Heat shrink printer

[mike os]

I need a heat shrink printer for cable identification.

I don’t do loads but enough to want something that will do a decent job

Thinking brother pt e550 or one of the dymo rhino 5200 or some similar variant

Ideally need to cover 3 to about 15mm shrunk, would like to be able to fit over m12 connectors and rj45 too

Anyone got any advice and suggestions?

 

[mtt.tr]

I have the e300 really good printer, so I imagine the e550 is mustard

 

[mike os]

I’d go for the 300 … what’s the widest heat shrink it takes? … info is mixed online

 

[m_c]

I’d go for the 300 … what’s the widest heat shrink it takes? … info is mixed online

17.7 flat, which equates to 10.6 diameter

I have the E300, and my biggest issue with it is the amount of wastage.
However, I have since found that you can get the heatshrink tubing from AliExpress for a fraction of the cost of genuine Brother tape.
Cost me £25 for 6 rolls delivered, compared to £20 for a single Brother roll.

 

[mtt.tr]

17.7 flat, which equates to 10.6 diameter

I have the E300, and my biggest issue with it is the amount of wastage.
However, I have since found that you can get the heatshrink tubing from AliExpress for a fraction of the cost of genuine Brother tape.
Cost me £25 for 6 rolls delivered, compared to £20 for a single Brother roll.

I buy the fake hs from Amazon works fine.

 

[mike os]

Answered my next question already

 

[8ob]

FFS not another tool I didn't know I needed

Bob

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

FFS not another tool I didn't know I needed

Bob

I did know I needed it but been putting it off for a while.

 

[mike os]

FFS not another tool I didn't know I needed

Bob

Yup ,,, some days I hate this place

 

[bs2236]

I have the E550, it is brilliant for heartstrings for cable id's - and if course labels!
As mentioned it does waste a bit but once you get over that it is good.

 

[m_c]

The alternative to using heatshrink, is the normal tape and print flags or wrap around (flags work well on smaller wires, whereas wrap around works well on bigger wire).

One thing to consider, is do you really just want a standalone/handheld printer?
Every time I need to any more than a couple labels/heatshrinks, I find the handheld quite frustrating. I think I've was buying again, I'd go for either one of the wifi handheld options, or a standalone desktop one, so I could design labels at a PC or on my phone, instead of endlessly punching primitive buttons.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

One thing to consider, is do you really just want a standalone/handheld printer?
Every time I need to any more than a couple labels/heatshrinks, I find the handheld quite frustrating. I think I've was buying again, I'd go for either one of the wifi handheld options, or a standalone desktop one, so I could design labels at a PC or on my phone, instead of endlessly punching primitive buttons.

That's what put me off getting one of the brothers.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

17.7 flat, which equates to 10.6 diameter

I have the E300, and my biggest issue with it is the amount of wastage.
However, I have since found that you can get the heatshrink tubing from AliExpress for a fraction of the cost of genuine Brother tape.
Cost me £25 for 6 rolls delivered, compared to £20 for a single Brother roll.

I have a Brother PT9600 label printer and find the clone tapes just as good as genuine Brother tapes. The wastage used to be annoying until I read the manual, (rtfm) and found I could delay the cutting of the tape until I had printed all the labels in the run I was doing. So I didn’t have a space in between each label. The way the printer works with laminated labels means it has to waste about an inch if you just print one label but it’s still an inch if you print 100 labels.
I wonder if the heat shrink printer has a similar facility.

 

[mike os]

The alternative to using heatshrink, is the normal tape and print flags or wrap around (flags work well on smaller wires, whereas wrap around works well on bigger wire).

One thing to consider, is do you really just want a standalone/handheld printer?

Hate flags, wrap around laminates are ok but more work.

What alternatives would you suggest?

I think this is what I need given I don’t like taking my laptop everywhere and need portability but I’m no expert.

It’s only really for significant marking … clear cable id for non tech users, ex identification, and stuff that needs extra care with identification or connection, or complex panel wiring grouping.

 

[Hood]

I have a Brother E300VP and it works great for the heatshrink. Like others, I buy the knock off stuff. I couldn't get it small enough for some of the wiring I was doing in my lathe retrofit (under 1mm diameter) but found this to be an acceptable way.

 

[m_c]

Hate flags, wrap around laminates are ok but more work.

What alternatives would you suggest?

I think this is what I need given I don’t like taking my laptop everywhere and need portability but I’m no expert.

It’s only really for significant marking … clear cable id for non tech users, ex identification, and stuff that needs extra care with identification or connection, or complex panel wiring grouping.

The 550 is available with WiFi and Android/iOS apps, so that at least gives you some flexibility, although I have never even looked at the apps to say if it's any good or not.
I just get a bit frustrated with the whole button punching thing. I'd much rather sit at a computer and at least print the majority of what's needed before heading out.

 

[snoozer]

Ooh, A Dymo on Steroids.
Is it acceptable to add a Tool and then try and find a use for it after it arrives I wonder ?

 

[James1979]

I have a Brother E300VP and it works great for the heatshrink. Like others, I buy the knock off stuff. I couldn't get it small enough for some of the wiring I was doing in my lathe retrofit (under 1mm diameter) but found this to be an acceptable way.

View attachment 377250

Just googled them. They’re sub £100 at the moment.

The clincher for me - will it do ‘normal’ tape?

My dymo is knackered and needs replacing so if these will do tube and tapes it’s a no brainer

 

[Robotstar5]

Another option for bundles, big cables etc. is a tie on marker system I've found them useful where I have a load of multicores going through gland plates.

 

[mike os]

Just googled them. They’re sub £100 at the moment.

The clincher for me - will it do ‘normal’ tape?

My dymo is knackered and needs replacing so if these will do tube and tapes it’s a no brainer

They do normal tape too .. might be a different cartridge to the “normal” machines.

The 300 only goes to 17mm tape