by way these have a halogen lamp inside for
heating.

What I did I did a test page, and immediately switched off took the
toner unit out and the drum seemed to be picking the toner up nice n'
crisp, or so it appeared.

So my case think it's a pure gamble on replacing the toner unit... but
for a few £ or $ more you can get a brand new printer...!

Things in this world just don't make sense anymore ~ why not make em'
with un replaceable toners..?

Davy

 

[Tony]

likely).

"Drat..... double drat...."
So if you happen to be right Tony and I got a new toner assembley I'd
still be no better off... the developer rollor I assume you mean the
pink fuser rollor, by way these have a halogen lamp inside for
heating.

What I did I did a test page, and immediately switched off took the
toner unit out and the drum seemed to be picking the toner up nice n'
crisp, or so it appeared.

So my case think it's a pure gamble on replacing the toner unit... but
for a few £ or $ more you can get a brand new printer...!

Things in this world just don't make sense anymore ~ why not make em'
with un replaceable toners..?

Davy

Davy
The develper roller is in the cartridge. I don't think the fuser can cause
light print. Light print problems have to be in the imaging system of the
printer. This includes the cartridge, the laser assembly, the transfer roller
and the high voltage power supply. Is the light print the same right across the
page or is it in certain vertical areas? If the print on the drum is really
dense but is light on the paper then the image is not bring transferred to the
paper (this is sometimes hard to pick by eye), in this case the transfer roller
in the printer is a possible ccause, it won't (in that case) be the laser but
could conceivably be the high voltage power supply.
I agree about the gamble, bummer isn't it?
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Davy]

Light print appeared to be consistent all over with darker patches in
between, on graphics, ie solid black areas the light patches looked
to be rollor marks maybe because of lack of toner pick up.

There is a transfer rollor in the paper feed chain and cleaned the
plastic strip that runs the entire length, presumabley to curry the
static charge to the roller and then the toner on to the paper, this
appeared to be gunged up in places with fluff, so I dry wiped it
spotless ensuring I didn't touch the roller, made no difference
though.

Oops, nearly forgot yes the marks appeared to be verticle running down
the page, a bit like a wheel marks some appearing to be consistant
down the page.

Not worried too much as I was thinking of getting another, any
recomendations for graphics would be appreciated, think I'm on the
right base when I say more DPI means more toner coverage over a
given distance...

The Sammysung was only a 600 x 600dpi and did what I wanted using
toner transfer paper for making PCB tracks.

Think mi Sammysung the last time; thanks for trying Tony, much
appreciated.

Davy