PIC18F4550 and bill printer

asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

I am having a project to make a cashier for small shop using PIC18F4550, GLCD HS19264 and bill printer. But I can't see any material to show how to communicate between printer and PIC.
Anyone can help me? Please!

Guest · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 3:04 am

Post link or product number of the printer.

bungee- · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 206

It would help to know the maker and the model of bill printer. Some of them use serial interface and some of them parallel ....

asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Thank for information! I haven't have a printer yet because I have not enough money to buy one. Any suggestion for me? And if you can, please tell me how to communicate with one, parallel or serial for example. Thanks alot

Ttelmah · Guest

You need to understand, that 'examples', will only apply to printer with one particular command language. The interface is easiest with serial (parallel uses a lot of pins, and is not needed, except for much faster devices), but then driving the printer will involve knowing what it 'talks', and this is specific to just about every priner...
Most printers will accept a simple line of test, and using serial, this become as as easy as 'printf("Text to send to printer");', but going beyond this, involves knowing what printer is involved.
So, you need to start, by looking at what printers are available. Prices, quantities that they can be bought in, size, etc. etc.. Then, once you think you may have found what you want to use, post back with it's model number (and even better a link toa data sheet). Then we can give a "well this won't work", or 'connect this pin here, and use this', type of reply.
It is a bit like saying "I want to learn to drive a vehicle". Until it is narrowed down to car, bicycle, tractor, etc., it is not really possible to help.

Best Wishes

mbradley · Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 118 Location: California, USA

Forgive me, I truly do not intend for this to sound rude, but if you are not familiar with the basic principals of serial/parallel i/o, perhaps this is a big undertaking for you.

I think you will learn a vast amount in the process, for I can already see some technical issues;

1. lcd interface
2. printer interface
3. human interface
4. monetary calculations involving decimal points

If you have anyone nearby that can collaborate with you, I highly recommend it since this sounds like a paying job, not just a project.
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www.mculabs.com
Open Drivers and Projects

dyeatman · Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 1933 Location: Norman, OK

This must be a school project.... He has been asking over in Mikroelectronika for the last month about using their driver for the HS19264 GLCD with the KS0108 controller, a small fact he omitted here.... So apparently he is not even using the CCS compiler.

http://www.mikroe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22430&sid=a606d5de9230bfe08be89662c95543e0
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asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

This is my school project to graduate Smile

!
As dyeatman said. At the begining I use MikroC for my project but I feel CCS more easy for me to understand, so now I use CCS and I have a success to make a library for me to drive the GLCD HS19264.
To Ttelmah, I have a thermal printer. I have it from the Casio cashier (Casio TE-M80) when I disjunction it. On the printer it has a code "LTPZ225B B-BDC04Z". Can you help me to understand how it work so I can drive it! Thanks so much!
The last message! I come from Vietnam and the price of new printer is too high with me. Thanks.

bungee- · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 206

I'm assuming that you pulled out the printer module from the cashier. Well good luck. Printer modules in that kind of devices are thermal printers and for communicating with that module you'll need quite a lot of work to do, not speaking fast uC just for printer part and lot of RAM for that.

Another thing is missing datasheets, you'll not be able to drive this printer without one.

Trust me (I was in barcoding/POS business) with this printer your project is going just one way ....

I would suggest to you to pick some other printer that have RS232 connector and go from there.

asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Thanks you so much for your information, bungee-. I will follow you and hope will have a good result to tell you. Thanks again

asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Sorry bungee-! Can you give me some materials to have a bit of knowledge about communicate with printer!

bungee- · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 206

No problem, here is PDF of receipt printers programmers guide. Everything that you need for driving one of receipt printers on serial port.

KLIK here

asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Thanks bungee- so much! Merry Xmas & Happy New Year! Very Happy

asanto1403 · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Hi everyone! I just buy a thermal printer PIII-5850. It communicate through LPT port. Any suggest for me with this printer plz!

mbradley · Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 118 Location: California, USA

Two things,

First, learn parallel port comunications...I don't recall off hand, but basically you load 8bit data on 8 i/o lines, then turn another i/o line high signaling the data is ready. And repeat for each byte. (there is a bit more to it)

Second, learn if there are any special chrs that need to be sent to the printer.

For the most part, just send ascii data and it will print.
_________________
Michael Bradley
www.mculabs.com
Open Drivers and Projects