Printer Cartridges an Introduction via their Types

Our development part is about our capacity to reach new horizons, and to reproduce it time and again. Taking this in the literal sense, reproducing or rather printing is one of the most finest and fascinating aspects of development. Printing, the capacity provided by printers is a vast medium. And so are its components. Printer parts, small electronic equipments, printer cartridges etc. are some basic components in the working of the good old printer.

Talking about the section of printer cartridges, it is often called as the soul of a printer. One of the costliest components contributing towards the working of a printer, a cartridge stores the ink quota and is available via many leading manufacturers. The conventional analysis of practicality divides the printer cartridge section into 2 parts as follows:

• Inkjet printer

• Laser printer

Inkjet ones are those that are used by inkjet printers while laser cartridges are utilized by the advanced, laser printing systems. This basic classification is followed by a sub classification applicable to the above segments, the inkjet printing world and the laser printing section as well. This sub classification is as follows:

• Original equipment manufacturer type cartridges

• Compatible cartridges

• Re-manufactured cartridges

Original equipment manufacturing or OEM cartridges are the most genuine cartridges, hence are also called genuine OEM (GEOM) cartridges. These are manufactured by the licensed partners of printer manufacturers. At times, the manufacturers also produce the cartridges in-house instead of outsourcing it to partners. As the most genuine type of cartridges, these are not only of the finest quality but also the most expensive.

Next are the compatible cartridges, which are made in line to match the specifications of the above OEM cartridges, and are often dubbed as first generation printer cartridges. A differentiating part between OEM ones and these is that the latter section doesn’t have the printer brand names and are mostly made by third party vendors and manufacturers. These compatible cartridges can be available with cent percent new parts and even with some re-used parts. These form a good cost effective alternative to the genuine OEM ones while their compatibility is calculated on how closely these meet the specifications (of the OEM ones).

Lastly, the section full of opportunities, the section of re-manufactured printer cartridges constitute of those cartridges which have completed one usage cycle and have been charged again for a second cycle of usage. Dubbed as refurbished cartridges, recycling of printer cartridges is done for 2 reasons, one, because of the obvious fact that it is possible and secondly because of the heavy cost of the OEM cartridges. Refurbished cartridges are available for usage again; post the completion of all of the following procedures:

• Cleaning

• Replacing worn out parts

• Filling of ink

• Testing

Unlike what is perceived, re-manufactured cartridges are mostly priced more than compatible cartridges. The best part of these recycled printer cartridges is that not are these cost effective but these do a favor to our environment, considering the slow decomposability of cartridges.