What is Continuous Ink MFP and How to Choose One?

Nowadays, printing various files and materials has long become an extremely common phenomenon, which can significantly save time and often finances. But not so long ago, inkjet printers and MFPs had a problem associated with the rapid consumption of the cartridge resource and the constant need to refill it.

Now MFPs with CISS, that is, with continuous ink supply, have become very popular. This allows you to significantly increase the resource of use of cartridges and reduce the number of refills, which cannot be compared with conventional cartridges. Let's try to figure out what these devices are and what are the advantages of working with a system of this type.

CISS is a special system that is mounted on an inkjet printer. Such a mechanism is installed to supply ink to the print head from special reservoirs. Accordingly, such reservoirs can be easily filled with ink if necessary.

The CISS design usually includes:

• silicone loop;
• ink;
• cartridge.

It should be said that such a system with a built-in reservoir is significantly larger in volume than a conventional cartridge.

If we talk about the advantages of printers and MFPs with a continuous ink supply system, then the following factors should be mentioned:

• relatively low printing price;
• simplification of maintenance, which entails an increase in the resource of the device;
• the presence of high pressure in the mechanism significantly improves the print quality;
• lower maintenance cost - there is no need for constant purchase of cartridges;
• refilling ink is required less often;
• the presence of an air filter mechanism makes it possible to prevent the appearance of dust in the ink;
• a multichannel train of elastic type allows you to extend the life of the entire mechanism;
• the payback of such a system is noticeably higher than that of conventional cartridges;
• Reduced head cleaning required for printing.

Automatic ink feeders can be used in a wide variety of applications. For example, models with color printing are perfect for home use where you need to print photos and sometimes documents. In general, for photo printing, such devices will be the most correct solution.

They can also be used in professional photo studios to get really high quality images... They will be an excellent solution for the office, where you almost always need to print a large number of documents. Well, in the thematic business, such devices will be indispensable. We are talking about creating posters, decorating envelopes, making booklets, color copying or printing from digital media.

Below are the top models of MFPs that are currently on the market and are the best solutions in terms of price and quality. Any of the models presented in the rating will be an excellent solution for both office and home use.

There are already built-in ink tanks that are refillable. The model has a not very high print speed - only 6 color pages in 60 seconds. But photo printing is of the highest quality, which can be called almost professional.

One of the distinctive features of the model is the presence of a self-cleaning mechanism, which works completely silently. The Brother DCP-T500W InkBenefit Plus consumes only 18W when working.

Printing from a phone is possible thanks to the availability of Wi-Fi, as well as special software from the manufacturer.

Another MFP that deserves attention. It is equipped with a built-in CISS, which makes it possible to print a large number of materials, the cost of which will be low. For example, one refueling is enough to print 250 10 by 15 photos. It should be said that the maximum image resolution is 5760 by 1440 pixels.

One of the distinctive features of this MFP model is fairly high print speed... For color printing, it is 15 pages in 60 seconds, and for black and white - 17 pages in the same time period. At the same time, such intense work is the cause of the noise. The disadvantages of this model also include lack of wireless connection.

No less interesting model of MFP with CISS. In terms of its characteristics, this device is similar to laser versions. It uses a full-width A4 print head, which can produce 45 sheets of color or black and white images per minute, which is a pretty good result. At one refueling, the device can print 3500 sheets, that is, the capacity of the containers will be enough for quite a long time.

Model with double-sided printing or the so-called duplex. This became possible due to the extremely high resource of the print head.

Noteworthy device equipped with a continuous ink supply system. One filling is enough to print 6,000 black and white and 7,000 color pages. The file resolution can be up to 4800 * 1200 dpi. The highest print quality results in very slow print speeds. The device can print only 5 sheets of color images per minute.

If we talk about scanning, then it is carried out at the speed of printing an A4 sheet in 19 seconds. It also has Wi-Fi, which allows you to use the function of wireless printing of documents and images.

Quite a good device in terms of value for money. It replaced the L800 and received a wireless interface, nice design and increased detail of prints with an indicator of 5760x1440 dpi. The CISS function is already built into a special block that is attached to the body. The containers are specially made transparent so that you can easily see the level of ink in the tanks and refill if necessary.

You can print wirelessly using a mobile application called Epson iPrint. According to user reviews, the cost of printed materials is very low here.

Another MFP model that deserves the attention of users. It is a great choice for home use. There is a CISS option built into the case, modern wireless interfaces, and an LCD screen. The model has a very low noise level during operation. If we talk about the maximum resolution of black and white materials, then here the value will be equal to 1200x1200 dpi, and for colored materials - 4800x1200 dpi.

The HP Smart app is available for wireless printing, and the ePrint app for online printing. Owners of the HP Ink Tank Wireless 419 also note a convenient ink filling mechanism that does not allow overflow.

This is a new generation device that provides the highest reliability and maximum ink savings. Equipped with a special mechanism called Key lock, which provides excellent protection against accidental ink spillage when refueling. Epson L3150 can easily connect to mobile devices using Wi-Fi technology without a router. This makes it possible not only to scan, but also to print photos, monitor ink status, change file printing parameters and do a number of other things.

The model is equipped with the technology of pressure control in containers, which makes it possible to obtain excellent printing with a resolution of up to 5760x1440 dpi. All Epson L3150 components are made of quality materials, thanks to which the manufacturer gives a guarantee for 30,000 prints.

It should be said that the correct choice of a device of this type is very important, because it makes it possible to choose a truly MFP that will satisfy the owner's requirements as much as possible and will be easy to maintain. Let's try to figure out how to choose an MFP with CISS for home use, as well as for office use.

If we need to choose an MFP with CISS for home, then we should pay attention to various nuances so that there is both cost savings and the convenience of using the device to be maximized. In general, the following criteria are recommended.

• Make sure that the model you choose allows you not only to produce black and white, but also color printing.... After all, at home you often have to work not only with texts, but also print photos. However, if you are not going to do something like that, then there is simply no point in overpaying money for it.
• The next point is the presence of a network interface. If it is, then several family members can connect to the MFP and print what they need.
• The dimensions of the device are also important, because a too bulky solution for use at home simply will not work, it will take up a lot of space. So at home you need to use something small and compact.
• Pay attention to the type of scanner... It can be flatbed and drawn out. Here you need to take into account what materials family members will work with.

You should also clarify an important point about color printing. The fact is that simple models usually have 4 different colors. But if at home they often work with photographs, then it would be better to give preference to a device with more than 6 colors.

If you want to choose an MFP with CISS for the office, then here it would be better to use devices that use pigment inks. They allow for better reproduction of a large number of documents and are less exposed to water, which will prevent ink fading over time and there will be no need to redo the documents.

Print speed is also an important characteristic. For example, if you need to print a large number of different files, then it is better to choose devices with a high rate, which will significantly reduce the printing time. An indicator of 20-25 pages per minute will be normal.

Another important point for the office is print resolution. A resolution of 1200x1200 dpi will be enough. When it comes to photographs, the resolution will vary for models from different manufacturers, but the most common indicator is 4800 × 4800 dpi.

We have already mentioned the color set above, but for an office, models with 4 colors will be more than enough. If the office needs to print images, then it would be better to purchase a model with 6 colors.

The next criterion to pay attention to is - performance. It can vary from 1,000 to 10,000 sheets. Here it is already necessary to focus on the amount of documentation in the office.

An important characteristic for office use of MFPs with CISS is the size of sheets with which work can be performed. Modern models allow you to work with different paper standards, and the most common is A4. In rare cases, you may need to work with A3 paper size. But buying models with the ability to work with larger formats for the office is not very advisable.

Another indicator is the volume of the ink reservoir. The larger it is, the less often it will have to be refilled. And in an office environment where a lot of material needs to be printed, this can be extremely important.

Like any complex equipment, MFPs with CISS should be used in compliance with certain standards and requirements. We are talking about the following points.

• Do not turn ink containers upside down.
• Use the utmost care when transporting the device.
• The equipment must be protected from the effects of high humidity.
• Topping up ink should be done exclusively with a syringe. Moreover, for each pigment, it must be separate.
• Sudden temperature changes should not be allowed. It is best to use this type of multifunctional device at temperatures from +15 to +35 degrees.
• The continuous ink supply system must be level with the device itself. If the system is located above the MFP, ink may spill out through the cartridge. If it is installed lower, then there is a possibility of air entering the head nozzle, which will lead to damage to the head due to the fact that the ink simply dries up.

In general, as you can see, it will not be difficult to purchase a quality continuous ink MFP. The main thing is to pay attention to the mentioned criteria, and you can definitely choose a good MFP with CISS that will satisfy your needs as much as possible.

MFPs with CISS for home are presented in the video below.