Laser printers have two components that need to be replaced continuously. The toner cartridge contains the toner used by the printer. Another part is the drum. This is the way to transfer the toner from the cartridge to the page and generate the desired image. When toners are used up, your prints are either blank, inconsistent or too light. When the drum runs out, you will begin to see duplicate lines or errors on the page.
Many printers put toner and drums in a replaceable cartridge. If any component has problems, replace both components at the same time. However, some other companies sell these two components separately. The main players using this structure are Brother toner, but Epson, Oki and Panasonic also provide independent systems. So what are the advantages of using a cartridge printer with a separate drum?
The most obvious advantage is that each component can be replaced separately when it stops working. Drums usually last much longer than toner cartridges (depending on design). In addition, it is clear that these two components will hardly wear at the same time. Since printer consumables are the main cost of any business, there is no reason to replace these components earlier than absolutely necessary.
You shouldn’t think that you can get a reasonable life from the cartridge. Unfortunately, printer drums sometimes get scratched prematurely. Nevertheless, it is frustrating that it is better to replace only the drum, rather than having to replace a complete cartridge too.
If you want to save money by buying full cartridges or ordinary cartridges, it’s also easier to find alternatives when the toner is separated from the drum. This is because when two components are in one unit, the manufacturer should refill the toner and refresh drum. Unfortunately, some companies only fill up the toner without checking the drum. If the toners are separated, you can buy a refilled cartridge without worrying about the drum, or you can choose to buy the original (OEM) drum unit and use the universal toner cartridge if you like.
Finally, systems with independent components are better for the environment. This is a serious waste when the drum units that are still working are thrown away, or when ink-rich cartridges are worthless because the drum is scratched. Using a printer with a separate unit can reduce electronic waste, even if it saves you money.
Of course, you should realize that the replacement of drum units will be very expensive at that time. Make sure you have a plan. When choosing a printer, you should also consider the continuing cost of replacing toner and cartridges. In most cases, you will find that the predicted printing costs between the two systems are comparable. However, when you consider the cost savings by squeezing longer life from each component separately, the end result is that separate designs are usually cheaper.