I'm gonna try the modified inkjet 3d printer

[DrewSmith007]

I've already modified the ink cartridge to use water. I'm going to build a stepper controlled table that lowers, fill it with plaster, and print 1 thin layer at a time. I've stripped the printer (HP PSC1350 all in one) to the parts I think I need, but have a problem. The break-beam eyes (can't remember their actual names) that tell if there is a jam or out of paper no longer have the paper to trigger them. I tried to do it manually, but I don't think I am doing it at the right times. I can get it to stop saying there is a jam, but it always shows there is no paper.

Any ideas? I'll post some pix later...

[High Seas]

I'd bet there is a wire or 2 involved in the printer signaling. Haven't looked but I'd bet it either "pulls up or down" when the eye sees/doesn't the paper. Cut it? Now what. It doesn't work anymore anyway - so whats to loose? Bet there is a second wire/connection to the paper out as well.
I also bet somewhere is a LPT signal drawing that might show which pin on the port gets in the signaling process -- you could pull the pin from that one -- but then you'd have a bad cable too.
(Seems like a lot of bets -- but I'll cover them... 2cents apiece)

Look forward to seeing the pictures/sketches -- sounds like an interesting project. Any links or other info would be appreciated too.

Jim

[DrewSmith007]

It has two eye's that both signal paper. I believe one tells when there is paper by moving a lever out of the eyes way. The lever is more or less 90 degrees to the paper's line of movement. There is another lever that also moves out of the way of the eye, and it's about 30 degrees forward of the paper.

Whenever both eyes are open, I get a "There is a paper jam" error. When I completely cover a certain one up, I always get a "The printer is out of paper" error.

I don't know if I have everything to put it back together or not, but I do have access to several more inkjets. If I can't figure this out pretty quick, I think I'll just put the scanner part of this one back together and modify a different printer.

How would you guys go about testing the eyes on the next printer? Wire an LED and resistor inline on each eye circuit and see what they do and when they do it? I'll probly try that anyway...

Thanks

p.s. Can we not use html to show pictures on this forum?