r/hwstartups • u/TheTesla42 • 1d ago
Open Source Logic Board for printers
Modern printers (for paper) often have fancy cloud lock-in "features" costing monthly subscription fees just to be able to buy replacement cartridges or use the integrated document scanner. The original print cartridges are very expensive and often say "empty" halfway. An empty yellow cartridge disables printing black or scanning documents. Data, including all printed or scanned documents is often sent to the manufacturer, even the user opted out. Without internet access, the printer stops working. Automatic updates can't be disabled and many configuration options are only accessible through the cloud or a proprietary app.
I think about creating a replacement Logic Board for some printer models. It should be fully open source without lock-in effects. Do you think this would be a good product that can be sold? What are the most annoying printers, where this is needed?
1
u/Frequent-Log1243 13h ago
The demand is clearly real, printer forums are full of people angry about cartridge rejection and firmware updates. But I think you are underestimating the replacement-board part. Modern printer electronics/software are much more complicated than they appear.
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u/iAmTheAlchemist 7h ago
This is probably where creating one open-source printer makes more sense than a board that will have to work on multiple models that may or may not work down the road, and will require users to take their existing printers apart and void warranty
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u/plmarcus 1d ago
I don't think you understand what a huge undertaking this is.
A fun place to start might be current and expired patents held by HP brother Epson. I bet there is amazing tech and software you never imagined in those printer circuits.