Epson MX-70 User Manual

User’s ManualforMX-70 PrinterbyDavid A. LienCOMPUSOFT® PUBLISHINGA Division of CompuSoft, Inc.P.O. Box 19669 l San Diego, California 92119 U.S.A.

Introduction“But do I REALLY have to take a course on ‘How to operate a printer’ to usethis one?” No - not if you only want to use it for mundane prin

APPENDIX KAppendix KParallel Interface TimingThe MX-70 includes a parallel interface as standard equipment, which is compatible tothe Centronics paral

Appendix KSTEP 3. Connect the jumper No. 2 (AUTO) on the control circuit board to enable the AUTOFEED function.By the above operating steps, the MX-70

APPENDIX LAppendix LPrinter MaintenanceA clean and comfortable environment will insure the best possible service fromyour printer (and its operator).F

Appendix Land divide into 100,000,000. The result is the estimated print head life in days.(Then count the legs and divide by four . . .)If and when t

Appendix M:Schematic Diagram

INDEXPageAutomatic line feed, proper setting ...4, 6, 16Cable, printer ...

NOTICEPlease send your comments, suggestions, and any errorsyou might find to:THE EDITORMX-70 Manual60x 19669San DiegoCalifornia 92119U.S.A.Thank You.

LIMITED WARRANTYEpson America, Inc., “Epson,” warrants this product against defects in mate-rial and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days from

X

The Starting LineChapter 1The Starting LineThis important chapter shows how to unpack, set up, and test your new printer.Read it before you get into t

Chapter 1With the printer facing you, as shown in Figure 1-2, grasp theside and pull straight up. Very easy. To replace the lid,procedure.lid on its l

The Starting LineInstalling the RibbonPosition the printer with the Epson label (front) facing you. Locate the paperbail (the moveable metal bar with

Chapter 1IncorrectRibbonIncorrectCorrectFigure 1-4CWind the ribbon tight again with the little plastic knob, and it’s all set to go.You may notice a s

The Starting LineOpening the CaseTo locate the wiring terminals, we have to open the case. The lid should still beoff. Remove the roller knob by pulli

Chapter 1Figure 1-7Take a minute to gawk at all the stuff in the box. Wow! As Custer said, “Lookat all those . . . ” well, anyway.Wonder how they sell

The Starting LineWhen in Doubt, BluffIf you have an Apple, move (if necessary) the short white wire located betweenthem to the red terminal (as in red

Chapter 1To install the rack, simply spring the wires a bit so they pop into the holes in theprinter frame, as shown in Figure l-8.Figure l-8Feeding t

This Book was prepared especially for Epson America, Inc. by CompuSoft® Publish-ing. All rights, domestic and international are reserved by CompuSoft®

The Starting LinePull the paper bail forward. Open both tractor covers and center the paper guideroller between them (Figure l-10).Tractor Position Lo

Chapter 1Adjusting for Paper ThicknessThe MX-70 can print on all types of pre-printed multiple copy forms andcarbons, as well as ordinary printer pape

The Starting LineWhere is all the motor noise? How about some big levers, lights, and alarms?Looks like dynamite in a small silent package!The POWER l

Send it a MessageChapter 2Send it a MessageThe MX-70 printer is smart. It knows how to follow instructons.Any Code Devised by Man Can be Broken by Man

graphic and other features they will have to resort to POKEing codes or someother devious means, and are referred to their own computer’s referenceman

Send it a Messagemay be connected to Port #l) to the code stream sent to the video screen. PR#0“unhooks” Port #I from the video signal chain by sendin

Chapter 2There are many parallel interface cards made by other manufacturers. Be surethe card you purchase is designed to work with the MX-70.Testing

Send it a Message10 PRINTTAB (14) ;“GREETINGS FROM THE GRAPHIC”20 PRINTTAB (22); CHR$ (14); “MX-70’30 PRINTTAB (22) CHR$ (27) “K” CHR$ (60) CHR$ (0);4

Chapter 2There is a lot happening, so we’d better disect the program (like a frog) to learnall about it. TypeLIST(TRS-80 etc. use LLIST)to LIST the pr

Send it a MessageNot all codes actually print on either the screen or the printer. Most special or“control” codes don’t really PRINT anything, even th

FCC Compliance StatementThis equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy. If not installed andused properly, that is, in strict accordance wit

Chapter 2We send the special code CHR$ (27), which means “<Escape>,” down theline immediately preceding a control code that needs that <Escap

Send it a MessageLine 50 actually sends the messages down the line to the printer. Theexpression inside the CHR$ function looks complicated, but that’

Chapter 2Special ‘Escape’ CodesCHR$ (27) - The BASIC ASCII combination for “Escape.”(Special code used with letter codes)“K” - The letter “K.” (Kicks

More Print Control CommandsChapter 3More Print Control CommandsThat last chapter was a heavy one, but it gave us a good overview of manyMX-70 features

Chapter 3Don’t forget, double WIDTH mode is automatically turned off at the end ofeach line, unless that line ends with a semicolon (;). If we want to

More Print Control CommandsIt may take a little practice to get the paper positioning perfect. We need to beable to do it right, especially for matchi

Chapter 3The Form Feed - in Basic SoftwareLet’s modify our program to print only 10 lines, then have it automatically rollthe paper up to the next TOE

More Print Control CommandsLet’s all read the following “Philosophy” carefully. It is absolutely vital that weunderstand the concept of the “endless l

Chapter 3Now we are all on the same channel, and the printer hasn’t forgotten where theTop Of Form belongs.When the floor is strewn with paper and the

More Print Control Commands30 NEXT N39 PR #0(Apple)and RUN.OK gang. It’s different strokes for different folks. Users who can see theirprinter merrily

Trademark AcknowledgementsTRS-80 is a Trade Mark of Radio Shack. Centronics is a Trade Mark ofCentronics, Inc. Apple is a Trade Mark of Apple Computer

An Introduction to Dot Matrix PrintingChapter 4An Introduction to Dot Matrix Printing(Subtitled,“Does a Dull Title Make a Topic Dull?“)My Computer Can

Chapter 4Each pin is driven by a “gun,”or electromagnet, which “fires” when told to doso by the electronics inside the printer. The printer electronic

An Introduction to Dot Matrix PrintingFigure 4-3For a complete listing of all the standard MX-70 characters, look at the self-testprintout from Chapte

Chapter 4So what does all this higher mathematics have to do with graphics? Just this. Ifwe are to create high-resolution graphics on the MX-70, we ha

An Introduction to Dot Matrix PrintingLine 10 contains the following 2 distinct commands:1. An <ESC> “A.” It opens Pandora’s box to let us set t

Chapter 4Check the printout and find where spacing is 12. Doesn’t that look more likewhat we’re used to?Now look at 24 dot spacing. Aha! It’s double s

An Introduction to Dot Matrix PrintingThere are several code numbers already reserved for special things. If we lookclosely at the printouts from this

Chapter 4Type in this NEW program:9 PR #1(Apple)10 PRINT CHR$ (27) "A" CHR$ (0)(or 0+ 128)20 PRINT "UNDERLINE"30 FOR U=l TO 9: PRI

An Introduction to Dot Matrix PrintingLine 40 returns line spacing to the normal 12 DOTSLine 50 PRINTS more text to show that all is normaland that’s

Graphtrax IIChapter 5Graphtrax IICaution- Entering High Resolution SpaceTo create graphics on the MX-70, we must enter a completely new mode: theGRAPH

A Personal Note From the AuthorCongratulations on your decision to buy an Epson MX-70 printer! In myopinion, it’s the best dollar value in a low cost

Chapter 5The Saki flowed like melting snow from Mt. Fuji when they contrived that wildscheme. Let’s see if we can wring it out.Suppose we want to shoo

Graphtrax IIWe’ll label these top 8 pins as follows:128 - 0 TOP64 - o32 - o16 - o8-O4-o2-ol-oBOTTOMo(Ninth pin not used)From now on we will refer to t

Chapter 5Wow! A jackpot. Using the bottom of an old Coke bottle as a magnifier, we seethat each column is 7 dots high. 50 columns of 7 rows of dots. T

Graphtrax IINow for the Bad NewsBefore racing off to create a HI-RES forgery of the Mona Lisa, be aware thatthe above is how is it SUPPOSED to work. R

Chapter 5TRS-80 Model I:10 LPRINT CHR$ (27) "K" CHR$ (50) CHR$ (2);and RUN.Figure 5-2Press CTRL-C or BREAK to stop. Very impressive.Note th

Graphtrax II100DATA4,4,4,4,4,61,71,70,60,4,4,4,4,4110 DATA72,79,89,107,77,73,127,89,73,79,73,73,73,73120 DATA16,112,54,17,81,17,126,16,48,80,16,16,16,

Advanced GraphicsChapter 6Advanced GraphicsFiring Pins at Seven PacesThe MX-70 allows any computer to control the firing of its 8 active pins bysimply

Chapter 6Line 10 sets the top-to-top line spacing at 7 dots.Lines 20 and 30 KICK the printer into graphics mode. N specifies thenumber of graphic colu

Advanced GraphicsThe Data BankHI RESolution graphics requires lots of DATA. It comes with the territorySo, what should our DATA lines look like? How s

Chapter 640 FOR G=l TO N50 READ X120 NEXT G130 PRINTThe numbers READ into X are the actual pin firing instructions. If X falls in therange 0 - 127, we

vi

Advanced GraphicsList and recheck the completed program to make sure everything is correct:9 PR #1(Apple only)10 PRINT CHR$ (27) "A" CHR$ (7

Chapter 6All That Work for one Line?We shouldn’t complain too loudly. It works, and no one said creating graphicswas easy.Our current “universal” prog

Advanced GraphicsRowdy CharactersAdd the following lines:1070 DATA 44,-12,8,-32,1271080 DATA 39,-17,0,64,96,112,120,124,-12,127,124,120,112,96,64and R

Chapter 6A ConfessionLine 1070 was artificially injected into this conversation to illustrate some of theproblems the rebel character codes can cause.

Advanced GraphicsFigure 6-6It was worth it!We now have all the tools needed to design and print our own graphics. Be sureto save the finished program

The Final PushChapter 7The Final PushOnly masochists failed to SAVE the final program from the last chapter. We’renow going to delete all its DATA lin

Chapter 7No, it’s not another demon. It is a “broken signboard” that needs a text typeLABEL in the middle. The finished graphics/text display will be

The Final PushFigure 7-4Nothing to it!NOTE: As long as semicolons are used to delay the line feeds, graphics and textare easily mixed on the same line

Chapter 7If we really understand what we’re doing, the 7-bit limitation can be overcome.Apple users try:140 GOSUB 20 : GOSUB 20 : PRINT150 DATA 23,-23

The Final PushApple StewI’m afraid that Apple users wound up with a slightly different result, eventhough the 300 should be valid for the current prog

MX-70 Table of ContentsFCC Compliance Notice...Trademark Credits...

Chapter 7PictogramLet’s see if we can parlay strings of graphic characters into a useful format.Enter this NEW program.9 PR #1(Apple)30FOR I=1 TO 5 :

The Final PushThe DATA for the population figure is READ into array A in line 30.Each figure is printed in SUBroutine 300.DATA line 130 determines how

Chapter 710 PRINT TAB(23)CHR$(14)"POPULATION PROJECTION"140 PRINT: PRINT TAB(37); : GOSUB 300150 PRINT "( = 1,000"and RUN.Figure 7

Using the HIRES Screen Dump ProgramChapter 8Using the HIRES Screen Dump ProgramShould I Study This Chapter?Epson dealers can supply a machine language

Chapter 8Load the demo disk into drive 1 and boot the system. The HELLO program willautomatically load and execute. After a brief commercial from the

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN AMENDEDUsing the HIRES Screen Dump ProgramDISNEY CHARSCHEMATICPORTRAITCHESSFollow the Yellow Brick RoadThe HELLO program guides us

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN AMENDEDChapter 8For now, let’s try REVERSE:R<RETURN>The last question is:WHAT IS THE PRINTER SLOT # ? (1-7)?Double check to s

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN AMENDEDUsing the HIRES Screen Dump ProgramGo ahead and try the different print options with PORTRAINT, large and small,reverse and

Chapter 8Not too shabby for rank amateurs.Here’s what happens:Line 10 clears the screen.Line 20 selects the “low memory”HIRES page. This part of memor

Using the HIRES Screen Dump Program50 R=30 *(~-SIN(A ))and50 R=80 * COS(3 * A/4)(Change line 40 to 40 FOR A=0 TO 26 STEP .01)and RUN.Figure 8-3When yo

USER’S SERVICEMANUALWARNINGHigh voltage exists inside this unit andthe case should be opened only by a qual-ified person!viii

Chapter 8Figure 8-4Lines 80 and 90 are straight out of the HIRES INSTRUCTIONS programlisting. They load the screen dump routine without leaving the BA

Using the HIRES Screen Dump Program“...Never give up!”Commencement AddressNow that we’ve learned everything there is to know about the MX-70 andHIRES

APPENDIX AAppendix AASCII Charts for MX-7079

Appendix AThis is the standard ASCII character set. The codes that are highlighted areunderstood by the MX-70 printer. The rest are for your informati

Appendix BControl CodesASCII*2FUNCTIONReturns line spacing to 1/6”.810%1213142027*:65*67*75ASCII “K.” Initiates graphics mode.Cancels last character e

APPENDIX CAppendix CCharacter Set83

Appendix C84

APPENDIX DAppendix DTRS-80 DifferencesThis MX-70 Manual is designed around the Apple II for reasons discussed inChapter 2. Fortunately, TRS-80 users c

Appendix DWe can get around this limitation by POKEing the code numbers directly to theprinter buffer, foiling BASIC’s attempts to intercept it. The l

APPENDIX DThe Model III does not share the Model I’s problem sending code 0. Nonethe-less, another way to send codes to the printer is:OUT 251,#where

USER’S SERVICEMANUALWARNINGHigh voltage exists inside this unit andthe case should be opened only by a qual-ified person!viii

APPENDIX EAppendix EUse with AtariUsing Atari 800 Computer with Atari 850 InterfaceLines ending with a semicolon cause the Atari to automatically “pad

APPENDIX FAppendix FUse with AppleApple Integer BasicThe MX-70 is activated by ASCII code numbers from O-255. The easiest way tosend these codes in BA

Appendix FTricky CodesMost Apple users will encounter difficulty when using codes 9 and 13 inESCAPE sequences and the graphics mode. To corral these a

APPENDIX FThe prior code sequence also diverts all output to the printer ONLY! The videodisplay is disabled after the CTRL-I # N sequence. The way to

APPENDIX GAppendix GSpecial Notes on Other Computers/Languages/InterfacesInterfacingThe MX-70 is designed to interface directly with parallel printer

APPENDIX HAppendix HTechnical Specifications1.4.1 Printer(1)Printing Method. ...Impact dot matrix(2)Character set...ASCII 96

APPENDIX IAppendix IControl Circuit Board and InitializationControl circuit boardWith the MX-70. such functions as head carriage control, paper feed c

Appendix IPower circuitThe power circuit generates 5V DC for the logic circuit, and 24V DC to energizethe solenoids of the print head and two stepper

APPENDIX JAppendix JPinout ChartThe MX-70 includes a parallel interface as the standard equipment, and thisparagraph describes the parallel interface.

Appendix JTable 7 (Cont’d)SignalReturnPin No.Pin No.SignalDirectionDescription12 30PE OUTAlways GND Level.13