Posts Tagged ‘Okidata’

Whether it is thrown away with the packing material or lost in translation along the way, so often the essential user’s manual for your printer is nowhere to be found.   It can be extremely frustrating not to have your printer’s manual when you need it, but don’t worry, you are not out of options. Continue reading “Lost Your Printer Manual?” »

Okidata is one of the most renowned producers of office printers and multifunction devices.  Oki machines are reliable workhorses, but nothing comes without some issues.  The more current models will have an LCD screen that displays detailed error messages, such as “File transfer failure” or “paper jam”.  But before technology advanced to this point, numeric codes were used to indicate the error. Continue reading “Common Okidata Printer Error Codes” »

Many printers use a separate drum and toner cartridge so that each can be easily replaced independently.  Other printers use a toner cartridge that includes the drum, so that both are replaced at once.  Okidata printers are unique in that they use a separate toner cartridge and drum, but they snap together into a single unit.  Though there are slight differences in cartridges and drums between various OKI laser printer models, the concept is the same.

Sometimes new Okidata customers who have recently purchased their first Okidata laser printer do not realize that the imaging drum and cartridge are two separate pieces locked together.  Thus, when they order a replacement cartridge, the size of it can be awfully confusing as it is considerably smaller than the full assembly.

This is an Okidata drum without a cartridge.

This is an Okidata cartridge that is not yet attached to a drum.

Continue reading “How to Replace Okidata Drums” »

If you find yourself spending a lot of money on toner cartridges, you may have considered purchasing refilled toner cartridges, or even taking your empty cartridges to be refilled. While this might seem like a good way to avoid the high prices of OEM versions, such as genuine Oki toner, there are many drawbacks to using refilled cartridges that can make them unreliable and potentially even harmful to your printer. Other options such as remanufactured cartridges can offer higher-quality, affordable alternatives without the extra risk. Here are a few of the drawbacks of using refilled cartridges:

Damage to the Cartridge

Refilled cartridges are just as they sound. They are previously used cartridges that have been refilled with new toner. In many cases, this simply involves drilling a small hole in the cartridge and refilling it with toner powder. The process is often referred to as “drill and fill”. The problem with this process is that plastic shavings from drilling can drop into the toner chamber, which can cause damage to the printer toner cartridge, and sometimes even your printer. If the cartridge isn’t sealed correctly, it could even leak or spill causing a huge mess. Continue reading “The Drawbacks of Refilled Toner Cartridges” »

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) printer cartridges are products that are manufactured directly by a brand name company, like HP or Canon, and have the manufacturer brand name directly on the product packaging.    If you purchase your printer cartridge from a retail web site, OEM or brand name cartridges are typically sold side-by-side with non-brand cartridges, typically called “compatible” or “remanufactured” cartridges, which are typically much less expensive than their brand name counterparts. Continue reading “Warranty Information for OEM Printer Cartridges” »