When you see the words “toner cartridges”, you should immediately know that the device that the cartridges are intended for use in will be a laser printer, or laser-based copier, or multifunctional device. Inkjet-type printers use a water-like liquid ink, whereas laser cartridges contain an ultra-fine dry powder.
The first step in identifying what consumables your particular printer takes is identifying that you have a laser printer. Laser printers take toner cartridges and not ink cartridges. Smaller laser printers take cartridges that include a drum and the whole image transfer mechanism while large, high-volume commercial laser printers usually have a cartridge that only contains toner with the drum and image transfer unit being an entirely separate component.
The powder in toner cartridges is made up of finely ground plastic polymer particles and pigment (a colouring agent) to make an image on the paper or some other substrate. Cartridges for black-and-white laser printers only contain black toner. Laser printers capable of full colour output will have black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toner. Toner powder is transferred onto the print surface by the clever use of static electricity. Static electricity attracts the toner onto the printer drum, and then from the drum onto the paper. Hot rollers then melt the toner onto the page to fix the image.
OEM Cartridges
Arguably one of the more frequent printer problems one encounters in the office is the toner cartridge running out. Simply replacing the toner cartridge in the printer is all that is required to sort the problem out. Which toner cartridge is bought to replace the empty unit is a more complex enquiry.
There are essentially two choices regarding the sourcing of a suitable replacement cartridge. Do you purchase an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) toner cartridge, or go with a cheaper compatible replacement?
Some people think that toner is toner and there is no difference between one fine black powder and another. As is often the case, there are subtle differences in toner formulations that can make major differences in the quality of the prints the specific formulation delivers. OEM cartridges are made as part of the whole printer solution and the toner is designed and formulated to suit the printer. For this reason, it will soon become evident that all toner cartridges are not necessarily going to deliver the same print quality and print yield. Simple logic says that the company that designed and made the printer is in the best position to optimise the cartridges for their own machines.
Generally, OEM toners are a bit more expensive than any of the aftermarket alternatives, but they also consistently deliver the best quality and the highest yields. They are also far less likely to fail or cause malfunctions or damage to your printer than a compatible. They offer the safest choice and are recommended if you can afford them.
Compatible Toner Cartridges
Compatible consumables are non-OEM, or generic, alternatives to OEM toner cartridges. Compatibles are copies of the original consumables made by third-party companies to fit the leading brand devices. Although there are some acceptable compatible cartridges, compatibles vary widely in quality, depending on the quality control in manufacturing and the care taken in the formulation of the toner.
Third-party manufacturers obviously test their products in the OEM printers they will be used in, but they often have less stringent standards than those set by the printer manufacturer. In order to compete against the OEM offering, compatibles have to be cheaper, which leads to cost and not quality being the primary consideration.
When you do a search for “toner cartridges”, you’ll find many websites selling compatible toner cartridges at extremely low prices. Be cautious – if something looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
Buy From Reputable Print Consumable Suppliers
Compatible toner cartridges have a place in the print-consumables market but only make sense if you buy them from reputable print consumables providers so that you avoid the risk of wasting your money and having a bad experience. We at Raydian can provide all your office and home office requirements. We have years of experience with printers, printing, and print consumables. We can even offer advice on how to extend your cartridge life to keep you printing for the lowest-possible cost.
Selecting the right toner cartridges for your laser printer is a relatively simple process if you have our expert help. Simply provide us with your printer brand name and model number, take a picture of the device, or bring in the empty toner cartridge and we will help you find the correct replacement unit. Contact us today for your replacement toner cartridges.