CompTIA A+ 220-1201 (3.8 - Laser Printer Maintenance)

Laser printer

• Combine a laser, high voltage, charged ions, powdered ink, heat, and paper

• Very high quality

• Fast printing speeds

• Very complex

- Many moving parts

- Requires on-printer memory

- Messy on the inside

Replacing the toner cartridge

• Look for the messages

- Low doesn't mean empty

• The toner can also contain the OPC drum

- Organic Photoconductor drum

- Sensitive to light; keep it in the bag

• Power down the printer

- Safety first

• Remove packing strips from the new drum

- Replace it with the old

Laser printer maintenance kit

• Laser printers wear out

- All those moving parts

- Heat and pressure

• Standard maintenance kits

- Replacement feed rollers, new fuser unit, etc.

• When to perform maintenance?

- Check the printer's page counter

• Power down and replace the components

- Fuser units are HOT

• Reset the page counter when you're done!

Laser printer calibration

• Different toner cartridges print with different densities

- Some dark, some light

• Laser printer calibration can adjust the density

- Makes it looks perfect

• Can be automated or a manual process

- Every printer is different

- Check the printer manual

Laser printer cleaning

• Laser printers are dirty

- All that toner and paper dust

• Check the manufacturer's recommendations

- Water, isopropyl alcohol (IPA)

- Don't use harsh chemicals!

• Outside - Damp cloth

• Inside - Wipe dust away

- Don't use a normal vacuum cleaner or

compressed air

- Wash off skin with cold water

- Clean rollers with IPA