printer interface to controller

[prasadaradhya]

dot matrix printer junk character

Hi,
I wanted to print text and graphics using the dot matrix printer by sending command through microcontroller.
Command will be sent through Embedded C language.
Parallel port interface is used to connect between microcontroller and printer.

 

[BABESH]

dot-matrix printer esc codes

Hi
u can do that,
get programmers manual for respective printer,
The data format is simple,
8 data bus,
1 strobe,
1 busy checking is enough to start printting text and grapnics.

--babesh

 

[prasadaradhya]

ftp628mcl103 commands examples

Thank you Babesh for ur reply,

I sent data to D0 - D7 pin then made strobe pin Low gave delay for 1ms then made strobe pin High.
I am getting 3.3V from controller in strobe pin, Is that is a problem?
I am not checking busy pin. even the 1st charter sent when printer is powered on is also not cumming.
when i press print button printer is printing some junk value, even if i am not sending any characters.

 

[trekkytekky]

printer interfacing to controller

What voltage is your interface running, most older dot matrix are set up for TTL levels.

I would suggest you possibly consider using ack to see when the printer accepts your data, rather than busy, though both should work.

An old eprom lpt tester i picked up in a junk sale used a timer to provide the strobe & clock a binary counter to address an eprom and the ack to re trigger the timer. The eproms data went went straight to D0~D7 printing the same things over and over.

 

[KamalS]

command sets of printer from controller

Interfacing is not an issue, but sending ESC/P graphics is.. are you sure you wanna print graphics from a uP?

 

[BABESH]

Hi,

After switching ON printer, it will take some time to become active, in that duration it may give busy state,
so better you check busy also, else wait for 1 sec afer switching ON printer(for time beeing)
and give a delay between each charecter, that will do...

I prtefer using a 5V level signals, i doubt that(3.3V) may be problem.

One more precaution: Send two bytes 1BH,40H, (Esc,@)before sending and data to printer, this is initialization command used on many of the dot matrix printers.

KamalS: We can print graphics also using Esc/P commands. But we cannot assure that it will work for all dot matrix printers.


--Babesh.

 

[ark5230]

Hi
Printer manual for ESC codes will be helpful in printing graphics. I used LX800 to print graphics, it works fine. If you succeed in printing one character, rest is no prob. Many of them are on net. For others, most alternates work unless you wish to use alternate font set the printer supports.
Raoof

 

[prasadaradhya]

Thank you all,
I am able to print text now, now i am working on printing Graphics (SINWAVE).
I need to convert sinwave using ADC and will be stored in SRAM then, have to read data stored in SRAM and to print it.
I have to print this sinwave, If any one know any link which can give an idea or example program to print in graphic mode please send me.

I am using using TVS Electronics - MSP 245XL Classic dot matrix printer. It was detected as EPSON Action Laser 1000 in PC.
I found one EPSON command datasheet, in that it was specified that Action Laser 1000 series comes under ESC/P commands, is there any difference in between ESC/P commands and ESC/P2 commands?
I have attached the datasheet also.

 

[BABESH]

Hi prasad,
i don't know the diffrerence bwtween command sets,
in printing a sine wave you may require 5/6 graphic comands, you can compare those few commands, if you have command set of both ESC1/2.

But it is for sure that ESC command set is not same for all dot matrix printers.

--Babesh.

 

[kalathiya_gaurang]

hello der!!do you know how to interface ftp-628mcl103 thermal printer with 8051?? plz reply