looking at investing into a shrink sleeve portable printing system. Can anyone reflect on their experiences. Application is largely control / PLC wiring.
I use a Brady IDXpert. It is portable, was relatively inexpensive, and works fine for my low volume cable builds. No software required, but I believe it is available. When I send my cable builds to a contract manufacturer they always ask if they can use an equivalent, so for higher volumes there are probably better values.
For a field portable I have had good luck with the Brady TLS2200. I like the ability to use it without software for smaller jobs or use the software and laptop interface for bigger or jobs I'll reuse the same labels. I also like having the ability to print other types of labels.
A company I worked at a while back had a Kroy label maker, K series. It also seemed to work pretty well except we had a lot of problems with it when using it out in the desert in higher temps.
Of the two longer term it appeared the Brady thermal type labels lasted longer (easier to read, less fading) than the Kroy labels, at least in my experience.
