How to Connect ControlLogix with M230i Domino Printer Using Ethernet TCP/IP

I appreciate the unique and creative signatures that people use for their accounts. Take a look at the signature of Ron Beaufort, it is truly inspiring and stands out.

• 01-02-2025
• drbitboy

I am puzzled by Ron's programming logic. Does his consistent output always result in a particular outcome? What underlying message can be drawn from this approach? Is he suggesting there are various paths to reach a common goal? Or perhaps he is simply illustrating the perspective of a novice or perplexed programmable logic controller (PLC) programmer, haha. By the way, Dr. Bitboy, your signature is quite intriguing. It resonates beyond coding and applies to life as a whole.

• 02-02-2025
• alive15

alive15 expressed confusion about the constant output of Ron's and questioned the underlying moral of this logic. This dilemma is reminiscent of Shakespeare's famous line: "To be or not to be."

• 02-02-2025
• MasterBlaster

Alive15 mentioned being initially puzzled by Ron's method, which seemed more like a puzzle or teaching exercise. It definitely took some time for me to grasp as well, but eventually, it began to make sense.

• 03-02-2025
• drbitboy

When I first discovered this forum and came across Ron's signature, I quickly understood the joke and couldn't stop laughing for a good 15 minutes. drbitboy also shared a similar experience, taking some time to realize it wasn't just a puzzle or teaching exercise. Among the various avatars and signatures on the forum, Celichi's stands out as particularly hilarious. It's always refreshing to come across funny and clever avatars and signatures that add a touch of humor to the forum experience.

• 03-02-2025
• AlfredoQuintero

I have attached the manual and reviewed the information, indicating that sockets are required to transmit strings via Ethernet TCP/IP. However, I lack experience in socket communication. Does anyone have a sample program available for reference? Thank you.

• 03-02-2025
• asteroide

Refer to the Rockwell knowledge base for a detailed technote on utilizing Sockets with printers. The manual does not specify the port number that the printer is listening on, so it is recommended to start with the default port mentioned in the technote.

• 03-02-2025
• Contr_Conn

drbitboy noted the creativity that users put into their account signatures. Take a look at the clever signature by Ron Beaufort showcased in the attachment provided. It's impressive!

• 03-02-2025
• celichi

Impressive work, Ron! Your cleverness is truly commendable!

• 03-02-2025
• alive15

Alive15 praised Ron for his clever work, suggesting that he could create something new with Logix. It's a shame that Ron is retired, as he could have utilized the tag "That_Is_The_Question" on the coil. This witty comment earned a laugh, showcasing Ron's creativity and humor.

• 03-02-2025
• celichi

Does anyone have a sample program available for setting up a socket interface? The socket infrastructure used by most systems on the internet involves one host acting as the server and another as the client. The server creates a socket of type inet, binds it to a port number, and accepts connections from clients. It then communicates with clients using a predefined protocol. On the other hand, the client creates a socket of type inet, connects to the server's port at the server's IP, and participates in the communication using the same protocol. In this case, the printer serves as the server, so you only need to know the port and protocol. The PLC will act as the client and needs to be configured accordingly. These basic steps can be found in examples for Linux, Windows, and other systems by searching online. Each connection is uniquely identified by five network parameters: the network protocol, the client's IP address, the client's port number, the server's IP address, and the server's port number. This means a single port can serve multiple clients, even from the same host using different client port numbers. Understanding this process will make it easier to set up connections in Logix, which uses instructions instead of C routine calls. While the terminology may differ, the underlying steps remain the same. I have experience setting up connections from the C side but not yet from the PLC side, although I have studied Logix instructions and understand how they operate. The client's port number is typically assigned randomly or specified as 0 in the connect(...) call.

• 03-02-2025
• drbitboy

Contr_Conn suggested checking the Rockwell knowledge base for a technote on utilizing Sockets with printers, as there may be guidance on the port number the printer is listening on. Despite searching in the knowledge base already without success, the default port number to try is 9100.

• 03-02-2025
• asteroide

I have revisited the issue and conducted a thorough search on Google for information, leading me to Technote AID 33240 that may be relevant to my needs. Upon further investigation, I discovered that this Technote includes two sample programs called EWEB_PRINT_SINGLE and EWEB_PRINT_LARGE. Although I tried to access this Technote on the Rockwell website, it seems that the information is only available to TechNote Contract holders, which I do not have. Can anyone assist in obtaining and sharing this information with me, including the documentation and sample programs? Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

• 03-02-2025
• asteroide

While I don't have access to TechConnect or a ControlLogix PLC for testing purposes, I came across a helpful resource that may assist you: [link to document]. Zebra printers have been widely discussed on various forums, offering a similar solution to your needs with the Domino. Forum member @widelto seems to have an AOI for the Zebra that could potentially be adjusted for the Domino. However, understanding socket communication is crucial before diving into these resources. Instead of taking big leaps, tackling small tasks can often lead us to our goal more efficiently. Here are some suggested tasks to get you started: 1. Set up WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) on your Windows 10 machine. 2. Install Anaconda 3 (Python environment) in WSL. 3. Learn how to run simple Python scripts in WSL. 4. Find a Python client-server example on Github or use attached scripts. 5. Modify c.py to send a specific message to the Domino using command 41. By mastering the code in s.py and c.py through these steps, you'll be better equipped to work on socket programming in ControlLogix. Socket programming is akin to a conversation between two individuals – once you establish the protocol, the rest is straightforward. In the case of the Domino, understanding the protocol involving command 41 is essential for seamless interaction with ControlLogix. Note: In a previous post, I neglected to mention the .listen(...) routine on the server side.

• 03-02-2025
• drbitboy

Looking to emulate a printer server and use a command-line Python client? Check out the Domino_test project on GitHub. In dominoclient.py, there are steps that can be translated to work with ControlLogix. The client is useful for sending data to the printer to ensure it is functioning correctly based on the protocol document. As for the server, it can be utilized to analyze the data being sent from the ControlLogix program to the printer. Simply direct the data to the hostname of the PC running dominoclient.py instead of the printer's hostname.

• 03-02-2025
• drbitboy

Has the original poster (OP) discovered this feature? As per discussions on Reddit, it appears that there are Add-On Instructions (AOIs) available for writing and retrieving data from labels associated with a printerID: QA6396. These AOIs are accessible to everyone and serve as examples for working with sockets. Check out the resource at the link below for more information: https://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/50122.

• 03-02-2025
• drbitboy

Hello, OP. I was wondering if you were able to successfully integrate the Control Logix system with a Domino printer. If so, could you kindly provide some guidance on how to set it up? Thank you.

• 03-02-2025
• snickermars