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Probably barely on-topic, but I'm wondering if there's any way to control a 2D inkjet/laser printer similar to 3D printer. Specifically:

  • Shifting the XY axis by a certain amount
  • Controlling the paper feeder by small increments
  • Dispelling ink at defined amounts

2D printers have a very high resolution and can be useful for some things, which is why I'm asking.

K Mmmm
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1 Answers1

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No

  • Most 2D printers use very different motor setups - 3D Printers use steppers, Paper printers usually use simple motors and encoders.
  • Printers take input in special data formats. These can be pretty much normal Text files of what characters to print but a print job sent from the printer driver also contains specific orders and might not even be readable to humans. This file of instructions and pattern to print then is processed into the actual movement of the printhead and paper only in the printer itself.
  • 2D Printer software is super locked down. You can only get the firmware of a paper printer in formats that are absolutely nonreadable. Compare how hard it was for Itkin and Balmas to reverse engineer just the fax protocol of modern printers. Then, amplify that by a few notches because the fax protocol has a known standard it needs to uphold but the printer itself does not.
Trish
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