a) You could use it to do the opposite of the previous project, and make a miniature typewriter.

b) Is there a way to use that kind of printing/paper as a PCB mask?

The noise is fine…IMHO it’s the close-up microphone that makes it louder.

But that thing is slow like hell. Only usable if you have plenty of time to print things. Is it the printer module or the arduino that is slowing things down?

So…why is this so slow? And what are the varieties of thermal printers?

I know regular receipt printers, like those in stores, often operate on a far more linear fashion rather than with a print head (so all columns are printed at once row-by-row, allowing continuous feed–silently.)

i have a thermal head here liberated from a skip-destined epson thermal/dot matrix receipt printer..

will have to check the part number, this could be very useful for some applications such as printing a onetime wifi key when buying a coffee from a cafe or something..

Yes.. it’s slow, but is because to print that patterns (some very dark, some very alternating) you can’t go fast… is a thermal printer, the darkness depends on the time you spend heating the paper. With some software tweaks you can go much much faster!

Can you print in grayscale by modulating the on-time of individual dots?

epic

“based around an Arduino”
No its not, stop calling uC Ardublabla it annoying and lame

@therian

You can’t see it in the photo, but there is an Arduino on the other end of those grey ribbon cables.

I suppose you could say it is “based besides an Arduino” if that will make you feel better:)

I can order a cheap USB thermal receipt printer – have it shipped – unbox it – install the drivers – and print the same exact demo out before the homemade printer finishes in the video.

Painfully slow. Can’t imagine the speed not killing any useful application of that device.

Brownscale be it!

A perfect tool to print one’s shitlist, too.

this reminds me of the gameboy printer… I got one of ebay cheap but coukdn’t find the paper for it so I bought reciept paper at staples and trimmed it. Worked like a charm but i got bored of it fast and now itsin the basement somewhere.
Anybody have an idea on what project a gameboy printer would be good for?

Cool! And now I can print…. fake receipts?

Manuel, did you create just to learn something? Nothing wrong with that, but I can’t think a practical applications for home use of a receipt printer. Given that thermal paper images fade over time, did you have a specific use for this at home?

These printers are fascinating, using a single motor and special axis to move slowly forward and fast backwards while transporting the paper — I wonder why larger-scale (inkjet) printers don’t do this? (they could be very compact that way…)

It seems like these things /can/ go faster by just applying more voltage to the “pixels” on the head, mine takes just 1sec per line, but that may depend on the paper as well.

These are also available as add-ons for kid’s “laptops”, mine cost $3 and came with some H-bridges, motor drivers and voltage regulators

Very cool. It’s not really that slow, especially on regular characters. It’s only on those super dark patterns that it takes longer.

I’m not really use of what use it is but it’s pretty sweet looking and does *something*, so it’s cool!

@Steve

Another great suggestion! “the fart(ty) printer”, thanks dude! I am used to deal with bitter people.. very proud of all that farts and shitty tickets :-)

it probably would be a lot quieter if a smaller step size were used with the motor. I’m no expert but the only drawback would be lower torque and a printer this size probably doesn’t need much.

sure it’s slow but that’s only because the print head being used has to travel along the entire piece of paper. Modern printers have a print head that is the length of the paper so there isn’t a moving head, that makes them much faster.

this is a great idea i would love to build one of these printers. if i knew how i would use it for printing things like status updates on social sites or for printing quick notes (like someones phone/contact info they give me on a chat). also it would be a cool tool to use for calander updates. like prints the date and the things planned for today and if theres anything for the next day.

i wouldnt be turned away from buying because the printer sounds nostalgic in a way and the way i would use it (updates) would acually alert me to whats printing.

really cool love it