Star Micronics NX-2415II User manual

USERS MANUAL
NX- 24 1 5 MULTI-FONT
DOT MATRIX PRINTER
XBL 80825600

NX-2415II
MULTI-FONT
USERS MANUAL
NOT INTENDED FORSALE

I
FederalCommunicationsCommission
RadioFrequencyInterferenceStatement
This equipmen[ htiskcn tes[edand found to wrmpl} with the limits to!-aClass Bdigital de~ice. prrrsuanl
to Part 15of FCC’ Rules. These limits art designed to prokide reasomihle pmtec(iun against harmful
interference in aresidenti:il installirtiun This equipment generates.usesandcan radiate radio frequency
energy.:md. it’nu[ installed and usedin accordancewilh [he inmwctions. may’causeharmt’ul in[ert’erence
to radiu cummunic~tions. Howc\er, there is m)guarantee thfit in[erfererrce will not occur in apaflicrrl~ir
install ~tion, It’[his equipment doescauseharmtul inlert’erence to mciiu or television reception, which can
bedeterrnineciby turning theequipment off andun,the userisencouragedtotry tocorrect the irmrference
b> une or more nf the fulluwing measures:
.Rculiem or relocate the receiving antenna.
.Increasethe separation between the equipment :ind receiver.
.Cunnect [he equipment intu an nuclei nn a circuit different Imm tho[ to which the recciier is
connected.
.(’unsult the dealer or ~inexperienced radiWTV technician for help.
Unarrthorized rnodilica[iuns of this product b> the userwill w)id his arnhoritj to upmrtc the equipment
unles expresslj ~ppm~ed b) [he party responsible for cmnpliunce.
Fur compliance with the Federal Noise Interference Stirndirt-d,[his equipmem requiws ashielded cable.
T’hcc)h(:)c>t(ilcr))ct!r(Ipplic} (JIII) I(Jp)iflrc).i t)ld)kctcd if] //1<, [! S..4.
Statementof
The CanadianDepartmentofCommunications
RadioInterferenceRegulations
This digital zipparatrrsdoesnot exceedtheClassBlimits t’or radiu rrnisccmissium from digital appar’ams
setout in the Radic Inkrferencc ReSrrlations of the Canadian Department of Cotnll?Llnic~tiorls.”
Le present~ppweil numdrique r]’hen pasdebruits radiuilectriques Wpassdnl IesIimites applicahles acrx
appareils nrrmdriquesde la classeBprcscrites dam le R?glement sur Iebmcrilktge radioglecrrique &iict@
par Ie minis$re desC()!llrllutlic:iti()ns du Can~da.
1’heUIXJIC.>furetlrclrr U171111C$(1111) I(I pfitIrc.s r71dILcrcd itl (’df!udd.
TrademarkAcknowledgements
NX-2415II, NX-2415, NB24-15,IS-8XL, SE’-15DJ,PT-15XJ: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
IBM-PC, PS/2,PC-AT,ProprinterXL241?/XL24,PC-DOS:lntern~timutl Business Machines Corp.
MS-DOS,NlicrusoftBASIC:Micrnsott Curporatior
LQ-106O, LQ-1050: Seiko Epson Corp.
A’OT’ICL’
●All rights reser~ed. Rcpmdrrction nt’ any part of this manutil in any form whatsoever withorr(
STAR’S expresspennissinn is furbidden.
●The comems uf this manual are sub,jcctto change withmrt nutice.
●All efforts havebeenmadetuensuretheaccurac>uf’the contentsofthis manual atthetime ofpress.
However. shuuld an>,errors bedetected. STAR w(mld yeatlj iipprecitite king inf’umml ui’them
●The above r)c)t~$ithst:illditlg, STAR can assumeno responsibility for an) errors in this manual.
OCopyright 1993Star Micronics Co.. Ltd.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
Thismanual isorganized intoelevenchapters.To learnhowtomake thebest
use of your printer you are urged to read through chapters 1through 6.
Chapters 7through 11maybe treated as areference guideforprogrammin,g
operations. etc. It assumes adegree of knowledge of the operation of
computer-i.The chapters are as follows:
Chapter 1— Introduction
This chapter indicates the primary features of your printer, the names and
functionsoftheprinter components, and an actualexample of themany font
styles that your printer can produce.
Chapter 2—Setting Up the Printer
This chapter explains how to get the printer unpacked and set up. Read this
chapter before you do anything else.
Chapter 3—Paper Installation and Use
This chapter describes the instructions for printing such as selecting paper
types, adjusting the printing gap, and installing paper.
Chapter 4—Control Panel Operations
There are anumber of controls on the front panel which perform various
functions related to paper handling, print modes and font selection.
After performing the setup of the printer, read this chapter and try out the
procedures to find out how the printer works.
Chapter 5—Default Settings –EDS mode
This chapter explains how to set the Electronic DIP Switch (EDS) mode to
make your printer match your system and software needs.

Chapter 6—Troubleshooting
This section shows alist of check points to follow if your printer is not
working properly. It also includes details of some routine maintenance
operations you can perform yourself. It isnot, however, acomplete service
manual. Call your authorized servicecenter ifyou are unsure of your ability
to carry out any maintenance or servicing operations on the printer.
Chapter 7—Optional Accessories
This chapter explains the optional accessories that are available for your
printer, and how to install and use them.
Chapter 8—Printer Control Commands
This chapter explains the software commands that are used to drive your
printer.This sectionisofuseifyouarewritingormodifyingprogramstotake
advantage of the printer’s features.
Chapter 9—Download Characters
This chapter explains the procedures to create your own characters,
Chapter 10 —MS-DOS and Your’Printer
Since the PS/2 or PC-AT family of computers running under MS-DOS is
currentlythemostpopularconfigurationofmicrocomputer,wehaveincluded
afew hints and tips to help you use your printer with such systems.
Sincevirtually allPCs are sold with aMicrosoft BASIC interpreter,we have
alsoincludedsomehints,andasampleprograminthislanguagetodemonstrate
the capabilities of the printer.
Chapter 11—Reference
This sectionprovides references for your printer, such as specifications, the
pinout of interface connector, and the character tables.
The character table charts give the different character sets available.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1INTRODUCTION
Printer components
Summary of printer features
Font style example
Chapter 2SETTING UP THE PRINTER
Printer placement
Unpacking and inspection
Setting up
Installing the platen knob
Installing the ribbon cartridge
Installing the paper guide
Connecting the interface cable
Configuring your software for the printer
Chapter 3PAPER INSTALLATION AND USE
Selection of paper
Adjusting the printing gap
Loading single sheets
Loading and parking fanfold forms
Loading the paper
Paper parking
Paper unparking ‘“
Chapter 4CONTROL PANEL OPERATIONS
Button and indicator functions
ON LINE
PAPER FEED
SET/EJECT
PITCH
FONT
Switchcombination functions
Form feed
Top of form
Forward micro-feed
Reverse micro-feed
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2
4
6
7
7
8
9
9
10
13
13
15
17
17
18
19
22
23
25
26
27
27
28
29
29
30
30
31
31
32
32
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Changing the auto loading position
Clearing the buffer/All reset
Save macro definition
Power-up functions
Short test mode
Long test mode
Print area test mode
Pitch lock mode
Font lock mode
Font and Pitch lock mode
Dot adjustment mode
Hexadecimal dump
Conditions indicated by beep tones
Chapter 5DEFAULT SETTINGS -EDS MODE
How to set the EDS mode
Functions of the EDS settings
Chapter 6TROUBLESHOOTING
Maintenance
Chapter 7OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Automatic Sheet Feeder
Setting up
Loading paper
Pull Tractor Unit
Setting up
Loading paper
Serial Interface Cartridge
DIP switch functions on the serial interface cartridge
Chapter 8PRINTER CONTROL COMMANDS
Font control commands
Character set commands
Character size and pitch commands
32
33
34
35
35
36
37
37
37
37
38
39
40
41
41
42
47
52
53
53
54
57
59
60
61
63
64
65
66
71
74

Vertical position commands
Horizontal position commands
Graphics commands
Download character commwlds
Other printer ct)mnmnds
Chapter 9DOWNLOAD CHARACTERS
Det’iningyour own characters with stand~tr~imode
Assigning the character’data
Assigning itv:due of character space
S~tmpleprogram
Definin: ~our own chmacters with IBM mode
Assigning the downlo:tdcharacter set
Assigning the uhar:wtcrdot pattern
Assigning the Index Table data
sample pr”ogl”m
Chapter 10MS-DOS AND YOUR PRINrl’ER
Programming the printer with DOS commands
Programming with BASIC
Chapter 11 REFERENCE
Specifications
Pinout of interface connector
Parallel interface
Serial interface
Character sets
Standard character set #2
International character sets
IBM character set #2
Character set #l
IBM special charircterset
INDEX
COMMAND SUMMARY
80
86
90
94
97
I01
101
10?
103
104
106
106
107
108
110
113
I13
I16
141
145

chapter 1INTRODUCTION
Thisprinterhas afullcomplement offeatures,making itanexcellent partner
for apersonal computer. It supports the Epson/IBM printer commands and
character sets, enabling it to print just about anything your computer can
generate, both text and graphics.
The selectionof paper youcan use is as varied as the types of document you
can produce. This printer accepts any of the following kinds of paper:
●Single sheets (cut forms) and stationery
●Fanfold forms (continuous forms)
●Multi-part forms (up to 3-ply)
●Preprinted forms
This Multi-font printer has the following resident (internal) fonts:
●Draft
●Roman
●Sanserif
●Courier
●Prestige
●Script
The control panel has five but[ons and eleven indicators. The indicator
display and beep tones provide immediate, easy-to-understand feedback
when you press the buttons on the control panel.
The fivebuttonscan operate incombinations to perform asurprising variety
of functions, including saving amicro.
An additional useful feature is the ability to switch easily between printing
on fanfold paper and printing on single sheets. Asimple control panel
operation letsyou“park”thefanfoldpaper,sothatyoudonothavetoremove
thefanfold paper from theprinter. When you wantto resume printing on the
fanfold paper, you can simply “unpark” it.
To getacquainted withtheprinter’scomponentsand capabilities,referto the
information on the pages that follow.
1

PRINTER COMPONENTS
Front cover Rear cover Releaselever
Controi panel
Bitil roller Bail lever Interface connector
~

Component
Paper guide
Release lever I
I
Front cover
Rear cover
Entry slot
Control panel
Power switch
Platen knob
Interface connector
Print head
Ribbon cartridge
Adjustinent lever
Tractors
Clamp lever
Bail lever
Description
Alignssinglesheets(cutforms)tohelptheprinter
detect when paper is inserted.
Releasespressureonthepaper.Thislevermustbe
back for cut forms (~), and forward for fanfold
forms (~).
Protects the print head and other internalcompo-
nents of your printer.
Protects the tractor feed unit and separates in-
coming and outgoing fanfold forms.
For inserting single sheets of paper.
Indicates printer status and makes control of
printer functions simple and convenient.
Switches power on or off.
For advancing the paper manually.
Connects the computer to the printer.
Has ahigh resolution dot matrix (24-wire) com-
position for outstanding print quality.
Contains the printer ribbon.
Controls print darkness by adjusting for the
thickness of forms being printed.
Control the movement of fanfold forms.
Clamps the tractor in place.
Opens and closes the paper bail which holds the
paper against the platen.
3

I
SUMMARY OF PRINTER FEATURES
Feature
Dot matrix (24-wire)
impact printing
Extensive software
support
Multi-font support
Carriage size
Multi-speed printing
Character spacing
Control panel
Font/Pitch Lock
Quiet mode
Graphics printing
Function
Draft and Letter-Quality printing.
Theprinteriscompatiblewith theEpson andIBM
standards, and works with any software that sup-
ports those printers.
This printer includes Draft, Roman, Sanserif,
Courier, Prestige, and Script fonts.
Awidecarriage thatprintson cutforms up to 420
mm (16.5 inches) wide and fanfold forms up to
406 mm (16 inches) wide.
In Draft mode, prints at speeds up to:
●300 CPS in 15pitch
●240 CPS in 12pitch
●200 CPS in 10pitch
In Letter-Quality mode, prints at speeds up to:
●100CPS in 15pitch
●80 CPS in 12pitch
●67 CPS in 10pitch.
Prints in 10, 12, 15, 17, and 20 CPI, as well as
proportional spacing.
Button control for fonts, pitches, paper move-
ment, and paper park functions.
Ignores font and pitch selections sent from your
computer, and’staysonthefontandpitch selected
from the control panel.
Reduces printing noise by approximately 50%.
However, printing speed is also reduced.
Standard graphics printing with resolution of up
to 360x 360dotsper square inch. It also supports
the NEC graphics commands.
4

Feature Function
Paper parking
Print styles
Tear off function
Parks fanfold paper. You can print on cut sheet
paper without unloading the fanfold forms.
Highlighting capability with the following em-
phasis styles:
●Double-high ●Double-strike ●Double-wide
●Emphasized ●Italics ●Outline
●Overlining ●Shadow ●Subscript
●Superscript ●Underlining.
Fanfoldforms can beremoved withoutadvancing
blank forms.
Multi-part forms IPrints up to three-part forms.
Ribbon cartridge IContains the printer ribbon.
EDS mode Electronic DIP Switch (EDS) mode allowsyouto
easily change the default settings of your printer
to match your system and software needs.
5

FONT STYLE EXAMPLE
The following example shows the many font styles your printer can print.
Resident fonts are:
Draft characters ,
Roman characters,
Sanserif characters,
Courier characters,
Prestige characters,
sc.Jt.Lptdmmetwm.
Print pitches are:
Pica pitch (10 CPI),
Elitepitch (12CPI),
Semi-condensed pitch (15 CPI),
Condensedpicapitch(17CPI),
Condettsedelitepitch(20CPI),
-Normalproportional,
Condettsedproportiottal
Double-height,
Doub 1 e width.
TX-*P1 e= widtilm=
Various line and character spacings:
l!” //’4%
G
W
gB D
Other features:
Oumnm),s-m,
OumLmm)mm ssu?mwm,
Emphasized, Double-strike, Italics,
Underlining, ~ !Werllnlng,
StJF’ERscRIPTand SUBSCRIPT,
Download characters: ‘stttti~~~s~tsss
Dot graphics:
Az!!Q!!D
6

chapter2 SETTING UP THE PRINTER
This chapter describes the following procedures for setting up your new
printer. If you have optional accessories. refer to Chapter 7after setting up
the printer.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Printer placement
Unpacking the printer
Installing the platen knob
Installing the ribbon cartridge
Connecting the printer to your computer
Configuring your software for the printer
PRtNTER PLACEMENT
Before you start setting up your printer, make sure that you have asuitable
place on which to locate it. By “a suitable place”, we mean:
.
.
.
.
.
●
✎
Afirm, level surface which is fairly vibration-free
Away from excessive heat (such as direct sunlight, heaters, etc)
Away from excessive humidity
Away’from excessive dust
A“steady power supply that is not subject to power surges should be
connected to the printer.
Forexample. donotconnecttheprintertothesamecircuitasalarge,noise-
producing appliance such as arefrigerator or an air conditioner.
Make sure the line voltage is the voltage specified on the printer’s
identification plate.
If you areconnecting yourprinter with aparallel interface, make surethat
thecable iswithin 2m(6ft)oftheprinter. An RS-232connection usingthe
optional IS-8XL interface cartridge can be made over longer distances.
7

I
UNPACKINGAND INSPECTION
Nowcheckeach itemintheboxagainstFigure 2-1tomake surethatyouhave
everything (there should be five items).
If any of these items are missing, contact your supplier.
FigureZ-l. Checkto makesureyou haveall five items: 1)Printer,2) Paperguide, 3) Platen knob, 4) Ribbon
cafiridge, and 5) User’s manual.
The optionalaccessories which youmay have ordered with yourprinter are:
●Serial interface cartridge (IS-8XL)
●Automatic sheet feeder (SF-15DJ)
●Pull tractor unit (PT-15XJ)
For details of the optional accessories, refer to Chapter 7.
8

SETTING UP
Place the printer in the desired location, and remove all packing material
from the printer. This packing material isintended to prevent damage to the
printer while in transit.
You will wantto keep allthepacking material, along with theprinter carton,
in case you have to move the printer to anew location.
Installing the platen knob
The platen knob is packed into arecess of the packing material which held
your printer insidethe printer carton. Be careful to remove the knob before
disposing of the package.
Mount the knob on the platen shaft, which is located on the right-hand side
oftheprinter. Rotatethe knob on the shaftbefore pushingtheknob fully into
position.
Figure 2-2. Installing the platen knob
9

I
Installing the ribbon cartridge
Now install the ribbon by the following procedure.
1. Remove the front cover by lifting the front (using the two grips at the
sides), and pulling towards you.
Figure 2-3.Removethe front cover to install the ribbon cartridge.
L. T&e up the slack intheribbonbytuming the tension knob on the ribbon
cartridge clockwise as shown by the arrow.
Figure2-4.Take up the slack in the ribbon by turning the tension knob on the ribbon cartridge.
10

3. Guide the ribbon between the printhead and the silverprint head shield,
makingcertainthatthespindlesonthecartridgeholderfitintothe sockets
on the cartridge itself.
Figure 2-5. Install the ribbon cartridge
4. Make sure that the ribbon is positioned between the print head and the
print head shield as shown in Figure 2-5.
5. Take up the slack in the ribbon again by turning the tension knob.
Figure 2-6. Make sure that the ribbon is positioned correctly.
11