02-10-2006, 04:27 AM
With the Brother lasers, I'd look closely at the print quality difference between the old 2400x600dpi print engine in the old 20xx and 51xx models versus the new 1200x1200dpi engine in the new 52xx models. The old ones were never reknown for their print quality.
The drum is the light sensitive roller that the laser "etches" the image onto. It attracts the toner powder, which is then transferred to the paper's surface and bonded by heat from the fuser.
In most (all?) of the older laser print engines (Canon, especially), the drum was contained in the toner cartridge and replaced together as one unit.
Separating the drum from the toner like Brother does is supposed to lower the cost of consumables, since the drum (in theory) needs replacement only once for every three (IIRC) toner cartridges, or some such ratio. As such, it carries a higher cost. I haven't run the numbers, but a quick calculation will tell the tale.
The drum is the light sensitive roller that the laser "etches" the image onto. It attracts the toner powder, which is then transferred to the paper's surface and bonded by heat from the fuser.
In most (all?) of the older laser print engines (Canon, especially), the drum was contained in the toner cartridge and replaced together as one unit.
Separating the drum from the toner like Brother does is supposed to lower the cost of consumables, since the drum (in theory) needs replacement only once for every three (IIRC) toner cartridges, or some such ratio. As such, it carries a higher cost. I haven't run the numbers, but a quick calculation will tell the tale.