Printers

Cracking open Hewlett Packard's IIP, the original personal LaserJet printer

By // October 1, 2010, 1:14 AM PST // erikeckel

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  • The Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIP

    The Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIP popularized the desktop personal laser printer. Released in 1989, the model was among the very first laserjets available for less than $1,000. Deemed a "milestone" printer by the New York Times, the paper touted the unit's light weight (the IIP weighed *just* 25 pounds). Here's what made the IIP tick.

    The design was beige and boxy.

    Note: This gallery was originally published in May, 2007, but I'm resurfacing it to celebrate the HP LaserJet IIP's 21st birthday in 2010.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

     

  • The IIP paper feeder

    The IIP held a nominal amount of paper in its default configuration. Printing envelopes, meanwhile, required removing the main paper source.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • The IIP sideview

    The IIP's power switch was on its right side, along with an expansion slot visible toward the case's top side.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • IIP Connectivity

    USB wasn't a popular standard, yet, in 1990. Thus, most IIPs were connected using parallel print cables.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Manufactured June 1990

    This IIP, the subject of this Crack It Open gallery, was manufactured in June 1990. Seventeen years later it still worked, if only to produce four pages per minute.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • The IIP controls

    The HP IIP controls were straightforward with few frills.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Inside the IIP

    Opening the IIP reveals the toner cartridge, roller assembly and the fuser mechanism.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • The IIP toner cartridge

    The IIP required HP's 92275A toner cartridges.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Pick up roller assembly

    The pick up roller assembly from the IIP.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Fuser roller

    A roller from within the fuser assembly.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • The bottom

    The IIP featured an efficient design. Many internal components connected directly to the unit's metal chassis bottom, shown here.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Ribbon cable

    A traditional ribbon cable connected the IIP's basic monochrome LCD display to the unit's circuit board.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Density adjusting PCB assembly

    The IIP's density adjusting PCB assembly.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Video controller assembly

    The IIP's video controller assembly circuit board. The backside is visible when removing the assembly's metal cover.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • DC controller PCB assembly

    Disassembling the IIP from the top down reveals the DC controller, next.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • DC controller, horizontal view

    The DC controller assembly PCB sits beneath the video controller board (now removed in this image). Here you see the DC controller board in a side view of the IIP.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Scanner motor unit

    In this view of the DC controller, you can just make out the cover (look for the orange sticker with black lettering) of the unit's scanner motor.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Stepping motor

    The IIP's stepping motor was manufactured by Canon.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Scanner motor

    The Scanner motor, as viewed from the front of the printer.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Scanner motor

    Toshiba manufactured the scanner motor unit used in HP's IIP LaserJet.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Power supply

    The IIP's 115 volt power supply was manufactured by Sony.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • High voltage power supply PCB

    At the bottom of the IIP sat this high-voltage power supply PCB.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Interface assembly

    This interface assembly sat in the IIP's rear cover and powered I/O operations for parallel and serial connections.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Cooling fan

    The IIP's cooling fan, which occupied the left edge of the IIP's upper mainframe assembly, was manufactured by Minebea Co. Ltd.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • Controller/formatter PCB assembly

    Here's a front-side view of the IIP's controller/formatter PCB assembly. This unit possessed the IIP's revised design (as evidenced by its pronounced L shape).

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

  • 2MB Expansion Board

    This IIP boasted a 2MB memory expansion board, albeit one built for an HP IIIP.

    Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

The Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIP

The Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIP popularized the desktop personal laser printer. Released in 1989, the model was among the very first laserjets available for less than $1,000. Deemed a "milestone" printer by the New York Times, the paper touted the unit's light weight (the IIP weighed *just* 25 pounds). Here's what made the IIP tick.

The design was beige and boxy.

Note: This gallery was originally published in May, 2007, but I'm resurfacing it to celebrate the HP LaserJet IIP's 21st birthday in 2010.

Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com

 

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Printers Hardware Innovation

By Erik Eckel

Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president o...