Using an inkjet to mark parts

[dirk]

I ran across this inkjet kit and thought it would be great to interface to the Shopbot. From reading their info it looks like it will do text, barcodes and draw lines. It would be neat to print directly on parts using the Bot. There are some movies that show it in action. Here’s a link:
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=27949

Here's some movies
http://www.parallax.com/dl/mm/video/BS2BoebotPrinter.MOV

http://www.parallax.com/dl/mm/video/SXhandheldprinter.MOV

[Brady Watson]

Parallax has been making some pretty cool stuff these past few years. This is one of them!

This is a great concept for adapting to the Bot and something that would be interesting for those making furniture or cabinet parts reqiring marking...However...these things don't like dust, so by themselves the fatality rate of the head would probably be pretty high. If you coupled this head with a label dispenser and applied the label via some kind of automation, then I think it could be a viable option on the Bot.

Whaddya think?

-B

[dirk]

I thought of a couple of options. One was to totally enclose the print head and have a trap door open to allow printing. Another would be to have a separate x y frame to mark sheet before loading on bot.

[stickman]

I would think that this kind of feature on a shopbot would be a great addtion for marking screw holes on sheets. It looks like it would be a little cheaper than the green lasers, thought I would like to have that feature on my router as well, to layout and locate parts from the shopbot code file.

It could also come in handy to mark lines for painting certain areas.

Just my pre-coffee, morning thoughts.

Jay

[dirk]

Interfacing the print head or even a label printer has me a little stumped. Ideally simply putting the text to print into SB code would be the best. A serial output would be required, and I don’t know of a way to get the present software to do this. This may be a question for Bill Young as to ideas to get this to work.
Maybe a front-end program to load print buffer, and open SB and move to desired location and move at a constant speed with an output triggering print head. It would then close SB reload buffer move to next location and start the process all over again.
Any ideas anyone?

Dirk

[Brady Watson]

I think that some type of automated dispenser might be cost prohibitive on the Bot...expecially when you consider that the panel will need to be totally free of debris, you would have to come up with a reliable means of separating the label from it's backer and applying the label to the surface. A continuous roll of labels might work if you had a way to seperate the paper from the label and shear off the label stock before applying.

I always thought that just having a pre-printed set of labels nested on the label stock just like the parts were laid out on the sheet would be a pretty easy thing to do...although it is not exactly automated. Barcodes are just fonts...so you could put anything that you wanted on a panel.

-B

[dirk]

Applying pre printed labels wouldn’t be too much of a problem. The labels are in a roll and precut. The backer with labels are routed over a small roller or even a knife edge causing the label to continue in one direction and the backer returns to a take-up roll in the other. The label can be pressed on with a brush or roller if it is close to the item being labeled, or can be picked up with suction and pressed on with a pneumatic cylinders . Most label applicators work in this way. A lot of printers will feed label separating backing where it can be picked up at printer.

[drodda]

It seems that you two are discusssing a way to spend way too much money and time to do something that a $39.00 lexmark printer can already do. Print labels and apply them to your parts. When you could be figuring out how to get one of these attached to your bot?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4158814239136110758&pl=true


Now that would be awesome!

Just a thought?

Dave

[dirk]

Interested in the lexmark printer.
Got a link?

[drodda]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4664474

You can get these at walmart. The replacement ink cartridges cost more than just buying another printer.

Here is how to apply the labels?

http://z.about.com/d/graphicdesign/1/0/u/7/112098f.jpg

[dirk]

I imagine this model bot would work best with your applicator.
http://www.newwoodworker.com/graphics/photos/artlstips/routdirec/rtrdirecoutside400x359.jpg

[Brady Watson]

LOL!

For those of you who don't want to throw out their printer when the ink goes out (pretty sick situation actually) you can get cheap, but good, ink here (http://www.inkoasis.com)

-B

[Red (Unregistered Guest)]

The other option is to use a thermal label printer. You end up paying more for the labels, but then at least its just 1 replacement item rather than ink and labels.

Wouldn't it work to mount a cutting laser on a 2nd z. Not to mention cool, but then you get marking, engraving, cutting (of some materials), even 3d contouring. And yes I'm sure its not cheap.

[bill.young]

Hey Dirk,

The inkjet kit was delivered on Friday...I'll let you know if I make any headway with it.

[dirk]

Hey Bill
Glad to here you're running with it. I think it will be a cool project. Real interested to see what you come up with.
Dirk

[jeff_rowley]

Chuck up a 'Sharpie' in the router and let it draw directly on the wood... When I first got my Shopbot, and then broke the router before I got to cut anything, I still had all kinds of fun drawing with it like a giant plotter.