Wirth Consulting

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World’s First Open Source Printer Will Soon Be Here

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Users have long complained about printers, but now a new open-source printer that promises to address many traditional printer complaints will soon be here. 

Called simply the Open Printer, this is an open-source, repairable inkjet printer with basic specificaitons.  Built with standard mechanical components and modular parts, it’s said to be easy to assemble, modify, and repair. Users can print on standard sheets or paper rolls and it accepts refillable black and color ink cartridges.

The printer is being supported by Crowd Supply, which helps creators launch new projects with crowd-sourced funding and support. It was created by Open Tools, which is based in Paris, France.

The Open Printer features no proprietary drivers, is designed to never become obsolete, and is said to be built for longevity and customizability.

Thanks to its open-source, standard components, the Open Printer can be assembled, customized, and repaired to extend its life. It accepts standard paper, as well as roll paper, for printing on banners (providing an integrated paper cutter), and uses HP Inc. ink cartridges.

Specifications are as follows:

  • 600 dpi black resolution; 1,200 dpi color resolution
  • Print-head compatibility: HP 63 (U.S.) ink cartridges, HP 302 (Europe) ink cartridges

Processing

  • Main board: Raspberry Pi Zero W
  • Cartridge board: STM32 MCU

Interface

  • Display: 1.47” 172 x 320 TFT LCD panel

Connectivity

  • USB Type-C (computer)
  • USB Type-A (for USB mass storage device)
  • Wi-Fi 802.11ac
  • Bluetooth 4.1

Power:

  • 24 V DC supply, 2.1 mm DC-in jack

Compatibility:

  • Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone (uses the CUPS open-source print server)

Dimensions:

  • 50 x 10 x 11 cm (19.7” x 3.9” x 4.3”)

Our Take

Overall, this is a pretty basic desktop inkjet color printer. There doesn’t seem to be mobile printing, and it doesn’t seem like it can be managed on a network. There’s little in the way of security, and you still have to use HP ink cartridges. Presumably, it can take non-HP third-party ink cartridges, and it won’t be subject to HP firmware upgrades that will block the use of those third-party cartridges. And of course the adventurous can perform repairs themselves. 

Visit Crowd Source here to find out more about the Open Printer.