So what do you mean by printer consumables? You regularly refill or replace these items in your printer to ensure it functions properly and produces high-quality prints. Simply put, these consumables are a must-have for the printing process to continue. Below are some of these essential printer consumables:
Toner Cartridges
These are often needed in laser printers, and they come with a powdery and dry substance which is called toner. Heat fuses the toner into the paper to create a printed image. A laser printer has a separate toner cartridge for every color along with a black cartridge. Once the supply of toner is low, you have to replace the cartridge.
Ink Cartridges
These cartridges are the ones used in inkjet printers. The cartridges have liquid inks. The printer sprays these inks on the paper to form the desired images and text. You usually find them in different color cartridges, including magenta, yellow, and cyan, along with a black cartridge. When the ink runs out, it’s time to replace the cartridges.
Drum Units
These are often found in laser printers. Drum units are the ones that transfer the toner to the paper. People do not know them to have longer lifespans compared to toner cartridges. When they wear out, you have to replace them.
Paper
This is not exactly a printer consumable, but there’s no print without paper. Different printers come with different capacities for holding paper. They also support different types of sizes of paper from plain paper to photo paper and also envelopes.
Maintenance Kits
These kits contain various printer components that the printer requires for its functions. Some of the common items found in the kit are rollers, fuser units, cleaning supplies, and transfer belts. We usually recommend such kits after a considerable number of prints and when certain parts of the printer need replacement.
Waste Collection Units
Most high-volume printers have waste collection units, also known as waste toner containers. They collect any excess toner or waste created during the process of printing. When these units become full, you need to empty them or replace them for the printer to continue working efficiently.
Remember that these consumables differ according to the type of printer and its specific model. It’s a must to check the prices and availability of printing consumables before you decide on a printer to invest in. Always make sure that the maintenance costs are suitable to your budget.