What is an OPC Drum?

What is an OPC drum?

OPC standards for Organic Photo Conductor Drum. The OPC drum is a long piece of metal with
a cylinder shape and a delicate outer coat, typically green, blue or red. These drums can be
found in many laser printers, such as the HP LaserJet 1320.

They offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to older photoreceptors that were labeled

hazardous.

So what does an OPC drum do?

OPC drums help electrical conduction, meaning they serve as a receiver of the negative charge
needed to transfer the toner to the paper. In laser printing, different electrical charges are given
to different components to attract them to each other, such as the toner and the drum. The drum
has an aluminum substrate that allows it to hold these charges, temporarily attracting the toner
powder to it before transferring it to the page. Each drum has three coating layers that serve
different purposes and are all made from environmentally-friendly, biodegradable materials.

UCL (Undercoat Layer): This layer serves as a glue between the aluminum and inner-most layer.

CGL (Charge Generation Layer): This is a thin layer, 50 times thinner than an average piece of
hair, that aids in the print speed and determines the color of the drum.

CTL (Charge Transport Layer): The outer, transparent layer of coating that allows the laser to
strike through the CGL. This will define the acceptance of electrical charge and ultimately the
life of the drum, as it is exposed to the elements, including paper, rollers and toner.
How to care for an OPC drum?

First and foremost, it is important to know that OPC drums are very easy to damage. Do not
touch it with your fingers or expose it to bright lights. It is highly recommended that you
purchase a replacement rather than attempting to clean it yourself. If you choose to try cleaning
it, do so in a dimly lit, temperate area and do not use oils or other cleaning products. When the
OPC drum starts to get worn, prints will be lighter. If it is damaged with a scratch, for instance,
printed pages will start having black marks on them.

Though it is not commonly discussed in the printing process, an OPC drum is an important
component in laser printing technology. It serves as an electrical conductor and is essential for
transferring toner powder to the paper properly.