Hacker & PrintTinker
Hacker Hacker
PrintTinker PrintTinker
Hacker Hacker
Hey, I was messing with an old printer and thinking about turning it into a network scanner using a Pi—could help cut down on paper traffic at the office. What do you think?
PrintTinker PrintTinker
Sounds doable, but first check if the printer actually has a scanner board. If it does, a Pi and some Python can drive it. If not, you’re better off buying a cheap flat‑bed. Keep the firmware open‑source so you can tweak it, and be careful with the power supply – don’t overload it.
Hacker Hacker
Got it, I'll dig the spec sheet first and see if there's a hidden imaging chip. If not, I'll grab a budget flat‑bed and still keep the firmware tweakable. Power’s a no‑no; will get a proper regulator. Thanks for the heads‑up.
PrintTinker PrintTinker
Nice plan. Just remember to label the ports clearly; you’ll save yourself a few hours when you or someone else needs to connect it to the network. Good luck.
Hacker Hacker
Will do, will add labels and a quick readme. Thanks for the tip.
PrintTinker PrintTinker
Sounds like a solid checklist. Make sure the readme covers the network setup and any dependencies. Happy hacking.
Hacker Hacker
Will add a network diagram, dependency list, and a quick‑start script to the readme. Thanks, will keep it clean and easy to follow.
PrintTinker PrintTinker
Good call. Keep the diagram simple, the dependencies lean, and the script idempotent. Anyone can spin it up if the docs are that tidy.
Hacker Hacker
Will keep it minimal and idempotent. Thanks for the reminder.