I have now tested and confirmed, it is my packing tape, not the cold that keeps wiping out my device tags.

The washing machine also does a number on those tags

I've started just writing over the text on the tags with an actual pen, and that makes them a bit more durable. but, that said, I have several tags whose text has completely faded and need to be reprinted.

In the past I have just reprinted them (getting the cost to 0 with "engineering") and then just sent in a help request to cast with the builds and an explanation of what was done and why. But, I'm not sure if this is the official solution? I'd be interested to know, as every device tag Hannah has is now a blank piece of thermal paper...

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Rymaus Liena “Ellie” Dax

BP told me this fall that was a legit solution.

I am today with my laminater.

Yep that's legit. We're working on having a secondary non-thermal printer for Device tags. The downside is we'll have to keep stocking it with ink, which is annoying and expensive. But we love you guys slightly so whatever.

Maybe the easier solution is to keep some cut plastic sheets the size of the tags but the forge. Just slap it over it before taping?

I won't stop you from doing that, but I'm not diverting resources towards it when we have other things to get done and a different solution in the works.

I have plastic sheeting that I use to sew a see through pocket on my devices so you can use the tag. Plastic pocket + sun = invisible device tag. Plastic pocket + sweaty me = invisible device tag.

Granted, it does last longer then using the tape, and if your not wearing the device it might work a little better?

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Rymaus Liena “Ellie” Dax

Being an engineer is really mysterious y'all.

The problem isn't just the tape; thermal paper also fades over time, in the sun (UV exposure), and under a myriad of other conditions. Tape is just the fast way to make it blank by the end of the weekend. I imagine it works better for amps because they're kept in darkened jars away from most of those conditions. (the same conditions that can mess with medication chemical compositions... Imagine that...)

I look forward to having a non-thermal printer option, I'm sure the engineers around here would happily contribute to keeping it fed with supplies, but I imagine there's also software<->printer concerns that need addressing too.

-Ben

We have a guy who codes for the autoforge. ;-)

Reprinting is the approved solution right now. I can check the AF and if I see any weirdness of people printing massive amounts of free stuff, I'll look into it, but I know that reprinting is happening and I won't cry foul if you need to do it.

On the To Do List is the "DEVICE PRINTER" project. I just need the time to get the computer set up and working nicely with a printer, and then I'll get our code-master to add in the final details for the AF to send Devices to the new printer.

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Brian Paul!
-Prop Boss, Plot Team, Rules Comm, Other Stuff