There are two main design models of Inkjet Print Cartridge Heads, the fixed head and the disposable head. This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of those two models.

The fixed head design sees the printer fitted with it’s own long life inbuilt print head which is designed to last the life of the printer and never need to be replaced or repaired. Known as a “gaither head” it follows the philosophy that a print head can last longer than the life of the ink in a cartridge and so why should it be replaced with it and bringing it’s cost to replacement ink cartridges. This philosophy drives the price of printer units up but printer cartridges down. Therefore the purchaser of a printer should evaluate the balancing act which should be resolved based on the volume of printing they will require from their printer and the expected life of the printer. As the head is fixed and permanent, more attention to details is applied to it’s design and it’s production, therefore the head will be more precious than a cheap disposable model and will require little or no calibration. The flip side of the argument is that if the head becomes damaged or broken then it is an expensive process to repair or replace the print head, in some cases it is not even possible to do this and so an entirely new printer would be required. Fixed head designs are available in printers designed for the home printer but are more commonly noted on high volume printers, the type used in industries such as publication. The consumer space printers utilising fixed heads are primarily Epson, HP and Canon.

The second design for printer heads is the disposable head which is not found as a fixed part in the print unit itself but is provided in each independent printer cartridge that is added to the printer. Each time the ink reservoir in a cartridge is emptied the print head will be disposed of with the cartridge and replaced with a new one. Naturally this balances the pros and cons of the fixed print head in that the cost of printer cartridges will be expensive when compared to fixed heads, however the purchase price of the printer until will reduce. Therefore the consumer should again consider the volume of printing and the number of replacement cartridges they forecast to use when deciding which model to select Also in contrast to the fixed design is that a damaged printer head is not a major problem as only the cartridge will require replacing and not the printer unit, obviously this comes at a significantly lower replacement cost. Disposable head technology is favoured by the major manufactures of printers and cartridges as the technology is too advanced for other manufactures of cheaper ink cartridges to comply with and it therefore forces “copy-cat” manufactures from the market place. Canon, as a manufacturer is a user of replacement ink heads which are designed to last the life of the printer, but they can be replaced should they be damaged or blocked with dry ink. Advantageously they can be replaced by the user with little fuss or technical ability required.

Author Bio: Adrian Bryan writes for www.theprintcartridge.com , quality Ink Cartridges and Toner Cartridges at discount prices.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: Ink Cartridges, Canon, Toner Cartridge, Print Cartridge