Star Micronics NP-215, NP-225, NP-415W, NP-325 User Manual

Spec. No D-F0301

Specifications for

Kiosk module printer

NP-215
NP-225
NP-325

NP-415W

Revision 1.00 2000.08.01 1 edition
Revision 2.00 2001.04.18 2 edition
Revision 2.10 2001.06.13 3 edition

Revision 2.20 2002.01.29 4 edition
Revision 2.30 2002.02.15 5 edition
Revision 2.40 2002.03.26 6 edition
Revision 2.50 2002.04.12 7 edition
Revision 2.60 2002.07.09 8 edition
Revision 2.70 2003.01.31 9 edition

《Notice》 ･All features and specifications described are subject to change without notice.

Read carefully Before Using the Printer

Wrong handling of the printer may cause its performance declined and the product damaged. Please
read the notes below before handling.

1. Static discharge prevention must be made for installation and removal of the printer to protect IC
and other electrical parts. Connect it to the earth ground. It is also requested to remove the static
from body of the person before handling, especially, the input terminal.

2. Avoid excessive force to the input terminal for handling.

3. When any type of paper, other than specified in this manual, is used, it may cause deterioration
of the print quality and thermal head reliability.
Examples of troubles

1) Print quality deterioration by using low sensitivity paper.

2) Thermal head wears due to roughness of paper surface.

3) Sticking between heat receipt layer and thermal head, and vibration noise during printing.

4) Print ink disappears on low print durability paper.

5) Electrolyte corrosion on thermal head due to low quality of heat receipt layer.

4. Avoid printing with no paper loaded. It damages platen and thermal head.

5. Do not scrabble thermal head with sharp edge or something hard, or give impact. The heat
element may be damaged.

6. Set the power of printer off before connecting or removing connecters.

7. When printing in high speed under low temperature of high humidity environment, the paper may
be stained by moisture that appears from paper, or the printer may have condensation. Avoid
dew from dropping down to the thermal head that may cause electrolyte corrosion. Turn the
power off until any dew is removed.

8. The printer is not protected from water or dew formed. Do not water the printer or handle it with a
wet hand, which may cause damage to the printer due to short circuit, or heat or fire.

9. The printer is not protected from dust or dirt. If it is used at dusty place, the thermal head may be
damaged or paper feed is not operated properly.

10. When cleaning the printer with a vacuum cleaner, avoid the printer’s paper outlet from locating
cleaner’s air inlet.

11. The printer’s main structure parts use plated steel. However, rust may be caused to the cut
section.

12. Reflection type of infrared ray sensors are used at some locations in the printer. Direct sun light
may cause mal-function of printer. Avoid from such a location for installation.

13. This printer does not support any operations caused by the commands or control commands not
specified in this manual.

Table of Contents

1. Overview

1.1 Overview 1

1.2 Features 1

1.3 Configuration 2

2. Specifications

2.1 Basic specifications 2

2.2 Printing area and cutter position 4

2.3 Power supply specifications 5

2.4 Reliability 5

2.5 Dimensions

1) NP-215 dimensional drawing 6

2) NP-225 dimensional drawing 7

3) NP-325 dimensional drawing 8

4) NP-415W dimensional drawing 9

3. Interface specifications

3.1 Parallel interface (Centronics) 10

3.2 Serial interface (RS-232C) 11

3.3 Connector connections 12

3.4 Connector signal details 12

4. Functions

4.1 Function setting 16

4.2 Processing error 17

4.3 Buffer full print 17

4.4 Automatic paper cut 18

4.5 Winder drive 18

4.6 Partition drive 18

5. Control commands

5.1 Control command table 19

5.2 Printer driver 20

5.3 Control command details 20

6. Character code table

6.1 Domestic code table 39

6.2 Overseas character code table 40

6.3 International character code table 41

7. Cable

7.1 B501 power cable 42

1. Overview

1.1 Overview
The printer is categorized as following.

NP - * * 5 * *

1 2 3 4

1: Paper width, 2 = 2 inches, 3 = 3 inches
2: Paper setting, 1= Paper holder type, 2 = Drop-in type
3: Interface, P = Parallel, R = Serial, D = Parallel/Serial compatible
4: OEM number
* D type is parallel and serial compatible. Interface connector is not incorporated.

NP - 4 1 5 W * *

1 2 3

1: Windows driver available
2: Interface, P = Parallel, R = Serial, D = Parallel/Serial compatible
3: OEM number

* D type is parallel and serial compatible. Interface connector is not incorporated.

1.2 Features
This module printer is designed on the basis of our long experience as a printer manufacturer.
Individual unit such as printer mechanism, controller board and auto-cutter is assembled in
compact with our reliable design concept.
Simple integration to the system requiring only power and data supplies, that contributes to the
short development time and improvement of product reliability.

1) Important areas such as paper entrance and auto-cutter guide are designed professionally on
the basis of our long experience as a printer manufacturer.

2) Small, compact and light weight. Easy to integrate into various kinds of system.

3) Short development time.

4) High speed and quality of printing

5) Both parallel and serial interfaces are available as a standard.

6) Various barcode symbols, 1-D and 2-D (QR code) are available.

7) Various kinds of application are available.

8) Possible to control paper presenter (paper transfer and present device).

9) User-friendly drop-in type of roll paper holder with paper end sensor. * 1

10) Windows drivers (Windows95/98/NT4.0/2000) are available.

11) Easy to write/rewrite F/W by using flash memory. Also, 3 patterns of registration are

available with NV bit image.
*1 Drop-in type of paper holder is for NP-225, NP-325 and NP-415W. NP-215 is paper holder

type.

1

1.3 Configuration

The printer consists of the following components.

Product Name

Description Specification Part No. Q’ty

NP-215 NP-225 NP-325 NP-415W

NP-215 1 X

Printer

NP-225 1 X
NP-325 1 X

NP-415W 1 X

Thermal paper

Paper holder

60xØ 48mm
80xØ 48mm

Ø 48mm

112x

24-X117 1
24-X121 1

24-X116 1
80R 35-029Q 1 X
80L 35-030Q 1 X

X X

X
X

Screws tight 21-U196 2 X

B501power

cable

*B501 power cable : D type only

D-P44507 30-439A 1

X X X X

2. Specifications

2.1 Basic specifications

No. Specifications NP-215/225 NP-325 NP-415W

1 Print specs.

2 Character

specs.

3 Print mode

4 Barcode

specs

1. Print method Line thermal dot Å Å

2. Total dots / line 432 dots 576 dots 832 dots

3. Dot density 8 dots / mm Å Å

4. Print width 54 mm 72 mm 104 mm

5. Print speed (Max.)
*It can be changed by the
condition.

6. Print digits
 Font A (12×24)
Font B (9×17)

7. Line feed pitch 0.125 mm

1. Character size

Font A (12×24)
Font B (9×17)

2. Character types
 ASCII 224 Å Å
 Block graphics 80×2 Å Å
 International 32 Å Å

3. Character modification Double width
Vertical double Å Å
Quadruple Å Å
Bold Å Å
Double strike Å Å
Inverted Å Å

90°clockwise rotation

4. Line spacing (Default) 4.25 mm (1/6 inch)

1-D symbology UPC-A

EAN-13 (JAN-13) Å Å
EAN-8 (JAN-8) Å Å
CODE39 Å Å

ITF

85 mm / s

1 partition drive

(ASCII print)

36 digits (Font A)
48 digits (Font B)

70 mm / s

1 partition drive

(ASCII print)

48 digits (Font A)
64 digits (Font B)

70 mm / s

Automatic partition

drive (ASCII 38 print)

69 digits (Font A)
92 digits (Font B)

Å Å

1.50×3.00 mm

1.13×2.13 mm

Å
Å

Å Å

Å

Black/white reverse

Underline

Å
Å
Å Å

ANK mode Å Å

Bit image mode Å Å

Barcode mode

Å Å
Å

UPC-E

Å

Å Å

Å
Å

Å
Å
Å

Å
Å

2

6 Auto-cutter 1. Cut method Guillotine type Å Å

2. Applicable paper Thermal 65 - 125

3. Cut cycle 30 cuts / minute Å Å

4. Cut mode (by command

5. Life time 300,000 cuts Å Å

CODABAR (NW-7) Å Å
CODE128 Å Å

2-D symology QR code
Parallel Centronics Å Å 5 Interface

Serial RS-232C

Å Å

Å Å

Å Å

(micro)

setting)

Tota l c ut

Partial cut (a 2mm tab

left at the center)

Å Å

7 Paper

specs.

8 Receiving

buffer

9 Operation

SW

10 Weight Net weight approx. 550g / 650g approx. 750g approx. 1,250g

11 Low sensor Approx. 22.5 Ø (approx.2.5m+-1m. When inner

1. Paper width 60 mm 80 mm 112mm

2. Max. diameter Ø80 mm / Ø83 mm Ø83 mm Ø83 mm

3. Core diameter Inner Ø12mm
Outer Ø18mm

4. Papers recommended TF50KS-E2D (Nihon Seishi)

PD160R-N (Shin Oji Seishi)

AFP235 (Mitsubishi Seishi)

TL69KS-R2 (Nihon Seishi)

TL69KS-HW74 (Nihon Seishi)

TC98KS-T1 (Nihon Seishi)

Approx. 10K bytes ← ←

ALMLED OUT

Line feed SW input

of paper core is Ø12 and outer is Ø 18)
Reflection sensor.

← ←

←
←

Approx. 3m +- 1.5m
(When inner of paper
core is Ø12 and outer
is Ø 18.) Changeable
reflection sensor

←
←

3

2.2 Printing area and cutter position
Cutter position (Cutting place)
A
TOP 0.0mm
Cutter position 3.0mm
Unprintable area
Head position 17.5mm

Sensor position 28.5mm

 1 2 D

…………

0.125mm

B C B

NP-215

NP-225

NP-325 NP-415W

A 60mm 80mm 112mm
B 3mm 4mm 4mm
C 54mm 72mm 104mm
D 432dot 576dot 832dot

9.1+-0.5mm

Black mark printing 5.3+-0.2mm min.

10.3+-0.2 mm min.

1. Black mark printing is used
when preprint paper is formatted
and used.

2. Black mark printing is printed on
the backside with black ink.

3. Do not print around the black
mark printing area with dark ink.

4

2.3 Power supply specifications

1) Power voltage : DC24V±5%

2) Current consumption *2, *3
NP-215/225 NP-325 NP415W

Standby Approx. 0.1A
ASCII printing
(Printing average of 16%)
Bit image printing
(Max 100%)

*2: A sufficient volume of power supply is required to maintain print quality due to high peak current
that may run according to printing.
*3: If power supply cable is excessively long, the operation may become unstable. Cable should be
made as short as possible. If not available, connect cables near the printer and place an electrolysis

condenser of 2200μ between power supply and ground. Voltage resistance should be higher than

35V.
* For preventing from static electric discharge, make sure to connect FG wire.

2.4 Reliability

1) Head life : Average resistance change rate to head less than 15%, except

Pulse : More than 100 million pulses (with recommended paper)
Wear distance : More than 50 km (with recommended paper)

2) Operation environment : Temperature 0 – 45℃

3) Storage environment : Temperature -20 - 60℃

* When storing for a long time, paper must be kept loaded between head and platen.

4) Frame Ground (FG) wire

The FG wire (Green and Yellow) is coming from the printer body. Make sure to ground the wire
near the body frame when installing the printer. FG grounding is effective for minimizing the noise
level, preventing from SED and maintaining the FG safety for head, cutter, body frame, power
supply and Data connectors.

5) Safety regulation

CE marking
UL60950

6) EMC

EMI: EN55022
VCCI: Class A
FCC: Class A
EMS: EN55024

1 partition 2 partition 1 partition 2 partition 1 partition 2 partition

Approx.

1.4A

Approx.

6.0A

Approx.

0.9A

Approx.

3.2A

defects caused by dust or others

Print guarantee 5 - 40℃, no condensation

Approx.

1.7A

Approx.

7.8A

Approx.

1.1A

Approx.

4.1A

-

-

Approx.

1.3A

Approx.

5.7A

5

2.5 Dimensions

1) NP-215 dimensional drawing

M3screwholestofixframeground.

ＮＰ−２１５Ｒ

framegroundwiresL=(75)

φ3.4

φ5.4×3.4

118

60 (33)(33)

paperwidth

Rtype

10.9

(8)

frameground

99

10 10 765

49.4

181.4

59 73

38.7

111.3

27.8

frameground

)

0

8

φ

(

Dtype

148.4

17.7

)(12027

(54)

paperexit

60.5

This drawing is for NP-215P.

ＮＰ−２１５Ｄ

27

frameground

6

2) NP-225 dimensional drawing

M3screwholestofixframeground.

ＮＰ−２２５Ｒ

framegroundwiresL=(75)

120.8

79.3

frameground

frameground

φ3.4

φ5.4×3.4

192.9

124

107 65 10 749.4

38.7

17.7

118

60 (33)(33)

paperwidth

)(12027

60.5

(54)

paperexit

This drawing is for NP-225P.

ＮＰ−２２５Ｄ

frameground

7

3) NP-325 dimensional drawing

M3screwholestofixframeground.

ＮＰ−３２５Ｒ

framegroundwiresL=(75)

120.8

79.3

frameground

frameground

φ3.4

φ5.4×3.4

192.9

124

107 65 10 7

49.4

118

80

(23)(23)

paperwidth

37.9

)(12027

59.5

12.9

(53)

paperexit

45.2

This drawing is for NP-325P.

ＮＰ−３２５Ｄ

frameground

8

4) NP-415W dimensional drawing

9

1

ＮＰ−４１５ＷＲ

5.9 156.1

149.0

183.7

28.0
paperwidth

112.0

28.0

6.0

115.5

82.2

10.0

119.0

φ4.5

54.3

paperexit

This drawing is for NP-415WP.

ＮＰ−４１５ＷＤ

9

3. Interface specifications

R

3.1 Parallel interface (Centronics)

1) Data input : 8 bit parallel method(DATA 0 – DATA 7)

2) Control signals : /ACK, BUSY, /STB, /ERROR, PE, SLCT, /INIT

3) Input signal to a printer
DATA 0 – 7 : 8 bit parallel signal(positive logic)
/STB : Signal to read 8 bit data(negative logic)
/INIT : Signal to reset an entire printer(negative logic)
/LF : Signal to feed paper to print mechanism(negative logic)

4) Output signal from a printer
/ACK : Enquiry signal for 8 bit data. It’s also pulse signal which is output after

BUSY signals (negative logic)

BUSY : Indicate BUSY status of the printer. Inputs new data at LOW status

(positive logic)

/ERROR : This signal becomes LOW when a printer is in the alarm status.

In the LOW status, all control circuits in the printer stops (negative logic)
PE : Outputs when roll paper becomes empty (positive logic)
SLCT : Signal to indicate on-line status (positive logic)

5) Input/Output signal level

Code

Standard value

Min. TYP. Max.

Unit

Input low level VIL - - 0.18Vcc V
Input high level VIH 0.7Vcc - - V
Output low level VOL - - 0.7Vcc V
Output high level VOH 0.7Vcc - - V

*IOL4mA

6) Input/Output conditions

74LV14

VCC

3.3K

100

470p

STROB
IN PUT

VCC

10K

VCC

74LV574

○ LF

3.3k

3.3K

PD0~PD7
IN PUT

IN PUT

510

1SS319

47

74LV14

47

74LV32

INIT IN
IN PUT

ACK, P E, SLCT, ERRO
OUT PUT

BUSY
OUT PUT

10

7) Timing chart

POWER

 T2 T3

DATA

/STB

BUSY
T1 T4 T5 T6

/ACK

T1 = 3500msec (Max) T4 = 500nsec (Max)
T2, T3 = 500nsec (Min) T5, T6 = 4microsec(TYP)

8) Receive control
When BUSY signal stays at LOW, it is feasible to receive data from host computer.
But not feasible when BUSY signal stays at HIGH.

3.2 Serial interface (RS-232C)

1) Synchronization : Asynchronous

2) Transmission speed: 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400bps (user selectable)

3) A word consists of
Start bit : 1bit
Data bit : 7 or 8 bit (user selectable)
Parity bit : odd, even or no parity (user selectable)
Stop bit : more than 1 bit

4) Signal polarity
RS-232C

Mark = Logic “1” (-3V -- -12V)
Space = Logic “0” (+3V -- +12V)

5) Receive data (RD signal)
RS-232C
Mark = 1
Space = 0

6) Reception control (DTR signal)
RS-232C
Mark = 1
Space = 0

7) Transmission control (TD signal)
DC1, [11]h XON: Enable data receiving
DC3, [13]h XOFF: Disable data receiving

11