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Main => New Here..? Introduce yourself! => Topic started by: jfuenmayor on June 29, 2014, 01:48:48 PM

Title: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: jfuenmayor on June 29, 2014, 01:48:48 PM

Hi Guys

Looking for an alternative to some expensive ACARS thermal micro printers ( one out there is over US$300,00 ) I came across this very interesting printer
that needs a 5-9 V regulated DC power and a microcontroller ( Arduino is recommended ). It can be easily mounted in the pedestal.

Link
https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-thermal-receipt-printer

Cheers.

Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: jfuenmayor on June 29, 2014, 02:15:51 PM

My apologies for the type error, I meant PRINTER of course :)
Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: jackpilot on July 03, 2014, 09:41:48 AM
Thanks for the tip..nice unit.
Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: jackpilot on July 03, 2014, 10:25:39 AM
Just saw that one today:
[ebay]111397652644[/ebay]
Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: jfuenmayor on July 04, 2014, 07:34:42 AM

That one in E-bay is quite inexpensive, though nice looking. Would it actually work?.  Nothing is said.

The next question would be how to make it work with a PC. Writing device drivers from scratch anyone? Without the specs, one would have to reverse engineer the hardware. Daunting task for us but humble "hobbysts" :).

Joaquin
Title: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: andthiel on August 13, 2015, 01:58:01 AM
Joaquin,

I had a small 57mm thermal printer before. Problem is that for ACARS printouts the number of characters to be printed in one line should match with the characters shown on the CDU.

On a small printer you need to choose a very small font - and a magnifier (if you can read it anyway...).

Just my 2 cents.


Cheers,

Andreas
Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: jfuenmayor on August 13, 2015, 09:07:46 AM

Try it with ProsimUtils  v1.5 if you use Prosim. It prints as it should now.
Make sure that you have appropriate amperage for the 12v power supply, at least 4.5A.
You can find one for $US 9,95 on Amazon.
ProsimUtils works with Topcat, PFPX , Hoppie, Vatsim and ICAO. Great little piece of software. It gives you weather for several stations, Loadsheet, FPL, takeoff and landing calculations and a few other perks, plus the nice ding dong with ACARS  messages.

JF
Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: 737man on August 13, 2015, 10:09:53 AM
I cannot get mine to print??  I have prosim utl working but not print from cdu.  I have never seen a print promt??
Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: wpslider on August 13, 2015, 02:11:04 PM
Quote from: 737man on August 13, 2015, 10:09:53 AM
I cannot get mine to print??  I have prosim utl working but not print from cdu.  I have never seen a print promt??

Hello,

Make sure you have PSU 1.5 or later and enable the printer in the config.

Title: Re: Mini Thermal Pronter ideal for ACARS - Info
Post by: Aerosim Solutions on August 13, 2015, 04:41:35 PM
My product - http://www.aerosimsolutions.com.au/products/acars-printers/ (http://www.aerosimsolutions.com.au/products/acars-printers/)

AUD$240 = approx US$175

Cheers Gwyn