Canon IPF8300-Must all ink be purged to move it???

[roachbat]

I'm new to large format printing and making an opportunistic buy on relatively little used ipf 8300. It has six months warranty left on it but the company with the warranty must move it. They're telling me they must purge all ink from the machine before it can be moved to my home location. Is this accurate? I'm guessing there is about $750 in ink still in the machine and needless to say I hate to lose that. Any and all help appreciated.

[Darin Boville]

I don't know about the ink issue but keep in mind you can get a new 8400 with full ink for about $3100 is the USA until December 20th or so....I almost bought one but will have to wait until Spring now...

--Darin

[roachbat]

I don't know about the ink issue but keep in mind you can get a new 8400 with full ink for about $3100 is the USA until December 20th or so....I almost bought one but will have to wait until Spring now...

--Darin

Darin, thanks for the reply. I'm paying 2500 all in and it includes an additional full set of 700 ml ink tanks, several (5) different media and a large paper cutter etc. I definitely wasn't anticipating losing the existing ink, but I still think it's a decent value play. They are letting me do some printing on it before I have it moved as well to get some value out of the existing cartridges.

[Leigh]

...keep in mind you can get a new 8400 with full ink for about $3100 ...
What "8400" are you talking about?

The Epson CX8400 is about $100, and the DX8400 is less than $200.

- Leigh

[Darin Boville]

What "8400" are you talking about?

The Epson CX8400 is about $100, and the DX8400 is less than $200.

- Leigh

The Canon ipf8400, the new version of the ipf8300 that the OP is buying. Basically the same 44-inch printer with some minor tweaks.

--Darin

[Darin Boville]

Darin, thanks for the reply. I'm paying 2500 all in and it includes an additional full set of 700 ml ink tanks, several (5) different media and a large paper cutter etc. I definitely wasn't anticipating losing the existing ink, but I still think it's a decent value play. They are letting me do some printing on it before I have it moved as well to get some value out of the existing cartridges.

Probably the best place to ask about the purge issue (aside from Canon) is over at the Luminous Landscape board in their printer forum. A very different vibe that the LFF but they do more with digital printers...

--Darin

[thomasfallon]

We had an IPF printer that died. We could not do a prep to move it downstairs and haul it away. As we started down the stairs the printer had to be tilted. Ink ran out everywhere. Ink is very slippery and we were lucky no one got hurt. Quite a mess also.

[Darin Boville]

We had an IPF printer that died. We could not do a prep to move it downstairs and haul it away. As we started down the stairs the printer had to be tilted. Ink ran out everywhere. Ink is very slippery and we were lucky no one got hurt. Quite a mess also.

Were the large ink carts still installed or was the ink just coming from the supply lines? I never considered that moving one of these would cause ink to run out--something to remember.

--Darin

[thomasfallon]

Were the large ink carts still installed or was the ink just coming from the supply lines? I never considered that moving one of these would cause ink to run out--something to remember.

--Darin

Just the supply lines. A lot of ink in those.

[gnuyork]

You can also check the canon ipf wiki... and congrrats on the 8300. I have one as well and I really like it.

[DennisD]

Good wishes with the 8300, roachbat. We have a 6300 (24" version) which works very well. We did have to replace one print head after about 18 months of very light use. That seemed a bit premature considering the actual usage, but fortunately the print heads are user replaceable (unlike the comparable Epsons).

[roachbat]

Good wishes with the 8300, roachbat. We have a 6300 (24" version) which works very well. We did have to replace one print head after about 18 months of very light use. That seemed a bit premature considering the actual usage, but fortunately the print heads are user replaceable (unlike the comparable Epsons).

fyi All of the ink cartridges did not have to be drained. After FOUR conversations with the woman scheduling the move-in which every one she insisted all ink had to be purged from the cartridges-I called the tech direct. He said she didn't know what she was talking about and that all ink would need to be drained in the printer-reserve tanks etc. but the cartridges could be removed. She was very good at trying to sell me additional ink every time though!

It does take an amazing amount of ink to refill the machine though so I'm glad I didn't have to purge those cartridges and that the printer came with a full set of 700 ml tanks. I've also gone through 2 waste cartrdiges in the process but was aware this would likely be the case. I am having a problem with my left print head but it would appear to be under warranty (only 204 days of use and WAY under the max amount of ink through it. I'll be calling Canon today on that, but I've got some jobs that are falling behind because of it.

Thanks for the reply.

[DennisD]

. I am having a problem with my left print head but it would appear to be under warranty (only 204 days of use and WAY under the max amount of ink through it. I'll be calling Canon today on that, but I've got some jobs that are falling behind because of it.

Be sure to run periodic tests on your print heads if you think there's a problem or if you get error messages or shutdowns.

Our problem started long before I realized there was an issue with one of the heads. We would get an occasional and random error message, I.e. Unrelated to anything we were doing. However the problem always seemed to resolve itself. When it was apparent that the left head was defective, Canon was not at all responsive or sympathetic re the light amount of ink usage (thru the head). They went strictly by the age of the head even though the errors were indicative of the developing head problem.

With approx 5 months left on your warranty, you have plenty of time to monitor the performance. Be sure to document and report any error messages to Canon tech support. They keep pretty careful records on your calls.

The replacement head on our machine was approx $450. Yours could be more. Therefore it will pay to keep close tabs and report any issues to Canon.

[Adamphotoman]

I have the iPF8300 as well. The ink reservoirs do hold a lot of ink.
If you can move the machine without tipping or tilting you should be okay.
BTW
There is a way that you can reuse the waste carts. As long as they do not go to full, the counter can be reset and new packing material used.