Image Credit: Softchoice Corporation | Vision Computers, Inc. | CompUSA

Laser printers use a laser beam to produce an image on a drum that is rolled through a reservoir of toner. The beam is picked up by the charged portions of the drum to fuse the image onto paper. General performance specifications, printer specifications, bar code symbologies, and features are important to consider when searching for ink jet printers.

Specifications

   
Important performance specifications for laser printers include resolution, printing width, and memory.  Printer resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi) and refers to the number of dots per square inch the printer is capable of achieving.  Generally, more dots per inch means a higher resolution.  The printing width is the width the printer can print characters, not the width of the media it is printing on.  Memory choices for laser printers include RAM, Flash, and EPROM.  Memory capacity is the amount of information the printer can store in memory. Bytes are used to measure memory.  Interface choices include serial interface, parallel interface, Ethernet, and USB.  Media types handled by laser printers include single sheet, fan fold or continuous, and roll.  Important media specifications to consider include maximum media thickness, maximum media width, maximum media length, media roll outside diameter, and media roll inside diameter.

Features

   
Common features for laser printers include color printing, copying and or sorting capabilities, industrial metal housing, user controls, indicators, application software, and cutters.  Laser printers with color printing are capable of color output in addition to monochrome output.  Printers with copying and/or sorting capabilities are a multifunction system for printing, copying, and/or scanning.  An industrial metal housing a cabinet for protection.  Controls on the front panel are used for user programming.  These controls can include a touch pad user interface, or buttons for power, on-line, menu, store, form feed, reset, up, or down.  Audio or visual indicators are used to indicate for paper out, paper jam, or other errors.  The indicators can be LED lights or an alphanumeric display.  A cutter is used to cut media from continuous forms or rolls.  Applications include graphics, CAD or engineering, GIS or mapping, bar codes, labels, forms, receipt or POS or kiosk, mail pieces (envelopes), checks or financial documents, and ID cards. 

Related Standards

• ASTM D3460 - STANDARD SPECIFICATION FOR WHITE WATERMARKED AND UNWATERMARKED BOND, REPROGRAPHIC, AND LASER PRINTER CUT-SIZED OFFICE PAPERS
• ASTM F1457 - STANDARD TERMINOLOGY RELATING TO LASER PRINTERS
• ASTM F1206 - STANDARD TEST METHOD FOR EVALUATING COLOR IMAGE OUTPUT FROM COLOR PRINTERS AND COPIERS