SPRT SP-RMD8D User manual

SPRT®
SP-RMD8D
Thermal Micro Panel Printer
User’s Manual
Ver 1.06
Beijing Spirit Technology Development Co., Lt d.
www.sprt-printer.com

Content
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Feature and performance.........................................................................................2
1.1 Features .............................................................................................................................2
1.2 Performance ......................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2 Printer Installation ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Printer outline ................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Outline dimension .............................................................................................................4
2.3 Paper loading .................................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Instruction of Mounting Installation Ear ...........................................................................6
Chapter 3 Operating Instruction.................................................................................................7
3.1 Power and Communication Interface ............................................................................... 7
3.1.1 Serial interface connection .................................................................................... 7
3.1.2 USB interface connection..................................................................................8
3.1.3 Printer Parameters Setting................................................................................9
3.1.4 Power connecting ...............................................................................................9
3.2 Indicator and Button ....................................................................................................... 10
3.3 Self-test and HEX Mode .................................................................................................. 10
3.4 Pinter Initialization .......................................................................................................... 11
Chapter 4 Printing commands..................................................................................................11
4.1 Summary...............................................................................................................................11
4.2 Commands Description...................................................................................................... 12
4.2.1 Paper Feeding Commands.............................................................................................12
4.2.2 Format Setting Commands.............................................................................................13
4.2.3 Character Setting Commands........................................................................................ 17
4.2.4 User-defined Character Setting Commands ................................................................ 21
4.2.5 Graphics Printing and Codepage Choosing Commands........................................... 23

4.2.6 Initialization Commands.................................................................................................. 26
4.2.7 Data Control Commands .................................................................................................26
4.2.8 Chinese Character Print Commands............................................................................ 27
4.2.9 Real-time Commands...................................................................................................... 29
4.2.10 Bar Code Printing Commands..................................................................................... 31
Chapter 5 Using and Maintenance.......................................................................................... 37
5.1 Printing Head Maintenance................................................................................................37
5.2 Other...................................................................................................................................... 37
Chapter 6Printer Using under Windows ................................................................................. 38
Appendix 1 Valid Codes Form under ANK printing ...............................................................38
Appendix 2 Valid Codes Form under Chinese printing........................................................ 40
Appendix 3 Printing Commands Form.................................................................................... 41
Appendix 4 Example of MCU Interface...................................................................................42

1
Introduction
RMD8DD thermal printer is a smart printer developed and produced by
Beijing Spirit Technology Development Co., Ltd. for the 21st century. There are
advantages of small volume, light weight, complete functions, fast speed, high
definition, artistic appearance, simple operation, convenient connection. It is the
most ideal matching product to use in medical equipment, fire-alarm control and
other kinds of equipment, etc.
SP-RMD8D micro thermal printer has character set 1 and character set 2 in
Western mode. In Chinese mode, you can print 4 kinds of 24 dot high characters
9*24, 12*24, 16 *24, 24*24 and 1 kind of 16 dot high character 8*16. Chinese
characters have 24 * 24, 16 * 16 national standard one or two fonts and BIG5 font
selection, and a large number of mathematics Symbols, special symbols,
graphics, curves. Partial code characters can be customized by command to
change the print line spacing and character size, with self-test function.
SP-RMD8D printer has Windows driver. It can print kinds of characters,
Chinese and pictures directly through PC.

2
Chapter 1 Feature and performance
1.1 Features
◇Thermal line printing.
◇Printing head and circuit together to be convenient for installation.
◇With single chip processor. There is standard parallel interface or serial
interface, which is convenient to connect with kinds of microcomputers or
intelligent equipment.
◇There is actual time printing command to print Characters, code, graphics, etc.
The commands set is compatible with the traditional printer.
◇Support kinds of codepages and pre-saved bitmap printing.
◇Self-testing function. All codes can be printed, characters with high definition
and beauty.
◇Receiving buffer of SP-RMD8DS/TH is 3K, receiving buffer of SP-RMD8DUH
is 13K.
◇Front installation to be convenient for customers to install.
◇Printing paper: Width 57.5±0.5mm thermal paper, paper type 57.5×φ30
（MAX）.
◇Power request of SP-RMD8DS/TH: Input Voltage: DC5V～8.5V Current: 3A.
◇Can be used in DOS and Windows.
◇8dots/mm, 384dots/line.
◇Installation dimension: 77mm×52mm(W×H) Depth: 41mm
◇Outline dimension(mm): 82mm×57mm×43mm(W × H × D).
1.2 Performance
◇Printing method: thermal line printing.
◇Interface: Serial (RS-232 , TTL ).
◇Universal ESC, FS, GS control code.

3
◇Button is paper feeding control button, indicator LED always lights after
powered on, it means printer is powered on. Different flickering frequency of
indicator LED has different meanings, please refer to section 3.2 to learn
more details.
◇Printing paper: Thermal paper, paper width 57.5±0.5mm.
◇Reliability: MCBF (Average number of trouble-free rows) （5～15）× 106.
◇Effective printing width: 48mm
◇TPH: 100KM
◇Operating temperature: 0～50℃, relative humidity: 10～80%.
◇Storage temperature: -20～60℃, relative humidity: 10～90%.
Chapter 2 Printer Installation
2.1 Printer outline
Picture 2-1
1. LF Button, Power indicator, Error indicator
2. Paper Roll
3. Open Door Handle

4
2.2 Outline dimension
2.3 Paper loading
Pull the hand shank to open the paper case cover. Close the cover after
loading the paper, as showed in Picture 2-5.

5
Picture 2-5

6
2.4 Instruction of Mounting Installation Ear
First, put the printer into the panel
Picture 2-5
Suitable thickness of customer’s panel: 0.5<t<6.0 (mm)
Second, open paper cover case, then screw up the bolts in a clockwise
direction until the installation ear was fixed tightly.
Picture 2-6
Screw in clockwise
direction.
Notice: Tightening
force on bolts can not
be over 2kgf·cm.

7
Chapter 3 Operating Instruction
3.1 Power and Communication Interface
3.1.1 Serial interface connection
SP-RMD8D uses PH-6PIN type interface to be power and communication
interface, definition of PIN assignment is like below:
Signal
name
PH-6PIN
Source
Explanation
VDC
1
－
Printer operating
voltage(5.0~8.5V)
TXD
2
Printer
Printer send data to host. When
X-ON/X-OFF handshaking
protocol is used, printer send
Control code X-ON/X-OFF to host.
RXD
3
Host
Printer receives data from
computer
BUSY
4
Printer
When data is 1high, it means
printer is too busy to receive data;
when data is 0 low, it means
printer is ready to receive data.
GND
5
－
Signal ground
EN
6
Printer
High level enables printer, low
level turns off printer
Picture3-1 Definition of PIN assignment of serial interface
Notice: ①”Source” means where the source data comes from.
②Non-listed pin No. is empty pin.
Under serial interface connection, baud rate and data structure can be set
through Setting Tool software. Default factory setting is 9600bps, 8bits data bit,
no parity and 1bit stop bit.
Baud rate support: 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200,
etc, eight kinds.
There are two handshaking modes optional: One is Mark Control
Handshake, the other is X-ON/X-OFF Protocol Handshake. The explanation of

8
these two kinds is as showed in Picture3-2:
Handshaking Mode
Data
Direction
RS-232C interface signal
Mark Control
data can
enter
"BUSY" signal line is in
"SPACE" status
data can't
enter
"BUSY" signal line is in
"MARK" status
X-ON/ X-OFF
Control
data can
enter
Send X-ON code "11H" on
"TXD" signal line
data can't
enter
Send X-OFF code "13H"
on "TXD" signal line
Picture3-2 Two handshake methods
3.1.2 USB interface connection
Signal
name
PH-6PIN
Source
Explanation
VDC
1
－
Printer operating
voltage(5.0~8.5V)
NC
2
－
D-
3
－
USB differential signal
D+
4
－
USB differential signal
GND
5
－
Signal ground
EN
6
Printer
High level enables printer, low
level turns off printer

9
3.1.3 Printer Parameters Setting
The parameters can be set through software:
“Setting Tool software” can be downloaded from our website. The detailed
explanation can be checked from “Setting Tool software”.
3.1.4 Power connecting
SP-RMD8D: Broad Input Voltage: DC5V～8.5V; Current: 3A
Power socket is like below figure 3-3, Power socket PIN assignment is like
below figure 3-4:
Figure 3-3 Power socket drawing
Figure 3-4 Power socket PIN Assignment
Note: When the SHUT_DOWN_CTR PIN under high level, 3.3V switch is open;
When it is low level, the 3.3V switch is closed.

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3.2 Indicator and Button
The function of the buttons vary according to the working mode of the printer.
In the normal working mode, it will be like follows:
The paper feed button is powered on. At this time, press the paper feed
button to start feeding; release the button to stop feeding. The power indicator
and the error indicator share one (green)
Indicator status
Explanation
Persistent lighting
power on
Flicker once per
second
Lack of paper. Recover to be
normal after paper loading.
Flicker twice per
second
Printing head over-heat. Recover
automatically after the
temperature of printing head
falling.
Flicker three times
per second
The heating plate of printing head
broken. Unrecoverable. At this
time, the printer needs to be
repaired.
3.3 Self-test and HEX Mode
Self-test can test whether the printer is normal working or not. If the self-test
receipt can be printed out correctly, it means the printer can work normally
except the interface with host. Otherwise, the printer needs to be repaired.
The content printed on self-test receipt is Version No., Interface, Character
and other configuration information.
The method of self-test is holding down 【LF】button and turn on the
printer. Then within three seconds, release the button. At this time, the printer
will print out self-test receipt.
The method of hex printing is holding down 【LF】button and turn on the
printer. After the indicator flickers three times, loosen the button. The printer will
print out “Hexadecimal Dump” and enters into Hex printing mode.
The method of quit hex printing: ①Press 【LF】button constantly three
times. Then send 0x00;

11
②Restart the printer directly
3.4 Pinter Initialization
There are two methods of printer initialization. One is that through the
control code ESC @, the host sends commands to printer to initialize printer by
commands. The other is restarting the printer.
Chapter 4 Printing commands
4.1 Summary
All the printing commands of SP-RMD8D are fully compatible with traditional ESC printing
commands. The description form of each command is as following,
Command name Function
Format: ASCII: the standard ASCII character sequence
Decimal: the Decimal number sequence
Hexadecimal: the Hexadecimal number sequence
Explanation: the function of command and usage method
Example: some examples are listed to illustrate the command for better understanding.
The following is the description of each command according to the function of each
command.

12
4.2 Commands Description
4.2.1 Paper Feeding Commands
LF Feed Line
Format: ASCII: LF
Decimal: 10
Hexadecimal: 0A
Explanation: The printer prints the current line and feeds paper forwards one line.
Remark: One line means the current character line.
ESC J n Dot Line Feed
Format: ASCII: ESC J n
Decimal: 27 74 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 4A n
Explanation:
The printer feeds paper n dot lines. n=1~255.
This command doesn’t send carriage return and feed line. It won’t influence the later feed
line command.
If you need to feed paper immediately but no carriage return, can use ESC J command.
Line spacing will be enlarged automatically when using commands ESC V, ESC W and FS
W for enlarging characters.
ESC 1 Set n Dot-line Spacing
Format: ASCII：ESC 1 n
Decimal: 27 49 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 31 n
Explanation:
The n dot-line spacing is set for future Line Feed command. n=0~255
Default setting n=3 for text printing, n=0 for bitmap printing when using ESC K command.
The BASIC programs for observing the effect of this command are as below:
FOR I=1 TO 11 STEP 2
LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(49);CHR$(I); ’ ESC 1 set line spacing
LPRINT “RMWD TEST” ’ Print character string and feed line
NEXT I
The print result of the above is as following:

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4.2.2 Format Setting Commands
ESC B Set Vertical Tab Value
Format: ASCII: ESC B n1 n2 n3…NUL
Decimal: 27 66 n1 n2 n3…0
Hexadecimal: 1B 42 n1 n2 n3…00
Explanation:
The vertical tab positions are entered as n1, n2 and so on. Character NUL is added at the
end to indicate that the command is over.
VT command is to carry out vertical tab and the paper is fed to the next vertical position. All
input vertical tab positions can be deleted by using this command in ESC B NUL format.
Example: set three vertical tab values at 2nd line, 5th line, 8th line in one page, you can
send the following commands:
ASCII: ESC B STX ENQ BS NUL
Decimal: 27 66 2 5 8 0
Hexadecimal: 1B 42 02 05 08 00
The BASIC programs about the above example are as below:
LPRINT CHR$ (27); “B”; CHR$ (2); CHR$ (5); CHR$(8); CHR$(0); ‘ESC B command
LPRINT CHR$(11); ‘VT command
LPRINT “SPRM1”; ‘print character string
LPRINT CHR$(11); ‘VT command
LPRINT “SPRM2”; ‘print character string
LPRINT CHR$(11); ‘VT command
LPRINT “SPRM3” ‘print character string
The print result of the above program is as following:

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VT Carry out Vertical Tab Value
Format: ASCII: VT
Decimal: 11
Hexadecimal: 0B
Explanation:
Feed paper to the next vertical tab position which is set by ESC B command.
Notice: if there is no vertical tab value setting, or the current position equals or is beyond
the last vertical tab position, VT command is to feed paper one line only (same to LF
command).
ESC D Set Horizontal Tab Value
Format: ASCII: ESC D n1 n2 n3…NUL
Decimal: 27 68 n1 n2 n3…0
Hexadecimal: 1B 44 n1 n2 n3…00
Explanation:
The horizontal tab positions are entered as n1, n2 and so on, all of which should be within
the line width of this model printer. Character NUL is added at the end to indicate that the
command is over.
All set horizontal tab positions can be deleted by using this command in ESC D NUL
format.
Example: set three horizontal tab values at 2nd, 9th line, 14th character position in one line,
ASCII: ESC D STX HT SO NUL
Decimal: 27 68 2 9 14 0
Hexadecimal: 1B 44 02 09 0E 00
The BASIC programs for this example are as below:
LPRINT “12345678901234567890123456789012” ’Ruler
LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(68);CHR$(2);CHR$(9);CHR$(14); CHR$(0); ’ESC D command
LPRINT CHR$(9); ‘HT command
LPRIN “HT1”; ‘print character string
LPRINT CHR$(9); ‘HT command
LPRINT “HT2”; ‘print character string
LPRINT CHR$(9); ‘HT command
LPRINT “HT3”; ‘print character string
LPRINT CHR$(13);
The print result of the above program is as following:
HT Carry out Horizontal Tab Value
Format: ASCII: HT
Decimal: 9
Hexadecimal: 09

15
Explanation:
The print position is advanced to the next horizontal tab position which is set by ESC D
command.
Remark: If there is no horizontal tab value setting, or the current position equals or is
beyond the last horizontal tab position, HT command won’t be carried out. If the horizontal
tab position is beyond the current line width, HT command won’t be carried out, either.
ESC f Print Blank Characters or Lines
Format: ASCII: ESC f m n
Decimal: 27 102 m n
Hexadecimal: 1B 66 m n
Explanation:
When m=0, ESC f NUL n will command to print n blank characters
When m=1, ESC f SOH n will command to print n blank lines. n=0~255.
Remark:
When m=0, if the value of n is beyond the current line width, the printer will continue to print
blank in the next line.
When m=1, paper will feed n current line heights.
Example: print 6 blank characters in one line, you can send the following commands: ASCII:
ESC f NUL ACK
Decimal: 27 102 0 6
Hexadecimal: 1B 66 00 06
Another example: print 6 blank lines, you can send the following commands:
ASCII：ESC f SOH ACK
Decimal：27 102 01 6
Hexadecimal: 1B 66 01 06
ESC l Set Left Margin
Format: ASCII: ESC l n
Decimal: 27 108 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 6C n
Explanation:
The value of n should be in the range from 0 to the line width of this model printer.
Default n=0, that means no left margin.
This command sets absolute position, and won’t be influenced by character
commands ESC U and ESC W.
Example: set left margin value to 12, you can send the following commands:
commands:
ASCII: ESC 1 ACK Decimal: 27 108 12
Hexadecimal: 1B 6C 0C
The BASIC programs for this example are as below:
LPRINT “1234567890123456” ’Ruler
LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(108);CHR$(12); ’ESC 1 command

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LPRINT “123456789012345678901234567890”
The print result is as following:
ESC Q Set Right Margin
Format: ASCII: ESC Q n
Decimal: 27 81 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 51 n
Explanation:
The value of n should be in the range from 0 to the line width of this model printer.
Default n=0, that means no right margin.
This command sets absolute position, and won’t be influenced by character commands
ESC U and ESC W.
After setting this command, the printer will carry out carriage return and feed line as long
as the right margin position is reached.
Example: set right margin value to 12, you can send the following commands:
ASCII: ESC Q ACK
Decimal: 27 81 12
Hexadecimal: 1B 51 0C
The BASIC programs for this example are as below:
LPRINT “12345678901234567890123456789012” ’Ruler
LPRINT CHR$(27); CHR$(81);CHR$(12); ’ESC Q command
LPRINT “123456789012345678901234567890”;
LPRINT “12345678901234567890”
The print result is as following:
ESC P Set Character Space
Format: ASCII: ESC P n
Decimal: 27 112 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 70 n
Explanation:
This command is used to set space dot between characters, which is also valid for
Chinese characters.
Default n=0, means no space between characters. (dot is absolute value and won’t be
influenced by enlarging or narrow commands), n=0~255

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4.2.3 Character Setting Commands
ESC U Enlarge Width
Format: ASCII: ESC U n
Decimal: 27 85 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 55 n
Explanation:
After inputting this command, the characters, graphics and Chinese characters are printed
at n times of normal width, n=1～8. Default n=1 when the dots are 24, while default n=2
when the dots are 16. These are normal printing width.
Remark: n=1～8, the other value of n will be invalid.
The BASIC programs for observing the enlarging effect of this command are as below:
FOR I=1 TO 3
LPRINT “CHR$ (27); CHR$ (85);CHR$ (I); ’ESC U command LPRINT “SPRM”; ’Print
character string NEXTI ’CR command
The print result is as following:
ESC V Enlarge Height
Format: ASCII: ESC V n
Decimal: 27 86 n
Hexadecimal: 1B 56 n
Explanation:
After inputting this command, the characters, graphics and Chinese characters are printed
at n times of normal height, n=1～8. Default n=1 when the dots are 24, while default n=2
when the dots are 16. This command should be sent out at the beginning of one line.
Remark: n=1～8, the other value of n will be invalid.
The BASIC programs for observing the enlarging effect of this command are as below:
FOR I=1 TO 3 ’ from 1 to 3 times
LPRINT CHR$ (27); CHR$ (86); CHR$ (I); ’ESC V command
LPRINT “SPRM”; ’Print character string
NEXT I
The print result is as following: