The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)
Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
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#1 2017-11-05 10:06:37
Label printing
Has anyone investigated the possibility that the desktop Brother labellers might be able to churn out specimen labels?
This one (https://www.brother.co.uk/~/media/pdf/p … eaflet.pdf) connects to a laptop and can take input from an Excel spreadsheet.
The remaining questions about its suitability for specimen labelling are: 1. Can it print sideways across the width of the tape? 2. What's the smallest font size it can deal with? 3. What's the smallest tape width (I've seen 16mm) 4. Are there non-gummed tapes? 5. How stable is the printing over time in an entomological cabinet.
They cost about £43 or so, like all printers it's the consumables that become the expense.
Is there anyone who has a need for its proper function who'd care to experiment with this kind of labeller and let us know if it can do the specimen labelling job - a museum perhaps.
Darwyn Sumner
DF Bulletin Editor, Scheme Organiser: Stilt & Stalk Flies
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#2 2017-11-05 13:32:08
- brianh
- DF Members
- Name: Brian Harding
- From: Kidlington, Oxfordshire
- Registered: 2008-10-27
- Posts: 326
Re: Label printing
It seems a good idea, but if it prints on a paper roll it would be likely that the paper is too lightweight for specimen labels.
I use 160 gm paper/card. The printed labels may have to be attached onto such a stiffer base.
The 12mm or 17mm labels/tape would be a good size.
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#3 2017-11-05 16:15:03
Re: Label printing
I suspect it might not be paper but rather a white plastic film, such as my hand-held Brother labeller uses. The characters are imprinted onto this film by a thermal printing method. The machine consequently contains no ink cartridges.
If it were along the lines of Terry Pratchett's camera, the labeller would be filled with tiny imps wielding red hot pokers.
Last edited by Rainieria (2017-11-05 16:21:10)
Darwyn Sumner
DF Bulletin Editor, Scheme Organiser: Stilt & Stalk Flies
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#4 2017-11-05 21:36:54
- KenMerrifield
- Administrator
- Name: Ken Merrifield
- Registered: 2008-02-21
- Posts: 278
Re: Label printing
The link provided confirms it uses thermal printing and has 15 character sizes (but does not give the actual sizes)..
A search on eBay for "Brother DK label rolls" gives these details and others imply that they are paper-
"These continous thermal labels work well with USPS�, Endicia�; Click-N-Ship�, Pitney Bowes Shipstream� Manager Deluxe, eBay�, PayPal� and other popular shipping/mailing software.
Create a number of custom labels from your Brother� QL label printer. Just cut to size!
Saves Money- Labels use direct thermal printing process so you never need to bother with messy, expensive ink or toner cartridges. "
From my experience with previous thermal printing systems I would not expect them to be of archival quality.
Could be useful for non-archival labels, perhaps in a field Meeting; if the site details have been entered on computer they could be used to print the data labels for the specimens while setting and to accompany specimens passed to specialists. I find writing these by hand time consuming before I start setting specimens.
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#5 2018-12-06 18:20:25
- Tony Irwin
- DF Members
- Name: Tony Irwin
- From: Norwich
- Registered: 2008-03-01
- Posts: 838
Re: Label printing
[Ignoring today's spam post just received on this topic]... I do want to point out that plastic labels (either printed or handwritten) can be very destructive if used as labels to be included in a tube of specimens in alcohol. In this situation they act like the blades in a food processor, and chop up the specimens into tiny fragments. Either use card labels and/or pack such specimens carefully with wadding to securely separate the label and the specimens.
Last edited by Tony Irwin (2018-12-06 18:21:11)
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