I need to access some ATOT brainpower...

[labgeek]

I need to get some sequential numbering on stickers. Must be weatherproof and about 1 1/2 tall. The stickers would be larger, just the number portion need to be at least that large. The rest of it is of static design. And finally, it needs to be a non-manual process so no adding those little peel and stick numbers.

Any ideas?

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: labgeek
I need to get some sequential numbering on stickers. Must be weatherproof and about 1 1/2 tall. The stickers would be larger, just the number portion need to be at least that large. The rest of it is static. And finally, it needs to be a non-manual process so no adding those little peel and stick numbers.

Any ideas?

sounds like you already have the idea...

 

[So]

Ummm...print on large labels with a laser printer? Maybe there's a way to get excel to print lables?

 

[labgeek]

Is it weatherproof? I actually hadn't thought of laser printing them.

 

[pancho619]

Mail merge using an excel table with the sequential numbers into labels in microsoft word. You can customize the font and size of the label then print it out.

Weather Proof Labels

 

[So]

Originally posted by: labgeek
Is it weatherproof? I actually hadn't thought of laser printing them.

Define "weatherproof"...

laser ink doesn't really run when moist AFAIK, but the labels themselves may well not hold up well.

They probably make plastic labels, but you'd have to make sure to get ones that will run through a laser without melting.

 

[So]

actually....

http://www.eiminc.com/laser_stock_815.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=la...rinter+labels+water&btnG=Google+Search

 

[So]

(not trying to be a dick, that's just what I came across, maybe it'll help)

 

[radioouman]

go to home depot or lowes and by them. They have them for mailboxes, or boats, whatever..

 

[Ausm]

I simply refuse to use my brain at work

Ausm

 

[shimsham]

atot and brainpower?


shens!

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: radioouman
go to home depot or lowes and by them. They have them for mailboxes, or boats, whatever..

I can't use a manual process of applying them. (and look like cr@p if I did it) It would take FAR too long. Thus why I put in the OP, that peel n stick won't work.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Is this for personal or business use?

What is your budget?

 

[pancho619]

Originally posted by: pancho619
Mail merge using an excel table with the sequential numbers into labels in microsoft word. You can customize the font and size of the label then print it out.

Weather Proof Labels

Did you check out this link to the weather proof labels?

 

[labgeek]

AbsolutDealage -
Business use. No particular budget. Will need 100's of them - thus no manual process!

pancho619 -
I've been exploring that option. Trying to see what they consider the life of the label in the weather, plus sizes available, etc.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

You might want to consider a dedicated label printer.

Depending on size, this will run you a couple hundred bucks (~$150 if you eBay it). The upside is that you can get much better media for your application. Try something like this. If you get a 4" printer (i.e. Zebra TLP 2844), there are many media sizes available.

 

[labgeek]

I've used that printer in the past... it can be a PITA. Only zebra that's worse is the Stripe series - they are total POS'es. NEVER NEVER NEVER buy a Zebra Stripe - you will regret it until the day you smash it with a hammer. Media size for the the little zebra wouldn't be large enough. While the numbering only needs to be 1.5" or so, the whole sticker size is 1/2 page roughly, but sideways on a 105,140 or 170 which we already have might work. Z-ultimate media is thermal transfer... between media and ribbon, we just jumped the price per up a good bit. But I need color... I might be able to get rolls pre-printed sideways to fit a 105, 140 or 170 which we already have on hand. Hmm... Time to call TimeMed and see what they'd charge to do a small run...

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: labgeek
I've used that printer in the past... it can be a PITA. Only zebra that's worse is the Stripe series - they are total POS'es. NEVER NEVER NEVER buy a Zebra Stripe - you will regret it until the day you smash it with a hammer.

Yea, I know. I work for Zebra and I won't touch a stripe w/ a 10 foot pole. The clamshell printers (28x4, 38x4) are not so bad for low volume jobs (which is what I assumed you were looking for, ~300 labels).

In any case, if you are willing to drop the money on an Xi, by all means go for it. We make the Xi series here at my location, and those things are tanks. They will definately handle this job with no problem.

As for the media, if you want a truly weatherproof solution, you need to do Thermal Transfer. Direct Thermal media just won't stand up to that kind of punishment. I don't even think they make synthetic DT media anyways... For a real solution you have to be looking at Synthetic media + synthetic ribbon. It will probably cost a good penny, especially if you are getting preprint.

 

[labgeek]

I've already got 105se's and sl's, plus 140 and 170's that I might be able to use. Well, I doubt I could pull a 140 or 170 out of production for this - they're in higher volume spots. But I've got extra 105's as spares.

The S-500s were the first purchase while coming off the Soabars. Buying those was one of the bigger mistakes I made. Fortunately the 6 I ordered started breaking pretty quick. So I never reordered them. BTW, if you work for Zebra tell someone somewhere that those POS'es came real close to having us never buying another Zebra product again. If it wasn't for the distributor GIVING a 105Se to try out on an extended basis, we would have not touched another Zebra product in any way shape or form.

We use TLPs in a couple of low volume places for slide labels. The media/ribbon we run was supposed to be Xylene resistant. That was a laugh. The media was - it was basically plastic anyway. But the printing wasn't. Found out the "resistant" meant that if you didn't touch it while wet the printing would dry in the same place. If you touched the label at while it was wet, the printing would slide right off. My only problem with the TLPs is that they occassionally lose downloaded programming sometimes (fonts, images, etc.). That hasn't happened for a while though. I suspect it may have been a PBKAC (problem between keyboard and chair) also known as an ID10T problem.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: labgeek
if you work for Zebra tell someone somewhere that those POS'es came real close to having us never buying another Zebra product again.

Yea, I can't believe that they are still in production. Evidently, I guess they are really popular in South America for some reason. I guess down there, they don't even offer the Xi, because the price point is too high. Anyways...

We use TLPs in a couple of low volume places for slide labels. The media/ribbon we run was supposed to be Xylene resistant. That was a laugh. The media was - it was basically plastic anyway. But the printing wasn't. Found out the "resistant" meant that if you didn't touch it while wet the printing would dry in the same place. If you touched the label at while it was wet, the printing would slide right off.

I don't know much about this, but it seems like it could have been the wrong ribbon for that media. From what I have seen, the synthetic ribbon is pretty smear-proof when it comes off the head.... but I havn't played with it too much. If you have a wax ribbon, however, it does not do very well on synthetics.

My only problem with the TLPs is that they occassionally lose downloaded programming sometimes (fonts, images, etc.). That hasn't happened for a while though. I suspect it may have been a PBKAC (problem between keyboard and chair) also known as an ID10T problem.

If it wasn't an ID10T, then it sounds like it could have potentially been a firmware issue.

Like I said, I'm more familiar with the Xi's... the TLPs are made out in California (by what used to be Eltron). I work in the software department right now (we're making this), so I don't know much about printer selection/media selection.