ALPS MicroDry / Dye-Sublimation Printer Accessories
ALPS MicroDry printer accessories for sale from Tokyo, Japan. These can be ordered separately, or together with printer purchases / servicing.
Overview
See main page and contact, payment, shipping details for ordering information.
Printer Output Trays
MDT-TRAY: Extensible paper tray doubling as printer stand,
for the paper to be deposited after printing.
Nominal price:
3000 JPY
For MD-1xxx, MD-5xxx family (MD-1000, MD-1300, MD-1500, MD-5000, MD-5000i, MD-5500):
- 2 purple-coloured trays
- 2 blue-coloured trays
- 1 white-coloured tray
For MD-2xxx, MD-4xxx family (MD-2000, MD-2010, MD-2300, MD-4000), part number MDT-TRAY:
Parallel Cables
Standard parallel cable can be supplied for all printers using parallel ports.
Nominal price: 1000 JPY (exact price to be quoted for new items at time of sale)
Historical information on ALPS-produced printer cables:
- MDT-PDVD: Printer cable (for DOS/V compatible computers) computer-side 25-pin Dsub, length 1.5m
- MDT-P98D: Printer cable (for PC98 compatible computers) computer-side 36-pin half-pitch, length 1.5m
Parallel-to-USB Converter Cables
Either ALPS or other (Elecom, Belkin, etc.) converter cables can be supplied as needed. They attach to the parallel port on the printer with one end, and a USB port (Type A) on the computer with the other end.
Originally compatible models:
- MD-1000D/J
- MD-1300D/J
- MD-1500D/J (scanner funciontality not usable)
- MD-5000
- MD-5500
Note that the 64-bit Windows utility permits use of parallel converter cables with all models.
ALPS-branded cables are nominally 6000 JPY. Cheaper options that work identically are available (3500–6000 JPY), and if possible it is recommended to obtain a viable converter cable in your own country.
Note that these cables do not support scanning with the MD-1500 and MD-4000 model printers.
ALPS printers communicate bi-directionally with ALPS virtual LPT ports, so adapter cables lacking such capability will require uni-directional settings for parallel in the computer's BIOS. This means that the printer status monitor no longer functions, thus no ink status or error information can be seen on the computer side.
List of some of the available adapter cables supporting bi-directional communication:
- ALPS model MDT-USBC (2.0m): 6000 JPY
- Elecom model UC-PGT (1.8m): 4000 JPY
- Elecom model UC-P5GT (5.0m): 6000 JPY
- Elecom model UC-PBB (1.8m): 4000 JPY
- Belkin model F5U002 (1.8m): 3500 JPY
- Corega model CG-UPRCBLD180 (1.8m): 3500 JPY
- PixeCable model PIXELA (2.0m): 3500 JPY
Note that the MD-5500 is native USB-capable (althought this does not confer any speed advantage).
Dye-sublimation Keys
Use of this key permits the MD-5000 and MD-5500 models to print in dye-sublimation mode. The only other model which can print in dye-sublimation mode is the MD-1300, which does not require this key.
Nominal price: 4000 JPY
SCSI Adapter Attachments
Some printer models intended for Macintosh users are SCSI-only, others can be converted from parallel to SCSI by addition of this conversion set.
Compatible models for SCSI adapter MDT-SCSI:
- MD-1000J
- MD-1300J
- MD-1500J
- MD-5000
- MD-5500
Other (older) SCSI adapters and their intended printer models:
- MDT-SCAD: MD-1000J
- MDT-S130: MD-1300J
- MDT-S150: MD-1500J
Nominal price: 3000 JPY
Other SCSI components:
- MDT-SMTM: SCSI terminator [limited stock] 50-pin (produced by Amphenol)
- MDT-SMCD: SCSI cable (for Mac Desktop) computer-side 25-pin Dsub, length 1m
- MDT-SMCN: SCSI cable (for Mac Powerbook) computer-side HDI-30, length 50cm
- MDT-SMCB: SCSI cable (for Mac SCSI expansion) 50-pin, length 60cm (produced by Amphenol)
Accessories available on Special Request
Power cable is not normally shipped, but can be included at customer request. This will have a standard connector for Japan.
Nominal price: 1000 JPY (exact price to be quoted for new items at time of sale)
USB cable is not normally shipped for MD-5500 printers, but can be included at customer request.
Nominal price: 750–2000 JPY (exact price to be quoted for new items at time of sale, depending on quality, specifications and length)
Example:
- Elecom U2C-B20BK USB2.0 cable (2.0m): price 750 JPY
Deprecated Products
The following products are listed for historical purposes. They are no longer produced, but some are in limited stock.
Media holders for scanner-capable models MD-1500 and MD-4000:
- MDS-HLD1: media holder (photo-size)
- MDS-HLD2: media holder (A4 size)
Other products:
- MDT-DSKT: Dye-sublimation starter kit (for MD-5000, MD-5500)
- MDT-SRP2: Micro Dry RIP 1.1J for Macintosh (for MD-2000S, MD-2010S, MD-2300S, MD-4000S, MD-1000, MD-1300, MD-1500)
- MDT-VDRP: Micro Dry RIP 2.0J for Macintosh (for MD-5000)
- MDT-SR55: Micro Dry RIP 2.5J for Macintosh (for MD-5500)
Note that the RIP software requires SCSI connector/adapter to be fitted on the printer. It is not usable on New Power Macintosh G3 or iMac.