Ask HN: Why are there no open-source printers?
I often hear people complaining of high ink prices. Specifically purchasing a printer such that when the time comes to replace the ink, buying a new printer is the cheaper option.
Not to mention the whackamole game wherein more affordable, aftermarket ink cartridges are made incompatible.
Why isn’t there a printer that is open source, and whose compatible cartridges are affordable? No investment required in taking security measures to exclude cartridges of a different manufacturer
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[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 87.6 ms ] threadtldr: patents on good nozzles
Edit: If someone can point to a particular active patent that would actually prevent someone from making an open source inkjet printer and they actually have the money to invalidate the patent, I wouldn't be surprised if I could find prior art to invalidate the patent. The examiners don't get a lot of time so a large fraction of patents are not actually valid.
I only buy B&W laser printers, currently using a Brother MFC - printer, copier, scanner, duplexer. Always works. A toner cartridge lasts about 2 years and buy white-label equivalent. It costs less than half of the Brother branded one.
The Canon PIXMA six ink like seems to be pretty resistant to drying up and clogging. The inks just run out really fast and cost a lot, but that doesn't matter if you only print a few pages a year.
There are small color laserprinters, but they need expensive DRM protected cartridges so they are as bad as cheap inkjets.
> The Canon PIXMA six ink like seems to be pretty resistant to drying up and clogging. The inks just run out really fast and cost a lot, but that doesn't matter if you only print a few pages a year.
I've owned such a printer. While the output is beautiful, they flush a bit of ink everytime when powered on so while that makes then more resistant to drying up a lot of the expensive ink does not end up on your printouts. Beside that: my print head clogged anyway and the only replacement was as expensive as a new printer. Won't recommend.
In short; my bubble or why is anyone still using printers? I know some countries still use printers; like HK where you have to send everything business or gov on paper still. I am rather for paperless as it makes things environmentally better and so much easier (sending envelops is a real pita if you don’t live in a city; last one I sent took 6 weeks to arrive in HK).
- I printed out my COVID vaccine certificates and lateral flow test proof to get entry to a club, because it's in an area of the city with poor mobile reception and I wanted to make sure I could get in without any faff
- I printed out my D&D DM notes because having six sheets of paper spread out in front of you is like having three extra monitors (on top of the laptop and tablet I was already using)
- I printed out my teaching notes for a series of drumming workshops, because the workshop venue is underground and has no reception, plus it's easier to read notes in big print while you're teaching instead of having to squint at a screen. I also printed a stack of individual handouts (simple sheet music for what they'd be playing) for attendees.
- I printed out a form to sign for my financial advisor, who doesn't seem to use digital signing
- My partner printed out a sign to stick up behind him at an event
Honestly I could probably get by just using my office laser printer, but it's very convenient having one at home.
Plus, we still need them for labeling and making high detail front panels at home.
Other than that, I'm all for completely going all paperless, it's often months in between the times I actually use a pen, and I'm usually rather annoyed if anyone tries to send physical paperwork in 2022.
Unfortunately every reason I'd print something requires color, so inkjet is pretty much the only option.
I echo what segmondy said about school printables: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30710791
And what HWR_14 said about meetings: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30710950
Or eternityforest about decorations: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30709741
Personally, I also use printouts for marking-up notes in classes I'm taking, or for signing things that can't be signed electronically
And I print handouts for classes I teach - enabling everyone present to follow-along and take them home for further review (if they so choose)
I hacked my 3D printer to do that, and used it to make our wedding invitations and they turned out beautiful, much much nicer than printing the graphics.
I don't have any pictures, but they basically look like someone with an amazing handwriting did the invitations.
I started writing the text in inkscape using a "cursive handwriting font" and then converted the text outline to a single vector patch that I converted to gcode, there is a plugin for inkscape that will make it into a gcode description that "lifts" the pen at the right times.
Then I 3D printed a pen holder to attach to the printhead of my 3d printer, and used some rubberbands to hold a pen to it.
Here's a video of the printer in action, drawing a picture I made in inkscape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvS1PObU8PI
I've been looking into pen plotters to make some art prints but can't justify the cost of it. A 3d printer though sounds great. Can already think of some projects to use one for.
The text looks crisp!
I went with it after looking on Linux forums for most Linux friendly laser printers.
I don't think they sell it anymore unfortunately but maybe there's some new equivalent?
I found it by just reading threads and articles about Linux compatibility and at the time this was one that kept coming up. Maybe printers have changed in the intervening time though.
I don't know. But I think it's a fine idea. Pick a print head that's easily available as an aftermarket replacement part, and the rest of the bits can be scrounged from 3D printer suppliers.
I abandoned the whole inkjet thing for the same reason most people do - dried-up print heads and refill hassles. After looking at my options for lasers, I got the next best thing to an open-source laser - a 20th-century HP Laserjet "milk crate". The supply of new and used repair parts is plentiful, toner cartridges are about as cheap as they get, native drivers are available for most operating systems, and detailed factory service manuals are available if you want them.
The former should be something the 3D printing ecosystem can easily come together around.
With that said, I have never found the cost of ink to be expensive. I have a laser printer and on my 2nd ink in almost 10yrs. For my HP inkjet, I buy "unofficial" ink from Amazon for cheap and it lasts. I use the laser for B&W and HP for things that need color.
The Epson EcoTank inkjet printers accept any ink you want to use.
People are just buying the wrong printers.