Ultimate Guide on Drum Units Vs. Toner Cartridges

Drum unit and toner cartridges both are laser printer consumables. Some brands manufacturer laser printers in such a way where both units do not require replacement. In other brands, a single component is required to separate and replace. Therefore, many people found confused between laser printer’s drum unit and toner cartridges. 

If you have a laser printer and you are maintaining it in your own way, it will be convenient to know exactly what is drum unit and what is toner printer cartridges. If not, don’t worry. This guide will help you to know in detail.

What is Drum Unit and Toner Cartridge?

Before knowing about the drum unit and laser printer, let’s know how a laser printer works. A laser printer works from electric charges, which are important to pick and move plastic toner particles by changing charge.   

Toner cartridge and the drum unit are the two most important components of a laser printer. Toner cartridge are the same as the name suggest, containers of toner particles. On the other side, the drum unit is a component where the cartridge is placed. Electricity is used to print documents on paper. 

In short, toner is a container that holds particles whereas, drum hold the image that needs to be printed.

Why Drum Unit and Toner Cartridge question most asked?

Due to the structuring of new laser printer models, the curiosity among people rises to know their difference. Basically, all modern laser printers have both components. Buy HP laser printers built with single unit component and Brother laser printer have different components. 

This means when the HP printer cartridge runs out, you need to replace the whole unit. Whereas in brother laser printer models, replacing the brother toner cartridge only can solve your purpose. 

When to change Drum Unit and Toner Cartridges?

As discussed above, some printer models have to combine drum and cartridge unit. Therefore, when toner runs out or gets damaged, you need to replace the complete unit with the new one. Means, even if it had toner and in good condition, it won’t work. As a result, you may need to throw toner due to non-availability to change.

    

Keep in mind, this is not a big issue. As the drum is combined with printer structure. Therefore, hardly meet with damage problem. 

Most printers have three different toner cartridges. And the problem arises when you need to throw perfectly fine unit, in case one toner run out. But these problems do not exist in printers what have exclusive drum unit and cartridge option. 

How cost Effect in both situations?

After buying laser printers, you proved that you care for high printing cost and wants to avoid it. But, the challenge does not end only after buying a laser printer. Now, you need to make a wise decision by choosing separate or inbuilt drum cartridge choices. 

Remember, the combined unit always cost you much higher than the individual toner cartridge.  But much lesser than individual drum unit cost. Therefore, if you are going to make ascending cost scenario, it will be in the form of combined unit (drum and toner cartridge), an individual toner then single drum unit. 

So, to know what printer will be better, you need to consider their life. For example, an individual can work for a longer tenure than two or three individual cartridges. This serves better replacement options in the long run and better options too.

Therefore, the next time you are going to buy a printer, do not forget to calculate printer cartridge and drum unit cost.

What is the Right time to change Toner cartridges and Drum Unit?

An alert from software can help you to deal with this situation. But, do not rely merely on messages. As these are set to alter as soon as toner reaches the reordering level. Check till your system is working and providing you printed results. Check when it starts to print unclear with streaks or lines on documents, means a clear signal to change drum unit. 

Hope the above information able to provide you clear guide regarding drum and toner cartridges. So, in your next when you are going to buy a laser printer, it will help you to make a decision and reduce recurring printer cartridge cost.