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Printing from an HMI

Overview & Concepts

EasyBuilder Pro supports printing from an HMI to external printers so that operational information can be recorded in physical form. This capability allows alarms, logs, reports, or data records generated by the HMI to be printed for documentation, troubleshooting, or compliance purposes. Printing is typically used in environments where a physical record of system activity or production data is required.

Printers connect to the HMI through supported communication interfaces, and once configured, the HMI can send formatted output to the printer when a defined event occurs.

Typical printer interfaces include:

  • USB printers connected directly to the HMI
  • Network printers accessible through the Ethernet network

Printing can be triggered by different system functions, such as:

  • Printing alarm or event logs
  • Printing operation records
  • Generating formatted reports from HMI data

Common industrial uses include maintaining printed alarm records, documenting production results, or generating reports for operators and supervisors. By supporting external printers, EasyBuilder Pro allows system data collected by the HMI to be documented and archived outside of the digital system.

Implementation

Supported Printers

SP-M, D, E, F

Image of a Generic Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer. [Pixels of width] must be correctly set and can’t exceed printer default setting:

100 pixels for 1610 series printers.

220 pixels for 2407, 4004 series printers.

The driver uses EPSON ESC Protocol for Serial Micro Printer.

Epson ESC/P2 Series

Image of an Epson Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer.

The ESPON ESC/P2 printer protocol is used.

Impact Printer: LQ-300, LQ-300+, LQ-300K+ (RS-232), LQ-300+II (RS-232)

Inkjet Printer: Stylus Photo 750

Laser Printer: EPL-5800

HP PCL Series (USB)

USB Printer. HP compatible USB printers that support HP PCL5 protocol or PostScript3 Printer Control Language.

HP compatible USB printers that support HP PCL5 protocol or PostScript3 Printer Control Language.

The printers that support PCL5 or later versions will support PCL5 protocol due to the downward compatibility of PCL.

Axiohm A630

Image of an Axiohm Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Micro printer from France connects via serial port; please configure the communication parameters to match the printer.

SPRT

Image of a SPRT brand Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer.

[Pixels of width] must be correctly set and can’t exceed printer default setting “100”.

Epson TM-L90

Image of an Epson TM-L90 Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer.

[Pixels of width] must be correctly set and can’t exceed printer default setting “576”.

Epson TM-T70

Image of an Epson TM-T70 Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer.

[Pixels of width] must be correctly set and can’t exceed printer default setting “576”.

The paper cutting mode can be selected:

[No cut] / [Partial cut].

Brightek WH-A19

Image of a Brightek WH-A19 Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Supported models: A92R10-00E72A

72 in model number represents hexadecimal printer, and A represents wide voltage 5~9V.

This is the same as the A6 16 impact printer[

Brightek WH-E19

Image of a Brightek WH-E19 Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer.

Brightek WH-E22

Image of a Brightek WH-E22 Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Supported models:

E22R10-00E725: Same as A7 16 impact printer. A7 represents A72R90-31E72A.

E221R90-00E11740GA: Serial printer, connects through RS-485 port, please use a RS232-to-RS485 converter.

Brightek WH-C1/C2

Image of a Brightek WH-C1/C2 Serial Printer. Serial printers communicate to the HMI via RS232 or RS485 communication and are commonly used for printing receipts or labels.

Serial printers, please configure communication parameters to match the printer.

The paper cutting mode can be selected:

[No cut] / [Half cut] / Full cut].

Remote Printer Server

Icon of Remote Printer Server in EBPro

Use EasyPrinter to start printing by the printers connected with PC via Ethernet. This works under MS Windows so most printers on the market are supported.

Add a New Printer and Start Printing

Add the printer type

  • In [System Parameter Settings] » [Model] select the printer type and set the relevant parameters.
EBPro System Parameters menu, Model tab. In Printer section, select the printer from the "type" drop-down. Depending on the printer type selected, configure the communication parameters in the space below the printer type drop-down.
  • To connect Remote Printer Server, set the parameters in [System Parameter Settings] » [Printer/Backup Server].
EBPro System Parameters, Printer/Backup Server tab. To connect to a remote printer Server, this is the tab to which you will configure the Remote Printer / Backup server settings.

Start Printing

  • Start printing with Function Key
An EBPro Function Key Object is shown, configured to output a screen hardcopy to the configured SP series serial printer. When the function key is pressed, the printer will print.
  • Or, use PLC Control [Screen hardcopy] to start printing with a designated bit address.
EBPro PLC Control Object shown, configured to perform a screen hardcopy upon the triggering of a bit from off to on. The printer is selected in the "output to" section at the bottom

Installing Network Printer (cMT / cMT X Series HMI)

Open system setting on a cMT / cMT X Series model and selecting [Install network printer] can install more printers apart from the ones listed in the preceding section.

How to Install Network Printer (cMT / cMT X Series HMI)

Follow these steps to install a Network Printer to your cMT Series Device.

Instructions: How to Install Network Printer (cMT / cMT X Series HMI)

  1. Open System Setting menu

    Tap the icon on the HMI screen to open the system settings.

  2. Navigate to the Printer tab

    Log in, find [Printer] » [Install network printer].
    HMI needs a few seconds to search for the network printers on the same network
    Screenshot of cMT Settings Menu, Printer tab. This tab allows you to configure a network printer. When clicking "install network printer" the unit searches for printers on the network. This process may take several seconds.

  3. Tap the Install button

    Select a network printer and tap [Install] to install its driver.
    Select a network printer and tap the install button to install the driver.

  4. Replace existing driver (If you already have a printer installed)

    The new printer driver will replace the former one since only one printer can be installed at a time.
    Only one printer can be installed at one time, so if there is already a printer installed, it will be replaced.

Installing .ppd file (cMT / cMT X Series HMI)

How to Install .ppd file (cMT / cMT X Series HMI)

Installing the PPD file from a printer driver on a cMT / cMT X Series model is also possible.

Instructions: How to Install .ppd file (cMT / cMT X Series HMI)

  1. Go to the Model tab of EBPro.

    Go to [System Parameter Settings] » [Model] tab
    EBPro System Parameters Menu, Model tab. This is where a printer is selected...we're installing an HP printer using the .ppd file.

  2. Select Printer Type

    Select a printer type.

    If your printer type does not show, you need to add it.

    To add a new printer, place the printer’s PPD file in the ppd folder under EasyBuilder Pro installation directory, and then click [Refresh].

    To add a new printer, place the printer’s PPD file in the ppd folder under EasyBuilder Pro installation directory, and then click [Refresh].

  3. Configure Status and Monitoring Addresses

    Use Status Address to monitor printer status, and use Control Address to dynamically update connection parameters.
    Status/Control window pops up. Use Status Address to monitor printer status, and use Control Address to dynamically update connection parameters.

Notes:

  • Installing PPD file is not supported on cMT-SVR and cMT Gateway models.
  • HP printers are recommended since they may have better compatibility with cMT / cMT X models. Printers should be tested beforehand.
  • Please install a printer on a cMT / cMT X Series model by using [Install network printer] in the system setting first; if this doesn’t work, installing PPD file is the second option.
  • To use the printer selected in the project file, please do not select [Use printer on HMI first (if existed)] option if a printer driver is already installed on HMI. By giving command 1: update in the control address, the printer selected in the project file will be used:
To use the printer selected in the project file, please do not select [Use printer on HMI first (if existed)] option if a printer driver is already installed on HMI. By giving command 1: update in the control address, the printer selected in the project file will be used:

Printing via IPP Protocol (cMT X Series HMI)

The cMT X Series supports printer usage via the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). It’s essential that the printer also supports the IPP protocol. For more information about the IPP protocol, please refer to this Wikipedia link.

How to Print via IPP Protocol (cMT X Series HMI)

The cMT X Series supports printer usage via the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). Follow the steps below to configure it with your cMT X Series HMI.

Instructions: How to Print via IPP Protocol (cMT X Series HMI)

  1. Verify your Printer supports IPP Protocol

    Verify the printer supports IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), and enable it if it is not yet enabled. Usually you can do so from your printer’s Network Settings.
    Taking an HP printer as an example, enabling Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) or Bonjour in the network settings is necessary, as shown in the below example.
    The cMT X Series supports printer usage via the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). It's essential that the printer also supports the IPP protocol. Taking an HP printer as an example, enabling Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) or Bonjour in the network settings is necessary, as shown.
    The cMT X Series supports printer usage via the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). It's essential that the printer also supports the IPP protocol, or Bonjour in the network settinsgs.

  2. You can go to the Printer ta in HMI System settings menu.

    After enabling these options, available printers for installation can be found through the “Install network printer” list in HMI system settings.
    Note that “(IPP)” indicates the use of this protocol for communication.
    After enabling these options, available printers for installation can be found through the "Install network printer" list in HMI system settings, where "(IPP)" indicates the use of this protocol for communication.

  3. Or you can do so within the EBPro System Parameters

    In EasyBuilder Pro, selecting IPP in the printer settings enables normal printing.
    IPP Printers are listed as “IPP” in the Manufacturer section of the Printers dialog box.
    In EasyBuilder Pro, selecting IPP in the printer settings enables normal printing. IPP is listed in the Manufacturer section on the left.

CUPS Printing Support

The cMT / cMT X Series model process print jobs by using CUPS; therefore, the printer installed on a cMT/cMT X Series model must support CUPS. For more information about CUPS, please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUPS.

Below are two ways to find out whether a printer supports CUPS:

  1. Check with your printer’s manufacturer.
  2. Test your printer on a PC running Linux and install a PPD file by following these steps:

How to Verify your Printer has CUPS support

If you’re unable to verify with the printer’s manufacturer, you can follow these steps to verify CUPS support with your printer.

Note that you will be testing your printer on a PC running Linux OS and installing a PPD file:

Instructions: How to Verify your Printer has CUPS support

  1. Install and verify proper operation of CUPS and enter browser

    Install CUPS on a Linux PC and make sure that CUPS is working properly. Enter http://localhost:631 in your browser.

  2. Select the Add Printers and Classes link

    Open the Home tab and select [Adding Printers and Classes].
    Adding a printer with CUPS Support - Select the Adding Printers and Classes link from the Home tab

  3. Click the Add Printers button

    Select [Add Printer] under Printers.
    Adding a printer with CUPS Support - Select the Add Printer button to open a list of printers

  4. Select the AppSocket entry

    In the window that follows, select [AppSocket] from the “Other Network Printers” section.
    Adding a printer with CUPS Support - Select AppSocket entry in the "other network printers" section

  5. Enter Printer IP Address

    Enter the printer’s IP address, e.g. socket://10.3.9.55:9100.
    Enter the Printer's IP address. For example, if our printer IP is 10.3.9.55, you would put "socket://10.3.9.55:9100" in the text field.

  6. Enter the Name of the Printer

    Enter the printer’s name.
    It is helpful to also add a description and location, as shown.
    Enter the Printer Name., description and location. These fields should be fully filled out.

  7. Identify the printer Make and Model

    Select the printer’s manufacturer and model name. If your printer does not exist in the list, you may ask the manufacturer which is the PPD file you can use for replacement.
    Select the Printer Manufacturer from the "Make" drop-down list.
    Select the Printer model from the "model" drop down option list. The Model drop down list populates once the printer manufacturer is chosen in the Make drop down list.

  8. Find the PPD File and then add it to EasyBuilder Pro

    After adding the printer, find its PPD file in /etc/cups/ppd in Linux, import the PPD file to EasyBuilder Pro (see above), and then download the project to HMI.
    See above for instructions on installing a PPD file to EasyBuilder Pro