AN OPEN PRINTER IS COMING: NO DRM, NO INK SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Open Printer by Open Tools is an inkjet built to be opened up: electronics, mechanics, firmware and bill of materials are promised under CC BY-NC-SA — refillable, no DRM.
by Open Tools
Open-hardwareRight-to-repair
Built withRaspberry PiSTM32
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a project (prototype stage)
- license
- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (announced)
- repo
- repo PROTOTYPE / CROWDFUNDING0 stars
●●●●○ · a project (prototype stage) · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (announced) · 0 stars · repo PROTOTYPE / CROWDFUNDING
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
Right-to-repair as a build: an inkjet that isn't a locked ink-subscription trap — standard refillable cartridges, no DRM, a Raspberry Pi Zero brain and CUPS so it just prints. Be clear-eyed though: it's a prototype at the 'coming soon' crowdfunding stage from a small Paris team, the GitHub org is still empty, and the files (non-commercial license) drop only when it's final. So today it's a statement and a project to follow, not something you can print this weekend. Worth knowing about — this space moves.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —Not on GitHub yet — the project lives on a Crowd Supply pre-launch page, and the design files have not been published.
- —Still a working prototype (crowdfunding stage) — not a finished consumer product
Parts to buy
3 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
Open Printer POC V1 — the prototype in action (Open Tools)2:04
Short prototype demo — the project is at the 'coming soon' crowdfunding stage.
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the Crowd Supply project page (specs, current state and progress updates)
- 2.Review the published specifications
- 3.Set up the Raspberry Pi Zero W(the brain)
- 4.Subscribe for updates and wait for the file release
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- It's a prototype on crowdfunding — no final ship date; treat it as a platform, not a product
- There is no repository yet: the project lives on a Crowd Supply pre-launch page with specs and updates.
- No files to download yet — the GitHub org is empty and the campaign is still 'coming soon' (no price, no ship date).
- The announced licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (non-commercial, share-alike), not an OSHW-approved licence, so read the terms before planning anything commercial.
Can I really build one today?
Not yet. It is a working prototype heading for a Crowd Supply campaign, and the design files are not public yet. Open Tools say all files will be released under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
No ink subscription, really?
That is the whole point: refillable standard cartridges, no cartridge DRM and no proprietary drivers (it prints through the open-source CUPS server). The firmware is due to be published with the other files.
Where are the files?
Nowhere yet. Open Tools say all files will be released under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0; for now the Crowd Supply page has specs and progress updates only.
Can I download the files today?
Not yet. The GitHub org exists but is empty — Open Tools plan to release files (under CC BY-NC-SA, non-commercial) when the design is final. Right now it's a 'coming soon' crowdfunding project.
Inkjet or laser?
Inkjet — it uses standard HP 63 (US) or HP 302 (Europe) cartridges with no DRM, refillable, and it can print with only the black or only the colour cartridge installed.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
A refillable inkjet with no DRM that prints black even when color runs dry — but it's still at the 'coming soon' crowdfunding stage. Would you back a printer before the files exist?
Open Tools
Making the Open Printer fully open — electronics, mechanics, firmware and BOM under an open license — so a printer can be built, refilled and repaired without DRM or ink subscriptions.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: Openprinter is still a Crowd Supply 'coming soon' project from Open Tools in Paris, with no files, price or ship date yet. The published specs are concrete: HP 63 or HP 302 cartridges (black, colour or both, refillable), sheets or an 11-inch or 297 mm paper roll with a built-in cutter, a Raspberry Pi Zero W main board and an STM32 cartridge board, and printing through the open-source CUPS server from Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone. All files are due under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, which is non-commercial. Follow it if you want a repairable printer; you cannot build one yet. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.