6 ms·

Open source printers

giantg2 6y ago
Why do you say that? Most printer companies make their money off of the ink/toner for consumer products. The printers themselves are usually close to break even prices. That doesn't leave much room for open source competitors.
- uberman 6y ago
  apparently commercial printers leave microdots on printed pages that can be used as fingerprints. Perhaps an open source one would not. just a guess though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Identification_Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Identification_Code
  - giantg2 6y ago
    I think the microdots have become mandatory. Any commerical open source printer would likely be required to do this too. I guess I just don't see that as giving people a compelling reason to produce one (meaning I'm not surprised by a lack of people working on it).
- ta988 6y ago
  Many of these printers don't work well on Free OSes unfortunately. Or require binary blobs (looking at you Canon) that are barely maintained piece of software cobbled together...
  - giantg2 6y ago
    I had an HP and Lexmark working with Ubuntu and didn't have any problems that I can remember. I still imagine the market demand is quite low, especially if there are some existing printers that already work. I guess I could see it if it was DIY. But then the question would be why it hasn't been done already.
  - meowster 6y ago
    I use Ubuntu and my Brother laser printer is plug-and-play... not with USB but with WiFi!!! Now scanning on the other hand...
    - ta988 6y ago
      Absolutely, some printers work beautifuly.
  - Ekaros 6y ago
    Why don't we have a common interface for printers. Something you could just push a simple pre-processed postscript or even bitmap. And then the device would do the stuff it needs to print it. Have basic set of options in there, page size, duplex, etc... They likely already have enough processing power for that anyway...
- tornadofart 6y ago
  Just because of the scam you mention. EVERYONE complains about their bullshit low quality home printer with super expensive ink. Yet nothing is being done about it.
  - giantg2 6y ago
    I don't mind my printer. I buy refurbished/off-brand cartridges and they work pretty well. The real question is, can it actually be done more cheaply (commercially)?
  - Ekaros 6y ago
    Printers are complex mechanical devices. And people want them cheap as possible. I don't think there is big enough market for open source printer that would cost x-times more. Someone is likely making good industrial quality ones, now finding those and selling them on that point is something that should be solved...
canofbars 6y ago
Tbh I think the age of printers is just about over. I haven't had a printer for years and get by just fine. For the rare occasion I want to print something, I just print it at the library or work or a commercial printing store.
- randomdata 6y ago
  Printing on standard paper is of marginal utility. Being able to adapt open source printer designs to print on various objects would change the game.
Too 6y ago
It's funny you can get a cheap DIY OSS 3D printer, but not a 2D :)

Why do you say that? Most printer companies make their money off of the ink/toner for consumer products. The printers themselves are usually close to break even prices. That doesn't leave much room for open source competitors.

uberman 6y ago
apparently commercial printers leave microdots on printed pages that can be used as fingerprints. Perhaps an open source one would not. just a guess though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Identification_Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Identification_Code
- giantg2 6y ago
  I think the microdots have become mandatory. Any commerical open source printer would likely be required to do this too. I guess I just don't see that as giving people a compelling reason to produce one (meaning I'm not surprised by a lack of people working on it).
ta988 6y ago
Many of these printers don't work well on Free OSes unfortunately. Or require binary blobs (looking at you Canon) that are barely maintained piece of software cobbled together...
- giantg2 6y ago
  I had an HP and Lexmark working with Ubuntu and didn't have any problems that I can remember. I still imagine the market demand is quite low, especially if there are some existing printers that already work. I guess I could see it if it was DIY. But then the question would be why it hasn't been done already.
- meowster 6y ago
  I use Ubuntu and my Brother laser printer is plug-and-play... not with USB but with WiFi!!! Now scanning on the other hand...
  - ta988 6y ago
    Absolutely, some printers work beautifuly.
- Ekaros 6y ago
  Why don't we have a common interface for printers. Something you could just push a simple pre-processed postscript or even bitmap. And then the device would do the stuff it needs to print it. Have basic set of options in there, page size, duplex, etc... They likely already have enough processing power for that anyway...
tornadofart 6y ago
Just because of the scam you mention. EVERYONE complains about their bullshit low quality home printer with super expensive ink. Yet nothing is being done about it.
- giantg2 6y ago
  I don't mind my printer. I buy refurbished/off-brand cartridges and they work pretty well. The real question is, can it actually be done more cheaply (commercially)?
- Ekaros 6y ago
  Printers are complex mechanical devices. And people want them cheap as possible. I don't think there is big enough market for open source printer that would cost x-times more. Someone is likely making good industrial quality ones, now finding those and selling them on that point is something that should be solved...

canofbars 6y ago

Tbh I think the age of printers is just about over. I haven't had a printer for years and get by just fine. For the rare occasion I want to print something, I just print it at the library or work or a commercial printing store.

randomdata 6y ago
Printing on standard paper is of marginal utility. Being able to adapt open source printer designs to print on various objects would change the game.

Too 6y ago

It's funny you can get a cheap DIY OSS 3D printer, but not a 2D :)