Epson LX-80 User manual

LX 80 Printer
P8492037 0
Y560991020

EPSON@
LX-SOPRINTER
Operating Manual

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
FOR AMERICAN USERS
This equipment generates and uses radiofrequency energy and if not
installed and used properly, that is, in strictaccordance with the
manufacturer's instructions, may cause interferencetoradio and television
reception. It has been typetestedand found to comply with thelimits for a
Class B computingdevice in accordance with the specifications in Subpart
J of Part 15 of FCC rules, whicharedesigned toprovidereasonable
protection against such interferencein aresidential installation. However,
there is no guarantee thatinterference will notoccur in a particular
installation. Ifthis equipment does cause interference to radio or
television reception,whichcan bedetermined by turning the equipment
off and on,theuser is encouraged totryto correct theinterference by one
or more of thefollowingmeasures:
- Reorient thereceiving antenna
- Relocate thecomputerwith respect tothereceiver
- Plug the computer into a different outlet so thatcomputer and
receiver are on different branch circuits.
If necessary, theuserconsult thedealer or anexperienced radio/television
technician for additionalsuggestions. The user may find the following
booklet prepared bythe Federal Communications Commission helpful:
"How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TVInterference Problems."
This booklet is available from the U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office,
Washington DC 20402. StockNo.004-000-00345-4.
WARNING
The connectionofanon-shielded printer interfacecabletothisprinter will
invalidate the FCC certificationof thisdevice and may cause interference
which exceeds thelimits established bytheFCC for this equipment.If this
equipment has morethan oneinterfaceconnector,donot leave cables
connected to unused interfaces.
Apple is.a registered trademark ofApple Computer,Inc.
Applesoft is a trademark ofApple Computer,Inc.
BBC is a trademark of BBC Corporation.
Centronics is a registered trademark of Data Computer Corporation.
EPSON is a trademark of EPSON CORPORATION.
IBM-PC is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.
Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
TRS-80 is a registered trademark of RadioShack, a divisionof Tandy
Corporation.
80 Micro is publishedby WayneGreen Publishers.
NOTICE:
* All rightsreserved. Reproduction of any part of this manual in any form
whatsoever without EPSON's express written permission is forbidden.
* Thecontents of this manual are subject to change without notice.
* All effortshave been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this manual.
However, should any errors be detected, EPSON would greatly appreciatebeing
informed of them.
* The above notwithstanding, EPSON can assume no responsibility for any errors
in this manual or their consequences.
© Copyright 1985 by EPSON CORPORATION
Nagano, Japan

List of Figures . . . . ................... . . . . . . . Vll
List of Tables Vlll
Introduction 1
LX-80 Features 1
Using ThisManual . ....... . .............. . 2
1 SettingUp Your LX-80 Printer . .............3
Printer Parts 3
Printer Location ..... . ...................... 4
Paper Feed Knob Installation 4
Ribbon Installation 5
Ribbon Replacement 8
Paper Loading 9
Control Panel . .................... 10
Test Pattern ..... . ........ . . . ....... . . 12
Connecting the LX-80 to Your Computer 13
First Printing Exercise14
2 SelecType ................15
Choosing Print Modes 15
TurningSelecType Mode On 17
Using SelecType .......................... 18
First SelecType Exercises . 18
TestingYour Software for the Reset Code 20
Mode Combinations 21
SelecType Cautions and Tips 23
Summaryof the steps in using SelecType 23
SelecType Setting Sequences 24
3 Elements of Dot Matrix Printing 25
ThePrint Head 25
Bidirectional Printing 26
Changing Pitches 26
NLQ Mode . . . . ..................... 28
4 Printer Control Codes 31
ASCII Codes 31
ESCapeCodes 32
Printer Codes 33
Software command codes ........ . .... . ... . 34
Inserting codes directly into the text 35
Programming Languages 36

5 LX-80 Features 37
Demonstration Programs 37
Pica Printing 38
Other Pitches 39
Cancelling Codes 39
Resetting the Printer .......... . ......... . ...40
PitchComparison 40
Near Letter Quality Mode 41
6 Print Enhancements and Special Characters 43
Bold Modes ........ . ............. . ..... . . 43
Emphasized mode 43
Master program 44
Double-strike 45
Enlarged Mode 46
Mode Combinations 46
Italic Mode 47
Underline Mode . . ............. . ... . ......48
Master Select 49
Superscript and Subscript . .... . ............ . . 51
Special Characters ........... . .............. 51
International Characters 52
Graphics Character Set ... . ..................54
7 Page Formatting . . . ......................... 57
Topof Page and Page Length 57
Paper-Out Sensor 58
Skip Over Perforation 59
Margins 59
LineSpacing 60
Justification with NLQ 62
8 User-DefinedCharacters 63
Defining Your Own Characters 63
Designing Process 64
First definition program .. . . . ..... . ...... . 65
Running the program .. . . . ..... . .. . ......67
Second definition program 69
Running the program 69
Defining NLQ Characters . .................70
NLQ grid ........... . .................. 70
NLQ definition program 73
9Introducing Dot Graphics I. 75
Dot Patterns 76
Print Head 77
Graphics Mode 78

Pin Numbering 79
First Graphics Program ..................... . 80
Multiple-Line Exercise 81
Density Varieties 83
Reassigning Code 84
WIDTH Statements 84
Design Your Own Graphics ................. . 84
Graphics Programming Tips . . . . . . . . . ...... . 87
Semi colons and command placement 87
String variables 90
Graphics and low ASCII codes 90
Appendix
A ASCII Codes and Character Fonts A-1
Control Codes Used by the LX-80 A-3
Control Key Chart. .... . . .............. . . . . . A-4
Special Graphics Characters .. ........... . . . A-5
Draft International Characters . . A-7
C Command Summary C-1
Code Sequence and Function C-1
C.l Near Letter Quality Mode.. . ........ . C-2
C.2 Character Width (Pitch) C-3
C.3 Character Weight C-6
C.4 Print Enhancement C-8
C.5 Mode and Character Set Selection C-9
C.6 Special Printer Features C-13
C.7 Line Spacing C-15
C.8 Forms Control C-18
C.9 Page Format C-21
C.l0 User-Defined Characters C-25
C.ll Dot Graphics C-26
C.12 Miscellaneous Character Codes C-30
DThe DIP Switches D-1
EUsing the Optional Tractor Unit E-1
Printer Location ................. . .... . ..... E-1
Tractor Unit Installation E-2
LoadingContinuous Paper E-4

F Troubleshooting and Advanced Features F-1
Problem/Solution Summary. . ................F-1
Setting print styles F-1
Tabbing F-1
Graphics F-2
Width problems F-2
Problems with irregular darkness of printing . . F-2
Problemswith paper feeding F-3
Paper-out sensor F-3
Computer hangs ............... . .......... F-3
SelecType Solutions F-3
Method 1 ................................ F-3
Method 2 ......... . ..... . . .............. . F-3
Method 3 ..................... . ....... . . . FA
Method 4 ................. . . . .... . ..... . . F-4
Cancelling Functions with SelecType FA
Other software F-6
Beeper Error Warnings ........... . ........ F-6
Data Dump Mode F-6
Coding Solutions F-8
POKEing codes F-9
Special printer drivers F-10
Solutionsfor 7-Bit Systems F-l1
Solutionsfor Specific Systems F-12
Applesoft BASIC solutions F-12
Apple II solutions F-12
TRS-80™solutions F-13
IBM-PC™ solutions. ............. . ...... . F-13
QX-10 multifont CP/M solutions. . ....... . . . F-13
BBCBASIC solutions F-15
G Printer Maintenance G-1
Always .. ..................... . ......... . G-1
Now and Then G-1
H Technical Specifications H-1
Printing H-1
Character size . . . ............. . .. . . . ......H-1
Characters per line ...................... H-2
Paper H-2
Printer . .............. . .. . ..... . . . H-2
Dimensionsand Weight H-2
Environment H-3
Interface H-3

The Parallel Interface .
DataTransfer Sequence .
Interface timing .
Signal relationships .

List of Figures
1-1 Printer parts 3
1-2 Paper feed knob installation .............. 5
1-3Ribbon cassette 5
1-4Print head assembly 6
1-5 Ribbon cassette installation .. . . . ........... 7
1-6 Ribbon placement . . . . . . . ................ . 8
1-7 LX-80 ready for paper loading . ........ . . . 9
1-8Control panel . . .......................... 10
1-9 Test patterns 12
1-10 Cable connection 13
2-1 SelecType setting and functions 17
3-1A capital T 25
3-2The three pitches of the LX-80 27
3-3LX-80 dot matrix characters .. . .. . ........ 28
6-1 Single-strike and emphasized 43
6-2Single-strike and double-strike 45
6-3Standard and enlarged characters 46
6-4 Pica and italic print 48
6-5 Theunderline mode 49
6-6Special graphics characters 54
8-1 Grid for designing draft characters 64
8-2Correct and incorrect designs 65
8-3Design for sigma 66
8-4 Using the bottom eight rows . . . . . . . . 68
8-5 Grid for NLQ characters 70
8-6Data numbers for one column 71
8-7 Arrow design and data numbers 72
9-1 Pin numbering 79
9-2Calculating numbers for pin patterns 80
9-3 Designing in different densities 85
9-4 Arrowdesign 85
9-5 First line of arrow figure 86
9-6Result of incorrect program . . . ............ . 88
9-7 Pin patterns of incorrect program 89
D-l DIP switch location D-l

E-l Continuous paper with printer stand E-l
E-2 Continuous paper without stand E-2
E-3Tractor placement . . . . . ...... . ........ . ... E-2
E-4 Paper separator and paper guide. . . . . . ...... E-3
E-5 Right tractor release lever E-4
E-6Pin feed holder adjustment E-5
E-7 Open pin feed cover E-5
E-8Top of page position E-6
1-1Parallel interface timing 1-3
2-1Thevarious typestyles possible with SelecType
2-2 SelecType modes .
2-3 Modecombinations .
2-4 SelecType sequence for setting typestyles .
5-1Summaryof LX-80 pitches .
6-1International characters in NLQ mode .
6-2International characters in draft mode .
6-3International characters in draft italic .
9-1 Graphicsmodes .
D-l DIP switch functions .
D-2 International DIP switch settings .
I-1Pins and signals .
1-2 Signal interrelations .
16
18
21
24
42
53
53
53
83
D-2
D-2
1-1, 1-2
1-3

The Epson LX-80 printer combines low price with the high quality
and advanced features formerly available only on more expensive
printers.
LX-80 Features
In addition to the high performance and reliability you have come to
expect from an Epson printer,the LX-80 offers:
• Draft mode for quick printing of ordinary work
• Near Letter Quality mode for top quality printing
•A varietyof print styles,including Roman and italic,six widths,
and two kinds of bold printing
• User-definable characters so you can create and print your own
symbols or characters
• High-resolution graphics for charts, diagrams, and illustrations
• Eleven international character sets
•Easy paper loading
• Ribboncassette for quick and clean ribbon changing

Using This Manual
This manualcontains all the information you need to use theLX-80.
The more technical information is in the appendices. The main body
of the manual is concerned mainly with a detailed explanation of
how to use the commands to their best effect.If you have problems,
or simply wish to have an in-depth description of a particular func-
tion, refer to theindex.
As a preview of the type of output you can obtain from your LX-80,
the following showsjust a few of the functions.
NLQ standard
NLQemphasized ABCDEFGHIJKLMnopqrstuvwxyz
ABCDEli'GHI,JKLMnopqrstuvwxyz
F ':i. c ':';':"" /~ll"{( . ,i,,)E-· j-- t ":.i \•.. , J .. "i I. I ;"'11 { :1 r1 i -li'::::. t I, I,\/ i/',":,;'":.' "
El i te ~8COc~~:~H ,jKi t-\ni)pqr-'=.·~I.I.VW>: /2
L:ond~ns~d ABCDEF6HLWl t1nDf,[ rstllvfll:YZ
ItalicBCDEFGHIJKLHnopqFstuvNxyz
llndECU .. f.\.~ elJDCI;J£;FQH ,:;W;I,-Mr: =. Q.fd::§ t,=~y~~y"~
E in J > 1'"1 ·3 S3 i~~ £.:~ c:1 E~:::-~ r~3 .3. rl d E:: ' c1

Chapter 1
Setting Up Your LX-SO Printer
Setting up your LX-80 printer is a simple matter of attaching two
parts,fitting theribbon cartridge,inserting paper,and connecting
the printer to your computer.
This chapter will first show you how to print a test pattern and then
lead you into doing more complicated work. Familiarisation should
not take more than about twenty minutes.For the moment do not
plug in or turn on your printer.
Printer Parts
First,see that you have all thepartsyou need. In addition to this
manual,the printer box should contain the items shown in Figure
1-1.
cIJ-paperfeed knob

In addition to theitemsin thebox, you needacable and possibly an
interface board. Thecable connectstheprinter to your computer,
and the interface board isnecessaryonlyfor thosecomputers that
cannot use the LX-80's Centronics® parallel interface. Your compu-
ter manual or your dealerwill tell you which cable you need and
whether or not you needa special interface.
Printer Location
Now that you have unpackedyour printer, you should choose a
suitable location for it.Themain requirement,of course, is that the
printer be close enough to your computer for the cable to reach.
Also remember thefollowing:
• Use an earthed socket, and do not use an adapterplug.
• Be careful when using electrical sockets that arecontrolled by
wall switches. Accidentallyturning offaswitch canwipe out
valuable information inyour computer's memory and disrupt
your printing.
• Avoid using a socket onthe same circuit as anylarge electrical
machines or appliances. These cancause disruptive power
fluctuations.
• Keep your printer and computer away from base units for cord-
less telephones.
• Protect the printerfrom directsunlight, excessiveheat, moisture,
and dust.Make surethatit isnot close to aheater or other heat
source.
Paper Feed Knob Installation
After deciding where to set up your LX-80,the firstand simplest
item to install is thepaperfeed knob, which manually advances the
paper -just as onatypewriter.Push theknob onto the shaft found
in the hole on the right sideof theprinter.(SeeFigure 1-2.) The
shaft has one flatside that must be matched with theflatside of the
hole in the knob.

Ribbon Installation
The LX-80 printer usesa continuous-loop,inked fabric ribbon,
which is enclosed in a cassettemaking ribbon installation and re-
placement a clean and easy job. The partsof thiscassette are label-
led in Figure 1-3.

To install the ribbon, first make sure the power is off. Then open the
lid at the front of theLX-SOso that you can see the print head
assembly shown in Figure 1-4.Move the assembly by hand to the
centre of the printer so that the other parts of the printer will not get
in your way. Ensure that the paper bail rests against the black roller
so it too will not be in your way.
Note: Moving the print head by hand when the printer is turned on
can harm the printer.Always be sure that the printer is
turned off before you move the print head.

Hold theribbon cassette so that the small knob is on top and the
exposedsection of ribbon is away from you. Insert the cassette in its
holder byfirst sliding the pins at the back of the ribbon cassette
under the small hooks on the holder.(See Figure 1-5.) Then lower
the front of thecassette so that the exposed section of ribbon can fit
between theprint head nose and the silver ribbon guide.Pushdown
untilthe cassettefits firmly in place.

Now turn the knob on the cassette in the direction of the arrow to
take up the ribbon slack. As you turn the knob, see that the ribbon
runs correctly between the print head nose and the silver ribbon
guide (Figure 1-6).If it doesn't, guide it with a pen or a pencil.
Ribbon Replacement
When your printing begins to fade and you need to replace the
ribbon,lift the front of the cassette to remove it and then follow the
above instructions with a new cassette. If you have been using your
printer just before you change cassettes, be aware that the print
head becomes hot during use. Be careful not to touch it.Also
remember never to move the print head by hand when the printer is
turned on.

Paper Loading
Now puta sheet of paper in your LX-80 so that you can test it.
Figure 1-7shows thenames of the parts that you need to know.
\
Paper feed knob