Open Label Printer

(currently out of date: Vincent Dalstra has an up to date specification)

• Make it easier for people to label their stuff.
• Lets people make nice labels for other purposes.
• Adhesive business cards, anyone?
• Labelling lots of things quickly (e.g. instructions for catapults; cuts down to a nice size).

• Printing of simple text labels via Web tool. (smartphone compatible).
• Printing images via a linux command-line tool (aim to make this easier)

i.e. things that require software modification in order to get working.

• Printing images via the web tool.
• Automatically print Name/Date Labels when an RFID key is scanned.
• Generate and print QR codes via the web tool
  • Provide a guide to make generators for similar things e.g. chip pinouts.
• Printing multiple copies of a label via the web tool.

• Label printer (QL-700) $99
• Raspberry pi, with wireless (easier to position) + usb mini to usb large adaptor $21 + $5 https://core-electronics.com.au/raspberry-pi-zero-w-wireless.html
• Micro-SD card (for the pi) $8.50
• RFID reader + Interpreter (arduino nano) $5.50 + $3.00

• Reading names from RFID (is it stored on the chip, or do I need to query a server?)
• Also need to know the correct RFID reader to use, and how to connect it to a raspberry pi; a problem that has already been solved with doorbot.
• If it used NFC (as I suspect it it does) then I should be fine
• Setting up a raspberry pi (I’ve never done it before – should be easy, but someone else’s expertise might save time/headaches).
• Modifying the web tool (the webserver printing tool is good, but could benefit from some modifications; luckilyit is written in python, which I’m not familiar with)

• $100 + $1.62per metre (60mm wide tape, official)
  • Aftermarket: 20c per metre (Amazon)
• 13 cm/s print speed - for 30 x 60 mm ‘standard address labels’ (5c per label, official).
• Can print sideways (min. print 12.7mm). Retracts from cutter to avoid wasting space.
• Autocutter – multiple labels at once.
• Local Return (officeworks), just in case it’s not up to snuff.
• There is a guide for combining a raspberry pi with this printer. It can also host a browser-based label design tool (works on smartphones too). https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/building-a-pi-powered-wireless-label-printer
• Actually bypasses the official drivers entirely.
• Videos in action: (some variation in speed: worth investigating). Resolution is very good.
  • https://youtu.be/lNq2BLUgmrA?t=253 (printing slowly)
  • https://youtu.be/h62ECk2arUw (seems more like the claimed speed; very fast).

• $80 + $0.60 per meter (24mm wide tape, same price for thinner – down to 8mm)
  • PS: This is the aftermarket price
• Print speed not stated
• Uses thin tape up to 24mm wide
• No official linux drivers, but seems to be CUPS compatible (See comments at http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Brother/Brother-PT-P700)
• Local Return

• $94
• No Autocutter; (rip-strip instead). Not as neat, and inconvenient for many labels.
• Rumoured to have more after-market label options (extra colours etc.)
• Has also been used in similar projects.