Many frequently asked questions are answered here.
Will switching to alternative non-OEM inks void my Canon warranty?
Printer manufacturers have always tried to dissuade consumers from using non-original printer inks at every chance they get – whether it be on the box, the website, or even directly from their customer support teams.
The Magnuson-Moss Act is a US law that governs consumer product warranties. It protects your right to purchase alternative products. It states: “No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name” (15 USCA 2302).”
This act gives the consumer the freedom to choose the type of ink without penalty or retaliation from the original manufacturer. All that being said… you may want to wait until you are out of the Canon 1 year warranty period before installing Viewports into your system.
Printer ink cartridges pollute the environment at a staggering rate and roughly a million cartridges get thrown out every single day. With over 375 million empty cartridges being wasted each year, it is critical to reuse and recycle these cartridges instead of purchasing new ones. A Viewport equipped cartridge can be refilled indefinitely while never needing to be tossed into a landfill. Refilling cartridges with the quality ink of your choice is a truly responsible decision.
Will my Canon ink door close normally with this system?
Yes, the system is designed to allow the normal operation of the ink compartment door. The Viewports do not come into contact with the cover. Note that the Viewport for the Photo Cyan cartridge on the far right is installed differently to avoid a conflict with the door. Consult the installation videos for an explanation on how to adjust. Watch the short installation video entitled “Why the Photo Cyan Viewport Is Reversed”.
Can I install a Viewport into an old cartridge that has been replaced?
If your printer has identified the cartridge as empty the printer will be unable to use the cartridge even if it is refilled. You will need to replace the old “empty” chip with a new one. The preferred method for installing a Viewport is to not allow the printer to tag it as empty in the first place. This means installing your Viewport when the cartridge is about 1/8 to 1/4 full (about 10 to 20 ml remaining).
You can top up the cartridge by installing a temporary refill port and keeping it supplied with enough ink so that the system does not detect that the ink has run out. This way if you want to install several Viewports at the same time you can delay their installation until your schedule allows.
Will drilling into the cartridge create debris that will damage the printhead?
You will need to follow the proper procedure when cleaning the cartridge after the drilling and polishing is completed. The large Viewport hole that is created allows for a very thorough rinsing step that will remove all debris that might be inside the cartridge. Rinse out the cartridge interior as many times as you want to satisfy your concerns about any plastic particles.
What tools will I need?
The provided toolkit includes all the tools you will need to successfully install your full set of Viewports. You will need to have access to a variable speed power drill.
Does drilling the larger Viewport hole require special tools such as a drillpress?
You will only need a variable speed hand drill. The special step drill we include in the kit has a backstop plate that prevents it from cutting an uneven or crooked hole. The trick to using the bit is to keep your variable speed drill on a lower rotational speed while pushing firmly into the hole. We even recommend gently wobbling the drill to help the blades bite better into the soft plastic tank. If you have some empty cartridges laying around try the bit and get a feel for its cutting abilities. You will soon get a feel for the correct pressure and cutting technique. The backstop plate will make sure that your cut is perfect!
Can I buy the Viewports without the toolkit? I have plenty of tools and I’m sure I have what is needed.
The toolkit is always required for a customer’s first installation. Our goal with Viewports is to make the installation as simple and dependable as possible. We want to make sure that the process goes smoothly and that the ink system is not damaged by debris or ink leaks. It took a lot of effort to develop Viewports and assemble the right tools and we want the customer to have the best chance of a problem free install. Without these specific tools the chances of problems increase significantly.
After a customer has purchased a toolkit Viewports can be purchased at a reduced price without the need of buying another full toolkit. We know that they already have the correct tools to make the installation successful and that they have learned proper techniques through their previous install.
Could I accidentally eject the ink cartridge when pushing the ink refill plug back into place after adding ink?
It’s possible, but the plug should be a snug (not tight) fit into the refill hole. We provide an 11/64″ drill bit to make the hole. That’s really a specific size but it’s provided to allow the silicone plug to fit just right. Reinserting the plug should not require enough force to cause the cartridge to click into the “removal” position. If that should ever happen, simply push the cartridge back in until it clicks and returns to the reseated position.
Can I refill a Viewport with Canon OEM inks?
Any ink of your choice can be filled into a Viewport equipped cartridge, including Canon OEM Lucia brand inks. You can buy Lucia inks from Canon by purchasing their large 700ml PFI-1700 cartridges (intended for their large wide format printers) and removing the ink with a syringe to be added to the Viewport cartridge. The PFI-1700 inkset uses the identical 12 color Lucia color pallet as the Pro-1000. This article has useful information about some of the many ink options available.
After installing Viewport can the cartridge be removed for refilling without affecting the chip?
You can refill a cartridge while it remains in the printer. You can also remove the cartridge for refilling if that is your preference. When you reinsert it into the printer the software will remember the status that was last reported for the ink level of the cartridge. You can remove and reinsert it at any time – for example, while you are waiting for the chip to be disabled by the 1753 code, or after the chip has been disabled by the 1753 code. Either way, the software remembers and logs the most recent status of that specific cartridge chip.
What is the Support Code 1753 warning?
The Canon error code 1753 states: “The remaining level of the ink cannot be correctly detected. Replace the ink tank”. This is the error code that will activate the perpetual use of a Viewport equipped cartridge. The printer assumes there is a problem with the cartridge chip when there is a conflict between the calculated amount of ink used and the actual ink level remaining.
When a Viewport is installed the actual level of the ink is always visible, so the printer is not really in danger of running out of ink. When the 1753 warning appears you would simply press and hold the lower “STOP” button (inverted triangle) for 5 seconds. This will remove the warning by permanently disabling the ink monitoring function of the cartridge chip. You can now continue to use the printer as normal and refill the Viewport cartridge whenever it is low. Find more information here.
Is it okay to leave a new Viewport cartridge out of the printer for 8 hours while the sealant sets? Is there a risk when leaving the printer without the cartridge for several hours… in terms of clogging issues?
We suggest that you put the cartridges back into the printer after the Viewport is newly installed… just wait for just a few minutes while the adhesive/solvent begins to set. A little ink will flow back into the cartridge from Canon’s internal reservoir, but not a significant amount. That small amount of ink never reaches the Viewport seal. Reinserting the cartridges help will prevent the ink transfer nozzle from drying out. Then you can just wait for 8 hours before topping up the ink.