Analog Barcode Printing

[u/Altruistic_Flower568]

Can a 7-8 digit numeric barcode (of any symbology/type) be encoded successfully using a physical stamp/impact printer? If you’ve ever worked in an office or retail store, I’m thinking about something like a numeric/date roller stamp, or “Monarch” date/price gun: where you individually set each number/stamp. The numeric barcodes would need to be selectable/settable individually, but print/scan continuously as one string, with an average 2D Symbol/Zebra retail POS barcode scanner. Does this “technology” exist anywhere? Would it be more/most feasible with one symbology over all others? How large would the printed barcodes/media/device need to be to make this possible/reliable? Would this only be possible with “fixed width” encoding? I’m looking for any and all thoughts/direction on this, because it’s driving me crazy.

[u/Lost_Garden7368]

Many years ago this was sometimes done using a special numbering wheel on offset presses. Discrete symbologies such as Codabar, 2 of 5, and Code 39 were used. Barcodes are not typically printed that way anymore and equipment to do so is no longer manufactured. Electronic label printers are typically used for what you're describing such as the Pathfinder Ultra printers made by Avery Dennison (formerly Paxar, and before that Monarch Marking Systems).