When it comes to technology there are always many features of which we do not know the details and therefore it can be difficult to choose. Even the case of printers is not different: there are many types with many different functions, in this article we will explain what are the differences between a laser and a cartridge printer and also how to choose between the two.
Laser printer: what it is and how it works
This technology derives directly from xerography and its main advantage is the speed of printing, but let’s see in detail how it works:
- In the first phase, also called “loading”, the drum is negatively charged, through a set generator set;
- In the second phase, the laser beam reads the image to be printed and then scans the drum, eliminating the negative charge from the areas that will then have to be occupied by the print, in essence, it creates a real negative image of the print.
- In the third process, the powder contained in the toner is positively charged and then by electromagnetic attraction, the powder settles on the drum (charging negatively), going to recreate the actual print.
- In the fourth phase, the sheet is positively loaded and passed on the drum, this clearly attracts the toner particles going to create the print.
- In the last phase, the printing is heated to allow complete adhesion of the toner powder and possibly cleaned of excess powder.
As you can see, this is a definitely complex process and although it allows for fast and efficient printing, it has the main problem represented by the toner which is considered a special waste. In fact, the chemicals contained inside it are very dangerous and should be handled with care.
So if you are thinking of buying a printer for the home, choosing a printer of this type certainly exposes you to the risks that it is better not to take. Otherwise, if you think of buying it for the office, this is certainly a more suitable environment.
Cartridge printer
The cartridge printer has a completely different operation: in this case, in fact, printing is carried out from cartridges that contain ink inside them, which is applied to the sheet. The main advantage of using this type of printer is the fact that, first of all, it allows color printing, moreover we are not dealing with dangerous substances such as toner.
Printing is actually much slower, but this is not a problem in an environment where print speed is not as important, such as the home environment. Furthermore, not having to deal with dangerous substances we must not be afraid to handle the cartridges (clearly being always careful), thus reducing the health risks of our family members.
In conclusion: if you need to print very quickly and many documents we definitely recommend a laser printer that allows better performance than the inkjet printer. If you do not have this type of need, we recommend buying a classic printer that does not use hazardous substances for printing.
