Epson FX-286e, FX-86e User Manual

5 (1)

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

FOR AMERICAN USERS

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient the receiving antenna

Relocate the printer with respect to the receiver

Plug the printer into a different outlet so that the printer and receiver are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful:

“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems.”

This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Stock No. 004-000-0345-4.

W A R N I N G

The connection of a non-shielded printer interface cable to this printer will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Graphics created with UniPaint by Unison World Inc. and EPSON 3D-Graph.

Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corporation. Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

ESC/P is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

Copyright © 1986 by Seiko Epson Corporation

Nagano, Japan

i i

Contents

Introduction

2 About This Manual

Chapter 1

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-1 Unpacking Your Printer

1-2 Selecting the Right Location

1-3 Installing the Ribbon

1-6 Loading Continuous-feed Paper

1-12 Turning On the Printer

1-12 Operating the Control Panel

1-14 SelecType

1-16 Running the Self Test

1-17 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

1-18 Choosing the Operating Mode with DIP Switches

Chapter 2

Choosing and Loading Paper

2-1 Choosing Paper

2-1 Using Single-sheet Paper

2-6 Reinstalling the Tractor Unit

2-8 The Paper Thickness Lever

Chapter 3

Using the FX with Application Programs

3-1 Printer Selection Menus

3-2 Computer -Printer Communication

3-3 Word Processors

3-4 Spreadsheets

3-6 Graphics Programs

3-6 Programming Languages

Contents

i i i

Chapter 4

FX Printer Features

4-1 Quality and Fonts

4-2 Print Size and Character Width

4-2 Pitches and Proportional Spacing

4-3 Special Effects and Emphasis

4-4 Using Different Character Sets

4-5 Page Layout and Other Commands

Chapter 5

Graphics and User-defined Characters

5-2 The Print Head

5-3 Pin Labels

5-4 Graphics Commands

5-6 Simple Graphics Programming

5-8 Density Varieties

5-10 Designing Your Own Graphics

5-13 User-defined Characters

Appendix A

Command Summary

A-4 Commands in Numerical Order

A-7 Epson (ESC/P) Commands

A-36 IBM Printer Emulation Mode Commands

Appendix B

Character Tables

El Epson Mode

B-9 Epson International Character Sets

B-11 IBM Printer Emulation Mode

Appendix C

Problem Solving and Maintenance

C-1 General Troubleshooting

C-3 Troubleshooting Graphics Problems

C-3 Data Dump Mode

C-4 IBM PC BASIC Solutions

C-5 Maintaining Your Printer

C-7 Transporting the Printer

iv

Contents

Appendix D

Defaults and DIP Switches

D-1 Default and Initialization Settings

D-2 DIP Switch Settings

D-3 International Character Sets

Appendix E

Choosing and Setting Up Optional Interfaces

E-1 Compatible Interfaces

E-2 Choosing an Interface

E-3 Installing an Interface

E-6 Inserting the Interface board E-7 Serial Interface Settings

Appendix F

Technical Specifications

F-1 Printing

F-1 Paper

F-2 Mechanical

F-2 Electrical

F-3 Environment

F-3 Parallel Interface

F-5 Data Transfer Sequence

Index

Contents

v

Introduction

The FX-86e and FX-286e printers combine all the well-known virtues of previous Epson 9-pin printers with many features normally exclusive to costly 24-pin printers.

The speed of draft printing is 240 characters per second in draft elite and 200 in draft pica. When you have perfected a document, you can switch to one of two Near Letter Quality fonts-Roman or Sans Serif.

Draft printing is extremely fast .

NLQ Roman is clear and typewriter-like.

N L Q S a n s S e r i f i s c r i s p a n d d i s t i n c t i v e .

The SelecType feature gives you access to Near Letter Quality (NLQ) and condensed print. All you have to do is press the button for the style you want. While the FX is printing, the SelecType panel shows you what choices it’s using.

If you are using software designed for an IBM@ printer, you have the choice of using the FX in Epson mode or IBM printer emulation mode. Even better, you can combine the best of both worlds; the powerful Epson mode commands can now print character graphics like those used by IBM printers and computers.

Loading paper is now easier than ever. Single sheets can be loaded by just moving a lever, and the tractor lets you load a wide range of widths of continuous-feed paper, including labels.

For headings and other emphasis, you can use double-high and double-wide printing.

Introduction

1

 

About this Manual

To make it easier to set up your new FX-86e or FX-286e, this manual includes a lo-step guide. This guide, which is printed on the inside of the back flap, summarizes the first chapter’s setting up instructions.

Chapters 2 through 5 cover the basic and advanced functions, and the appendixes contain reference information, including all the details you need to use any of the printer’s commands, and some advice on solving problems.

Finally, there is a comprehensive index, and inside the back of the manual is a pull-out quick reference card containing the information you need most.

2

Introduction

Chapter 1

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Setting up your new FX is easy. Simply follow the steps in this chapter.

Note

The FX-86e and FX-286e are basically the same printer except that the FX-286e can accept wider paper. Therefore, the illustrations in this manual show only the FX-86e.

1 Unpacking Your Printer

First, remove the printer from the box and take off all outside plastic covering and foam supports. Make sure you have received all the parts shown in the illustration below.

Figure 1-1

Printer parts

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-1

Tilt the tractor cover up and remove the two foam pads underneath it. (These pads protect the tractor unit during shipping; be sure to save them.)

WARNING

The printer is protected by a print head protector, a platen protector and two locking tabs during shipping. These protective items must be removed before you turn on the printer. Follow the steps below Figure 1-2.

Also, you should install the paper feed knob. To install the knob, simply push it onto the shaft on the right side of the printer as shown in Figure 1-2.

1.Remove the left locking tab.

2.Remove the print head protector.

3.Move the print head to the left.

4.Remove the right locking tab and the platen protector.

2 Selecting the Right Location

The most important consideration in choosing a location for your printer is that it be close enough to connect a cable to your computer. But also keep the following tips in mind:

1-2

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Place the printer or printer stand on a solid and level foundation. Avoid setting it on carpet or on unstable surfaces such as chairs.

Use a grounded outlet-one that has three holes to match the power plug on the printer. Don’t use an adapter plug.

Avoid using electrical outlets that are controlled by wall switches. If you accidentally turn off a switch, you could wipe out valuable information and stop your printing.

Keep your printer and computer away from base units for cordless telephones.

Avoid using an outlet on the same circuit breaker with large electrical machines or appliances that might disrupt the flow of power to your printer.

Choose a place that is clean and away from moisture, dust, and excessive heat (such as a heater or direct sunlight).

If you are going to use continuous-feed paper, clear enough space around the printer so that the paper has an unobstructed path in and out of the printer. There are three common methods of arranging a printer and continuous paper:

Using a printer stand with the paper stacked underneath it.

Using a desk or table as a stand, with the printer near the rear edge and the paper on the floor or on a shelf.

Putting the printer on a desk or table and stacking the paper behind the printer.

3 Installing the Ribbon

To install the ribbon, follow the directions below:

1.Remove the tractor cover that comes installed on the printer. To remove it, simply pull the back of the cover toward you until the cover is vertical. Then lift it up and off the printer.

2.Manually move the print head to the middle of the platen.

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-3

WARNING

The power must be OFF when you move the print head. Moving the print head when the power is ON may damage your printer. If you’ve been using your printer just before changing the ribbon cartridge, be careful not to touch the print head because it becomes hot during use.

3.before installing the ribbon cartridge, turn the small knob on top in the direction of the arrow to tighten the ribbon as shown in Figure 1-3.

Figure 1-3

Tightening the ribbon

4.For the FX-86e, hold the ribbon cartridge by the raised plastic fin on top of the cartridge; for the FX-286e hold the cartridge by the two plastic tabs. Lower the cartridge into the printer, guiding the two pins on each end of the cartridge into the slots in the printer frame, as shown in Figure 1-4. Press firmly on each end of the cartridge to make sure the pins are firmly seated in the slots.

5.Now use the point of a pencil to guide the ribbon into place between the ribbon guide and the print head as shown in Figure 1-5. (There is also a diagram on the top of the ribbon cartridge itself.)

6.With the cartridge in place, again turn the ribbon knob in the direction of the arrow to tighten the ribbon.

And that’s it-the ribbon is now installed.

1-4

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Epson FX-286e, FX-86e User Manual

Figure 1-4.

Installing the ribbon cartridge

Figure 1-5.

Positioning the ribbon

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-5

4 Loading Continuous-feed Paper

When you receive your FX, it is set up to print on continuous-feed paper. If you plan to use single-sheet paper, turn to Chapter 2 for instructions on setting up the printer for single sheets. If you have bought the optional automatic sheet feeder, complete the remainder of the setup steps before you install the automatic sheet feeder (which has its own manual).

The FX tractor units are adjustable to accommodate different widths of paper-from 4 to 10 inches on the FX-86e and from 4 to 16 inches on the FX-286e. Before you load continuous-feed paper, prepare the printer in the following manner:

1.Make sure the printer is turned off.

2.Remove the tractor cover that comes installed on the printer. To remove it, simply pull the back of the cover toward you until it is vertical. Then lift the cover up and off the printer.

3.Install the paper rest as shown in Figure 1-6. This part helps prevent the paper from catching on the printer cable.

1-6

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Figure 1-6.

Installing the paper rest

4.Pull both the paper release lever and the paper bail lever toward the front of the printer. (Figure 1-6 shows where these levers are.)

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-7

Now you are ready to load the continuous-feed paper. Just follow the steps below:

1.Using Figure 1-7 as a guide, pull the locking levers on the pin-feed holders forward so that you can move the holders to the left and right.

Figure 1-7.

Pin-feed locking levers

2.Move the left holder so that the locking lever is about 1/4 inch from the left side and push the locking lever back to lock that holder in place. Leave the right holder unlocked.

3.Open the pin-feed covers as shown in Figure 1-8.

WARNING

Do not use the pin-feed covers to move the pin-feed holders.

1-8

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Figure 1-8.

Open pin-feed cover

4.Guide the paper into the paper slot, and push it through until it comes up between the ribbon guide and the platen. (Moving the paper with a side-to-side motion makes it easier to push the paper through.)

5.Pull the paper up until the top is above the pin-feed holders. Fit the holes on the left side of the paper over the pins in the left holder (as shown in Figure 1-9) and close the cover.

Figure 1-9.

Fitting the paper over the pin feeds

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-9

6.Fit the right side of the paper into the right holder, moving the holder as needed to match the width of the paper.

7.Close the right cover, making sure the paper has no dips or wrinkles and lock the right holder in place.

Now that you have loaded the continuous-feed paper, prepare the printer for printing.

1.Push the paper bail lever back.

2.Hold the paper guide above the printer with the edge tab on the

left. Insert the right hinge tab into the right tab slot, as shown in Figure 1-10. Then insert the left tab into the left slot and push the guide back so that it is horizontal.

Figure 1-10

This guide keeps paper that is coming out of the printer from interfering with the paper going in. The guide is also used in the upright position for printing on single sheets of paper.

1-10

Setting Up Your FX Printer

3.With the printer turned OFF, advance the paper with the paper feed knob on the right side of the printer until the first row of perforations is about even with the top of the ribbon. (See

Figure 1-1 1.)

Figure 1-11.

Setting top of form

This is the top of form position. It makes your printed pages end where you want them to and prevents the printer from printing on the perforations. The paper should be in this position when the power is turned on or when software initializes the printer or sets the page length.

4. Replace the tractor cover.

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-11

 

5 Turning On the Printer

Before plugging in the power cord, see that the power switch near the back of the left side of the printer is turned off; then plug the power cord into a properly grounded socket.

WARNING

Before turning on the printer, be absolutely sure you have removed all packing materials. Turning on the printer when the print head cannot move may seriously damage the mechanism.

Now, turn the power ON with the switch on the left side of the printer. When you turn on the printer, three things happen:

The print head moves back and forth and stops at the left side of the printer; this is the home position.

The printer is initialized and set to certain default settings (which are fully described in Appendix D).

The green power light on the control panel comes on.

6 Operating the Control Panel

The control pane! is shown in Figure 1-12.

Figure 1-12.

The FX control panel.

1.12

Setting Up Your FX Printer

The three buttons nearest the front of the printer control advancing the paper and communication with the computer. The four indicator lights show when the printer is turned on and when it is ready to use.

The buttons

There are three large buttons on the control panel.

OFF LINE/ ON LINE

The green light next to this button indicates that the printer is able to receive and print data from the computer. When the light is off, the printer is off line and cannot receive any data. Press the button to change from on line to off line or from off line to on line. The printer automatically goes off line when you try to print without paper in the printer. Pressing the button then has no effect until you load paper.

FORM FEED/ ROMAN

When the printer is off line, this button ejects a single sheet of paper or advances continuous paper to the next top of form.

When the printer is on line and in NLQ mode, pressing the button selects the Roman font.

LINE

FEED/

When the printer is off line, this button

SANS

SERIF

advances the paper one line each time you press

 

 

it or continuously if you hold it down. When

 

 

the printer is turned on, use this button to

 

 

advance paper.

 

 

When the printer is on line and in NLQ mode,

 

 

pressing the button selects the Sans Serif font.

Note

Use the paper feed knob on the right side of the printer only when the printer is turned OFF Using it when the printer is on can damage the printer mechanism.

The indicator lights

In addition to the ON LINE light, the printer has three other lights.

POWER

This comes on to show that the printer is

 

connected to the power and is turned on.

READY

This comes on when the printer is on line and

 

ready to print. It normally flickers during

 

printing.

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-13

PAPER OUT

This comes on when the printer is out of paper.

Also on the control panel are two touch switches that let you choose the print style and size. These are the SelecType buttons, which are described in the next section.

7 SelecType

The SelecType feature consists of two buttons on the control panel. These buttons select the most used printing features-Near Letter Quality (NLQ) and condensed.

With the two SelecType buttons, you can produce any of the four typestyles shown below:

NLQ can also be condensed for more characters on a line.

Draft is for fast printing and NLQ for higher-quality work. In the condensed mode all characters are about 60% of their normal width.

Two NLQ fonts are available: Roman and Sans Serif. You select them by using the FORM FEED and LINE FEED buttons while the printer is on line. The FORM FEED button selects Roman, and the LINE FEED button selects Sans Serif, A software command to change the NLQ typeface is also available in the Epson mode.

NLQ Roman is clear and typewriter-like.

NLQ Sans Serif is c r i s p and d i s t i n c t i v e .

If you want NLQ printing, simply press the NLQ button. If you want condensed printing, simply press the CONDENSED button.

When you press either SelecType button, it beeps twice and its orange indicator light turns on to show that you have selected it. If you

1.14

Setting Up Your FX Printer

want to turn off either mode, press its button again. It beeps once and the indicator light turns off to show that the mode is cancelled.

As you can see, SelecType makes it easy to choose either NLQ or condensed, and the indicator lights always tell you which modes you’ve selected.

Trying out SelecType is a simple three-step process:

1.Create a short sample document or file with your favorite application program.

2.Press either or both of the SelecType buttons.

3.Print the document or file using your application program’s print command.

If SelecType Does Not Work

Some applications programs are designed to control all typestyle functions. Before each printing operation, these programs cancel all previous typestyle settings by sending a signal (INIT) or by sending specific control codes to cancel certain typestyles. These signals or control codes may cancel your SelecType settings.

One reset signal, however, does not affect your SelecType settings. This is the ESC @ command.

You can see whether your program is changing your settings by watching the buttons when printing starts. If the lights change, the program is controlling the typestyles.

If your application program changes your SelecType settings, you have two choices:

1.Use the program’s setup procedure (which could be called by another name, such as install) to remove the codes that interfere with your SelecType settings.

2.Use the print control codes for your application program instead of

SelecType to control your printing. Most programs that cancel SelecType settings also have sophisticated print control commands that give the same results that SelecType does. The manual for your program should explain the necessary commands.

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-15

Note

Also remember that control codes in your document will override the SelecType settings. Therefore, if you have a code for NLQ in your document and you press the DRAFT SelecType button, your printing will still be in NLQ.

8 Running the Self Test

The FX has a built-in self test that prints out the characters in its memory so that you can see that the printer is working properly.

The self test also prints the settings of the printer’s DIP switches. You’ll use this part of the printout in the last section of this chapter.

Before running the self test, make sure that the power is OFF and paper is loaded in the printer. (Use wide paper in the FX-286e to avoid printing on the platen.)

To run the self test in the Near Letter Quality (NLQ) mode, hold down the FORM FEED button at the same time you turn the printer on. When the printing starts, release the FORM FEED button.

The self test first prints the version number of the printer and several lines of settings that are explained in the last section of this chapter. Then it prints the characters from its memory. The test continues until you turn the printer off. Part of a typical self test is shown below.

Character

mode

Normal

1-1 OFF

Shape

of

zero

0 (Unslashed)

1-2 OFF

CG Table

 

Italic6

1-3 OFF

Protocol

mode

ESC/P

1-4 OFF

Print

Quality

Draft

1-5 OFF

Country

 

U.S.A.

1-6 ON 1-7 ON 1-8 ON

Page

Length

11 inch

2-1

OFF

CSF Mode

 

Invalid

2-2

OFF

Skip

Perforation

None

2-3

OFF

Auto

LF

 

Depend on I/F

2-4

OFF

!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[ !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\ "#$%&'()*+,1./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]

#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]~ $%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]- %&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]!-.

&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]-.a '()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]-.ab ()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]~-.abc

1-16

Setting Up Your FX Printer

To run the same test in the draft mode, hold down the LINE FEED button instead of the FORM FEED button while you turn the printer on. The FX cannot print a draft self test, however, if the NLQ DIP switch is on. Therefore, if the Print Quality line of the self test printout says NLQ, you cannot print a draft test without changing a DIP switch.

9 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Your FX printer communicates with your computer through a Centronics® compatible parallel interface. If your computer uses this type of interface and you have a suitable cable, you can connect your computer immediately. (Be sure that your cable is a shielded cable.)

If you do not know what kind of interface your computer requires, consult its manual or your dealer. For information on optional interfaces available from Epson, see Appendix E, and for further information on the standard interface, see Appendix F.

The parallel interface

Before connecting a parallel interface cable, see that both the printer and computer are turned off. Then plug the connector into the printer. Next squeeze the clips gently and click them into place.

Some parallel cables have a ground wire. Connect this wire to the ground screw on the printer to protect data from interference. Then plug the other end of the cable into the computer and connect the ground wire on the computer end of the cable if it has one. Figure 1-13 shows a properly connected parallel cable.

Figure 1-13.

Connecting a parallel cable

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-17

10 Choosing the Operating Mode with DIP Switches

The FX has 12 switches that allow you to change many of the printer’s settings to suit your individual needs. You may need to change one or two of them now. These switches, known as DIP (Dual In-line Package) switches, are in the back of the printer. See Figure 1-14.

Figure 1-14.

DIP switch location

The switches are in two groups and are numbered, as shown in Figure 1-14. As you can see in the example below, the first part of the self test shows the settings of the switches. You will find your own self test printout helpful as you use this section.

Character

mode

Normal

1-1

OFF

Shape

of

zero

0

(Unslashed)

1-2

OFF

CG

Table

 

Italics

1-3

OFF

Protocol

mode

ESC/P

1-4

OFF

Print

Quality

Draft

1-5

OFF

Country

 

U.S.A.

1-6

ON 1-7 ON 1-8 ON

Page

Length

11

inch

2-1

OFF

CSF

Node

 

Invalid

2-2

OFF

Skip

Perforation

None

2-3

OFF

Auto

LF

 

Depend on I/F

2-4

OFF

.!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDBFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[ !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:; <=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\ "#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]

#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]~

1-18

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Before you change any DIP switch settings, turn the printer around to give you easy access to the switches. Then you can easily turn the switches on and off with a thin pointed object, such as a small screwdriver or the cap of a ballpoint pen. The switches are ON when they are UP, and OFF when they are DOWN.

Note

When you change a DIP switch setting, turn off the power, reset the switch or switches, then turn on the power again. The printer checks and recognizes new settings only at the time you turn the power on.

The operating mode

The FX has two operating modes, ESC/P® and IBM® printer emulation mode. ESC/P stands for Epson Standard Code for Printers, a powerful set of commands developed by Epson and supported by almost all application software for personal computers. This is the mode that you should find the most useful and valuable for your printing. The rest of this manual refers to the ESC/P mode simply as the Epson mode.

The IBM printer emulation mode is for software that is designed only for IBM printers. It is not necessary to use this mode for your FX to be compatible with IBM computers. As you can see from the list of Epson and IBM printer emulation mode commands in Appendix A, the Epson mode has more commands and many more capabilities.

There are only two cases in which you may want to use the IBM printer emulation mode:

1.Your software lists only IBM printers in its printer selection menu.

2.You need to use the following characters and your application software will not print them in the Epson mode:

If you select IBM printer emulation mode with the DIP switch and choose an IBM printer in your software’s printer selection menu, your FX will behave as an IBM printer does. You can use most software that supports IBM printers, but you will notice that the commands do not allow you access to all the features of your Epson printer.

Setting Up Your FX Printer

1-19

DIP switch 1-4 controls the choice of operating modes. Turning the switch OFF selects Epson mode, and turning it ON selects IBM printer emulation mode.

The Epson character graphics set

Half of the characters used by IBM PCs and compatibles are special character graphics and international characters. Most previous Epson printers printed italics instead of these characters. With the FX-86e and FX-286e, however, you can print the character graphics without losing italics or any of the power of the Epson commands.

DIP switch 1-3 controls the choice between the italic and the character graphic table (called CG table in the DIP switch printout). Turning the switch ON selects the character graphic table, and turning it OFF selects the italic table. Remember that italics are available even if you select the character graphic table.

Making the choice

The decision you make about the operating mode and the character graphics set depends upon the software you use. For most applications, choose the Epson mode and the Character Graphics set (DIP switch 1-4 OFF and DIP switch 1-3 ON). That way you can set up your software for an Epson printer and have the full power of the Epson commands.

If you have trouble printing italics, change DIP switch 1-3 to OFF to choose italics instead of character graphics. On the other hand, if you have trouble printing character graphics, change the printer to IBM printer emulation mode by setting DIP switch 1-4 ON and set your software to match.

WARNING

You must always be careful to set up your printer and software to match. Although the IBM commands are based on some of the Epson commands, important differences affect much software. These differences can cause erratic printing. In particular, line spacing and page layout are likely to be wrong, and extra characters may appear.

Other DIP switch settings

Appendix D summarizes all the DIP switch settings in a group of tables. See that appendix for reference and further information.

1-20

Setting Up Your FX Printer

Chapter 2

Choosing and Loading Paper

The FX printer can accommodate many different sizes and types of paper, using either its automatic single-sheet loading feature or its adjustable tractor.

The easy-to-use tractor can handle a wide range of paper widths, and the automatic single-sheet loading feature handles individual sheets quickly and easily. For greater efficiency with individual sheets you can add an optional automatic sheet feeder.

Choosing Paper

Without any accessories, you can use single-sheet paper from 7¼ to 8½ inches wide (up to 14½ inches on the FX-286e) and continuous paper from 4 to 10 inches wide (up to 16 inches on the FX-286e) including the perforated edge strips.

Carbon copies

If you use multi-part forms or carbon copies in the FX, use no more than three sheets or parts at a time, with a total thickness of no more than 0.25 mm. Also change the paper thickness setting as described at the end of this chapter.

Using Single-sheet Paper

The automatic sheet loading feature of the FX gives you short printing times by combining fast loading with fast printing.

If you print large amounts on single sheets of paper, however, you may find it more convenient to use an automatic sheet feeder. This is an optional device that holds a stack of paper and inserts a new sheet whenever required, making single sheets as easy and convenient to use as continuous paper. The automatic sheet feeder has its own user’s manual.

Choosing and Loading Paper

2-1

Before you load single-sheet paper the first time, you must prepare the printer by removing the tractor unit and installing the paper guide, as described in the next five steps. (If you have previously loaded continuous-feed paper, you have already done some of the steps.)

Preparing the printer

1.Remove the tractor cover that comes installed on the printer. To remove it, simply pull the back of the cover toward you until it is vertical. Then lift the cover up and off the printer.

2.Be sure that you have removed the protective items as described on page 1-2.

3.Remove the tractor unit. Simply press the release levers (shown in Figure 2-1) with your thumbs, rock the tractor unit back, and lift it

off the printer.

Figure 2-1.

Removing the tractor unit

4.Move the edge guides on the paper guide to accomodate the width of the sheet of paper.

2-2

Choosing and Loading Paper

5.Hold the paper guide above the printer. Insert the right hinge tab into the right tab slot, as shown in Figure 2-2. Next, insert the left tab into the left slot. When both tabs are in the slots, push the guide back so that it is horizontal, and then pull it toward you until it stops at an angle (about 45 degrees).

Figure 2-2.

Installing the Paper guide

Choosing and Loading Paper

2-3

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