The Brother HL-2040 laser printer that uses a single toner cartridge is designed for the personal user. It features fast speeds and a small footprint at an affordable price. Lack of expandability means it won't grow with your business, however.
The Brother HL-2040 laser printer is a very affordably-priced personal unit, and its compact size will appeal greatly to personal users who wish to put it on a desk next to the computer, or who have limited space. Measuring 6.5 inches by 14.6 inches by 14.2 inches (HWD) and weighing only 17 pounds, it is one of the most compact models available. The control panel is simple but functional, with only one 'Go' button and four LED lights to alert you of status or problems.
While the machine will likely fit the needs of a single user extremely well, it lacks expandability options, which could be a problem for a small business user hoping to grow their business in the future. Input paper capacity is 250 sheets, and the included memory is 8 MB. Neither of these can be expanded. Networking can be added with a print server, or the computer can be shared through a host computer, but too many network users and you will run up against the unit's limited capacity pretty fast. For a personal user who doesn't expect growing needs, it will make a good choice.
A starter Brother HL-2040 toner cartridge is included, but the starter laser toner cartridge only has a capacity of 1,500 pages. If multiple users have access to the printer, this cartridge will probably need to be replaced fairly quickly. The replacement Brother HL-2040 toner cartridges have a capacity of 2,500 pages, so later printer toner cartridge replacements will be less frequent.
Print quality is excellent, especially for the price. Text is clear and defined, even at small fonts. Graphics quality is about average for a laser. Print speed is also very impressive for the price, at 16 pages per minute. Personal models tend to lag behind more advanced models in speed, but the HL-2040 nearly keeps up with more professional models.
Overall, the Brother HL-2040 is a great choice for a personal user with small printing needs. It has great speed and quality for the price, but its lack of expandability makes it a questionable choice for small business users.
Brother HL-2040 Instructional Video
A video demonstration of replacing a Brother HL-2040 toner cartridge.
Brother HL-2040 Instructional Video Transcript
This video will show you how to change the toner cartridge in your Brother HL-2040 laser printer.
The Brother HL-2040 is a compact, personal laser printer that is rated for up to 20 pages per minute. It can hold up to 250 sheets and has a compact design that is a comfortable fit on a desk surface. It comes with both a USB and parallel port for connecting to a computer.
When the toner cartridge is low, the toner LED light on the front panel of the HL-2040 will flash. When it is empty, it will remain solid, and you should replace the cartridge.
Before you remove the old cartridge, press the power button to turn the machine off. The Brother HL-2040 is unique in that the toner cartridge snaps into the drum unit. Open the front cover to access the toner cartridge and drum unit. Grab the handle, and pull the assembly straight out.
Set the assembly on a piece of paper in case of any spills. Then push down on the blue lock lever to remove the toner cartridge from the drum unit.
Open the new HL-2040 toner cartridge, remove the bag, and rock it from side to side to distribute the toner evenly. You can then pull off the protective cover.
Put the new Brother HL-2040 toner cartridge into the drum unit and lock it in place. The blue lock lever should lift automatically.
You should also clean the corona wire before replacing the drum and toner unit. Slide the blue tab at the rear of the unit side to side several times to clean the corona wire. Then return it to the home position.
Align the assembly and slide it forward into the printer, then close the front cover. Press the power button to start the machine back up. The toner LED light should now go out.
You are now ready to resume printing with your Brother HL-2040 printer.
Based on our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, Ink Technologies will accept returns of compatible or remanufactured ink and toner cartridges for full credit if the returned product has a valid return authorization number and is received in our warehouse within 6 months of the original shipping date. If there is a confirmed print quality issue, only 1 set of opened products will be accepted for credit returns, and only if less than 30% of the ink or toner has been used.
Ink Technologies will replace defective compatible or remanufactured products free of charge if the products are returned within 1 year of the original ship date, and provide a return shipping tag for return of the product.