this post was submitted on 04 Nov 2025
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Selfhosted

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Self-hosted web printer (lemmy.zip)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by q1p_@lemmy.zip to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world
41 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi,

this is my first post on lemmy and I couldn't find another community that fits better for posting this project.

I saw this idea somewhere else and I wanted to build it for myself because I was fascinated by it. So I did. You can enter your nick name, a message (optional email address and image) and send it to me. It will print immediately and I will see your message. There's also an easter egg that you can discover. :)

I am using a Phomemo M02 Pro thermal printer. Made with Python (printer communication via bleak, phomemo_printer, PIL) and Node/Express.js. With my Python script I poll the data from the backend to print.

https://i.ibb.co/zwzGd4X/img.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/ZpFxbbRT/IMG-1502.jpg

The messages I already got are so funny and positive haha. I think I will cut them all out and scan them.

EDIT: I just woke up and saw all the messages. Thank you so much :)

EDIT2: I got a few messages that made me smile. Very original. Positive messages from all around the world. Since I got almost 200 messages and over 30 images, I think I will pick the most original and funny ones and post here an update

EDIT3: I got a few messages saying that I should hook up a web cam and stream it. I'm thinking about it but since I'm moving to a new place, I think I'm going to do afterwards. Also I'd need something like this: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Soldering-Accessories-Helping-Jewellery-Workshop/dp/B0BHVJSRRN that I can order when I'm at my new place to place the Raspberry Pi Zero with the camera (OV3660) into the right position for streaming.

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[–] sznowicki@lemmy.world 66 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Please make some firewall rules so it's not available in Germany. Once the Germans will see this they will abandon all digitalization efforts and use this as a fax replacement everywhere over here.

[–] ZonenRanslite@feddit.org 21 points 1 week ago

This is funny, because it's true.

[–] thagoat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Where's the link? I'll play along!

[–] thagoat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

Heh. Mine is the pictures. Nice.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Cute. I wanted to make something like that for my mom (so friends and family could message her on it, not for strangers) but I never got around to it. She knew how to use email but didn't check it very often, so a printer would have been more immediate. It would have to have been an impact printer though, since another family member (probably correctly) wanted to stay away from thermal paper on health grounds.

Maybe this is what you saw:

https://aschmelyun.com/blog/i-invited-strangers-to-message-me-through-a-receipt-printer/

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

Yes, this is the project I saw a couple days ago! It inspired me.

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

wanted to stay away from thermal paper on health grounds.

What grounds? First I’ve heard of this.

[–] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I think I will cut them all out and scan them.

... feed the prinout into a tray, after x lines (however big) take a picture from a mounted webcam? Just for some extra fun here. Because thats what this is, a very fun project, super cool!

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago

I have a spare Raspberry Pi Zero and I actually want to do exactly this but I have concerns since it shows pictures also. Some people might upload or send pictures against the law. Maybe I can integrate a moderation AI model. But this is a side project, I have to care about my main project.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago (3 children)

"Dear q1p_: I am Prince Sani Abacha of Nigeria and.... "

[–] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 5 points 1 week ago

I have to say, if I got spam like that through a form like this, I wouldn't take a picture.

I'd frame it, and then I'd take a picture. Maybe on the fireplace mantle, maybe on the piano, but somewhere prominent.

(Until my wife asked what stupid shit I had framed, and its life after would depend entirely on whether or not she found it funny)

[–] shnizmuffin@lemmy.inbutts.lol 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING TO CAT FACTS.

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 week ago

Haha :) I'm reading all

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

That would be funny

[–] splendoruranium@infosec.pub 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have no way to gainfully apply this in my life but I am glad you made it!

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

I have no idea as well haha but I'm happy when messages get printed

[–] sicjoke@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Love this idea. What’s the link?

[–] osaerisxero@kbin.melroy.org 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Also do you have enough paper for the entire bee movie script.

Asking for a friend.

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago

Uhm, I guess I don't haha

[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is awesome and wholesome :)

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 week ago

Thanks :)

[–] mesamunefire@piefed.social 5 points 1 week ago

Neat!

[–] TuxEnthusiast@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 week ago

I love this idea

[–] FeatherConstrictor@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm getting a network error :(

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Maybe it was during an update. I can reach it

[–] FeatherConstrictor@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's working now for me, sent!

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

I saw it

[–] starshipwinepineapple@programming.dev 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Neat project! And welcome to lemmy!

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago

Thank you I start to like lemmy

[–] CaptainBlagbird@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Tipp: Add a * and space before the links to create a list:

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

How did the cat turn out?

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I got multiple cat pictures, all turned out well. Some pictures are too bright but all cats can be recognized.

[–] Balldowern@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't want to waste your paper/ink so I'm not posting there. But I do want to say you're awesome 😎👍🏻

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago

It's a thermal printer, so no ink :)

[–] portnull@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The internet being what it is has there been any negative or inappropriate images or text? Because if not, my faith in the interwebs will slowly heal

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

One "f*** y**" was there, one of the first messages. Other than that only positive ones. No inappropriate images at all, most were cool anime images or drawings. It even printed out complex images very well, didn't know my little printer has such a good resolution haha

[–] KaKi87@jlai.lu 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Nice ! Ever heard of image compression though ? 😅

[–] q1p_@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 week ago

You mean the uploaded images? I was in a hurry.