I recently bought an EPSON Stylus Color 777 for the express purpose of using its Ink Jet head for a research experiment.
This of course means I need to know how to control the head independantly from the printer.
Of course I could spend a couple days (weeks, months...) reverse engineering the data lines and voltage waveforms that control the head, but first I thought I might take a good crack at trying to see if the information was already out there...
So, my question is: Does anyone have any information pertaining to the pinout, waveform, timing diagrams for the Epson Stylus color 777. In fact if you have any information in this area on any Epson ink jet printer I would like to hear it.
Is this data available to a service technician? Or are they just told to replace the head and forget the details?
Also, I notice that this printer has cartridges that have contacts. Most likely for ink level monitoring but also I assume for making it harder to use 3rd party cartridges. Any info on these would be great.
Any information and advice would be greatly appreciated. Spare no technical information (of course within the bounds of the law), I am an electrical engineer...
Sincerely, James
Re: Epson Technical Information by Denny Conway (9/24/03 3:42 PM) reply
James: Just to let you know, I do not work for "fixyourownprinter.com" or even "Epson Company". I do work for an "Epson Authorized Service Dealer", but there's only so much information and help that I can legally give. I can tell you that as an Epson Printer Tech, we would only replace the complete "Printhead Assembly" and I have never seen any of the type information available from Epson Company, that you are looking for. Normally that type of information would probably only be available in Epsons R & D Research Department and being patented, not normally available. Small ink jet printers are normally too inexpensive to do anything other than general servicing and cleaning. Even a Printhead Assembly would cost more to replace than what a new printer now costs. I don't even recommend that my customers that own a "777" pay to have them serviced by me. I would rather see them put that money into a new printer. I seriously doubt that you could even get the information that you are looking for, out of a Service Manual, but that would probably be your only chance...Denny Conway
Re: Epson Technical Information by Efrem (11/23/03 7:54 AM) reply
I have a problem with my plotter model Epson stylus pro 9000. The problem is it did not print evrything functions well but it prints blank, for your reference there is enogh ink in the cartirage what could be the posible problem?
thank you.
Re: Epson Technical Information by ashley (11/23/03 12:28 PM) reply
There are industrial heads which are meant to be driven by bespoke setups. I worked on a project which involved a 'Xaar' print head which uses piezoelectric actuators and has available a full comprehensive 'Guide to Operations' which includes all of the drive protocol. These heads can also be purged with cleaning fluid if required, which is not really an option with the Epson head.
You could probe up an Epson head with a logic analyser and try to work out yourself but I think it may involve a lot of work and the mind of 'Alan Turing' (the man from Bletchley Park UK who cracked the Enigma code during WW2).
Ash
Re: Epson Technical Information by Denny Conway (11/24/03 9:39 AM) reply
Efrem: Just to let you know, I do not work for "fixyourownprinter.com" or even "Epson Company". I would guess that either the "Printhead Assembly" is clogged or failing/bad, or a failing/bad "Main Board Assembly". I'm sorry, but there's no way for me to really know and although I work on Epson Printers, I have never seen the "9000" model. I would suggest that you get service advice from an Epson Technician trained on your particular model. Your best bet would be to contact the Epson Technical Support Department at 1-562-276-1300 and talk directly with a technician trained on your printer. If your printer is out of warranty, you will need a credit card, because there is a charge involved, but I still think thats your best solution...If you were using Non-Epson Ink Cartridges in your printer, its even possible that you may not be able to get the printhead nozzles completely open again, or even that they may have already damaged the printhead assembly...Good Luck! Denny Conway
Re: Epson Technical Information by Anonymous (12/9/03 10:36 AM) reply
Hi there. I have an Epson Color 480. 3 yrs old. Getting a message 'unknown error'. Any suggestions or does this sort of error message normal mean the printer is beyond repair? Many thanks, Jenny Smith
Re: Epson Technical Information by Denny Conway (12/9/03 10:41 AM) reply
Jenny: A Service Error where you get an "Unknown Error Message", or a "General Error Message", is normally a Maintenance Request Error. The maintenance request error is actually a Waste Ink Pad Overflow Error...TECH NOTE: On most Epson's, while the printer is in this error condition, it disables all operations, including data communication. On some models you can still use the Operational Control Buttons specified, to clear the error once the pad/pads have been replaced...On some Epson models, your Status Monitor 3 Indicator [read out of your error message on you monitor screen] will say: "An unknown error has occured. Unplug your printer and contact your dealer or authorized service center", or sometimes the message will simply state something to the effect that "Internal parts need to be replaced/changed". To my knowledge, the only unknown error message or parts need to be replaced error message, is a Waste Ink Pad Overflow Error. Normally your remedy is to replace the Waste Ink Pad/Pads with a new one/ones and then reset the Internal Waste Ink Pad Counter...JUST SO YOU WILL KNOW: The need to replace the waste ink pads is measured by the amount of ink uses, which is determined based on the number of Head Drive Pulses, accumulated in the waste ink counter. When the total quantity of ink deposited onto the waste ink pads, during cleaning and flushing, reaches the set limit, the printer generates a maintenance request error and stops printing...If you just reset the counter and don't replace the pads, then your printers old pads will eventually overflow and normally start leaking ink out the bottom of your printer. I'm sorry, but as an Epson Authorized Service Dealer, there is only so much information and help that I can legally give and Epson will not allow their dealers to release that reset procedure...You may want to try doing a general search on the "fixyourownprinter.com" printer repair site, under WASTE INK PADS or WASTE INK COUNTER RESET PROCEDURE. You should be able to find quite a few references listed in the last six months and most included web-site links, for possible help on the reset procedure. Some also list links where you can purchase a SERVICE MANUAL, in case you want to try and do the service yourself...I know this information is not much help, but at least you will know what your ERROR is...Good Luck! Denny Conway...P.S. THIS INFO POSTED BY "WES" MIGHT HELP: Wes 12/07/2003 13:57:30 To see what's involved in servicing the waste ink pads try this http://www.epsonhelp.web1000.com/wip.html ...IF you just want to reset the wate ink counter you can use this program http://inkjetprinterhelp.us/epsonSSC.html. Resetting the ink counter will stop the lights from flashing but cleaning/replacing the ink pads is recommended.
Re: Epson Technical Information by Lynne (12/17/03 7:44 AM) reply
When installing the color cartridge into my Epson printer, I pulled the plastic tab & broke it off. What do you suggest I do? Can you refer me to a local repair shop in the Northampton,MA area? Thanks
Re: Epson Technical Information by Denny Conway (12/17/03 1:24 PM) reply
Lynne: You can call the "Epson Sales & Service Center Locator" at 1-800-922-8911 [press 1, then 2] and they can help you locate the nearest Epson Authorized Service Dealer in your area. You can call Epson Tech Support @ 1-562-276-1300 and they may be able to help you with a part number, but you will be normally charged for the help on a printer no longer under warranty. You can also go on-line to Epson @ " http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportContacts.jsp?BV_UseB VCookie=yes " and see available contacts for replacement parts ordering and technical support phone numbers...Denny Conway
Re: Epson Technical Information by Lynne (12/17/03 2:07 PM) reply
Thanks Denny, I previously found Epson.com & called them. They said it was easier to just buy a new printer. I think it's impossible to fix that little tab that I broke off. Do you agree?
Re: Epson Technical Information by Donna (12/17/03 2:24 PM) reply
I have an Epson printer and it worked really well to print pictures for a while and now it has gaps (small gaps)when I print pictures. The gaps are not real noticable unless you look really close. I have tried cleaning the head...didn't help.
Can someone please tell me if this is fixable. Thanks!
Re: Epson Technical Information by Denny Conway (12/17/03 2:51 PM) reply
Lynne: I don't really know what part you actually broke, or even which printer you have, so its difficult to say. If that part is one that you can replace yourself, then check on its price from the Epson Dealer near you. If on the other hand your printer would require the part to be installed by a trained technician, then with labor charges involved, its normally cheaper to buy a new printer. As prices of new printers have come down so much in the last year, its usually more economical to buy a new printer than have your old printer repaired, especially when parts are involved. Some more expensive Epson Printers are worth repairing and may be better quality than the newer, more disposable printers that are being sold by most manufactors...Denny Conway
Re: Epson Technical Information by Donna (12/17/03 3:11 PM) reply
Donna: You did not mention just what model of Epson Printer that you have. If you run a "Nozzle Test" and there are any small lines not printing, that would indicate that some nozzles are not open or firing. Its possible that you may have a clog, an almost empty or bad ink cartridge, or even a possible failing Printhead Assembly. At this point all you can really do [if you already have not done so] is to start running sets of "Printhead Cleaning Cycles" and "Nozzle Tests" to see if you can get all those nozzles to open up and start firing again. Remember that every printhead cleaning cycle must be followed by a nozzle test, because the printer uses each nozzle test as a point of reference for the next cleaning cycle performed. You may have to run as many as 6 to 10 sets of tests, while trying to get all the nozzles to open up again. Unfortunatly, all those tests waste a lot of ink and if after 10 sets of tests, all of the black or color nozzles are still not open, then they are probably clogged. You might want to try using the "printhead cleaning kit", available through the home page on "fixyourownprinter.com" and see if you can get the printhead nozzles to open up again. The KIT is around $10.00 plus shipping and it includes a syringe and some Epson Printhead Cleaning Solution. Epson fluid is designed to dissolve most clogs, especially if you use Epson inks. You can try it if you want to and see if you can get the printhead nozzles to open up again...Check for an e-mail message from me, with some other information...Good Luck! Denny Conway
i am looking for pin details for Xaar128 Print heads i would like to design my own printer using these heads please respond if any one know the details.
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