# PeriPage A6 USB Printer Library for Arduino-Compatible Boards

This library enables direct USB communication between Arduino-compatible boards and the PeriPage A6 thermal printer using a USB Host Shield. It leverages reverse-engineered command sequences to send print data without relying on BLE or proprietary applications.

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Hardware Requirements

• Arduino-Compatible Board: Such as Arduino Uno, ESP32, or others with SPI support.
• USB Host Shield 2.0: Based on the MAX3421E chip.
• PeriPage A6 Thermal Printer: Connected via USB cable.
• Thermal Paper Rolls: 56–58mm width, ≤30mm diameter.
• Micro USB Cable: For programming the microcontroller.
• Optional: External 5V power supply for the printer (recommended for consistent performance).

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Software Requirements

Arduino Libraries

Ensure the following libraries are installed in your Arduino IDE:

1. USB Host Shield Library 2.0

   • Repository: felis/USB_Host_Shield_2.0
   • Installation:
     • Open Arduino IDE.
     • Navigate to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries....
     • Search for "USB Host Shield Library 2.0".
     • Click "Install".

2. USBPrinter_uhs2

   • Repository: gdsports/USBPrinter_uhs2
   • Installation:
     • Download the ZIP from the repository.
     • In Arduino IDE, go to Sketch > Include Library > Add .ZIP Library....
     • Select the downloaded ZIP file.

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Hardware Connections

Arduino Uno

• D13: SCK
• D12: MISO
• D11: MOSI
• D10: SS

ESP32 (using VSPI)

• GPIO23: MOSI
• GPIO19: MISO
• GPIO18: SCK
• GPIO5: SS

For ESP32 users, make sure #include "usbhub.h" is added to USBPrinter.h.

Connect the PeriPage A6 printer to the USB Host Shield's USB port using a USB cable.

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Usage

1. Clone or Download the Repository

   Place the PeriPagePrinter.h file in your Arduino project's directory.

2. Upload the Sketch

   Use the provided helloPrint.ino sketch or your custom sketch that includes PeriPagePrinter.h.

3. Power the Setup

   Connect your microcontroller to your computer via USB. If the printer requires more power, use an external 5V power supply.

4. Monitor Serial Output

   Open the Serial Monitor in Arduino IDE at 115200 baud to view status messages.

5. Printing

   Once the setup is complete and the printer is ready, the sketch will send a message to the printer.

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Troubleshooting

• No Output on Printer:

  • Ensure the printer is powered on and properly connected.
  • Verify that the USB Host Shield is functioning and recognized by the microcontroller.

• Compilation Errors:

  • Confirm that all required libraries are correctly installed.
  • Ensure that PeriPagePrinter.h is placed in the correct directory.
  • For ESP32 users, make sure #include "usbhub.h" is added to USBPrinter.h.

• Power Issues:

  • The printer may require more power than the microcontroller can provide via USB. Consider using an external 5V power supply.

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If the library was useful to you

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References

• USB Host Shield Library 2.0: felis/USB_Host_Shield_2.0
• USBPrinter_uhs2: gdsports/USBPrinter_uhs2
• PeriPage A6 Reverse Engineering: bitrate16/peripage-python

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Feel free to customize and expand upon this project to suit your specific needs, such as adding image printing capabilities or integrating with other peripherals.