checking toner of Brother DCP-7040 printer

[irispix]

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how I can check the amount of toner I have left.
I just bought this printer and would like to monitor the amount of toner I use as I go along.

Does anybody know how I can check this?

[Chuck Engels]

I have a similar Brother scanner/printer, it comes with management and monitoring software.
If you did not install the Brother software you cannot monitor the toner usage.

[irispix]

Hi Chuck, I did install the software but cannot figure out how to go about checking the toner.

[Bobby]

I have a DCP-7020. In my Start Menu, under Brother, you will see MFL-Pro Suite and under that Status Monitor - if it is anything like mine.

[Bobby]

Forget that - it doesn't show the toner level. And I can't find anything that does. Hmmmm...

[Chuck Engels]

I'll take a look at mine and see what I can find out.

[irispix]

I found the solution which I will like to share with you.

To check the drum and toner life plus the page count and print report:

Press the Menu button on the printer
select General Setup
and then User Settings
Press start to print.

To check the count and drum life without printing:

Press the Menu button on the printer
select Machine Info
then Page Counter.

[Chuck Engels]

Thanks for the update. How did you find the instructions?

[Bobby]

Thank you! We spent our time thinking about driver oriented displays and never thought about the printer control panel itself!

[irispix]

from komguy at fixya.com
This is his reply to me.

komguy

Rank: Guru Expert
Rating: 89.44% , 1567 votes

It has no accurate measure of the toner left, it is reset when you put in a fresh toner and just counts prints. The Brother shines a light thru a little window from right to left and when the toner is empty the light shines thru and it says it's empty.


Comments:
Jan 14, 2010 - It's an internal counter, but if you press menu or reports button and scroll down to user settings and print that report it will tell you how many prints you have made and the life of the developer drum. It averages the toner usage based on the amount of toner for each print at about 25% coverage for each print.

[Bobby]

Yes, and the "drum life" does not mean toner level. Apparently it is another approximation based on projected life and print usage.

[irispix]

Yes, the drum and toner are two different things but when one prints the report using the first option it shows drum and toner life.
Right now mine shows 100% for both.
It will be interesting to see if and when this changes.
I wrote to Brother support but have yet to hear from them.

If I do, I will let you all know.