ta2@cup.portal.com (Tom TA2 Allebrandi) (12/04/88)
This was discussed a few years ago in the I/O column of the Pageswapper. (The DECUS VAX SIG newsletter.) I downloaded this from the Pageswapper VAX Notes system. Tom Allebrandi Advanced Computer Consulting, Inc (804) 977-4272 esther!ta2@edison.ge.com (I'm not in the maps yet) ta2@cup.portal.com INPUT/OUTPUT 349 Caption: Centronics interface to DMF-32 -- reply to I/O # 321 Message: We have successfully interfaced the DMF-32 to our own printers, which are Centronics inteface compatible. You may only need to make a cable and strap your printer accordingly. If your printer has the "standard" 36-pin Centronics connector (same as Epson MX-80 and others), you can make a cable as shown below; otherwise you will have to locate the signals on your printer connector and make a custom cable. DMF32 Centronics J14 Signal Name Connector __ _____ _____ 8 Strobe 1 26 Data 1 2 20 Data 2 3 22 Data 3 4 1 Data 4 5 24 Data 5 6 23 Data 6 7 5 Data 7 8 6 Data 8 9 18 Busy (demand) 11 12 Select (online) 13 17 Fault 32 14 POn (conn VFY) 16 30 0V and Shield 16 Appendix C in the DMF32 User's Guide (EK-DMF32-UG-002) is incorrect; you should mark J14-37 as PRINTER SPARE, and J14-8 as PRINTER STROBE. Note that ACKnowledge and PE (paper empty) are not used. Your printer should be strapped to go offline (deselected, local) on a fault condition; otherwise VMS won't tell you anything when paper runs out. Additional printer strapping information: Busy level = low (0) Strobe level = high (1) Strobe trigger = trailing (falling) edge For a long cable, if the printer allows, the data lines should be sampled 300-500 nanoseconds after the trailing edge of the strobe pulse. Contact: Carl Houseman GENICOM Corporation 1 General Electric Drive Waynesboro, VA 22980 (703) 949-1323 Date: November 18, 1984