To continue the subject of connecting a printer to several computers, it’s worth to notice there may be another type of connection – wireless.

Let’s suppose you have a wireless network running in your home or office and you need to get a new printer up and running.

One way to do so is to connect the printer through a cable to one of computers and share the printer over the network. Don’t forget to install the printer drivers on the computers.

Alternatively, you can go completely without cables and connect the printer wirelessly. The way is more suitable in a space-sensitive room, and you are not dependant on the spare place on the table. Besides, you can put the printer in a place more convenient for people to reach.

To connect printer wirelessly you will need what is called print server. It’s a gadget that plugs into printer’s interface port. Again, the print server can be of two types—USB and parallel:

As a dedicated device, print server requires drives to be installed and configured. The actual settings may vary and depend on the device model.

Many people now have two or more computers at home and you maybe one of those. As many other people, you have only one printer, but you’re not the only one who wants to use it. What you may do in this situation? One solution is to visit a local computer store and buy another printer. But I suggest that you save those $100-200 for something better and share your existing printer with your computers. It’s no rocket science and you can easily do it yourself.

I will consider a regular printer that doesn’t have a built-in network card, most home printers are like that.

When computers are already connected

Let’s assume you already have computers connected into network, then sharing a printer is matter of several minutes. In this manual, I will explain how to share a printer in Windows XP network.

Pick a computer to connect the printer to and install the printer drives on it, unless you already haven’t (refer to printer installation manual). On this computer, go to Control panel, open Printers and Faxes, right-click your printer for drop-down menu and select Sharing…:

Open Sharing tab and share your printer. Also you’ll need to assign a network name to your printer, in my case it’s “Canon iP4500.”

Now you have to install printer software on other computers that need to connect to your printer. During the installation process, you’ll be asked if the printer is local or shared; Select “shared” and complete the installation.

Congratulations! You have networked your printer with the computers.

When computers are NOT connected

In this case you have 2 options: unite the computers into network and do like described above, or you can to connect a printer to computers through a switch. This instruction works well in Mac or Linux, not only Windows, so I leave out the OS-specific details.

First, you need to buy a switch (unless you already got one) depending on what kind of connector your printer uses – USB or parallel (LPT.)

Most modern printers have USB connector; few have both USB and LPT, while some older printers are connected via LPT cable. Here you can see examples of each cable:

So, the switch you need to get should generally look like one of these:

Please mind that with parallel switcher you may have to switch it manually to select what computer should use the printer. USB model are generally automatic switches.

In your next step, you need you install the printer drivers and other software (optionally) on every computer to use the printer. Then plug the cables from the computers into the switch and connect the switch to the printer.

Congratulations again! Now you know how to connect several computers to a printer in other way.

Previously on ”How to Detect and Fix Problems with Laser Monochrome Printing” we examined toner cartridge components and reviewed several possible reasons of printing problems. Today we shall pick up from where we left last time.

3. Magnetic Roller

This roller in HP printer is a metal cylinder covered with special coating with a magnetized bar inside. This part rarely gets out of order. For most part dirty print is caused by toner dosing.

The dirt “gives” a stripe to magnetic roller, thus, “taking away” a stripe from image on prints:

One of the signs of incorrect toner dosing is spilling of toner into the split between the metering blade and the magnetic roller:

Toner is spilled onto magnetic roller, which transfers the toner on photo drum. Photo drum, in turn, transfers the toner on paper, just like it should. This is how those needless stripes occur along the length of the page. The stripes may be black, if the split is wider than necessary for toner dosing, or they may be light, when the dosing is hindered due to dirt-clogged split.

In the office, anything may qualify as dirt, even a fly.

 Again, the problem is fixed by reassembling the cartridge or by replacing it with new.

4. Waste Toner Hopper

As we mentioned at the beginning, a cartridge contains a wiper blade that cleans unused toner. Such toner is collected into special container, waste hopper, and then is cleaned out during remanufacturing and refilling. Alas, sometimes low quality toner or carelessness of labor may lead to unpredictable results.

The prints clearly show that overrun waste hopper makes the toner spill over.

To fix this problem you should empty the waste hopper or replace the cartridge.

It’s worth mentioning that printing artifacts are not always due to faulty parts. For most users, a printer is a mere box that prints. However, for all technical service engineers printer is a piece of art, even if it’s a simple desktop monochrome printer. So, before blaming it all on printing consumables, one should make sure it is cartridge that’s guilty.

An exotic deviations in hardware of Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 1300: failed changes of thermofilm caused ripples around letters:

To determine which part of the printer is guilty of bad printing, it is necessary to have some knowledge of printing technologies and how they work.

Certainly, looking for most common cartridge breakings we can consider 5-7 more situations of bad printing. But it’s very often that the cartridge was used for 2-3 or even 10 times. Such a prolonged use results in critical worn-out and subsequent replacement of this and that parts of the cartridge. To avoid these unexpected troubles, use only quality printing consumables. The trick is not to get confused with everyday situation when looking for some extraordinary breaking:

This cartridge is simply running out of toner:

Cartridges won’t fail if you regularly replace them and use quality toner for refills. Remember, saving on savings may cost you a pretty penny.

That’s how prints should look like, regardless printer brand or model. They are all crisp and contrast, without a single mark. Making the right decision on printing supplies and refilling and remanufacturing company, will save time and money and spare you of headache. This is a fact proven by time and numerous companies.

Continuation of part 1

This time we shall consider toner cartridge defects, their aftermath and ways to fix them. Previously we found that cartridge consists of several part. Despite the small amount of parts, there are enough factors affecting quality of printing.

1. Organic Photo Conductor (OPC)

OPC is also known as photo drum, drum, photoreceptor or photoconductor. On its surface a toner image to be transferred to paper is created. This dictates peculiarities of its functioning.

Problem with photo drum of cartridge for Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 1200 printer.

Most common defect is black patterns appearing on the print’s edges. This means the photoreceptor is critically worn out. Photo sensitive coating is rubbed off, and toner first adheres to “naked” drum and then gets transferred to paper.

This is how the worn-out looks like on the photoreceptor. Factually, this is a physical process of drum coating rubbing against paper and toner.

Unfortunately, the problem can only be solved by replacing the drum. All known efforts to restore photosensitive coating show little or no results, when it comes to equipment testing. However, in a year or so the technology advances and a photoreceptor can be restored even at home.

Faulty parts are not always the reason of bad prints or photocopies. Dirt, dust and toner coarse grinding may also cause black marks on freshly churned pages.

The dirt between the wiper blade and the photo drum clearly exhibits itself:

And it finds its way to the prints:

This issue gets fixed simply by reassembling the cartridge. Most easy and faster way is to complete replace the cartridge.

2. Primary Charge Roller (PCR)

The second component of the printing system is PCR. This is a spongy roller that applies initial charge and removed residual charge from the drum. The roller is actually a metal rod in a rubber coat. Troubles it can “reward” the prints will always be noticable.

You can never tell working PCR from faulty just by looking at them:

But prints made with new and old PCR tell you everything:

Charge rollers cannot be repaired, only replaced with a new.

Joins us next time to learn other cartridge defects and ways to fix them.