EEVblog #1302 - Scrapping a Dumpster Laser Printer For Parts

[EEVblog]

What usable parts can you get from a dumped high end office laser printer?

[johnlsenchak]

Those   laser    dio-dee's   are    sex on the  stick   , you could  do a  complete  video   just on those units 

[nctnico]

Be careful with the toner though. It is fine dust which can cause all kinds of nasty effects to your body.

[SilverSolder]

If only there were enough hours in the day to actually do something with all the cool parts that we salvage out of dumpster finds...

[Brumby]

Let's not go there .... shall we?

[Fungus]

Yep. It's astounding how many complex parts, plastic molds, bent pieces of metal go into those things. I can't even imagine how they design or manufacture them.

What's this chip? It looks easy to salvage... 



I'd make a disco light from the pretty spinning mirror!

[nctnico]

If only there were enough hours in the day to actually do something with all the cool parts that we salvage out of dumpster finds...

Checking the parts bin.... Stepper motors from printers: check, mirror from copier: check, main servo for paper feed: check, clutch for paper feed: check. Need I go on with listing stuff I never used during the last decade? Writing this I start to doubt I'm really over my hoarding tendencies or that they are just slumbering. 

[Syntax Error]

  Thanks for the tear down. It's rather like opening up a beached whale, sad but very fascinating.

The mirrors are the most usefull part in a laser printer, as they're optical grade and surface silvered. Repurposing ideas include; use on an optical bench to study quantum mechanics, build a light spectrum analyser, make a newtonian telescope, or make a simple periscope from a cardboard tube. With enough mirrors and scan prisms, one might contruct a steam punk chandelier. But that requires a lot of dumpster finds! I'm sure one day your young apprentices will build those stepper motors into their killer robot school project.

[EEVblog]

Yep. It's astounding how many complex parts, plastic molds, bent pieces of metal go into those things. I can't even imagine how they design or manufacture them.

What's this chip? It looks easy to salvage... 

(Attachment Link)

EEPROM most likely.

[Brumby]

Repurposing ideas include; use on an optical bench to study quantum mechanics ....

I do like the way you think.   

[aqarwaen]

Yep. It's astounding how many complex parts, plastic molds, bent pieces of metal go into those things. I can't even imagine how they design or manufacture them.

What's this chip? It looks easy to salvage... 

(Attachment Link)

EEPROM most likely.

it looks like u can remove it from socket..have you tried removing it and reading it with any eeprom reader?
maybe you even erase it and reuse it somewhere?

[rrinker]

 I was going to say, it's probably a 555 timer    After all, don't all good circuits use a 555?

[jonovid]

they have a lot of plastic gears as well as the laser optics
 front surface mirror and other goody's if your in to optics
stainless steel axles rubber rollers if you in to DIY robotics projects 
 latest generation electronic appliances has less and less to salvage IMO.

did my own laser printer scrapping back in 2018
found one abandoned in the street. better then all them common as mud, flat-panel displays, inkjet printers.

[Carl E]

I'm Jealous.... I've been kicked out of my dump for dumpster diving. Threatened with subpoena if they catch me again. Enjoy your lucky days.

[bluey]

Spare parts from old printers saved up for retirement art project.

Possibly the most useful would be turning the abs plastic into 3d printer filament. I presume people are doing this...