What are Star receipt printers?
Star Micronics makes receipt printers that sit beside the register in shops, cafes and dispensaries. Most models print on heat-sensitive paper, connect by USB, Ethernet or Bluetooth, and can open the cash drawer when a sale finishes.
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What it is
A receipt printer is a compact thermal printer built for speed and all-day use. Star's thermal models heat special paper instead of using ink or ribbon, so only paper needs refilling. When a sale completes, the register software sends the receipt, and the printer prints it and cuts the paper.
Most Star models connect in more than one way. USB plugs into the register computer. Ethernet gives the printer its own network address, so several devices can reach it. Bluetooth pairs wirelessly, which suits tablets and mobile registers. Options vary by model. See our overview of receipt printers.
Why it matters to a business
- Quick checkout: thermal printing is fast and quiet, so the receipt is ready as the customer pays.
- Cash drawer control: the drawer plugs into the printer, and the printer sends the signal that opens it at the end of a sale.
- Low upkeep: with no ink or ribbon, a paper change is most of the routine care.
- Flexible placement: the choice of USB, Ethernet or Bluetooth lets one printer model fit a fixed counter or a tablet stand.
How KawaConnect works with Star printers
We set up and support receipt printers at retail counters and dispensaries. Where we can, we put the printer on the wired network with a fixed address, because a printer whose address quietly changes is a common reason a register stops printing.
We record the printer's settings, so a replacement can go in without changing anything on the register. When a web-based point-of-sale system must print at the counter, we connect it through PrintNode or QZ Tray.
Related services
Managed IT
Counter hardware, the register computer and its network, supported and documented.
Networking and firewalls
Wired networks with fixed addresses so devices stay reachable.
Cannabis IT
Technology for dispensaries, cultivation and processing sites that print and scan every day.
Learn more
- Star Micronics websiteThe maker's own site, useful for browsing printer families and manuals before you buy or replace one.
- Star Micronics on WikipediaA short company history for readers who want background on the maker.
- Thermal printing on WikipediaExplains how heat-based printing works, handy for anyone wondering why receipts fade.
Register not printing?
Tell us what you have at the counter and what it is doing. We will look at the connection first.
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