Universality of Toners for Laser and photocopiers?

[Arthur Entlich]

I own a good number of laser printers and photocopiers which I use here
and there depending on what I'm printing.

Over the years, I have also picked up a number of different cartridges
and bottles of toners at liquidation, surplus sales, etc.

Now, I know there are some distinct differences between toners and toner
technologies used. Some use a separate plastic toner and a magnetic
developer, each housed uniquely, and in this kind, the developer is not
used up (not greatly, at least), but it does wear out over time.

Some have the toner and magnetic particles integrated, and both are used
and fuse to the paper. And still others use static charges rather than
magnetism to create the "furry roller".

Then there are differing fuser types and temperatures, meaning the toner
has a differing melting point. And further, the dyes or pigments used
can differ. I imagine some even have differing particle charges.

However, even after reducing the brand names and models down to the
basic engine type in use, there are literally thousands of different
formulations that seem to be out there, and I find it hard to believe
they are all so unique that one cannot interchange some with others.

Having all this liquidation toner here, it makes me crazy to think that
some probably will work in certain copies or laser printers I have, and
yet I cannot figure out which is which, and I know that the wrong toner
can ruin a refilled cartridge or worse still, a print engine.

So, my question is this, I know there are 3rd party toners sold, and
those companies will list a dozen or so models and maybe a couple of
brands for any one specific toner formulation they sell, but that still
leaves thousands of formulations. Are they really all unique?

Is there a website or other source that tells the secret cross
references between toner types?

Can anyone tell me, for instance, which toners can be used with HP
Laserjet one, Laserjet 2 (engine made my Canon) (both use a mixed toner
and developer in one cartridge with drum included-- are they
interchangeable toners?), Panasonic KXP4420 Laser printer (uses separate
toner and developer and drum unit), Xerox Workcentre XE Series (made by
Sharp) which uses a non-magnetic toner roller (uses static charge to
create "fur" - cartridge 6R916, and separate drum) and the Canon PC 735
(uses the E16, 20, 31 or E40 cartridge) and uses a mixed toner in a
cartridge with drum included).

Are there really hundreds and hundreds of differing toners in each
brand, or are we being mislead and are there only a couple of dozen
actual types?

Art

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

However, even after reducing the brand names and models down to the
basic engine type in use, there are literally thousands of different
formulations that seem to be out there, and I find it hard to believe
they are all so unique that one cannot interchange some with others.

You just go on wanting to believe that.

It's not true, but you just go on wanting to believe that.

 

[magpie]

Are there really hundreds and hundreds of differing toners in each
brand, or are we being mislead and are there only a couple of dozen
actual types?

Art

From my experience doing contract service work for a re- manufacturer
and from seeing what they had on their shelves in their stock room,
there are about 50 or so different formulations of toner. Take the HP
toners for example. The same toner can be used in the HP-II's,
HP-III's, HP-4's, HP-5's, HP-6's,HP-200 series and HP-4000 series and
possibly some others. There are two distinct formulations of that
particular toner though, but the only real difference is the particle
size. The Lexmark toners are much the same and the Canon toners are
identical to the HP toners as are the cartridges.Try to do a search
for re- manufacturer supplies and see what you come up with.

Frank