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The long, long road to a Free Printer (programming.dev)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by loveknight@programming.dev to c/libre_hardware@lemmy.ml

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I don't have to tell anyone that commercial printers suck (with the possible exception of Brother, but how long will this last?). I've read people on Lemmy talk about the viability of making a FOSS printer. I'd like to keep these thoughts going.

From what I remember, there are four main challenges, listed descendingly by their apparent difficulty:

Handling ink
Meeting legal regulations
Moving the moving parts
Patents

Patent difficulties indeed should be avoidable, since decent printers have been out there for way more than 20 years, the usual duration of a patent.

Moving the moving parts with the high precision necessary does at first glance seem daunting, but I've read people say that this is a problem many people know how to solve.

Meeting the legal obligations may ne trickier: Printer fingerprints? Aerosols? Other health and environmental hazards?

Handling ink: From what I remember, this would be the main difficulty (unfortunately I can't find that post or comment anymore). One should avoid the problem of creating an own cartridge & nozzle production by designing the printer such that it can use an existing cartridge model (one for which there are good third-party offers). Still, one would have to solve the apparently very difficult problem that the ink/toner has to be handled under very precise conditions, regarding things like flow velocity, drying rate, and perhaps temperature.

In view of these challenges, I've started to think that maybe the best approach would be to try our best to find ex-employees of printer companies and convince them that they would be doing humanity a huge service if they were to contribute with whatever they legally can towards developing a FOSS printer.

Also, I've wondered whether the time to do this may be running out: If even Brother one day starts to crack down on third-party ink/toner, all the producers for third-party ink/toner could eventually go out of business; so that one may successfully develop a FOSS printer, only to have no other ink in the stores than the price-gouged one, which was the reason to do all this in the first place.

Do you have any corrections, specifications, or further thoughts? I'd love to hear them.

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[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 5 points 3 weeks ago

Precision movement is definitely solved, but rapid precision movement required for fast printing isnt easy, and requires tuning.

The legal requirements likely only apply to commercially sold and operated printers. Patents really only matter once you are making significant money, HP et al. aren't going to give a shit about diy efforts. Not a lawyer though.

The real issue is that printers are already dirt cheap (and despite some complaining here and there, work really well). Its hard to convince people to invest hundred to thousands of dollars to diy build a printer when you can buy one from an office supply chain for $50 (its wasteful, because it'll only last a year, but it makes financial sense). Even diy 3d printing is basically dieing out with people preferring to buy an off-the-shelf system.

[–] couch1potato@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

I've been very happy with the epson ecotank cartridges in my epson 8550 (dont remember exact model number). I'd previously been turned off inkket printers because of ink cost, but these carts have lasted a looooong time. I took the risk after reading good reviews and it's bern a good solid experience.

[–] bacon_pdp@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Well if one person is willing to invest (or borrow) $50K, they could start selling libre printers

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Have you considered using thermal printing as a starting place? The technology is old and free to use, parents have been expired for 20+ years at this point. It eliminates the need for ink entirely which seems like a big pro. The prints fade over time though, which isn’t great. But I have a thermal printer and use it often. Do you always need archival level artifacts printed? Anyway, it’s a cool idea. I wish you luck.

[–] sprite0@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

isn't the paper super toxic? i avoid thermal printers at all cost!

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The paper used to have BPA in it, but modern versions don’t.

[–] AnyOldName3@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Thermal paper is generally not recyclable, which is another downside.

[–] PeterLinuxer@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

For moving probably the solution: 2 step motors (1 horizontally, 1 vertically)

I don't know of any patent that is on basic printers. If PDF is patented: You could convert PDF and PS files on the computer and then send the raw pixel data to the printer.

Fingerprints: I think you mean the yellow dots. I guess they are totally voluntary by the industry. (If any expert reads this and know that's wrong, please correct me.)

Again guessing: Ink doesn't produce poisonous stuff, only laser and thermo printers do. Or?

Regarding re-use of existing cartridge design/system: would it be too hard to 3D-print a cartridge in our own format?

Also we need a very primitive CPU/processor/microcontroller and a very simple firmware. Just spray ink or not, then move the carriage horizontally, then vertically.

I am wondering about (a) the data cable and (b) the power source:

(a) could be serial, RS232 or USB.

(b) could be battery, USB, power adapter.