Braille embossers come in various shapes and sizes. Some are designed for heavy duty embossing at a production facility while others are primarily for home and office use. The ones for production facilities are rugged and come with a much higher price tag since they will print at higher volumes and may include features such as support for large paper sizes and the ability to cut and staple pages in a fully automated process. Embossers for home and office use are relatively more affordable and portable. They will have feature sets that are geared towards students, parents, and teachers such as built-in braille translators and being able to print from a USB stick.
Here are some aspects to consider when purchasing an embosser:
- Price - prices vary and range widely depending on the brand and type of embossers e.g. whether it is for home/office use or at a production facility.
- Paper size - Not all embossers can handle large paper sizes. Paper size is typically adjustable up to a given length/width on the embosser.
- Feeding Mechanism - common feeding mechanisms include tractor-fed or Sheet-Fed (Cut sheet). Tractor-fed has tracks on the side of each sheet while sheet-fed does not. Embossers that are sheet-fed can accommodate more sizes since they are not restricted to the paper that is tied to a track. Thus, they are more suitable for applications like creating business cards.
- Interpoint - embossers that are not interpoint can only print on a single side while interpoint embossers can print on both sides of the page.
- Characters per Second - common metric that indicates how quickly the embosser can print.
- Tactile graphics enabled - some embossers can place dots much closer together to create images with smooth lines and unique textures that can be felt by touch. Dots per inch is one metric that describes how close dots can be placed by the printhead. Some embossers like the Viewplus line can create dots of various heights which can make a big difference for readers in being able to access graphics especially complex images.
- Connectivity - modern embossers will have various connectivity options such as Bluetooth, wifi, and wired network capabilities. Some embossers may offer a web interface for remote access.
- Operating System support - most modern embossers can support common operating systems like Mac and windows.
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Viewplus
| Product Name | Price | Paper Size | CPS (Characters per second) | Interpoint | Feeding Mechanism | Connectivity | Operating System and Software Compatibility | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMBRAILLE | $1,995 – $2,674 | Supports multiple Sizes Paper Width: 3 – 8.5 inches (77 – 216 mm) |
25 | No | Tractor-fed | USB (1.1, 2.0) Bluetooth (with Tiger Box as paid addon) |
Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite |
Portable. Can produce tactile graphics. Tactile Resolution: 100 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation. Braille Dot Spacing: Adjustable to 5 international standards |
| Columbia | $3,495 – $4,684 | Supports multiple sizes; Paper Width: 7 – 12.5 inches (176 – 317.5 mm) | 120 | Yes | Tractor-fed | USB (1.1, 2.0), Ethernet, WIFI/Bluetooth (with Tiger Box as paid addon) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux. Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Can produce tactile graphics. Tactile Resolution: 100 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation (up to 8 dot heights). Braille Dot Spacing: Adjustable to 5 international standards. |
| Delta | $4,195 – $5,624 | Supports multiple sizes; Paper Width: 7 – 12 inches (176 – 305 mm) | 120 | Yes | Sheet-Fed (Cut sheet) | USB (1.1, 2.0), Ethernet, WIFI/Bluetooth (with Tiger Box as paid addon) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux; Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Can produce tactile graphics. Tactile Resolution: 100 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation (up to 8 dot heights). Braille Dot Spacing: Adjustable to 5 international standards. |
| Rogue Trac | $5,995 – $8,704 | Supports multiple sizes; Paper Width: 7 – 12 inches (176 – 305 mm) | 120 | No | Tractor-fed | USB (1.1, 2.0), Ethernet, Bluetooth (with Tiger Box as paid addon) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux. Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Can produce tactile graphics. Tactile Resolution: 100 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation (7 dot heights for color and 1 for braille). Braille Dot Spacing: Adjustable to 5 international standards. |
| Rogue Sheet | $5,995 – $8,704 | Supports multiple sizes; Paper Width: 7 – 12 inches (176 – 305 mm) | 120 | No | Sheet-Fed | USB (1.1, 2.0), Ethernet, Bluetooth (with Tiger Box as paid addon) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux. Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Can produce tactile graphics. Tactile Resolution: 100 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for colour representation (7 dot heights for colour and 1 for braille). Braille Dot Spacing: Adjustable to 5 international standards. |
| SpotDot | $7,995 – $10,714 | Supports various sizes; Printing Width: Up to 8 in (203 mm) | 50 | No | Sheet-Fed | USB (1.1, 2.0), Bluetooth (with Tiger Box as paid addon) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux. Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Can produce tactile graphics with braille and ink. Tactile Resolution: 20 DPI (Dots per inch). Color Print Resolution: 300 DPI. Black Ink: Hewlett Packard Type 56 Black. Colour Ink: Hewlett Packard Type 57 Tri-Color. 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation (7 dot heights for color). Braille Dot Spacing: Adjustable to 5 international standards. |
| PREMIER | $9,995 – $18,748 | Supports various sizes; Paper Width: 4 – 12 inches (101 – 305 mm) | 100 | Yes | Tractor-fed | USB (1.1, 2.0), Ethernet, Bluetooth (with Tiger Box) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux. Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Rugged and durable. Can produce tactile graphics with braille. Compatible with InkConnect, which adds print to braille. Tactile Resolution: 20 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation (7 dot heights for color). |
| ELITE | $14,995 – $25,448 | supports various sizes; Paper Width: 4 – 12 inches (101 – 305 mm) | 200 | Yes | Tractor-fed | USB (1.1, 2.0), Ethernet, Bluetooth (with Tiger Box) | Supports current Windows operating systems, Mac OS 10.9+, and Linux. Works with Duxbury and Tiger Software Suite | Rugged and durable. Can produce tactile graphics with braille. Compatible with InkConnect, which adds print to braille. Tactile Resolution: 20 DPI (Dots per inch). 3 braille dot heights. Tactile Graphic Dot Heights: Variable for color representation (7 dot heights for color. |
Index
| Product Name | Price | Paper Size | CPS (Characters per second) | Interpoint | Feeding Mechanism | Connectivity | Operating System and Software Compatibility | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic-D V5 | $3,695.00 USD | Supports various paper sizes Paper Width: 89-325 mm (3.5"-12,8") Paper Length: 25-431mm (1"-17") |
140 | Yes | Tractor-fed | USB, Wifi, Bluetooth, wired network | Windows, Mac, Linux, and supports mobile devices | Has braille and text. Labeled control panel. Can transfer files from a USB Memory stick. Printer settings and transcription features. Can be accessed through a web interface. Tactile resolution 500 DPI. Noise canceling construction |
| Everest-D V5 | $4,395.00 | Supports various paper sizes: Width: 130-297 mm (5.1"-11.7"); Paper length: 120-762 mm (4.7"-30") | 140 | Yes | Sheet-fed | USB, Wifi, Bluetooth, wired network | Windows, Mac, Linux, and supports mobile devices | Has braille and text labeled control panel. Automatic sheet feeder holding 50 pages. Automatic booklet format printing. Tactile resolution 500 DPI. |
| BrailleBox V5 | - | Paper Width: A3 (297x420 mm), Tabloid 11"x17"; Paper width: 11"x11.5", A4, 11x8,5" B4 250x353 mm | 300 | Yes | Sheet-fed | USB, Wifi, Bluetooth, wired network | Windows, Mac, Linux, and supports mobile devices | Has 3 printing heads. Braille and text labeled control panel. Automatic sheet feeder holding 400 pages. Optimized for booklet production on A3 paper. Tactile resolution 50 DPI. Noise canceling construction. |
| FanFold-D V5 | - | Fanfold; Paper Width: 5-12,8 in; Paper Length: 8-12 in | 330 | Yes | Tractor-fed | USB, Wifi, Bluetooth, wired network | Windows, Mac, Linux, and supports mobile devices | Has 3 printing heads. Braille and text labeled control panel. Holds 1000 braille sheets. Tactile resolution 20 DPI. Low Noise level. |
Enabling Technologies/Humanware
| Product Name | Price | Paper Size | CPS (Characters per second) | Interpoint | Feeding Mechanism | Connectivity | Operating System and Software Compatibility | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMEO 60 | $5,195.00 CAD | Supports various sizes: Paper Width: 1 to 13; Paper Length: 1 to 24 | 90 | No | Tractor-fed | USB, Bluetooth, Wifi | Windows, MACOS, Linux, mobile platforms (using web application) | Speech feedback on embosser. Horizontal and vertical braille possible. Side-ways mode for newspapers/magazines. Translates DOCX, PDF and TXT files. Built-in braille translator. Emboss from mobile platforms. Direct embossing using Direct Print, no additional translation software required. Emboss directly from a USB thumb drive. Web application. Tactile graphics enabled. 50 DPI. 2 dot heights possible. Includes Firebird tactile graphics. |
| Juliet 120 | $6499 CAD | Supports various sizes: Paper Width: 1 to 13; Paper Length: 1 to 24. | 140 | Yes | tractor-fed | USB, Bluetooth, Wifi | Windows, MACOS, Linux, mobile platforms (using web application) | Speech feedback on embosser. Horizontal and vertical braille possible. Side-ways mode for newspapers/magazines. Translates DOCX, PDF and TXT files. Built-in braille translator. Emboss from mobile platforms. Direct embossing using Direct Print, no additional translation software required. Emboss directly from a USB thumb drive. Web application. Tactile graphics enabled. 50 DPI. 2 dot heights possible. Includes Firebird tactile graphics. |
| Phoenix | $4,045.00 CAD | Supports various sizes: Paper width: 1.5 - 12; Page length: 3 - 14 | 50 | No | Tractor-fed | USB | Windows | Embosser employs two separate embossing heads (1 for braille and one for tactile graphics). 25 DPI for graphics. Can produce LOC standard braille and Jumbo, Petite, CA sign, and Marburg. Includes Firebird tactile graphics. |
Braillo
| Product Name | Price | Paper Size | CPS (Characters per second) | Interpoint | Feeding Mechanism | Connectivity | Operating System and Software Compatibility | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 S2 | $25000 USD | Sheet Length: 4-14” / 10.16-35.56 cm; Sheet Width: 5.5-13” / 13.97-33.02 cm | 300 | Yes | Continuous (tractor-fed) | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Windows, Mac OS | Excellent dot quality and reliability. Affordable Entry into production grade embossers. Quiet at 69dBA. |
| 450 S2 | $35,000 USD | Sheet Length: 4-14” / 10.16-35.56 cm; Sheet Width: 5.5-13” / 13.97-33.02 cm | 450 | Yes | Continuous (tractor-fed) | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Windows, Mac OS | Excellent dot quality and reliability. Quiet at 73dBA. |
| Braillo 600 S2 Braille Embosser | $45,000 USD | Sheet Length: 4-14” / 10.16-35.56 cm; Sheet Width: 5.5-13” / 13.97-33.02 cm | 600 | Yes | Continuous (tractor-fed) | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Windows, Mac OS | Excellent dot quality and reliability. Scalable to a 600 SR2 as production needs increase. Quiet at 73dBA |
| 600 SR2 Braille Embosser | $75000 USD | Sheet Length: 4-14”; Sheet Width: 8.25-13” | 600 | Yes | Mechanism that works with paper rolls | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Windows, Mac OS | Excellent dot quality and reliability. Connects to a roll feeder and stacker unit. Internal components are smartly organized for easy access and maintenance. Centralized power shut-off for entire system. Quiet at 70dB. External case designed for easy access to embosser. |
| 650 SW2 | $83000 USD | Sheet Length: Maximum of 13”; Sheet Width: 2 page – 4 page | 650 | Yes | Mechanism that works with paper rolls | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Windows, Mac OS | Excellent dot quality and reliability. Paper Roll Unwinder and Paper Stacker. Units foldable for easy storage and reduced shipping costs. Internal components are smartly organized for easy access and maintenance. Motor and cables are internal eliminating any risks to operators. Centralized power shut-off for entire system. Quiet at 84dB. External case designed for easy access to embosser. |
| 650 SF2 | $127,500 USD | Sheet Length: Maximum of 13”; Sheet Width: 4 page (16.4-23”) | 650 | Yes | Mechanism that works with paper rolls | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Windows, Mac OS | Excellent dot quality and reliability. Paper Roll Unwinder and Paper Stacker are foldable for easy storage and reduced shipping costs. Internal components are smartly organized for easy access and maintenance. Motor and cables are internal eliminating any risks to operators. Centralized power shut-off for entire system. Quiet at 87dB External case designed for easy access to embosser Excellent dot quality and reliability. Connects to a roll feeder and staple/fold (SF) unit Paper Roll Unwinder foldable for easy storage and reduced shipping costs. Internal components are smartly organized for easy access and maintenance. Motor and cables are internal eliminating any risks to operators. Centralized power shut-off for entire system. Quiet at 70dB. External case designed for easy access to embosser. |