I need feedback and suggestions for printing from a 1769-L32E PLC to an Ethernet-enabled Zebra Printer. Any guidance, examples of setups, or sample code would be highly valued and appreciated.
Many users may not be acquainted with the Printer in question. Could you provide a link to the user manual? Additionally, I am curious if the Printer supports Ethernet CIP. Your response would be appreciated. Thank you.
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If you are unsure about the process, here is an example of how to send commands using VB/C# TCP/IP. In this example, the IP address is set to "10.3.14.42" and the port number is 9100. The ZPL commands included in the code are "^XA", "^FO50,50", "^A0N50,50", "^FDHello, World!^FS", and "^XZ". This code demonstrates how to send ZPL commands over a TCP/IP connection using VB or C#.
Zebra printer interfacing is a common topic that often arises, yet surprisingly, we seem to lack samples in our archives. Zebra printers utilize their own protocol for communication, whether over serial or TCP/IP. Unlike some printers, they do not support industrial application protocols like Modbus or CIP. The 1769-L30ER model has the capability to send generic string data over Ethernet using the Socket Object. On the other hand, the 1769-L32E model does not have this capability and would require a converter or interface instead. To begin interfacing with a Zebra printer, it is recommended to start with a simple terminal program such as RealTerm to ensure the printer responds to the bytes sent over TCP/IP. Once confirmed, you can proceed with messaging using the Socket Object in the 1769-L30ER.
Transitioning back to RS-232 (for now) with settings at ASCII 9600,N,*,1 has been our go-to solution for connecting printers to Micrologix and CompactLogix systems for many years. While these printers are primarily equipped with Ethernet connectivity for PC-based applications running a specific driver, they also feature a D-Sub 9, RS-232 ASCII 9600,N,8,1 port. To interface with your printer economically using CompactLogix, simply set up ASCII string writes to the serial port. If Ethernet is your preferred option, consider incorporating a RTA ASCII Gateway to allow for communication between the CompactLogix and the printer via Ethernet. Zebra offers comprehensive guides on utilizing ZPL or EPL ASCII commands for creating labels with barcodes and text. While the initial setup may be a bit slow, once you print your first label, subsequent projects will progress smoothly and efficiently. Get ready to kickstart your labeling projects and witness seamless progress in no time.
One of the methods we've had success with is by setting up Messaging in the PLC to send a string directly to the printer's IP. Make sure the string contains the necessary ZPL commands, so the printer can decode it and follow the instructions accordingly. If you're already familiar with PLC programming, reading up a bit on ZPL should help you generate an appropriate message. You can find many examples and documentation on the official Zebra website. Also, don't forget to correctly set up your printer's network parameters to match your PLC Ethernet configuration. Drilling down to specifics, using the Socket Interface might be a good starting point. I hope this helps, and I will be glad to share more on this if you need further assistance.
You might want to consider using the Zebra Programming Language (ZPL) to establish communication between your PLC and printer. A PLC can output ASCII strings and ZPL is designed to interpret these. With the 1769-L32E Ethernet/IP controller, you might be able to establish a socket connection to the printer and send the ZPL commands directly. Be aware that ZPL can be a bit complex to learn initially, but Zebra's website offers comprehensive guides to assist in understanding and learning the commands. While I don't have a specific code sample to share, this general approach of PLC to ZPL communication has worked effectively for me on similar systems.
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Answer: 1. How can I print from a CompactLogix L32E PLC to an Ethernet-enabled Zebra Printer? - To print from a CompactLogix L32E PLC to an Ethernet-enabled Zebra Printer, you can use a combination of ladder logic programming, communication modules, and configuring the printer settings.
Answer: - Setting up printing from a PLC to a Zebra Printer typically involves establishing communication over Ethernet, sending print commands, and configuring the printer driver on the PLC side. Sample code snippets and setup examples can be beneficial in this process.
Answer: - Feedback and suggestions related to network configuration, message formatting, error handling, and troubleshooting tips can be valuable for ensuring a smooth printing process from a CompactLogix L32E PLC to an Ethernet-enabled Zebra Printer.
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