[imglorp]

How about laser engraving tech? Can a laser engraver be tight focused to 300 dpi and power set (or sensed) to just make a mark on white paper? Does the positioning accuracy also need to be improved to get that 300 dpi?

You'd never run out of toner at least.

Edit, answered at least one question: yes engravers do 500 dpi routinely. Here's one: https://www.troteclaser.com/en-us/knowledge/tips-for-laser-u...

[Phillipharryt]

The issue is then speed, you can't engrave at anywhere near the same speed as you can print.

[miahi]

I would not consider an engraver for which you have to call to ask the price as "routine". From what I could find, the cheapest trotec is $16k second hand on ebay (and there is another from their cheap line for $56k second hand). You can hire somebody to handwrite everything you need for that kind of money.

Also, high power lasers are consumables.

[imglorp]

I didn't suggest using an engraver. I was suggesting engraver tech for this thing we're proposing here. The real question is can you get a good result marking paper with a laser? Maybe I worded it poorly first time.

[mattmaroon]

Or we could get rid of paper and just print everything on plywood.