@lanodan@Jain An "open source" printer would just end up proprietary.
If only we had printers that run 100% free software, crucial fixes like making the printer meow on completion of a print job would be trivial to implement.
@menherahair >how come these aren't a thing yet? Since my friend DiffieHellman hasn't yet received the source code for the version of BusyBox/Linux used on Kyocera printers as thus hasn't yet been able to port GNU/Linux-libre to such printers.
@zvava >why are we having such a hard time adapting the same concepts to 2d? 3D printers are simpler in some way, more complicated in others.
The filament in a 3D printer somewhat large, which gives a wide range of tolerance, while 2D printers are expected to not be off by more than say 0.1mm.
You can indeed choose black filament and then install the smallest nozzle you can find to reliably work and deposit onto paper (you'll need to use plastic that can stick to paper, or apply a precoat glue layer), thus achieving 2D printing with microplastics.
Mind you, plenty of people have indeed made pen-based plotters, some of which run free software and maybe an advanced version of such will work as a freedom respecting inkjet.
@zvava Also I forgot, 2D printing is incredibly restricted by patents (despite being the same shit for 100+ years) - the main reason why there are comparatively few printer companies and almost all printer companies seem to be a small subsidiary of a huge company is seemingly because companies exercise illegitimate legal action against any new company that is finally offering decent printers.
If a small company was to start offering free printer designs and printers for sale in any meaningful quantities, they would soon have to shut down faced with a barrage of rent seeking and legal threats.
3D printing was seemingly mostly spared this fate because there are only so many monopolies that even the patent office will award on CNC xyz axis movement and plastic extrusion and most of them have expired.