Open Printer: DRM-Free Future or Cartridge Conundrum?

Open Tools is developing the Open Printer, an open-hardware inkjet designed for repairability and user control, challenging the industry's reliance on DRM and restrictive ink schemes. The prototype incorporates a Raspberry Pi Zero W for its print server and an STM32 microcontroller for cartridge management, offering diverse connectivity options and operating on the open-source CUPS printing system.

While Open Printer's electronics and firmware are licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 agreement, permitting modification and repair, its current design accepts specific HP cartridge bodies. This creates a dependency on HP's continued availability of these cartridges in a compatible format for third-party ink refills, a point of contention given HP's history with cartridge lockouts.

Further development is ongoing, with Wi-Fi and Ethernet integration, ink drying refinements, and paper handling mechanics among the remaining engineering tasks. The project has not yet announced a funding goal, release date, or print speed, with final pricing contingent on production volume and component costs. Despite earning two French Design Award nominations for its prototype, the ultimate success and availability of the Open Printer remain uncertain.