This page tells you what you need to know about the NoMoreCarts Continuous Inking Systems and changing inks, or replacing the cartridges / ink lines in use. Can I change ink types and still use the same CIS?  Yes! The tubing (ink lines) are held to the cartridge using double-sided foam tape. It is possible to remove the tubing from the cartridges, pull off the bracket, and reattach the bracket and tubing to a new cartridge. If another inkset appears in the future that you wish to use, you do not need to purchase a complete new CIS.
 The easiest way is to buy a ‘Replacement CIS’ (that is, ink-lines and modified carts, but without the modified bottle caps and vacuum pump assembly), the cheapest method is to buy only the ‘Modified cartridges’.
You will also need to follow this procedure if you filled your CIS incorrectly (i.e. primed the CIS with an ink in the wrong place), or perhaps if your CIS operation has become a little temperamental over time. It is not unusual for systems which receive heavy use, or have taken on excess air, to replace the cartridges as a maintenance task. Do I really need new cartridges to change ink? Yes! Because the ink can not be completely removed from a cartridge it is not advisable to try and reuse old cartridges. The colours will shift as new and old inks mix, and this may last for some time. Worse still, some inks do not interact well with other inks, and this can result in serious clogging! Inside each Epson cartridge there is a sponge that holds the ink and acts as resistance to stop the ink just draining out quickly when you remove the cartridge from the printer. This sponge also prevents cleaning a used cartridge (of any origin) effectively... consider cleaning a ‘paint-pad’ sponge-brush! You can still seem to get paint out of the sponge after a long time of washing and kneading the sponge... consider how long it would take to clean without having access to the sponge, as this is what you would be trying to do if you ran a cleaning fluid through the cartridge to clean it (and then, how will you get the cleaner out?) Do I need to Flush the printer when switching inks or installing the CIS for the first time? Most third-party inks you can buy are compatible with Epson OEM inks. Therefore, you do not need to get the old ink out of the printer before using another ink. One exception to this is the Lyson inks that seem to have a different pH from other inks. In general though, it is safest to use cleaning cartridges between the use of different inks. |
