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Most laser printers keep count of the number of pages printed much like a car's odometer counts the miles driven in that vehicle. However, unlike a car, printers don't feature an "always on" numeric display with a running total of pages printed. Page count is usually featured on the printer's test page, which is a built-in page that you can access through the printer's control panel. (The test page also tells you how much memory you have installed and more.)
Most older Hewlett-Packard LaserJet feature a TEST button on the control panel on the front of the printer. On some models it is combined with the PRINT FONTS button.
Take
the printer off line, then press and hold the TEST button until
the indicator lights on the control panel flash. Release the
button and the printer generates a test page with PAGE COUNT at
the top of the sheet.
More recent printers such as the LaserJet 4 incorporate the TEST PAGE into the options available through the LED display on the printer. Pressing the MENU button accesses the printer's many options, one of which is TEST PAGE. Unfortunately, space doesn't allow for an explanation of how every printer produces a TEST PAGE. Instructions should be available in the printer's instruction manual. And taking a stab--literally--at the buttons and menu options on your printer should prove successful for the adventuresome.
Are customers complaining that your faxed pages are "streaky" and difficult to read? The "streaky fax" problem is common because dirt accumulates so easily on the fax scanner. This is a simple problem that you can remedy yourself with some glass cleaner and a soft cotton cloth.
The problem is due to the nature of fax machines. Your fax machine consists of two major parts: an image acquisition device (scanner) and a receiving device (printer). The printing portion can be an older thermal fax or one of the new plain paper machines using film, ink jet or laser technology. We are going to concern ourselves with the scanner.
The scanner reads your document much like a scanner connected to your computer that you'd use to scan photos, etc. The fax machine sends the acquired image to its destination using a built-in fax-modem.
If you examine your fax machine, you may find that you can get at the scanner very easily by either lifting the control panel or removing a cover. Consult the manual for your machine on how to correctly access your scanner.
Once there, look for the protective glass that covers the scanner. This glass keeps dust and dirt from getting directly on the scanner; it is usually very dirty after normal use. With a soft cotton cloth and glass cleaner, gently wipe the protective glass. Be sure to remove any excess ink or liquid paper that might have gotten on the glass. You may have to use isopropyl alcohol to remove the really tough stuff.
Reassemble the fax machine and test it by either sending a fax to a friend or making a copy. Check for any lines, streaks or quality loss, then re-clean the glass if necessary. Most fax-related quality problems can be solved by cleaning the scanner glass.
If you still have streaks, call Laser Ink for a fast, professional diagnosis and cleaning.
And remember--from time to time, test your fax quality by faxing to a friend. Fax scanners get dirty quickly.
--By Chris Bakos, Laser Ink Repair Technician
For most people, a laser printer is a vital part of their office. The thought of living without one for any period of time is...well, unthinkable. For this reason, many people decide to repair a broken printer rather than buy a new one so they can be "up" and printing quickly.
Customers often say they would rather get their printer fixed and look later for a new model. Some say they would rather wait for the "right time" to purchase a new printer. The real question is--what is the right time to purchase a new printer? Here are some general rules to keep in mind when you consider replacing your laser printer.
First, your printer has a value--two values to be exact. The first is its current market value. This is usually determined by a "Blue Book" that lists its value on the open market. This blue book value drops every year that you own and use your laser printer. As with cars, some laser printers retain more of their value longer than others.
To check the "going price" of your used printer, call Laser Ink. We keep printer pricing reference books on hand. If you have Internet access, you can find websites that maintain pricing information on used computer equipment. One such site is maintained by United Computer Exchange at www.uce.com. (Think "used computer equipment" to remember the website address.)
To check the "street prices" of new laser printers on the web, try www.infoworld.com which compiles a quarterly index of street prices.
The second value of your printer is its intrinsic value or how much the laser printer is worth to you. It might include variables such as ease of use, transportability, quality of output, number of paper trays, ability to print multiple envelopes and so on. These values combine to give the printer its overall value. When faced with a repair vs. replacement issue, both must be taken into account. In other words, can you replace your current printer with a new one that does more at a cost you can afford?
In many cases, you can. The cost of laser printers dropped dramatically in the last five years. What used to cost $2000 now costs about $400. However, price isn't the only criteria.
It is crucial to keep in mind what you print with your current printer. Do you print lots of envelopes? Does the new, faster model you're considering print envelopes well? Perhaps you often print heavy paper stock. Does the new model have a straight paper path that's ideal for heavier paper stocks?
Another good rule of thumb is the 50 percent rule. When your repair cost exceeds 50 percent of the purchase price of a new printer, it's time to consider purchasing a new printer. It's better to sink $400 into a relatively new $1000 printer than it is to put that same amount into a 10-year-old $2000 printer that's now worth $250.
Just like an old car, your printer is going to have more problems down the road. The reliability and comfort you now enjoy with your seven-year-old LaserJet III, for example, may justify repairing it. The price and features of a LaserJet 4000 may lead you to selling your old printer.
Just remember to answer at least these three questions: what do I use my current printer to do; what does the new model I'm considering provide (and does that include what the old one does now); and does the repair cost exceed half the cost of the new model?
And finally, check the cost of supplies/consumables for the new model you're considering. Often, a "too good to believe" price masks the cost of toner, optical drums and other supplies needed to maintain that model. Make sure you know the operating cost of the new printer.
The paper you use in your laser printer dramatically affects how your pages look and hold up. Here are a few tips on choosing the best paper for your laser printer and what to avoid.
Because of the way printers and photocopiers "print" or transfer text and images to paper, it's important to follow a few guidelines when choosing paper. First, the surface of the paper should be smooth, clean and free of paper dust. The cheaper the paper, the dustier it will be, which degrades printer performance. Always choose a high quality paper from a respected manufacturer like Hammermill.
Next, look for the proper paper weight for your printer or copier. Most printers work well with 24 lb. bond, and many handle heavier paper equally well. Check the paper specifications for your printer when making this choice.
The brightness (how white and reflective the paper is) may be important to you as well. A good standard is about 81 to 84. The higher the quality, the better the brightness rating. Most xerographic paper designed for electophotographic printing processes like laser printing will meet these standards, making your choice an easy one. However, there are no uniform standards for xerographic paper, so be wary of a "great deal."
Now that you know what to look for in a good paper, here is what you should avoid.
1) Preprinted forms. Unless you're sure the forms are laser safe, do not use preprinted forms in your printer. The ink must be able to withstand approx 400° F. for 0.1 seconds without melting or emitting toxic gasses. (Thermography is not recommended for this reason because it has a tendency to melt and offset--repeating the image further down the page--and may cause premature wear and tear on your printer.)
2) Glossy paper. This kind of paper works well on inkjet printers, but does not have enough surface adhesion to retain a good quality image on a laser printer. Images have a tendency to smear or drop out (letters and lines appear "hollow"); the image may look light or incomplete.
3) Multipart forms. Never use more than a single sheet of paper due to the greatly increased chance of paper jams and the possibility of damaging vital printer components.
4) Highly textured paper. This can be anything from cotton bond to classic laid. These papers present a great company image, but do not suit laser printers because of the raised paper texture. The toner cannot lay properly on the page, and will usually smear or crack easily.
5) Colored papers. Some colored papers will work fine while others will bleed and fade with laser printing. As always, refer to your printers paper specification guide when selecting a colored stock.
Following these simple guidelines will ensure that your prints look as good a possible.
As a printer technician, I have seen just about all the problems that arise from everyday use of laser printers. One of the most common and troublesome problems is associated with the use of labels.
Laser printers excel at producing high quality labels easily and quickly. This, unfortunately, leads to the eventual label "jam" in which one or more labels comes loose from its backing and sticks to a part inside the printer. This usually can be avoided with a little care by following a few simple guidelines.
The first step is to use good quality, laser-safe labels. Most manufacturers produce labels specifically for laser printer use; it should be stated clearly on the box. And make sure the labels are designed for your laser printer. If the sheet does not meet your printer's specifications for label size and weight, don't run it.
I often hear people say "...but I never had a problem with these labels before," usually while I am removing said label from their machine. Follow your printer manufacturer's guide and save yourself the unnecessary hassle of an expensive service call. This one step will save you headaches.
Next, be sure the labels are fresh and clean. A good rule is to use labels that are less than a year old and throw away any labels that you think may be older. It's cheaper to buy a box of labels than to pay for a technician to remove them from your printer, especially when you need it most.
Never run incomplete sheets of labels through your printer (even if your software claims you can). If the sheet has even one label missing, you greatly increase your risk of label jams. It's not worth it.
Do not remove the borders between labels. Removing them only increases the chance of jamming. The borders help the remaining labels run smoothly and reduce the risk of peeling off during printing. Once again, it is better to use a fresh sheet than pay for expensive repairs on your machine.
Some printers have the capability of running any paper stock through a straight paper path which requires no bending of the page. Printers that offer this option typically include a "rear exit" with a drop-down "door." The straight path is the best way to run labels and will almost always ensure successful label printing. (The straight paper path often works much better with heavy paper stocks as well.)
By following these simple rules, you should have few problems producing labels in your laser printer.
--By Chris Bakos, Laser Ink Repair Technician
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Date Last Modified: 05/20/2003
