Ubuntu to run my printer

[NoOp]

On 06/14/2014 06:27 AM, Douglas Pollard wrote:
> 
> On 06/13/2014 11:39 PM, Doug wrote:
>>
>> On 06/13/2014 10:30 PM, Douglas Pollard wrote:
>>> I am tired of my printer cartridges drying out and having to but new 
>>> ones. Is their an ubuntu program that will run my printer in a Nozzel 
>>> cleaning Operation at some preset interval. They got the darn things 
>>> fixed so if a single color dreis out you can't print in back and 
>>> white.  That is aggravating.
>>>
>> I think you would be doing the group a favor is you named the printer. 
>> I have a Canon all-in-one printer, and I'm not seeing that kind of 
>> thing. I also have a real old HP
>> color printer, and I don't see that problem either.
>>
>> --doug
>>
> 
> 
> 
> As to your old printer cartriges drying out is not so much a problem because if it does you can still print without one cartrige working.  You cannot do that with the newer printers they simply will not print at all.  AT the present time I have an Epson Stylus CX7400 and just bought a black and white Brother lazer printer because they do not dry out as they use a dry powder. Many people have this problem and they go on line trying to find a solution. IF you print something a couple times a month or once a week you may not have this problem.  MY post was not so much about printers as it was about being a challenge for Ubuntu or software writers to come up with a program to print something often enough to keep the nozzles from drying out. I often go two months without printing and if I forge
>  t to print something about once a week one of the cartriges will dry up and the printer will not print at all. All cartiges must be working to print even balck and white. This is true of all new printers. I know this because i have emailed for help from most of them and they all say  jets do dry out and the printer can't operate unless all cartriges are working.
> My first thought was a widget to put in a thumb drive to run the printer now and then. Sorry about the spelling my spell checker is on the fritz this morning  :-).
> 

The Stylus printers do have that problem.

However, I have an Epson Workforce 635
<http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?sku=C11CA69201> and
have been very happy with it overall. It will continue printing if one
of the cartriges run out of ink, uses DURABrite Ultra pigment ink
(smudge, fade and water resistant) extra high capacity ink carts. I put
mine in storage with the ink carts in it (not temp controlled - just a
regular storage rental unit) for 6 months, pulled it out, plugged it in
and started printing as if I had been using it daily for the past 6
months. I seldom run the cart cleaning process - I just haven't had to.
  Drivers are in the standard Ubuntu repos, so no need to add extras.
<https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/epson-inkjet-printer-escp>
If you do want to add extras, you can download the deb (and rpm)
packages from:
<http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/search/01/search/>

I use to print a lot of Nav Charts (NOAA BSB 18652 & ENC using QGIS &
occasionally OpenCPN) requiring accurate detail & color. The Workforce
does this perfectly (for me). It does two-sided printing, so I just
export the chart to a 2 page PDF, print one area on one side and the
other on the other side in one printing. Take that to Staples & have
them laminate it, and I've a handy 8x11 chart that is waterproof, can be
marked on with a grease pencil, and is small enough to fit in a backpack.

Gary