reliable b/w printer

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/

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:40:46 GMT,
(Gareth) wrote:

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.

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.)

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/

"Gareth" wrote in message
...

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.

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.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

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


"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
news:bO20c.1469$G3.13436@localhost...
"Gareth" wrote in message
...

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.

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.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

Thanx for the advice so far,

No I don't know much about writing drivers, though I'm sure someone on
my local LUG does, most of my research into dotmatrix led me to Epson
any ideas as to how forth comming they are with the necessary info ?
Thanx also for letting me know about the existance of escape codes
(this should give you an indication of my current knowledge in this
regard - I see a(nother) learning curve ahead :-)

Re Laser vs Ribbon the cost factor makes the ribbon a clear winner
though at the sake of noise (not really an issue) and print finish
(whilst dotmatrix is acceptable, laser would be nice). I would have
thought that ribbon is fairly resistant to drying out but stand to be
corrected and will budget a laser if sufficient merit, any pointers
appreciated, same goes for paper weights / types, as mentioned these
will be precut and probably preprinted.

I know my local commercial repro printer may be able to give me a lot
of this info re weights and finishes etc. (as well as what is actually
available in South Africa) but I need to get the prototype as right as
possible.

Thanx for all the advice so far, especially the existance of a decent
"Printer Bible"

Any more advice and 'gotchas' welcome

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

(Gareth) wrote in message .. .
Thanx for the advice so far,

No I don't know much about writing drivers, though I'm sure someone on
my local LUG does, most of my research into dotmatrix led me to Epson
any ideas as to how forth comming they are with the necessary info ?
Thanx also for letting me know about the existance of escape codes
(this should give you an indication of my current knowledge in this
regard - I see a(nother) learning curve ahead :-)

Epson dotmatrix codes are well documented (just go to their website
and downoad a manual). But you don't have to reinvent this. Linux can
print to these. You can print to just about any device by outputting
Postscript (preferably; you can just send plain text) and it will be
converted (by Ghostscript) into the target printer's language. This
has the advantage that you can change your printer at a later date
very simply.

http://www.linuxprinting.org/, and specifically
http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Epson-Dot_Matrix
is probably a good place to start.