Printer types Flashcards
Laser Printer
Laser printers create entire pages at once by storing the page in memory before printing.
Laser Printer Components
1 Imaging drum
2. Fuser assembly
3. Transfer belt/roller
4. Pickup rollers
5. Paper separation pad
6. Duplexing assembly
Laser Printer Printing Process
- Printer formats data into a bitmap image.
- Imaging drum is uniformly negatively charged.
- Laser light neutralizes specific areas on the drum to form an image.
- Toner is applied to the neutral areas of the drum.
- Toner is moved from the drum to the paper.
- Heat and pressure bond the toner to the paper.
- Drum is cleaned for the next print job.
Toner
Dry plastic powder combined with carbon and coloring agents.
Toner Cartridge
- Contains toner and often the imaging drum.
- Home/office printers: Combined drum and toner.
- Enterprise printers: Separate drum and toner for cost-efficiency.
Toner Lifespan
- Toner: ~2,500 pages.
- Drum: ~10,000 pages.
Memory and Processing
- Laser printers use RAM to store images.
- Insufficient memory may result in incomplete printouts.
- Memory upgrades often use SODIMM modules.
Color Laser Printing
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK).
Two methods:
- Four Passes: Paper cycles through for each color.
- Single Pass: All colors applied in one go.
Color printers use four toner cartridges, one per color.
Common Issues with Laser Printers
- Fuser problems: Lead to smudged prints.
- Memory issues: Cause incomplete pages.
Consumable Replacement
Laser Printer Maintenance
Replace paper, toner cartridges, and maintenance kits as needed.
Maintenance kits typically include feed rollers, transfer rollers, and fuser units.
Follow page count recommendations for replacements.
Safety Precautions
Laser Printer Maintenance
Turn off and unplug the printer before maintenance to avoid burns and electrical shock.
Allow components like the fuser unit to cool down before handling.
Handle high-voltage components (e.g., primary charge roller, corona wire) with care.
Paper Handling
Laser Printer Maintenance
Use paper designed for laser printers.
Store paper in a dry, climate-controlled area to avoid jams.
Properly align paper before loading to ensure smooth feeding.
Toner Cartridge Maintenance:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Shake toner cartridges gently to redistribute toner when they report low levels.
Dispose of toner cartridges properly, following local hazardous waste regulations.
Use high-yield toner cartridges for increased page output.
Maintenance Kits:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Replace worn components like feed rollers (prevent misfeeds), transfer rollers (prevent image blur), and fuser units (ensure toner adhesion).
Reset the page count after installation.
Calibration:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Adjusts print density and color balance for optimal print quality.
Can be initiated via the printer’s control panel or software.
Cleaning:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Use a toner-safe vacuum or a damp cloth to remove excess toner.
Avoid compressed air, which can spread hazardous toner dust.
Replace or clean printer filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
Inkjet Printers
A printer that sprays ink onto paper to create an image, ideal for low-print environments.
Inkjet printer Usage
Common in small office and home office environments.
Lower initial cost compared to laser printers, but higher cost per page due to expensive ink and specialized paper.
Ideal for photo-quality prints on appropriate paper.
Inkjet printer Printing Process:
Line-by-line printing (not page-based like laser printers).
Relies on commands from the operating system’s print spooler.
Printhead moves back and forth, spraying ink to form an image
Inkjet printer Components:
1.Ink Cartridges
2. Printhead:
3. Roller
4. Feeder
5. Duplexing Assembly
6. Carriage Belt/System
Ink Cartridges
Contain ink; may include black, cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMYK) or additional high-quality photo inks.
Printhead:
Directs ink onto paper using:
Piezoelectric Method: Changes voltage to pump ink (used by Epson).
Thermal Method: Heats ink to create bubbles that spray ink (used by HP, Canon, Lexmark
Roller:
Advances paper through the printer line by line.
Feeder:
Selects and feeds paper to the roller.
Duplexing Assembly
Enables double-sided printing.
Carriage Belt/System:
Moves the printhead back and forth across the page.
Inkjet Printing Modes:
Unidirectional Printing: Prints only when moving left to right.
Bidirectional Printing: Prints in both directions, increasing speed.
Inkjet Printer Cost Considerations:
Single vs. separate cartridges:
- Single cartridges require replacement of all colors when one runs out.
- Separate cartridges allow replacing only the color that is low.
Piezoelectric printers: Higher initial cost but cheaper ink.
Thermal printers: Lower initial cost but frequent printhead replacements included with cartridges.
Loading Paper:
Inkjet Printer Maintenance Tasks
Most inkjet printers hold 100–500 pages and typically have one feed tray.
Properly align and adjust paper guides to avoid jams.
Use the correct paper weight to prevent feeding issue
Cleaning the Print Heads
Inkjet Printer Maintenance Tasks
Over time, print heads may become clogged or dirty, causing poor print quality.
Perform a cleaning cycle via the printer’s control panel or software.
Thermal print heads are replaced with cartridges, while piezoelectric print heads need manual cleaning.
Replacing Ink Cartridges:
Inkjet Printer Maintenance Tasks
Most cartridges include a sensor to warn when ink is low or empty.
Keep spare cartridges available for replacement.
Remove protective tape from new cartridges before installation.
Perform alignment calibration after replacing cartridges to ensure proper output.
Calibration:
Inkjet Printer Maintenance Tasks
Needed when print output is skewed, misaligned, or missing parts.
Typically involves printing a test page and scanning it for automatic realignment.
Accessible via printer software or control panel.
Clearing Paper Jams:
Inkjet Printer Maintenance Tasks
Caused by incorrect paper weight, multiple sheets, or paper tears.
Power off the printer, carefully remove jammed paper, and ensure no pieces are left inside.
Check feeder and roller assemblies before resuming operation.
Thermal Printers
Definition:
- Use a heating element to create images on paper.
- Commonly used for receipts, barcodes, and labels.
Thermal Printer
Feed Assembly:
Moves paper through the printer using a friction-fed mechanism.
Heating Element/Printhead:
Generates heat to create images; pin quality determines print resolution.
Thermal Ribbon: Heat transfers ink from ribbon to paper for high-quality color prints (e.g., photographs).
Specialized Paper:
Thermal Paper: Heat-sensitive and widely us
Thermal Printer Speed and Quality:
Measured in inches/centimeters per second rather than pages per minute.
Resolution ranges from 100–300 dpi (lower than laser printers).
Thermal Printer Maintenance Tasks
- Replacing Paper:
- Requires specific thermal paper compatible with the printer model.
- Ensure the shiny, heat-sensitive side faces outward. - Cleaning the Heating Element:
- Use isopropanol alcohol and a cotton swab to remove sticky residue.
- Allow the printer to cool before cleaning. - Removing Debris:
- Clear paper and dust from the feed mechanism.
- Use compressed air or cleaning cards to remove debris.
Thermal Printer Advantages and Limitations
Advantages:
- Compact size and high speed for receipt/barcode printing.
- Simple operation with minimal moving parts.
Limitations:
- Thermal paper can degrade in heat or sunlight (e.g., dashboard exposure).
- Limited print quality compared to laser or inkjet printers.
Dots per Inch (DPI):
Measurement of print resolution; typical thermal printers range from 100–300 dpi.
Cleaning Card
- Maintains feed assembly
- Removes dust and debris by passing through the printer.
Impact Printers
Definition:
- Old-style printers that create images by physically pressing pins through an inked ribbon onto paper.
- Often called dot matrix printers.
Impact Printers Print Resolution:
Low resolution, typically 100–150 dpi (maximum ~240 dpi).
Lower image quality than inkjet or laser printers
Impact Printers Use Cases:
- Ideal for multi-part forms (e.g., carbon copy forms).
- Commonly used in environments requiring duplicate or triplicate copies, such as auto repair shops or warehouses.
- Utilizes tractor-fed paper with perforated sides for precise feeding.
Impact Printer Components
Printhead:
Contains pins that create images by impacting the ribbon and paper.
Moves across the page in unidirectional or bidirectional mode.
Ribbon:
Fabric strip coated with ink that transfers to paper when pressed by the printhead.
Advanced continuously to reduce wear and ensure fresh ink is used.
Tractor Feed:
Mechanism that pulls tractor-fed paper through the printer using perforated holes on the paper’s sides.
Impact Printer Maintenance
- Replacing the Ribbon:
- Replaceable cartridge-like component specific to the printer model.
- Cannot be re-inked; must be replaced when ink runs out. - Replacing the Printhead:
- Pins in the printhead wear down over time and can cause incomplete prints.
- Requires cooling before replacement to avoid burns. - Replacing Paper:
- Tractor-fed paper loaded by aligning perforated holes with the tractor feed mechanism.
- Available in bulk (500, 1,000, or 2,000 sheets).
Impact Printer Advantages and Limitations
Advantages:
- Can print multi-part forms in one pass (e.g., carbon copy forms).
- Durable and long-lasting in specialized use cases.
Limitations:
- Low print resolution and slow speed compared to modern printers.
- Specialized paper and components are increasingly expensive and less common.
3D Printers
A printer that creates three-dimensional objects with height, width, and depth.
3D Printer Materials
Common materials: Plastic (PLA, ABS) or resin.
Advanced options: Rubber, carbon fiber, metal alloys, cement.
Filament diameters: Typically 1.75 mm or 3 mm for plastic-based 3D printers.
3D Printer Components
Print Bed (Build Plate):
Build Surface:
Extruder:
Gears, Motors, and Motion Control:
Fans:
3D Printers: Filament vs. Resin
- Filament: Ink-like material for 3D printers, sold on spools.
Common types:
- PLA: Easy to use, biodegradable, low warp.
- ABS: Durable, high heat resistance.
Requires specific extruder and bed temperatures.
- Resin:
- Liquid plastic cured by ultraviolet (UV) lasers.
- Offers finer detail but more expensive and less common in home environments.
3D Printers: Advantages and Limitations
Advantages:
- Can create complex, customized objects (e.g., prototypes, tools, models).
- Supports a variety of materials for different use cases.
Limitations:
- Slow printing speed.
- Requires precise calibration and configuration.
- Material and printer costs can be high.
