Serial to Parallel converter

[Jorji 0]

I need to archive on a paper some values from my plc program. I think to use a printer for this job but in siemens doc's i see that must use some serial to parallel convertor. So if you know some schemes to build my own converter or some model of converter please write me. Thanks

[panic mode 246]

printers come with all kind of interfaces. traditionally most of them used parallel port (LPT) but this changed and versions with serial (RS232), USB and Ethernet ports are available. printers with serial interface are quite common for label printers etc (lower volume). if that printer uses parallele port AND your PC has parallel port, you would not need any converter, just straight through 25-pin cable. if your PC for some reason doesn't have parallel port or if that port is already used, you can add one any time. there are cards that one can insert in spare slot (nowdays PCI) or just forget it and use USB to parallel converter like this for example: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea...4&CatId=471

[Crossbow 297]

Panic, I think he was referring to connecting the printer to the PLC.

[panic mode 246]

you are probably right. i get distracted so many times i rarely finish reading original question. in this case i would suggest using either RS232 printer or something like this http://www.datapro.net/products/SXP320.html http://www.stayonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=2446 http://www.lindy.com/us/productfolder/03/32/32787/index.php http://www.nextag.com/Cables-Unlimited-ser...625/prices-html http://www.nextag.com/Aten-SERIAL-PARALLEL...268/prices-html http://www.nextag.com/Black-Box-serial-par...655/prices-html http://www.telebyteusa.com/catalog/manuals/m109a.htm I'm not so sure about DIY because one would need to take care of handshaking and possible data buffering. Certainly not too much of a problem with todays MCUs and FPGAs but still it's not worth the effort when ready commercial solution is $50. In emergency, instead of developing both hardware and software I would rather use some old PC or PC104 board and just write program to do conversion. This can be done in no time using any language. VB is simple to use (and nowdays free from MS website) specially when handling of ports is so easy.

[Jorji 0]

Thank you panic ! Do you know how can I connect Barcode printer to S7 200 Siemens PLC, is ot necessary to write driver program in the PLC. I don't know how the printer work. I think that i will send a numbers to printer and it will convert to barcode ;) .

[panic mode 246]

i tought so, no need for parallel printer, just get a small label printer with serial interface, don't waste your time with office printers and port conversion. whatever connection you use, you need to be able to troubleshoot it. if you convert from one interface to another, you just double your trouble.. yes you will need to write program to send messages to printer. take a look at Zebra or InerMec products. they come with manuals explaining message format etc. you will have to get familiar with serial communication so if you are not already there, get a crossover cable and two pcs or one pc with serial port and see what it takes to send message from one port to another. hint, you will need some sort of terminal emulator. hyperterminal comes with windows, there are tons of such programs out there but you might want to try SuperMon from our download section. it is much simpler to use and it doesn't try to "fix" your message by adding extra characters etc. once you master pc to pc connection, replace on of PCs with PLC. try to send from PLC and receive on PC.