Nice step by step project to display feeds on a microprinter.

The concept of Microprinting as described by Tom Taylor is “an experiment in physical activity streams and notification, using a repurposed receipt printer connected to the web”. Using this and the works of others as inspiration, I set about making my own Internet connected printer.

Before starting the project, I hadn’t had any previous experience of building electronic circuits, and it had been over 10 years since I had last picked up a soldering iron. Unperturbed, I set out and acquired everything I needed for the project:

• An old receipt printer – I have a Citizen CBM-231 from ebay
• An Arduino board, bread board and jump wires (from Cool Components)
• An Arduino Ethernet shield (also from Cool Components)
• A MAX233 Chip and serial plug (from Maplins)

The serial output of the Arduino board isn’t natively compatible with the printer – you need to run the signal through the MAX233 chip to transform the output to the correct voltage.

read the full article.

via [flipbit]