Laser printers are often associated with the huge photocopiers of the 1980’s that graced the silver screen in movies like Wall Street. Not so much the case any more, in fact they are extremely popular and come in all different sizes. These printers use precision lasers to glue toner to a light sensitive drunk which then applies the ink to your paper (or whatever medium you are printing onto). They are sold as single function units or as multifunctional printers and come in both colour and monochrome (black and white). Their fast print speeds make them a frequent choice in offices. They are also loved for their low cost per print because of their long lasting toner cartridges and large montly duty cycles. They do require a substantial initial cost and this typically alienates the home office shopper, however they will save you money over the longterm making the Total Cost of Ownership comparable to other machine styles.
PROs: High quality prints, fast print speeds, low cost per print.
CONs: High initial cost, high energy consumption.
Similar to the laser printer, the LED printer fuses toner (dry ink) to your paper (or other print medium) through heat. The primary difference is the Light-Emitting Diode arry that is used as opposed to precision lasers as the toner is affixed to the imaging drum or belt. The complexity of this process is not as substantial as the laser printer, giving the LED printer a cost advantage. The LED printer is also more efficient and reliable, though they do not have the same print resolution as a laser printer.
An LED printer does require a higher initial investment than some other styles, but the cost per print is much lower than most other available print technologies.
PROs: High quality prints, fast print speeds, low cost per print.
CONs: High initial cost, high energy consumption.
The inkjet printer market is a little bit complex. There are technically three classifications of inkjet printer, we are going to talk about them generally. So that you understand and can further investigate the three if you decide inkjet is for you, the classifications are: thermal, piezoelectric and continuous. All three work in basically the same way, they spray variou sized liquid ink droplets through print head nozels onto the paper (or print medium).
What can be important to know about inkjet printers is whether the one you purchase has a fixed print head or a disposable print head.
A fixed print head often has a more precise spray and is built to last during the printer’s lifetime, which saves consumers money because the ink is often cheaper to replace. However, if something goes wrong with your print head, you will typically have to purchase a new printer.
A disposable print head often means more expensive ink cartridge replacements since you are replacing the print head every time you replace the ink.
PROs: High quality photo output, vivid colors, ease of use, low initial cost.
CONs: Higher cost per print, slower print speeds, print head clogs.
The dye sublimation printer is not one that is often noted n the marketplace. these machines are typically used as dedicated photo printers because of the unusual method by which they print and the impressive array of colour choices. Basically, the dye sublimation printer uses a solid dye ribbon that is heat until it turns into a gas and then spread over the print medium in four layers. The first three are colours, the fourth is a clear laminate that prevents prints from being destroyed when exposed to heat. This also helps to extend the life of a photo print well beyond what another printer type may give you. These machines are excellent for their lack of ink spill worry and they do not require a lot of energy to run. New models will sometimes include a battery pack to create a truly portable unit.
PROs: A vast amount of color choices, prints are ready to handle immediately, no ink clogs, portability.
PROs: A vast amount of color choices, prints are ready to handle immediately, no ink clogs, portability.
CONs: Can only print on certain print mediums, wasted ink, print speeds can be slow.
The solid ink printer is comparable to the dye sublimation printer but does have a few key differences. The most important difference is that it uses solid sticks of ink that would be most comparable to candle wax or crayons. The second difference is that those wax sticks are heated into a liquid and sprayed onto a print drum. The print drum presses the ink onto the paper (or print medium).
PROs: Low long term cost, print quality, ease of use, eco-friendly.
CONs: Slow warm-up, high power consumption, high initial cost.
Thermal printers require thermochromic paper to operate and create images by heating the paper as it passes over to create a black imprint. You often see these printers as the receipt printers in retail business. While it is unusual, some thermal printers are capable of printing red and black. Most are monochromic (black only).
Like dye sublimation printers they are sometimes portable.
PROs: Low long term costs, no ink necessary.
CONs: No color options, smudging dye.
Inkless printers are a newer product to the print market, but the technology is comparable to that of the thermal printer. They use a special paper that is embedded with colourless dye crystals between two outer layers. When heated by the print drum the colourless crystals colourize to reveal the printed image.
PROs: Produce color photos anywhere, works with multiple wireless devices.
CONs: Battery life can be a factor, prints are small.
These do-it-all printers can be purchased from almost every major printer manufacturer today. Known as all-in-ones (AIO) in the consumer market and Multifunctional printers (MFP) in the business world, they transcend over all of the above. They vary on features but most include three basic devices: printer, scanner and copier. Often, products also include fax, photo or email functionality.
AIOs are particularly popular because users get three, four or five devices for the price of one or two. They can keep desk space from getting cluttered and make an office or home more functional.
PROs: Includes the latest features, a choice of print technology, reduces gadget clutter.
CONs: High initial cost.
These are the very basics of the printer comparison, but hopefully quite helpful. Every one of these categories will offer a myriad of options within. We are focused largely of the Multifunctional or All-In-One devices because of their versatility for the modern office. Not sure where you fall? Sign up for our Free Office Automation Assessment. We can help!
Brady Thermal printers—also known as direct thermal printers or thermal label printers—were first invented in the mid-1960s by Nobel Prize-winning electrical engineer Jack Kilby. Kilby, who worked for Texas Instruments, Inc. at the time, and his colleagues aimed to develop a digital printing system that could quickly produce text and images at a low cost. In 1965, Kilby and two other engineers submitted their patent for the first thermal printer.
More than 60 years later, thermal printers still generally operate in the same way that Kilby’s initial model did. Instead of using liquid ink or toner to mark materials, thermal printers selectively apply heat to pieces of thermochronic paper. The heat instantly blackens select parts of the paper, leaving behind the desired code, text, or image.
Thermal printers complete this process with the aid of three internal elements:
which is a rubber roller that feeds the thermochronic paper through the machine
which applies heat to the thermochronic paper to create the desired marking
which applies even pressure between the thermal head and thermochronic paper to keep markings clean and legible
With these components, thermal printers can rapidly produce product labels and receipts, and as a result, are highly beneficial to retail shops and shipping companies. However, they are not perfect for every application.
Here, we break down the most prominent thermal printer advantages and disadvantages to help you decide if this printing technology is right for your industrial requirements.
In terms of build, Brady thermal printers are typically very compact. Consider the receipt printers that you see at the grocery store or gas station, for example; these thermal printer models generally weigh only a few pounds and can be easily transported when necessary. Even industrial thermal printers are much smaller than other printing technologies.
Along with their compact size, thermal printers are easy to use and maintain, as they are built with few moving parts that rarely break. Economical in price, thermochronic paper changes can be completed in a matter of seconds during operation.
In terms of print results, thermal printers excel at creating easy-to-read paper slips and labels at high speeds. Retailers, for example, prize thermal printers for their ability to print point of sale receipts and price tags with speed and consistency. A meat processing plant, as another example, uses thermal printers to apply labels when the space or application does not allow for a print and apply labeler.
Other industries that benefit from thermal printing’s speed and consistency include:
where thermal printers are used to create product labels.
where thermal printers are used to create lab/pharmacy test results, patient wristbands, and general labels.
where thermal printers are used to create shipping/receiving labels, inventory lists, packing slips, and return labels.
While thermal printers have many advantages, one of their major disadvantages is their restricted functionality. Although thermal printers excel at creating labels, receipts, and notices, they can only be used with thermochronic paper, while technologies like thermal inkjet printers and continuous inkjet printers can directly mark a wide range of materials. Further, thermal printers are unable to print with multiple colors.
Many manufacturers who do use thermal printers still prefer to label by hand instead of using print and apply technology. Thermal transfer overprinters are not used in junction with automation—it is more of a manual process.
In addition, the codes produced by thermal printers are simply not designed with longevity in mind.
While codes made with thermal transfer overprinters can last for years, thermally printed markings are highly susceptible to damage from:
Finally, thermal printers have high consumable costs compared to other marking technologies. Thermochronic paper is not a low-cost substrate, and it also tends to expose thermal printheads to significant friction, which can lead to higher maintenance costs as well.
If you’re looking for a way to quickly create product labels, receipts, medical readouts, and vouchers, the thermal printer is a great choice to meet your needs. Thanks to their fast printing speeds, machine-scannable contrast levels, and simple internal construction, thermal printers are highly effective and easy to use. However, they do have some significant drawbacks.
Due to their restricted substrate compatibility, thermal printers are essentially relegated to label and receipt printing. The markings made by thermal printers are also not built to last, as they are highly susceptible to damage from light and physical touch. Moreover, thermochronic paper is expensive and exposes the print head to significant friction. This equals high consumable costs and frequent print head maintenance for the user.
For a more comprehensive look at thermal printer advantages and disadvantages, see our table below:
Thermal Printer Advantages Thermal Printer Disadvantages - Compact build - Only compatible with thermochronic paper - Intuitive usage - Limited applications - Fast printing speeds - Restricted color options - Consistent code results - Codes are not designed to last long-term - Few moving parts - High consumable costsContact us to discuss your requirements of 46 inch lcd video wall, high quality seamless lcd splicing display, lcd splicing screen. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.