It's really surprising we have open source 3D printers with way more complex kinematics, parts, etc than a printer but we don't have a traditional open source printer despite printers existing since the 70s.
It's really surprising we have open source 3D printers with way more complex kinematics, parts, etc than a printer but we don't have a traditional open source printer despite printers existing since the 70s.
The kinematics seems harder but the material handling of paper, ink jets, and laser fusing process are all difficult compared to an extruder and require pretty specialized parts.
Aside from making a pen plotter, it would be very difficult to make an open source 2D printer. A 3D printer is an enabler of this, but I would think to be feasible you would have to at least find a popular "business end" of the printer to reuse. There is a project called "openprinter" that is attempting to make an open source inkjet printer but it's really early days.
Ink chemistry and color accuracy are much more difficult than what amounts to a small glue gun and some motors. And 3D printers only achieved high reliability on some pain points like bed adherence recently. Imagine if 30-50% of document prints just failed unless you sprayed glue on every piece of paper, even if your printers and filament are all new.
https://www.crowdsupply.com/open-tools/openprinter ?
It's been on HN this year to my recollection. Maybe it has some closed firmware or something that means it's not "open" for you?
Not that surprising.