I would like to print info labels for spools, and the 40x30mm labels generated by 3dfilamentprofiles.com seem pretty much ideal.
So I ordered a Niimbot B21 from Amazon (yes, I know, RFID DRM) and… oh my goodness, it is awful. I mean, the hardware is fine, I guess. It’s the apps. The iPhone apps are shambolic disasters, and it doesn’t work with a Mac via USB or Bluetooth. Nor do I want to buy a Windows machine for this little thing, that’s ridiculous beyond reason. It’s going right back to Amazon.
Do you use a label printer for this kind of thing? What do you use? Would you recommend it?
Also looking for a solid label printer for 30x40mm. Avoid DRM/Bluetooth app messes like Niimbot. Likely going with a Phomemo PM-246S or Jiose 4x6 — both support generic labels, USB, and custom sizes. Would appreciate feedback from anyone already using one!
Hmm, I had seen the Phomemo and considered one. I just ordered a Phomemo M110 in “Where-did-I-put-that Orange”. Can’t possibly be any more frustrating than the NIIMBOT right?
I’ll post some follow up notes once I’ve had a chance to try it out.
I’m using a brother QL-820NWB. While that probably is quite expensive compared to the Niimbot or the Phomemo, you probably don’t need the extra features like wifi, deviceless printing and so on. so the basic QL-600 is probably sufficient for most demands. I find a lot of lightly used ones below 1/2 new price.
Third party labels can be had for like 3-5 bucks for 800-1200 small labels and 300-500 bigger labels. You can also use continuous label rolls that the printer can cut to an arbitrary length. Don’t know if the china units have a cutter.
The P-Touch software is available for mac and windows. While it looks a little bit dated, it offers a lot of functionality. I haven’t tried any china printers yet, but I could imagine that this is where they fall way short.
As said, I never tried other printers. I think there are other reputable brands like Zebra. I can’t imagine that the cheap brands can hold up to them.
I agree.
Zebra is indeed expensive and for professional use.
Brother is my favourite.
Yet, 40x30 mm (user requirements) narrows the model choice significantly. @Bratling, if you can be content with 24mm, then I recommend the p-touch cube, which does the work for a reasonable price (I got mine for about 60€) and has a large label market with excellent quality third-party at a reasonable price.
There is a p-touch model that can go to 36mm, yet the cost is significantly higher.
Good tip there; the QL-600 runs around $90-100 on eBay right now. I even turned up refurbished 820’s at that price range (for example, this one).
I actually own an older Brother P-Touch with no PC/phone connectivity that maxes out at 19mm tape. It’s a great little machine if all I want is words and numbers, and not many of either! I have no complaints about it. It’s superb at doing exactly what it does.
I’ve had poor results from the cheap aftermarket label tapes; every few years I order a couple rolls to see if it’s any better and then promptly to back to Brother. The aftermarket ones eventually stop feeding the tape backing, usually before I’ve used even a quarter the roll. It ends up costing more than Brother tape.
I am a huge fan of Brother products. Their hardware engineering is second to none and their printers (thermal, laser, tape) and document scanners are dead reliable! It makes up for their user interface design, which is second to last. (I’m not sure who is last. But Brother works hard to be at the end of the list. Only a hardware engineer could love their UIs. Luckily, I’m the child of an engineer.)
And there’s another vote for Brother!
I’m going to see how the Phomemo is; it arrives sometime today. I have this sneaking feeling I’ll be returning it to Amazon and returning to the Brother universe. We’ll see.
(And thank you everyone who has replied, even if I didn’t quote you here. The input is great to get!)
Oh, that are far higher prices than im used to in Germany for the QL-600. I have seen used ones for 30-40€. When I switched to the QL-820, I sold mine for 25€.
Update! The Phomemo M110S cost me US$40 and works like a charm. The phone app is not confusing and works quite nicely. It has a proper printer driver for USB printing from Mac, Windows, and Linux(!!). At first I couldn’t send a print job successfully; eventually I realized I hadn’t set a custom paper size. The Phomemo quietly ignored my attempts to print full size letter sheets! I don’t blame it but an error message would be nice.
Not sending it back. Works great. I’m pleased as punch! Thanks all for the thoughts and I hope this will be a useful reference thread for others in the future!
Nice! I have an ancestor of that one, going on two decades old. Built like a tank. Eats AA batteries for breakfast; Eneloop rechargeables paid for themselves in a couple years. For this I wanted something a little more versatile, but you can’t beat Brother engineering! I swear by their (paper) printers and document scanners.
I’ve been digging at value proposition and general linux experience and to my surprise Brother might not be good option… Anyway: AIMO is owner of the Phomemo brand and thy straight up give out linux drivers to all their printers in very compatible manner… Might try them out…
I thought you were about to dump some little know horror about the company on me. hahaha
I just realized. Pink Profile image, pink keyboard, pink usb cable?! But the orange printer?! Ahh, but they had a pink one! I can’t unsee it and now my love of colors and cordinating looks is having a fit or two.
I saw the pink one, but it was such a quiet, demure pink. Boooring. So I went for utility. Plus, I hail from the state that brought you Dunkin’ Donuts…
I don’t blame it but an error message would be nice.
