1/21/97


We are interested in which lazer printers people have had experience

using for routine biological EM images. Our images are captured with a

Kodak Megaplus 1024x1024. We would also use the printer for LM,

anatomical line drawings, AR of gells etc. We are considering the

Lexmark Optra R+ 1200 dpi. Thanks for your help.

Rick L. Vaughn

EM Research Facility

Dept. Cell Biology & Anatomy

Univ. Neb. Med. Ctr.

RLVAUGHN@MAIL.UNMC.EDU


We use the Lexmark Optra RX printer in our lab for routine image printing

and we are very happy with it. We are a materials lab here but I think you

would be happy with it for your biological images as well.

Good Luck,

Margaret E. Bisher

NEC Research Institute

4 Independence Way

Princeton, NJ 08540.

Tel.: (609) 951-2629

Fax: (609) 951-2496

e-mail: peggy@research.nj.nec.com


Hi Rick and Everyone,

We have used the Lexmark Optra R printer in our lab for routine

image printing for about 1 1/2 years and we WERE very happy with it.

Recently, the high voltage regulator broke down and cooked a couple of

toner cartridges. After talking to my refiller guy (been very knowledgable

for years), it seems there is a longevity problem with these printers!!

Several of his Lexmark clients have have opted (no pun intended) for

another brand of printer. At this point he swears at them rather than by

them. But, this is one man's opinion, and before I condem them completely,

I would like to know if anyone else (or how many) has experienced this.

Cheers

:)

George

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3

Canada

ph: 403-492-5746

fax: 403-492-2030

george.braybrook@ualberta.ca


We have a Lexmark Optra Lxi well. It is installed on the network. I

don't know how many people use it, but about a year ago, it was plugged

in and turned on. The only maintenance I know has been to fill it with

consumables.

Harold J. Crossman

OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.

Lighting Research Center

71 Cherry Hill Dr.

Beverly, MA 01915

Phone: (508) 750-1717

E-mail: crossman@osi.sylvania.com

Our web sites: www.sylvania.com

www.siemens.com

"Crossman, Harold" <crossman@osi.SYLVANIA.com>


Scott,

I'm not getting anything directly yet, but I'll archive all the

comments and forward them to you. At the moment we have two pro and two

con (you and I).

My service man suggested that I shorten the time that the printer

sits idle before the power saver feature turns the heat off. This should

keep the machine cooler and help things last longer! It seems that as long

as you are printing there is sufficient heat loss to paper, toner and

moving parts, etc to keep things cool, but when it is idle, heat builds up

inside the printer and cooks the toner and stresses components. This is my

understanding (as a layman in the field of printers) of the possible cause

of the problems we are having.

Thanks for the tips and tricks info.

Will keep in touch.

Cheers

:)

George

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3

Canada

ph: 403-492-5746

fax: 403-492-2030

george.braybrook@ualberta.ca


I ( the editor) have also responded to Rick but in a resounding negative off the list for lexmark products. We have had a problem with our Optra R since about 6 mo. After it's arrival and here 6 mo later it is not fixed and there is no true solution. Sure they will print at 1200dpi, but if you increase the lpi for an acceptable number of grey levels, chatter begins to appear. This is a manufacturing problem with the gear tolerances that still has not been addressed according to Randy Copely and Matt Ownby, both in the Lexmark service dept. Good luck.

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