Connecting a Thermal Printer to a Raspberry Pi B+ with a Server-Side GUI
What is a Thermal Printer? Thermal printers are commonly used for printing receipts in stores. They operate using special thermal paper that reacts to heat, allowing the printer to create images or text without needing ink. These printers are widely available for purchase online. When connecting a thermal printer to a Raspberry Pi, it's crucial to use an adapter with the correct amperage; otherwise, you may encounter issues like faded prints or no output at all. What I Did I successfully connected a thermal printer to a Raspberry Pi and configured it to periodically request new content from a server. I utilized a Python library to print images, barcodes, and formatted text. To make the printer more versatile, I developed a web-based GUI that allows users to create content for the printer. The features include formatted text input, a basic canvas for drawing, and a Sudoku generator with adjustable difficulty levels.