This circuit uses a R-2R Ladder Resistor Network to convert digital data from PC Printer Port to Analog. This can be used as a Millivolt Source or Programmable Power Supply.

Milli Volt Source for Printer Port - del20004

This circuit is a R-2R, Digital to Analog Converter. You can replace the R2R with a D-A Chip for better performance. This circuit is just to understand the Concept, for learning and Experimenting.

The MFR resistors are 1%, hence the precision of this Conversion is not very good. It is ok for servo applications or closed loop conversion along with the ICL7135. That can be tried with software.

The eight outputs from printer port are latched to U1 and U2 by controlling U3B using software. Place data at output then instruct U3B to latch the data. Then we have a digital byte at output of U1-U2 which is set by software. This is converted to analog with a R-2R Resistor Ladder DAC. U4 buffers the Ladder output and U6 gives a Negative polarity output of same analog value.