I am working on a art project and want to see if this project is feasible for someone just getting started with programing the arduino.
Basically I want to use the arduino to send commands to a dot matrix printer, the command would be a basic one or two word text command. I have included a diagram (please excuse the clip art diagram) that demonstrates how I would rig the printer up to loop the same loop of paper through the printer over and over again. I would use a computer to do this, except I want the printer to print endlessly until it basically runs out of ink or destroys the paper. I also want the printer to work without any connections to an actual computer so it would appear that this printer is working all by it's self.
I am working on a art project and want to see if this project is feasible for someone just getting started with programing the arduino.
The first thought that comes to mind is that if you have to ask, it isn't.
Knowing exactly what printer you are trying to send information to is going to be the first step. Then, knowing exactly what commands the printer expects, and how it expects to get them is the second step. Is it a serial printer, a USB printer, or a parallel printer? How to talk to each is different.
If it's a serial printer it would be more easy. You would still have to raise the AVR TTL serial voltage to RS232 level on only one wire. There's at least a few cheap ways to do that.
If you found the right docs like the old Sam's Photofacts and had a EE handy to interpret you could probably wire it direct. That would go right past the interface.
