Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Issues

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Brunowindt
 
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Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:47 am

Re: Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Issues

Post by Brunowindt »

Hey everybody,

I know this thread is rather old, but I can't seem to find anything newer.
I am having issues with my mini thermal printer. I purchased it recently and can't get it to work. I am trying to connect it to a Raspberry Pi and print simple text files, but I only get out Chinese symbols and jibberish. In this thread found now the information that it could be because of the firmware, my printer also states that it is 2.69 and changing the firmware in Adafruit_thermal.h doesn't have any effect. Could I have a chance to make it work if I change the firmware, does anybody have experience with that?
Could it help to change the Raspberry OS to an older version?
I also already tried to make it work with an Arduino Uno, but I get the same results.
Super thank full for any tipps!

P.S. I installed it with the Adafruit library and cups on Rpi
Chair paintjob.JPG
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Chair paintjob_1.JPG
Chair paintjob_1.JPG (495.87 KiB) Viewed 415 times

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adafruit_support_rick
 
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Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:42 am

Re: Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Issues

Post by adafruit_support_rick »

How exactly are you getting that output? What software are you running?

What happens with the printer self-test? What does the output look like?

You say you get the same thing with an Arduino? Let's stick with that for diagnostics, since it's simpler.
What do you get from the Arduino A_printertest code? https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-thermal ... controller

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gcswales
 
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:57 am

Re: Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Issues

Post by gcswales »

Hi,
I have just been reading this thread and thought I might be able to shed some light on 'issues' with this printer.
We use the CSN-A2 printer in a product we manufacture, we buy direct from the manufacturer as we use 500+ per year.
A couple of years ago we had a sudden 'bug' where our products would randomly shut down. We traced the problem to a new firmware update with the CSN-A2 printer. The manufacturer had changed the firmware so the default printing used a much higher current, causing 'dips' in our product power supply. Quite randomly these dips would cause the processor to brown-out and reset.
It was hard work getting information out of the manufacturer but eventually they conceded that they they had updated the firmware and that it had changed the default printer settings - very annoying!
We fixed the problem by issuing a new firmware version (for our product) that changed the printer settings during initialisation back to their original settings.
Job done, so we thought!
Then last year they changed the plastic moldings of the printer. We only discovered this when distributors complained that printer parts we had shipped them would not fit the existing printer...
But last month, when we ordered some printer, they informed us that they had re-designed the PCB in the printer and so would send us a sample for us to test.
On testing I discovered (to my horror) that they have removed the printer 'settings' command and also many other commands we use.
I have also discovered some bugs in their firmware.
Ultimately there are too many incompatibility issues with the old and new printer so we are forced to product yet another firmware upgrade for our product but this time we have had to add a menu option (in the engineering menu) to select OLD or NEW printer.
In short, the manufacturer just changes the product without any concern for the customer with the result of considerable work and embarrassment on our part.
I would recommend getting hold of the latest manual from this year (2018) which has the reduced command set that is still supported as all the manuals online are grossly out of date.
I would also make you aware of a bug in the 'invert' command that flips text upside-down. This messes up the bitmap command and flips the image left-right.
Sorry to 'bang on' but many of the issues in this thread are not the fault of Adafruit but down to the OEM manufacturer of the printer not communicating radical changes to the product.

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juliandl
 
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Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2019 6:36 pm

Re: Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Issues

Post by juliandl »

Hi,

I received my printer two and a half weeks ago and just started my project. The printer is not printing the test.

I ordered the “Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Starter Pack” shown here:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/600

And have been following this guide:
https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-thermal ... first-test

When I turn on the power, the green led flashes. When I press the button, the paper rolls out for about 10mm, then stops. No text is printed on the paper.

The paper is loaded correctly and the paper is not binding at all and I am using the power supply provided in the kit.

The problem seems the same as the post by username “ryantan” on Sat May 14, 2016 10:54 am.

However, my printer did come with a test print already rolled up inside the printer, which makes me confused as to if the printer has worked before.

I attached a photo of my circuit, and of the test print that was rolled up inside the printer.
Thanks for your help,

J

Here is ryantan's post for reference.
ryantan wrote:Hi, just received my printer yesterday, but it's not printing the test. I am using the following products:

https://www.adafruit.com/products/276
https://www.adafruit.com/products/368
https://www.adafruit.com/product/597

And following this guide:

https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-thermal ... first-test

When i turn on the power, the green led flashes. When I press the button, the paper rolls out for about 10mm, then stops, no printing.

I have attached a photo of the front of the printer, is the black stains normal?
Attachments
Test print that was rolled up inside printer
Test print that was rolled up inside printer
IMG_1317.jpg (156.55 KiB) Viewed 199 times
Circuit
Circuit
IMG_1316.jpg (98.84 KiB) Viewed 199 times

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