InkShield was a 2011 maker project for driving an HP C6602 inkjet cartridge from an Arduino. Its creators described it as a 96 dpi printing platform for labeling or branding objects, but that figure was a project specification—not an independently verified test. The surviving project record does not establish whether the shield, maintained firmware, or a compatible build is available today.
What the InkShield did
InkShield was an Arduino-facing driver shield that let a microcontroller control an HP C6602 inkjet cartridge. The 2011 Kickstarter description presented the combination as a compact print platform, while contemporaneous Hackaday coverage described an all-through-hole board needing five microcontroller connections. Hackaday’s September 12, 2011 project coverage also described jumpers for selecting drive pins and said the arrangement could support multiple print heads.
Those details describe the historical project, not a complete build specification. Without a verified schematic, firmware, and electrical requirements, the connection count and jumper description are not enough to reproduce the circuit safely or establish compatibility with a particular Arduino or cartridge revision.
Resolution and intended uses
The Kickstarter campaign and Hackaday both reported 96 dpi. That is the project’s stated resolution; neither source establishes an independent performance test, so it should not be treated as a measured result for every print, surface, or build.
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The stated use was DIY printing to label or brand objects. Hackaday also pointed to flat-bed inkjet printer builds and related maker projects such as the Nickel-O-Matic and a ping-pong-ball printer. Those are examples of the broader maker context, not evidence that each project used the InkShield itself.
What the 2011 campaign establishes
| Campaign detail | Historical record |
|---|---|
| Funding period | September 1–October 1, 2011 |
| Funding goal | $2,500 |
| Pledged | $8,053 |
| Backers | 146 |
| Last campaign update | December 20, 2011 |
These figures are from the InkShield Kickstarter campaign record. The campaign’s successful funding and its last listed update are historical facts; they do not establish ongoing production or support.
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Can you buy or reproduce it now?
Current retail availability, a maintained firmware source, and present-day compatibility are not established by the project record. Before attempting a build, verify each of the following from current technical documentation:
- The exact supported cartridge model and revision, rather than assuming every HP cartridge is compatible.
- The controller requirements and the shield’s voltage, current, and pin-drive limits.
- That a complete schematic and firmware are available and suitable for the specific board.
- That the ink and target surface are appropriate for the intended object and use.
The historical sources do not resolve those electrical or materials questions. Do not power an old or reconstructed board based only on the five-connection description. If documentation for the specific shield and cartridge cannot be verified, compatibility and safe operating limits remain unknown.
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Does it support printing from a PC?
A 2013 Hackaday commenter, Raj, asked, “hi can we make this work from pc for numbering unit.” That comment is a reader question, not evidence that PC control was built into InkShield or supported by its firmware. A PC-driven numbering setup would require a documented communication path and compatible software; the available historical descriptions do not establish either.
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