If you’re looking for the most economical way to run an edible printer, you may want to consider using Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges. So we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to help you get started in how to refill edible ink cartridges yourself!
As you may know, there are two ways to fill your edible ink printer:-
- Pre-filled Edible Ink Cartridges
- Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges
EPS stock Canon compatible edible ink cartridges in both a pre-filled and refillable option for a range of Canon PIXMA edible printer models. All our printer kits are available with your choice of cartridges, but you can always switch between the two types of edible ink cartridges if you change your mind further down the line, as long as you make sure they’re the right cartridges for your edible printer model! There are pros and cons to both options which we have outlined below. You can find our full range of Edible Ink Cartridges and Edible Inks here.
Pre-Filled Edible Ink Cartridges
These cartridges come already filled with EPS Edible Ink. They are the easiest edible ink cartridges to use as they can be unclipped and places straight into your edible printer, without having to spend any time filling them. If you’re short for time, are completely new to edible printing or just want the easiest option, Pre-filled Edible Ink Cartridges are a great choice. Pre-filled Edible Ink Cartridges cannot be refilled once empty, if you want to start refilling your edible ink cartridges, you will need to purchase a new set of Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges which have a filling port and a resettable chip.
Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges
These cartridges come empty and need to be filled with edible ink prior to use. Refillable cartridges can be purchased with an Edible Printer Kit or as a complete Edible Printer Refill Kit, in which case they will come with everything you need to fill them – a full set of EPS Edible Inks and 4 x Syringes & Needles. Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges are also available separately.
If you’re looking for the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to refill your edible printer, and don’t mind spending a little bit of time to initially set up and refill your edible printer, you may wish to choose Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges.
Full Set of 580/581 Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges for Canon PIXMA TS705(a) & TS6350(a)
How to Fill Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges
Once you’ve decided on Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges, of if you’re wanting to change your edible ink cartridges to a refillable option it is important to familiarise yourself with how to refill edible ink cartridges and correctly use them before you get started!
A few important things before you get started…
- Before opening any edible ink cartridges from their packaging, ensure you have ordered the correct edible ink cartridges for your edible printer model. EPS stock edible ink cartridges for a range of Canon PIXMA Edible Printers. Not all edible ink cartridges will fit all edible printers, there is a specific series code which correlates to specific edible printer models. The most popular cartridges & compatible edible printers are the following:- 580/581 - compatible with Canon PIXMA Models TS705, TS705a, TS6350, TS63510 & TS6350a; 550/551 - compatible with Canon PIXMA Models iX685a & iP7250; 570/571 - compatible with Canon PIXMA Models TS5050 & TS5051.
- Each cartridge has a corresponding edible ink colour (1 x Cyan, 1 x Magenta, 1 x Yellow & 2 x Black) – it is important to fill with the correct edible ink colours, you cannot swap the cartridges round as each chip is programmed for its corresponding colour. Both black cartridges use the same black edible ink.
Instructions for Filling Edible Ink Cartridges
Make sure to read through our full instructions before you begin. Top Tip - Make sure you cover your work surface and use Food-Safe Protective Gloves as edible ink can stain and be hard to remove!
What you Will Need to Fill Edible Ink Cartridges
- A full set of Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges compatible with your Edible Printer Model.
- A set of each Edible Ink Colour – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black Edible Ink.
- 4 x Syringes and Sterilised Needles.
- A pair of Food-Safe Protective Gloves.
EPS supply complete Edible Printer Refill Kits for the most popular Canon PIXMA Edible Printer models which contain everything you need to get started! But we do also supply all the above separately for when you need to stock up.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ALWAYS fill your edible ink cartridges inside the orange cradles they come with. DO NOT remove them prior to filling and NEVER fill your edible ink cartridges inside your printer, they must be removed and placed back into the orange cradles each time they need filling, so keep these aside for future use!
Instructions
- Sterilise the 4 x needles provided in boiling water and attach to the end of each syringe.
- Open all 5 x edible ink cartridges from the packaging and remove the yellow ‘pull’ tabs – these can be disposed of.
- Remove the coloured bung from the first coloured edible ink cartridge and select and open the corresponding edible ink bottle. Ensure the cartridge is properly clicked into the orange cradle.
- Using a syringe and needle, draw up the chosen edible ink colour.
- Insert the needle into the opening of the first edible ink cartridge (see video below) and slowly syringe in the edible ink, whilst tipping the cartridge towards the absorbent sponge side to encourage the ink flow.
- Continue syringing the ink into the cartridge until the sponge is fully saturated and the cavity side is at least 80% full, you will need to draw up more to completely fill the cartridge but be careful not to overfill, there should be a small gap (see video).
- Replace the coloured bung and remove the cartridge from the orange cradle (see video) to check the small, exposed sponge underneath is fully saturated with ink – there should be no white patches on the sponge.
- Replace the cartridge and repeat until you have filled all 5 cartridges – they are now ready to be inserted into your edible printer!
For a full video tutorial guide on refilling edible ink cartridges, see our video below:-
Other Important Things to Remember when Using Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges
- Always use quality Edible Ink – EPS Edible Ink is specially formulated for use with Canon edible printers and double-filtered to reduce the chance of edible ink blockages in your cartridges and print head, ultimately prolonging the life of your edible printer. Using lower quality edible ink can cause issues with print quality and longevity of your edible printer, edible ink cartridges and print head. EPS Edible Ink is available in 100ml, 250ml and 1000ml sets, or individually in the larger sized bottles. EPS are also an official distributor of KOPYFORM Edible Ink, which is manufactured in the EU.
- Keep A Spare Set of Cartridges - we always recommend keeping a spare set of Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges handy in case of any issues – if you have an urgent order, you don’t want to be left stuck! EPS Refillable Edible Ink Cartridges can be reused several times, due to the auto-resettable chips. However, after so many refills the cartridge outlet, chip and sponge may wear out and the cartridges should be replaced - you should get at least 12 months out of your refillable cartridges and can reorder a new set here when required. By keeping a spare set, you always have replacement cartridge at the ready if you need to change a cartridge in your edible printer.
- Don’t let Refillable Cartridges Run Dry – we recommend assessing your ink levels by eye when using refillable edible ink cartridges, as leaving them to run completely dry can cause issues with the cartridges and the printer. You can use the ink level reader as a guide, but quickly checking before printing is best practice!
- Never Store an Edible Printer with Cartridges Inserted – if you plan to store your edible printer for a prolonged period (longer than a week or two), it’s important to first remove your cartridges, put these back into the orange cradles and store in an airtight bag or container. Also, make sure to give your edible printer and print head a clean following the instructions in the guide, before storing. The easiest way to clean a Canon Edible Printer is with our Edible Printer Cleaning & Maintenance Kit. If you use your printer frequently, we recommend fully powering off your printer at the end of the day, and restarting when you next use it, as this will ensure the edible printer will carry out a quick clean and keep the edible ink flowing, as well as following our regular cleaning & maintenance advice.
How to Install Edible Ink Cartridges into an Edible Printer
Whichever type of edible ink cartridges you are using, pre-filled or refillable, the installation of edible ink cartridges is the same. You can also follow these instructions when you need to change an edible ink cartridge in your a Canon Edible Printer:
How to Insert Edible Ink Cartridges in an Edible Printer
- Open the lid of your edible printer and wait for the carriage to move into a central position.
- Carefully remove the first cartridge from the orange cradle, you may want to have a paper towel handy in case any ink leaks from the bottom. Be careful when pulling the cartridge out of the cradle to avoid damaging the front clip.
- Quickly insert the cartridge into the corresponding slot (make sure the colour on the cartridge matches the colour label for that slot) by placing the back of the cartridge into the carriage space first and gently pressing down on the front of the cartridge until you hear a “click”.
- If the cartridge does not click into place, it may mean the clip/lever at the front has been strained, if this is the case, you can pull the lever towards you and it may fit into place better.
- Repeat for each coloured cartridge. All edible ink cartridges must be in place and filled before the edible printer can work, even if you don’t intend to use this colour. Close the lid so the carriage moves back into position.
We hope this helpful guide on refilling your edible ink cartridges has been useful, if you have any further questions, you can ask our expert team by emailing support@edibleprintsupplies.co.uk or giving us a call on 01254 825786 (available Monday-Friday 9am-4pm).