Mini Thermal Printer Issue

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bmock
 
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Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bmock »

Hello all,

I have an issue with the mini thermal printer. I can successfully push things to the printer to print, but they come out faded in spots and in garbled characters. When I power on the printer while holding the feed button it just prints CP437 repeatedly on new lines. It doesn't print anything else, just CP437 until I let go of the button. Is there a firmware update I'm missing or is it a faulty printer? Maybe some other issue?

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pburgess
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by pburgess »

Possibly printer or power supply related. What are you using to power the printer?

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bmock
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bmock »

I bought the starter pack, so it is the 5v adapter. I also had the usb plugged in while printing.

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pburgess
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by pburgess »

Okay. Let's start by removing the Arduino from the equation. Disconnect it from the printer, then hold the feed button while connecting power to the printer. Does it still print the CP437 message in a loop, or does it print the character map?

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bmock
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bmock »

Without the arduino plugged in and just power while holding down the button it rhythmically advances the paper but prints nothing. When I put the arduino back in it printed the same CP437 repeatedly.

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pburgess
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by pburgess »

Is that with the button held when connecting power, or pressing it after the fact?

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bmock
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bmock »

with it held while giving it power.

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pburgess
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by pburgess »

Okay, that's just wonky. Please email [email protected] and include a link to this post, and we'll issue a replacement.

Thanks for your patience, just wanted to rule out other possibilities first.

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bmock
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bmock »

Thanks for the help!

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bogohack
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bogohack »

Hi, im having the exact same problem, and i made the same tests suggested, how can i solve this problem?

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

i made the same tests suggested
What did you try and what were the results of those tests?

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bogohack
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by bogohack »

I unpluged the printer from everything, then i press the feed button, then i pluged to my 5V-2A adapter and it started printing CP437 on an on, then i released the feed button and it stoped printing and that was it, every time i try this is the same result.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

OK then. Contact [email protected] for a replacement printer. Be sure to include a link to this thread.

MiniatureTigers
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by MiniatureTigers »

I had this happen when I forgot to press the “ON” button from the printer. As a result it was only powered from the Arduino's USB and didn't have enough juice to print. Maybe that's what's happening?

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jbarrera
 
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Re: Mini Thermal Printer Issue

Post by jbarrera »

Hi! I'm having the same problem. Everything is unplugged from the printer, and when I power it up after pressing the feed button, it just prints CP437 repeatedly. I'm using a 5V 2A adapter. Should I email Adafruit's support too?
Thank you!

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