Cracking open Hewlett Packard’s IIP, the original personal LaserJet printer
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The Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIP
The Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIP
ntThe 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.
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ntThe design was beige and boxy.
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ntNote: This gallery was originally published in May, 2007, but I’m resurfacing it to celebrate the HP LaserJet IIP’s 21st birthday in 2010.
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ntPhoto by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
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The IIP paper feeder
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 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
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
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 IIP controls
The HP IIP controls were straightforward with few frills.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
Inside the IIP
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 toner cartridge
The IIP required HP’s 92275A toner cartridges.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
Pick up roller assembly
Pick up roller assembly
The pick up roller assembly from the IIP.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
Fuser roller
Fuser roller
A roller from within the fuser assembly.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
The bottom
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
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
Density adjusting PCB assembly
The IIP’s density adjusting PCB assembly.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
Video controller assembly
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
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
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
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
Stepping motor
The IIP’s stepping motor was manufactured by Canon.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
Scanner motor
Scanner motor
The Scanner motor, as viewed from the front of the printer.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
Scanner motor
Scanner motor
Toshiba manufactured the scanner motor unit used in HP’s IIP LaserJet.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
High voltage power supply PCB
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
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
Controller/formatter PCB assembly
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
2MB Expansion Board
This IIP boasted a 2MB memory expansion board, albeit one built for an HP IIIP.
Photo by: Erik Eckel / TechRepublic.com
