Thermal Printer Interface

I was planning to develop an Thermal Printer Interface, There is no specific Thermal printer in my mind, any thing that can print fancy like bar code would be highly desirable

I need an kick start, I tried for an support for Printer Interface and I hardly found any. I look forward for some help

Hi rock,

Don´t worry, it´s very easy !
The most commonly used module brand is FUJITSU.
You can choice Serial or paralel communication interface.

+++

See the following treads
https://www.edaboard.com/threads/29289/
https://www.edaboard.com/threads/6297/

andre_teprom said:

Hi rock,

Don´t worry, it´s very easy !
The most commonly used module brand is FUJITSU.
You can choice Serial or paralel communication interface.

+++

Click to expand...

Hi andre,

Thanks for the quick reply, I saw many people recommending fijisu, but i find there is hardly any documentation for the programmer,

can you recommend some links or pdf that could help to understand about fijisu interfacing.

See the following treads

Click to expand...

They are related to interfacing a printer mechanism without built-in controller. It involves some low-level programming and specific hardware design. Is that what you want?

andre_teprom suggested a thermal printer with controller and standard interface, if I understood right.

FvM said:

They are related to interfacing a printer mechanism without built-in controller. It involves some low-level programming and specific hardware design. Is that what you want?

andre_teprom suggested a thermal printer with controller and standard interface, if I understood right.

Click to expand...

Hi FvM,

My end requirement is to print text and bar code on Thermal Printer. I dont mind if the thermal printer contains Controller and need low level programing to interface. It would be easy if contain above mentioned controller and low level programing since I used to do some thing similar kind. But I am okke if above can be done on high level program, Your valuable idea on Thermal printing would be highly appreciated.

---------- Post added at 17:29 ---------- Previous post was at 17:10 ----------

luben111 said:

See the following treads
https://www.edaboard.com/threads/29289/
https://www.edaboard.com/threads/6297/

Click to expand...

Hi luben111

The Link you posted indeed good, hope it would be good place to start with. I was in real trouble to find some related article. But I have many doubts. For the moment does this E302 Programmer manual is for Epson Thermal Printer, May I know what model this documentation would be relevant. Also is there any way to find the architecture or Block diag of the printer -- how it works "I understand It would be difficult to find this mannual itself I might be bit crazy .... "

IF you were about to develop the Thermal printer Interface.
1. What Programming Language would you use
2. Is the Programmer manual sufficient enough to go ahead to print text to your printer from your host system.
3. After you program how will you burn the code to printer for testing

thermal printers are available with or without controllers.

without controllers are to be programmed based on the interface data provided by manufacturers. but very hard to get the info because it is manufacturer centric.

with controllers are avialble more than without models.
the interface is usually serial(and usb/parallel).(though many other interface standards are given by manufacuresr for their printers)

if you have selected a serial or parallel interface type , you can concentrate on your application.

the control codes tobe sent to the printer , for most, esc/p standard for text.(exceptions also). for graphics it is manufacturer specific.

whatever printer available in your area , you "must" have the programmers manual of control codes.

you can use any language you are comfortable with , for programming.

The disclosed project can print both text and bar code if you send ASCII characters and control codes (described in the manual). The text is with high resolution.

In case you want to print images you can use Windows Generic Printer driver and then you can print anything you want directly from Windows. In short - the printer can print text and barcodes directly and also can be used to print from Windows images & text.

If you have to develp thermal printer:
1. Use C
2. The current manual is 100% sufficient to print text and barcode
3. You need some programmer to burn the code. But if you speak about developing you need debugger also - without debuger (for PIC ICD2, etc) the development will take much much longer

srizbf said:

thermal printers are available with or without controllers.

without controllers are to be programmed based on the interface data provided by manufacturers. but very hard to get the info because it is manufacturer centric.

with controllers are avialble more than without models.

the interface is usually serial(and usb/parallel).(though many other interface standards are given by manufacuresr for their printers)

if you have selected a serial or parallel interface type , you can concentrate on your application.

the control codes tobe sent to the printer , for most, esc/p standard for text.(exceptions also). for graphics it is manufacturer specific.

whatever printer available in your area , you "must" have the programmers manual of control codes.

you can use any language you are comfortable with , for programming.

Click to expand...

Hi srizbf,

I have come across some of the Thermal Printer without controllers. But these Thermal Printer has come with Software development Environment and special Programming language like EPL and ZPL[Zebra Programing Langaue]. This EPL recommend that complete Text and Graphics can be programmed and applied to zebra Printers.

Now my Doubt is Zebra company Provide this Printer Hardware, Programming Interface, Programming Language, Printer Driver, software and everything. So why should any programmer should re-program his code, debugg and test his function in Zebra Printer when the company itself is coming with printer driver and software. I just want to know what is the catch here ...?

My Intention was to develop an software Interface biased on specif client, that they just type the name and logo on the screen and printer should print it.

I wish you should look at the link
h**p://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/products/printers/desktop/gx430t.1.tabs.html.

the language seems to be for developing barcode/logo.

IMHO you have a choice:
either use a stsndard language and develop the product

or

use the specified one and develop.

but if you go through the second option , you can develop for that particular organisation product alone.

it all depends on the developers environment.