reliable b/w printer

G

Gareth

Hi all,
firstly please excuse my ignorance on this subject, I did google but
all I got was sales blurb mostly.

I'm looking to build a prototype machine which will print to a custum
cut sheet of paper / card though not on all of it's surface (think
lables). This is text so black is fine, it will be remotely located
(potentially hot dry climate) so paperjams etc. are not an option. It
should be able to proccess PostScript files (Linux).

To this end my best bet seems to be a dot-matrix (similar to a
cashregister) but I'm finding it hard to find out info eg. carriage
widths, fileformats accepted etc. amd most importantly any heads-up
pointers.

For the prototype I'll pobably mess around with a / several till-slip
printers, but I also need some info for the blurb in my business plan.

If anyone can provide useful links that may help I'd really appreciate
it.

TIA
Keep on Groovin'
gareth
http://www.backstage.co.za/gareth/
 
G

Gary Tait

Hi all,
firstly please excuse my ignorance on this subject, I did google but
all I got was sales blurb mostly.

I'm looking to build a prototype machine which will print to a custum
cut sheet of paper / card though not on all of it's surface (think
lables). This is text so black is fine, it will be remotely located
(potentially hot dry climate) so paperjams etc. are not an option. It
should be able to proccess PostScript files (Linux).

To this end my best bet seems to be a dot-matrix (similar to a
cashregister) but I'm finding it hard to find out info eg. carriage
widths, fileformats accepted etc. amd most importantly any heads-up
pointers.
Click to expand...

I'd doubt any impact dot-matrix printer has the smarts to decode
PostScript.

I'd hack apart a cheap inkjet to make one, and do the PS rendering in
software on a host PC (make sure you get a paralell one, to use on
linux).

Would you consider a laser? Some do support PS.

Another option is dye/wax sub (inkjet might give dryout problems in a
your climate.)
 
D

Don Phillipson

I'm looking to build a prototype machine which will print to a custum
cut sheet of paper / card though not on all of it's surface (think
lables). This is text so black is fine, it will be remotely located
(potentially hot dry climate) so paperjams etc. are not an option. It
should be able to proccess PostScript files (Linux).

To this end my best bet seems to be a dot-matrix (similar to a
cashregister) but I'm finding it hard to find out info eg. carriage
widths, fileformats accepted etc. amd most importantly any heads-up
pointers.
Click to expand...

1. We assume you know you can write the
appropriate printer driver. (Most people do not
so would rely on Windows.)
2. What you want is Control Codes (sometimes
Escape Codes) i.e. the DOS printer commands
for each function. Most surviving DM printers
use Epson FX commands, listed in several books
like Scott Forster's Printer Bible (Que 1990) and
perhaps on line.

There are no restrictions for "file formats accepted
etc." If you can write the driver, you can print it.
The most helpful hint is two text test files, one
with the minimum you need to keep going, the
other with the maximum you hope to implement.
 
D

Don

I would definitely recommend a laser printer. If you are operating remotely
in a hot, dry climate (I live in the Phoenix area!), printers using
moisture, such as inkjets or dot matrix with ribbons, will likely be a
problem.

Unfortunately, many laser printers will also give problems with paper jams.
I find that in dry climates they sometimes try to feed multiple sheets at
once. Not often, but if you are remote, occasionally is too often. I
suspect that the choice of paper type and weight may minimuze this. You
might want to check with tech support at HP or other laser printer
manufactureres for a recommendation.

Don
 
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