Lake Erie Systems 8900 Series Product manual

Model 8900 Series Printer
Technical Reference Manual
5321 Buffalo Road • Erie, PA 16510
800-570-4533 • www.fastprinters.com

Preface ............................................................................................... v
1 General Information
Introduction .................................................................................... 1-2
Paper-Handling System .................................................................. 1-2
Printer Features............................................................................... 1-3
Printer Quality ................................................................................ 1-4
Raster Graphics .............................................................................. 1-6
2 Printer Setup
Introduction .................................................................................... 2-3
Model 8900 Series Emulation Modes ............................................ 2-5
Miscellaneous Setup Parameters .................................................. 2-14
Test Features ................................................................................. 2-18
3 Character Sets and Global Commands
Introduction .................................................................................... 3-2
Character Code Table ..................................................................... 3-2
Character Sets ................................................................................. 3-3
Control Characters........................................................................ 3-16
Printer Commands ........................................................................ 3-18
Global Command Set.................................................................... 3-19
Global Command Descriptions .................................................... 3-19
4 TI Model 880 Printer Emulation
Introduction .................................................................................... 4-4
Model 880 Printer Emulation Commands ...................................... 4-6
Model 880 Command Descriptions.............................................. 4-10
5 TI Model 855 Printer WP Emulation
Introduction .................................................................................... 5-4
Motion Indexes ............................................................................... 5-5
Model 855 WP Commands............................................................. 5-6
Model 855 WP Command Descriptions......................................... 5-9
ii
Contents

6 Tl Model 855 Printer DP Emulation
Introduction .................................................................................... 6-3
Model 855 DP Command Descriptions.......................................... 6-7
7 IBM Proprinter XL Emulation
Introduction .................................................................................... 7-4
IBM Proprinter XL Emulation Commands .................................... 7-5
IBM Proprinter XL Command Descriptions .................................. 7-7
8 Epson FX Printer Emulation
Introduction .................................................................................... 8-5
Epson FX Printer Emulation Commands ....................................... 8-7
Epson FX Emulation Command Descriptions ............................. 8-10
9 Optional Emulation Commands
Introduction .................................................................................... 9-2
DEC LA120 Emulation Commands ............................................... 9-2
Answerback Memory Function ...................................................... 9-5
New Line Mode .............................................................................. 9-5
Auto Wrap ...................................................................................... 9-6
Answerback Memory Message Load ............................................. 9-6
10 Communication Interfaces
Introduction .................................................................................. 10-3
Data-Transfer Operations ............................................................. 10-4
Parallel Communication Interface ................................................ 10-6
Serial Communication Interface................................................. 10-14
Optional Communication Interfaces........................................... 10-21
Appendix
Application Instructions ................................................................ A-1
Index
iii
Contents

Copyright © 2001 by Lake Erie Systems
All Rights Reserved — Printed In U.S.A.
Model 8900 Series Printers
Technical Reference Manual
Part No. 2557824-0002
Original Issue: August 1989
Revision F: January 2001
Changes may be periodically made to the information in this publication.
Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual.
Record the serial number, purchase date, and firmware revision
number in the spaces provided below. The serial number and firmware
revision are recorded on the label affixed to the rear of the unit. All
correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial
number, firmware revision, and date of purchase.
Serial Number: ____________ Purchase Date: ____________
Firmware Revision: ___________________________________
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Lake Erie Systems.
This printer, as well as the programs that Lake Erie Systems has created to use with
it, are tools that can help people better manage the information used in their
business: but tools—including Lake Erie Systems products—cannot replace sound
judgment nor make the manager’s business decisions.
Consequently, Lake Erie Systems cannot warrant that its products are suitable for
any specific customer application. The manager must rely on judgment of what is
best for his or her business.
Page Finder, Z-Axis control, and Rapid Print are trademarks of Lake Erie Systems.
Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark and Proprinter is a trademark of International
Business Machines Corporation.
iv

This manual contains technical information about the Model 8900
Series Printers. This information supplements the information
contained in the Model 8900 Series Printer User’s Manual Part No.
2557785-0002 and is essential to programmers, system managers,
and other technically oriented people.
The information in this manual is presented in individual sections so
you can skip pages with information you already know or that does
not apply to your particular application.
Symbols Used in This Manual
Two international symbols are used throughout this manual to advise
you of important information.
This symbolindicates a Noteconcerningoperatingprocedures
or information you should know to help you operate your
printer.
This symbol alerts you to a Warning or Caution which
can prevent you from causing a hazard to yourself or to
your printer.
Contents
Chapter 1 — General Information provides a general description
of the Model 8900 Series Printer and brief information about some
of the principals of dot-matrix printing.
Chapter 2 — Printer Setup provides information about printer
configuration. Specifically, this chapter describes the control panel
switch functions and the setup/test menu. This information supplements
the information contained in Chapter 4 of the Model 8900 Series
Printer User’s Manual, Part No. 2557785-0002.
Preface
v
!

vi
Chapter 3 — Character Sets and Global Commands provides
general information about character sets and their use in the Model
8900 Series Printer and describes the commands that are valid for all
emulation modes, both standard and optional. These commands
provide control of the basic features of the Model 8900 Series
Printer.
Chapter 4 — Texas Instruments Model 880 Printer Emulation
describes the commands of the Model 880 Printer command set and
provides information about operating the Model 8900 Series Printer
in the Model 880 Printer emulation mode.
Chapter 5 — Texas Instruments Model 855 Printer WP Emulation
describes the commands of the Model 855 Printer WP emulation
command set and provides information about operating the Model
8900 Series Printer in the Model 855 Printer WP emulation mode.
Chapter 6 — Texas Instruments Model 855 Printer DP Emulation
describes the commands of the Model 855 Printer DP emulation
command set and provides information about operating the Model
8900 Series Printer in the Model 855 Printer DP emulation mode.
Chapter 7 — IBM Proprinter XL Emulation describes the
commands of the IBM Proprinter XL command set and provides
information about operating the Model 8900 Series Printer in the
IBM Proprinter XL emulation mode.
Chapter 8 — Epson FX Printer Emulation describes the commands
of an Epson FX printer command set and provides information about
operating the Model 8900 Series Printer in the Epson FX printer
emulation mode.
Chapter 9 — Optional Emulation Commands describes optional
emulation commands available for the Model 8900 Series Printer.
Chapter 10 — Communication Interfaces describes the standard
parallel and serial communication interfaces used with the Model
8900 Series Printer.

Appendix — Application Instructions explains how to use the Z-axis
printhead adjustment escape sequence and how to clean the automatic
page finder sensor.
Other Manuals About the Printer
The following manuals are available to help you learn more about
your printer and to help you operate and maintain the printer.
Title Part Number
Model 8900 Series Printer Quick Reference Guide 2557786-0002
Model 8900 Series Printer User’s Manual 2557785-0002
Model 8900 Series Printer Maintenance Manual 2557788-0001
Model 8900 Series Printer Safety Instructions 2557807-0002
Supplies
2551152-0011 Ribbon Cartridge, Black
2551152-0014 Ribbon Cartridge, Color
You can order the Model 8900 Series Printers, manuals, ribbons and
spare parts from LAKE ERIE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES by
calling toll free: 1-800-570-4533
or online at www.fastprinters.com
Purchase Orders can be sent to:
LAKE ERIE SYSTEMS
5321 Buffalo Road
Erie PA 16510
or may be faxed to: 814-899-1384
vii

Introduction .................................................................................... 1-2
Paper-Handling System .................................................................. 1-2
Printer Features............................................................................... 1-3
Print Quality ................................................................................... 1-4
Raster Graphics .............................................................................. 1-6
1
General Information
General Information 1-1

Introduction
The Model 8900 Series Printer is one of a family of rugged, high-
performance, dot-matrix impact printers, which forms letters,
numbers, and other symbols by printing dot patterns. The printer offers
a variety of common and unique features, such as multiple paper
paths and paper-feed methods, selectable print-quality settings, zero
paper tear-off to prevent waste of paper and forms, and color printing.
This chapter provides general information about the printer.
Paper-Handling System
Both models (8930 and 8920) of the Model 8900 Series Printer can
print heavy-duty multipart continuous forms. In addition, the 8930
can accept hand-inserted cut-sheet paper. Upon completion of a
printing operation, the printer automatically positions the tear-off
perforation even with the tear-off bar to allow removal of the printed
document.
A useful feature of the printer is its ability to park continuous paper
out of the print station area for unloading the paper supply or for
switching to another paper-handling mode. This feature lets you
switch instantly from continuous paper operation to cut-sheet paper
insertion (Model 8930).
Each time you load continuous paper or insert cut-sheet paper, the
printer automatically positions the paper and adjusts the printhead.
The Page Finder™sensor (located on the printhead carriage) detects
the top, left, and right edges of the paper and sends this information
to the printer electronics. The printer uses this information to adjust
the paper to the top-of-form position and to adjust the printhead to
operate within the left and right boundaries of the paper, regardless
of the paper width. The Z-Axis Control™motor adjusts the printhead-
to-paper (z-axis) clearance to its optimum value, regardless of the
thickness of the paper or form set.
General Information 1-2

All paper-handling operations are accessible through the control
panel and via the host computer using global commands.
Printer Features
The Model 8900 Series Printer includes the following features.
qPrint quality choices — letter-quality (LQ), text, normal draft,
and Rapid Print™draft
qStandard character sets — US ASCII (with 13 international
substitution tables), IBM®PC1, IBM PC2, IBM Multinational,
ISO 8859/1 Multinational and Nordic PC
qCharacter spacing (pitch) — 5.0, 6.0, 7.5, 8.6, 10.0, 12.0, 15.0,
16.7 and 17.1 characters per inch (cpi), depending on the
emulation mode in effect
qLine length — 13.6 inches (345.44 mm) maximum
qMaximum character columns — 136 at 10.0 cpi, 163 at 12.0 cpi,
204 at 15 cpi, and 227 at 16.7 cpi
qLine spacing — 3, 4, 6 and 8 lines per inch (lpi)
qLine feed modes — forward and reverse full or one-half line (for
superscript and subscript characters)
qPrint enhancements — bold, emphasized, underlined, and
expanded with true descenders (for lowercase characters such as
g, j, and y)
qStandard fonts — Courier and Gothic
qOptional fonts — Prestige Elite, Presenter, Barcode 3 of 9,
Interleave 2 of 5, OCRA, OCRB and PostNet
General Information 1-3