Parallel port to USB

[DexterH]

Hey guys, I know there are lots of USB to parralel adapters on the market. However, I need to get hold of a parralell port to usb adapter/convertor.

Does anybody know of, or know where I can get one of these from?? It is to be used on a peice of scientific equptment that has a parallel output and needs to be connected to a pc to transferr data.

Thanks

 

[deanj20]

Here's 58,000 of them:
http://www.google.com/products?oe=u...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CEcQrQQwAw

Or you can get this one from Best Buy if you don't wish to purchase online:

$31 at Best Buy

Does that help?

 

[DexterH]

Well thats what I was on about. If you look at the details of any of those you will see that they are USB --> Parallel and can only be used to send data to a printer.

I however need a Paralell --> USB that means that it can be used to send info from a scientific instrument to a computer. The instrument has a Parallel out and comp as said has a USB in. The cables you mentioned do not have this capability.

 

[deanj20]

Forgive me for not reading more carefully. I think this might work: http://www.universalpart.com/Parallel-To-USB-Printer-Adapter-LPF2USB_item_4788.html

But wouldn't it be cheaper and more practical just to buy a PCI parallel card or a PCIe parallel card?

 

[DexterH]

Yea something like that could work... I am not sure. However, it has the wrong USB interface and so would not be able to be plugged into a computer.
For me alone it would be much cheaper to just buy a PCI parallel card, agreed. However, this is a bit of reasearch for my Grandfathers company who design and build the previously mentioned instruments. It would cost millions to redesign their motherboards to have a USB port and to write the code to drive them.... therefore, if a correct Parallel to USB could be found it would be a much cheaper alternative to just simply ship one out with each instrument to the customer.

 

[deanj20]

Hey DexterH,

I posted your question on another forum (see the thread here), and a member there was able to dig up this: http://www.worldofcables.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=582#

Seems to be a lot cheaper than the last one I posted, and actually has the correct USB male adapter (Type A rather than Type B).

Just out of curiosity, what sort of machines are we talking about?

Hope that will work - I guess you could always buy one just to test it out.

 

[DexterH]

Thanks for that. I tried looking at older posts but there were so many.

I think I will buy one of these to test it out. It is to be used on spectrophotometers, HPCL systems and chromotographers.

Dexter