Label Maker for Shop

[MichaelP]

The main thing that would steer me away from NIIMBOT is that I'd need to insert labels of different lengths and constantly think if the next texts will fit if the font is the same.

 

[SwissMetric]

Sorry. Neglected to notice you are in Switzerland! I haven't heard the brand "Rotring" in a long time! Gave me pause...

Thanks.

Sorry for my late reply. Rotring was very common before CAD became affordable. Some plotters used the ISOGRAPH with removed handle, such a mess to clean the tips. There were also plenty of various templates, even for curves, for those not using flexible rulers with some lead profile inside.
In the 80's (?) there was also some expensive Rotring device to draw texts, like a miniplotter with integrated keyboard. And there were those large height-adjustable drawing boards with complex ruler systems.

Looks like the Epson is not available in EU. I am not familiar with this Brother unit but it prints on polyolefin tubing as well.

Not sure if you are closer to Germany or France so apologies if I got it wrong. I lived in Bern for a bit 20+ years ago.

I'll have to check it, my last Epson was probably a needle printer with endless z-folded perforated paper for those who remember.

Bern is a nice city but sort of dead after 10PM. I'd consider that, though small, only Zürich qualifies as city, it's tiny compared to L.A. or NYC.
Switzerland is so small that you can cross it by car in 4 hours. Driving between downtown L.A. and Santa Monica would be considered as serious distance here (just kidding but distances are tiny here). I speak both German and French and English is my only (rusty) foreign language.

Sorry fot the OT.

Where long-term reliability is a must one can't that easily change the used marking system, I've seen adhesive labels used in switchboards which all fell off after some time. Also using the wrong cleaning spray can instantly ruin all labels, though less likely if labels are laminated.
Fading is also an issue, especially outdoor. Embossed stainless steel is sometimes the best option.

Also the Brother shrink tubing cartrdige is very expensive and quite short, further I don't know exactly what I get. If I order a specific type from a very major manfacturer I pay the price but expect a consistent quality and consistent specs over years. Take some no-name or custom-branded product, welcome to the lottery, often you get another product after some time even if ordering the samer art. #. The same applies to cable ties (e.g. HellermanTyton) or critical cables (e.g. RADOX 155 as extreme example).
Using good strong adhesive laminated Brother labels and protecting them with transparent shring tubing works well but requires more time.

I wonder if Brady is better than Brother, unfortunately Brady is not widespread here (I remember their lines and symbols to make PCB's at home ).. More common in the industry.

Overall I'd be interested in one of those lower-cost laser marking systems but it requires a lot of testing with polymers.
Plastics not specifically formulated for laser engraving with specific wavelengths can lead to consistency problems. Especially contrast can be tricky. Until recently marking cables with a laser was quite expensive, must check in this forum if some members use such lasers.

Having to use different marking systems is annoying. Laser and inkjet are in theory the most flexible, laser is more durable but contrast can be an issue, inkjet is not resistant to some solvents and more prone to fading. After one or several decades odd things can happen, I've sse foams turnng into goo or even plastics ending degraded to a sticky mass at room temperature,