Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

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corexs
 
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Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

I have a Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer that halts printing after one line of text or about 1cm of image. When the printer halts, the red status light gives two long flashes before dropping back into it's idle flashing pattern. I can add another print job but it halts like the first, and the print jobs don't clear from "lpstat -o ZJ-58". Periodically the printer will reprint the same failed 1cm of the image (as if the OS has timed-out the job and is attempting to restart it). If I hold the line-feed button when powering it on, it seems to consistently fail just after printing the DES Support line.

I have a second (identical) thermal printer I can plug in using the same connectors and it prints as expected.
The serial number of the (older) functional printer is 2021031000119. The one I just got that won't print is 2021031000140

I suspect the new printer I just got is broken or defective.
brokenPrinter.jpg
brokenPrinter.jpg (54.54 KiB) Viewed 152 times

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

Forgot to add: I'm using the USB connected version and the recommended power supply ( https://www.adafruit.com/product/276 )

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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

I have a second (identical) thermal printer I can plug in using the same connectors and it prints as expected.
Are there any other differences? Even cables? This behavior is most often a power issue. The power supply matters, but also all of the wires and adapters being used to deliver it.

Do you have a 9V supply by any chance?

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

No differences. Using the same USB cable and same power supply and power connector. I've also tried a second recommended power supply. Unfortunately, I don't have access to 9V

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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Please post some photos showing how the power is connected to the printer.

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

voltage.jpg
voltage.jpg (160.06 KiB) Viewed 132 times
power.jpg
power.jpg (215.99 KiB) Viewed 132 times

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Thanks. That looks excellent.

Really weird. How are you actually initiating the prints? Is this the self test? If not, do they both at least print the self test OK?

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by adafruit2 »

those big QR codes have a heavy usage of the thermal printer's head. its probably browning out. try making a smaller QR code, if that 'fixes' it then youll need to lighten the print or go to a 9V supply

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

Sorry- I didn't get an email notifying me of a reply. I'll try making a smaller QR.

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

The top line was initiated with the command:

Code: Select all

 lp <<< "This is a test print of a multiline text string sent to the thermal printer using lp"
The QR is a 600x600 png which was moved to "/home/pi/" and printed with the command

Code: Select all

lp -o fit-to-page ./frame.png
testPrint1.jpg
testPrint1.jpg (43.85 KiB) Viewed 113 times
This is the result of the power-on test. The printer halts after DES Support (EDIT): The receipt on the right was inside the printer when it arrived
Poweron.jpg
Poweron.jpg (64.54 KiB) Viewed 113 times

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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Just to be sure - the other printer gets through the self test OK? With the same power supply/cables?

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

Yes. If I swap just the printer while still using the same power cable and USB cable, I get the following:
goodPrinter_multiline.jpg
goodPrinter_multiline.jpg (41.5 KiB) Viewed 107 times
goodPrinter_POST.jpg
goodPrinter_POST.jpg (58.83 KiB) Viewed 107 times

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

Any further follow-up?

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

I'd like to get this issue resolved, but it feels like I've been dropped here.
Is there an RMA process, or...?

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corexs
 
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Re: Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer Halts Printing

Post by corexs »

The contact form on the adafruit shop directs customers here (the forum) to get replacements handled. There's no other direction on handling defective merchandise. Should I be posting in another topic for this? I'm going to be parting with my working printer in about a week, so I kinda need the defective one to start working or be replaced soon.

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