Datamax-O'Neil LA2-00-460C0000 User Manual

Operator’s Manual

Copyright Information

CG Times (based upon Times New Roman) and CG Triumvirate are trademarks of the AGFA
Monotype Corporation.
Windows and Windows NT are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.
NetWare and Novell are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc.
Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation.
All other brand and product names are trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or
registered service marks of their respective companies.

Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Datamax-O’Neil be liable to the purchaser for any indirect, special or
consequential damages or lost profits arising out of or relating to Datamax-O’Neil’s products, or the
performance or a breach thereof, even if Datamax-O’Neil has been advised of the possibility
thereof. Datamax-O’Neil’s liability, if any, to the purchaser or to the customer of the purchaser
hereunder shall in no event exceed the total amounts paid to Datamax-O’Neil hereunder by the
purchaser for a defective product.

In no event shall Datamax-O’Neil be liable to the purchaser for any damages resulting from or
related to any failure or delay of Datamax-O’Neil in the delivery or installation of the computer
hardware, supplies or software or in the performance of any services.

Some states do not permit the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, and in those
states the foregoing limitations may not apply. The warranties here give you specific legal rights,
and you may have other legal rights which vary from state to state.

Firmware (Software) Agreement

The enclosed Firmware (Software) resident in the Printer is owned by Licensor or its suppliers and

is licensed for used only on a single printer in the user’s Trade or Business. The User agrees not

to, and not to authorize or permit any other person or party to duplicate, or copy the
Firmware or the information contained in the non-volatile or programmable memory. The

firmware (Software) is protected by applicable copyright laws and Licensor retains all rights not
expressly granted. In no event will Licensor or its suppliers be liable for any damages or loss,
including direct, incidental, economic, special, or consequential damages arising out of the use or
inability to use the Firmware (Software).

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Datamax-O’Neil Corporation. No part of this manual may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal
use, without the expressed written permission of Datamax-O’Neil Corporation.

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2012, Datamax-O’Neil

Part Number 88-2349-01

Revision C

Agency Compliance and Approvals:

UL60950-1 2nd Edition, Information Technology Equipment

C US

Listed

CSA C22.2 No.60950-1-07, 2nd Edition

The manufacturer declares under sole responsibility that this product conforms to
the following standards or other normative documents:

EMC: EN 55022 (2006,A1:2007) Class B
EN 50024 (1998,A1:2001,A2:2003)

Safety: This product complies with the requirements of IEC 60950-1, 2nd Edition,

2005-12

ROHS: 2002/95/EC
LVD: 2006/95/EC

Gost-R

GB4943-2001, GB9254-2008 and GB17625.1-2003

DMX-A-4212 model:
The foregoing equipment has been registered under the Clause 3, Article 58-2 of Radio

FCC: This device complies with FCC CFR 47 Part 15 Class A.

Waves Act

Note: This equipm ent has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordan ce with the instruction s in this
manual, it may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the
user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

Important Safety Instructions

Throughout the literature accompanying this unit, the exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert you to the presence of important operating and
maintenance instructions.

This unit has been carefully designed to provide years of safe, reliable performance. However, as
with all electrical equipment, there are some basic precautions that you should follow to avoid
personal injury or damage to the printer:

• Before using the print engine, carefully read all the installation and operating instructions.

• Moving parts are present during operation – keep body parts, loose clothing, etc. away from

the mechanism.

• Observe all warning instruction labels on the print engine.

• Mount the print engine securely in the applicator system.

• Do not place the print engine on or near a heat source.

• To protect from overheating, make sure no openings on the print engine are blocked.

• Never insert anything into the ventilation slots and openings of the print engine.

• Do not use the print engine near water or spill liquid into it.

• Ensure that the AC power source complies with the ratings listed for the print engine.

• Do not place the AC power cord where it can be stepped on, and if the power cord becomes

damaged replace it immediately.

• Consult only qualified, trained personnel to perform service on this device: no user-

serviceable parts are inside; do not remove the cover.

Special Text Instructions

The green check box is intended to alert you to conventions used within this text or to



notable operating details and suggestions.

Applicability

The procedures, functions, and parameters described in this document are written according to an
Application Version of printer firmware. To identify the Application Version that corresponds to this
text, see Print Configuration in Section 4.3.5. To update the Application Version of your printer,
visit our website at www.datamax-oneil.com

to download firmware.

Contents

Overview .................................................................................................... 1

1.1 About the Printer ...............................................................................1

1.1.1 Standard Features.....................................................................2

1.1.2 Optional Features......................................................................3

Getting Started........................................................................................... 5

2.1 Unpacking.........................................................................................5

2.1.1 Contents..................................................................................6

2.1.2 Additional Requirements ............................................................6

2.2 Mounting Requirements ......................................................................7

2.3 Connecting to a Host ........................................................................ 11

2.3.1 Parallel Port Connections.......................................................... 12

2.3.2 Serial Port Connections............................................................ 12

2.3.3 RS-422/485 Communications ................................................... 13

2.3.4 USB Port Connections ..............................................................15

2.3.5 SDIO and USB Host Port Connections ........................................ 15

2.4 Connecting an Applicator .................................................................. 16

2.5 Connecting Power ............................................................................17

Setting up the Printer............................................................................... 19

3.1 Loading Media .................................................................................. 19

3.2 Adjusting the Media Sensor ............................................................... 23

3.3 Loading Ribbon................................................................................ 24

3.3.1 Right Hand Models .................................................................. 24

3.3.2 Left Hand Models ....................................................................26

3.3.3 Removing Ribbon ....................................................................27

3.4 Quick Calibration ............................................................................. 28

3.5 Print Quality Controls ....................................................................... 28

Using the Control Panel ............................................................................ 29

4.1 Layout............................................................................................ 29

4.1.1 The Display ............................................................................29

4.1.2 Keypad Functions.................................................................... 31

i

4.2 The System Menu ............................................................................32

4.2.1 Media Settings........................................................................ 33

4.2.2 Print Control........................................................................... 36

4.2.3 Printer Options ....................................................................... 38

4.2.4 System Settings ..................................................................... 46

4.2.5 Communications ..................................................................... 56

4.2.6 Diagnostics ............................................................................64

4.2.7 MCL Options........................................................................... 67

4.3 The Test Menu................................................................................. 68

4.3.1 Print Quality Label................................................................... 68

4.3.2 Ribbon Test Label ...................................................................68

4.3.3 Test Label ..............................................................................69

4.3.4 Validation Label ...................................................................... 69

4.3.5 Print Configuration .................................................................. 69

4.3.6 Print Last Label....................................................................... 70

4.3.7 User-Defined Label.................................................................. 70

Operating, Adjusting and Maintaining the Printer..................................... 71

5.1 Displayed Messages ......................................................................... 71

5.1.1 Prompts and Condition Messages ..............................................71

5.2 Calibration ...................................................................................... 74

5.2.1 Standard Method .................................................................... 74

5.2.2 Advanced Entry ...................................................................... 76

5.3 Printhead Adjustments...................................................................... 83

5.3.1 Leveling Cam Adjustment......................................................... 83

5.3.2 Burn Line Adjustment .............................................................. 85

5.4 Printhead Replacement ..................................................................... 86

5.5 Platen Roller Replacement................................................................. 89

5.6 Maintenance Schedule ...................................................................... 90

5.6.1 Cleaning the Printhead............................................................. 91

5.6.2 Cleaning the Rollers ................................................................93

5.6.3 Cleaning the Peel Assembly ......................................................94

5.6.4 Cleaning the Media Sensor, Media Path, and Peel Bar................... 96

5.6.5 Cleaning Exterior Surfaces ....................................................... 97

5.7 Reset Methods................................................................................. 97

ii

5.7.1 Soft Reset.............................................................................. 97

5.7.2 Level One Reset...................................................................... 97

5.7.3 Level Two Reset...................................................................... 97

5.8 Updating the Firmware .....................................................................98

5.9 Updating the Boot Loader................................................................ 100

5.10 Fonts ........................................................................................... 101

Troubleshooting ..................................................................................... 103

6.1 Problem Resolution ........................................................................ 103

6.1.1 General Resolutions............................................................... 103

6.1.2 Warning and Fault Messages................................................... 106

6.2 Hex Dump Mode ............................................................................ 113

Specifications ......................................................................................... 115

7.1 Printer Specifications ...................................................................... 115

7.2 Approved Media and Ribbon ............................................................ 120

Appendix A ............................................................................................. 123

Module Assignments ............................................................................. 123

File Handling Messages.......................................................................... 124

Cut Behind Setup.................................................................................. 125

Appendix B ............................................................................................. 127

Print Resolutions and Widths .................................................................. 127

Speed Ranges ...................................................................................... 127

Column & Row Emulation Ranges............................................................ 128

Custom Adjustments: Column, Present, & Row Adjust Ranges..................... 128

Appendix C ............................................................................................. 129

PE Peel Bar Location.............................................................................. 129

Media Tension Settings.......................................................................... 129

PE to A-Class GPIO Adapter Cable ........................................................... 130

Appendix D............................................................................................. 131

Applicator Interface Overview................................................................. 131

Appendix E ............................................................................................. 139

Multi-Language Menu ............................................................................ 139

iii

Appendix F ............................................................................................. 143

Saving a Configuration File..................................................................... 143

Appendix G ............................................................................................. 145

Ribbon Saver Overview ......................................................................... 145

Glossary ................................................................................................. 147

iv

1

Overview

1.1 About the Printer

Congratulations on your purchase of an A-Class Mark II printer. This print engine (hereafter

referred to as “the printer” and, when necessary, by model) is designed for professional integration
into an industrial applicator system.

This manual provides all the information necessary for installation, setup and operation of the
printer. To begin printing, refer to the instructions provided with your label-creation software; or,

to write custom label programs, reference the Class Series 2 Programmer’s Manual on the

Accessories CD-ROM, also available at http://www.datamax-oneil.com

The printer’s model number, located on the Serial Tag affixed to the inside of the front cover,
should be used when referencing specific information within this manual.

A-Class Mark II 1

1.1.1 Standard Features

This printer offers the following standard features:

• Right-handed or left-handed configurations

• Electronics card cage

• 8 MB Flash downloadable program memory

• 16 MB DRAM memory

• User accessible memory for graphics, fonts, and label format storage

• Two RS-232 serial interfaces (one of which is also RS-422/RS-485 capable)

• One IEEE 1284 compliant parallel interface

• One Ethernet 10/00 interface

• One USB v1.1 interface

• A programmable GPIO Port

• Backlit graphics display

• EFIGS (English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish) display languages

• Industry standard bar code symbologies

• Time stamp at print capability with time and date battery back-up

• Static brushes

• Printhead resistance verification

• Configurable fault-handling capability with reprint and void selections

• Parse error-tolerant command language interpretation

• Internal test labels for verification, validation, and configuration

• Multiple setup restore capability

• Paper retract control after print

• Ribbon low detection and warning

• Power-up, mode, and resident option hardware diagnostics

• Option hardware auto-detection

• Media peel bar

• Media inch counters

• Line mode (ASCII text input) capability with USB Host

• Firmware upgrades downloadable

• AGFA Scaleable Font Engine featuring dynamic font attributes

2 A-Class Mark II

1.1.2 Optional Features

The following optional features are available:

• DMXrfNetII

A wireless Network Interface Controller with multiple operating system and protocol support,
including trap functions.

• International Language Printing Capability (ILPC)

An alternate font set, available for standard or expanded memory:

CG-Times (European) Scaleable font (and Enhanced Language Code Pages)
Kanji Gothic B Scaleable font

Simplified Chinese GB Scaleable font
Korean Hangul Scaleable font

• Cutter

A mechanism specifically designed to cut media after printing.

• MCL

A software tool suite for information collection applications, allowing input data from peripheral
devices (scanners, weigh scales, keyboards, etc.) without the need of a host computer.

• Remote Display

A factory installed port located on the rear of the printer assembly allowing a 6 foot (1.8 meter)
remote display to be attached.

• RFID

A Radio Frequency Identification method that encodes data onto smart labels and tags;
available completely installed and ready for use.

• Thermal Transfer

A printing method that uses ribbon to produce exceptional image clarity (as compared to most
direct thermal media types).

• Rear Pinch Roller

An additional roller assembly that assists media movement during long backfeed distances.

• SDIO and USB Host Ports

Interface ports that allow the printer to accept external SDIO and USB memory devices for
storing graphics, label formats, fonts, and firmware; and that allow USB keyboard connections
(and USB scanning device connections for MCL users) for direct data input applications.

A-Class Mark II 3

Installing Printer Options

The table below lists competency level recommendations for the installation of the various options.
For detailed information regarding an option, contact a dealer or Datamax-O’Neil Technical
Support.

Experience Level

Option Installer

DMXrfNetII DMX Certified Technician

SDIO and USB Host Ports Factory Only

Cutter DMX Certified Technician

MCL DMX Certified Technician

Remote Display Port Factory Only

RFID Factory Only

Ribbon Saver Factory Only

Thermal Transfer DMX Certified Technician

Rear Pinch Roller Factory Only

4 A-Class Mark II

Getting Started

2

2.1 Unpacking

The printer is carefully packaged for transit. Upon arrival, inspect the shipping carton(s) for
damage; if evident, immediately report the damage to the freight company.

In order to operate the printer, remove all packaging material:

1. With the Shipping Carton arrows pointing upward, open the Shipping Carton and remove the
Accessories Box and the Top Foams.

2. Carefully lift the wrapped Printer from the carton and place it on a solid level surface.

Accessories Box

Top Foam

Bottom Foam

Printer

Bottom Foam

Shipping Carton

3. Remove the Printer from the plastic bag and then remove all remaining packing materials.

Top Foam

Save the carton and packing material for future use.



A-Class Mark II 5

2.1.1 Contents

Check the contents of the carton for the following items:

• Printer

• Power cord

• Accessories CD-ROM

• Any additionally purchased items or options.

2.1.2 Additional Requirements

Other items can also be needed for operation:

• Media (and ribbon, if necessary); see Section 7.2.

• Interface cables; see Section 2.3 (Host Connections) and

Appendix D (Applicator).

• Software; see the Accessories CD-ROM for Windows

Drivers and basic labeling software.

6 A-Class Mark II

2.2 Mounting Requirements

Before installing the printer, ensure that the environmental conditions of the site fall within the
range specified in Section 7, and always avoid the following environments:

• Do not place the printer in direct sunlight or near a heat source; and,

• Do not place the printer where it will be exposed to liquids, or excessive dust or dirt.

Consider the dimensions of the printer before attaching it to the applicator station. The template
below details the opening size and hole locations required for the support structure:

Attach the printer to the support structure using
a #10 screw inserted at each Mounting Hole
position (see note below).

The following drawings detail additional mounting considerations:



Mounting Holes

A-Class Mark II 7

A-4xxx models

9.67”

(246mm)

Front View, Peel Assembly lowered:

Side View:

10.45”

(266mm)

11.81”

(300mm)

15.35”

(390mm)

2.25”

(57mm)

7.68”

(195mm)

7.66”

(195mm)

12.51”

(318mm)

Side View, Cover raised:

20.17”

(512mm)

8 A-Class Mark II

A-6xxx models

9.67”

(246mm)

Front View, Peel Assembly lowered:

Side View:

10.45”

(266mm)

11.81”

(300mm)

17.35”

(441mm)

2.25”

(57mm)

9.68”

(246mm)

7.66”

(195mm)

14.51”

(369mm)

Side View, Cover raised:

22.17”

(563mm)

A-Class Mark II 9

Peel Point Dimension

Peel Bar



See Appendix C for the PE-Series printer’s dimension.

10 A-Class Mark II

2.3 Connecting to a Host

Ensure that the Power Switch is OFF when making printer connections.

The printer can be interfaced to a host via the parallel, serial, Ethernet and USB ports. (Ethernet
users, consult the documentation that accompanied the option.) Following power-up (or after a
period of inactivity), interface port selection occurs automatically upon detection of valid data. If
the incoming data flow stops and the Host Timeout period (see Section 4.2.5) is achieved, partially
received formats will be ignored and the port detection process repeated.

The location of the following connections can vary by printer model and host hardware

•

configuration.



• To change an active port immediately, cycle the power OFF and ON.

• For alternate data processing options, see INPUT MODE, Section 4.2.4.

Remote Display

(Optional)

Serial Port A

Serial Port C

USB Port

Ethernet Port

Parallel Port

Serial Port D

SDIO Host

USB Host
(Optional)

A-Class Mark II 11

(Optional)

2.3.1 Parallel Port Connections

The parallel interface requires a Centronics
directional mode is IEEE 1284 compliant, allowing data to be returned to the host.

IEEE 1284 cable with a 36 pin male connector. Bi-

2.3.2 Serial Port Connections

Serial Port A supports RS-232C and RS-422/RS-485 communications; COM C and COM D support
RS-232 (see Appendix D for exceptions). Pin-outs are given below. The port baud rate, word
length, parity, stop bits, and protocol must be configured to match the host’s settings; see Section

4.2.5.

Pin

Number

1 +5V (@ .5 amps)

2 RX

3 TX

4 DTR

5 Ground

6 ---

7 RTS

8 CTS

9 ---

For proper data exchange, the serial interface requires specific cable pin-outs. Serial cable

part numbers and wiring diagrams are shown below.

Port A, and COM C (J4) Port A, only COM D (J3)

RS-232 Function RS-422 & RS-485 Function RS-232 Function

---

RX-

TX+

---

GND

---

TX-

RX+

---

+5V (@ .5 amps)

RTS

Ground

TX

RX

Ground

CTS

DTR

---

RS-232 Cables*

Part # 32-2300-01

Part # 32-2301-01

*Printer serial ports A & C require a DB9 male connector (e.g., Startech C9PSM).

12 A-Class Mark II

COM D Port Connections

COM D RS-232 Cable

Host DB-9S Printer RJ45P

+5 VDC

GROUND

RXD
TXD

DTR

DSR

CTS

1
2
3
5
4
6

8
9
7

Part # 32-2603-00

NC
NC

NC

1
4
5
3

2

7
8

6

+5 VDC

TXD
RXD
GROUND

RTS
CTS
DTR

2.3.3 RS-422/485 Communications

To use RS-422/485 communications (Port A, only), the main logic card must be reconfigured:

Always wear a wrist strap and follow standard ESD prevention measures when
handling the Main Logic Card.

1. Turn OFF the power switch, unplug the AC Power Cord from the printer, and remove any

interface cable(s) already attached to the Main Logic Card.

2. Remove the two Screws securing the Main Logic Card to the printer. Slide the card out of

the printer and place it on a static free work area.

Main Logic Card

Screws

The Main Logic Card location varies depending upon the model of printer.



A-Class Mark II 13

3. Slide the Main Board out of the printer then move the jumpers according application:

• For RS-422/485 operation, place the jumper across pins E4 and E5;

• For +5VDC on Pin 1, place the jumper across pins E1 and E2; or,

• For RS-232 operation (default), place the jumper across pins E5 and E6;

• For no voltage on Pin 1 (default), place the jumper across pins E2 and E3.

Communications Jumpers

+5 Volt Jumper

4. Slide the Main Board into the printer and secure it with the
two previously removed Screws.

5. Connect communication cables to the Main Board and plug in
the power cord

For RS-422/485 communications, ensure that your cable meets
the requirements (per the table, right) for proper data transfer.

Serial Port

Pin Number

1 ---

2 RX­3 TX+

4 ---

5 GND
6 ---

7 TX-

8 RX+

9 ---

RS-422 & RS-485

Function

14 A-Class Mark II

2.3.4 USB Port Connections

The Universal Serial Bus port requires a standard USB cable.

This USB Port is a device-end only connection. Never attach a keyboard, mouse,
modem, etc. to this port; damage can result.

2.3.5 SDIO and USB Host Port Connections

If equipped with the Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) and USB Host Ports, the printer can accept
external storage devices for fonts, graphics, label formats, and firmware files. The USB Host Port
also accepts a USB keyboard for standalone, direct data (Line mode) input applications; see the

Class Series 2 Programmer’s Manual for examples.

SDIO Connections - When installing an SDIO Card, turn OFF the printer then slide the card

into the slot. Module “F” will be recognized by the printer. When removing a card, turn OFF the
printer then press inward on the card to release it.

USB Host Port Connections - The USB Host Ports support plug and play device installation

and removal. Module “H” and Module “I” will be recognized by the printer.

• Memory device sizes up to 16 GB are supported.



Using Memory Functions

Download your files to the device using Windows Explorer or DMX Config; see FILE HANDLING
DEFINITIONS in Appendix A. The following examples highlight several ways to use memory
devices; unless otherwise noted, see MODULES in Section 4.2.3 for details about function

selections.





• If equipped on the memory device, ensure that the Write Protect Switch is OFF.

• Before initial use, format the external memory device; see Section 4.2.3.

• Always allow process completion before removing modules.

• Files that reside in Module “X” cannot be copied; see Appendix A for module details.

• For access to all functions, ensure that the Advanced Menu is selected: Press System

Settings select Menu Mode and then Advanced Menu.

To copy files stored on a module to or from the printer:

1. Press the MENU button then select Printer Options.

2. Select Modules and then Copy File.

3. Select the file to copy and then the destination module ID.

When sharing configuration files between printers, use Restore As Current (see



A-Class Mark II 15

CONFIGURATION FILE, Section 4.2.4) and perform calibration (see Section 5.2).

 To copy firmware stored on a module to the printer:

1. Press the TEST button then select User Defined Label.

2. Select the module ID and the firmware file.

 To print files stored on a module:

1. Press the TEST button and then select User Defined Label.

2. Select the module ID then the file to print.

To print directly from stored files at power-up, see User Label mode in Section



 To print a previous label format that is stored in memory:

1. Press the MENU button then select Printer Options.

2. Select Modules and then Print File.

4.2.4.

2.4 Connecting an Applicator

Setup the GPIO Port using the information in Appendix D and then connect the applicator cable to
port(s) on the Applicator Interface Card.

Failure to properly configure the GPIO Port(s) may result in damage to the printer
and / or the applicator.

If upgrading, a PE to A-Class GPIO conversion cable is available; see Appendix C.



16 A-Class Mark II

2.5 Connecting Power

The power cord connects to the AC receptacle on back of the printer. Make the connection and
power-up the printer as follows:

1. Ensure that AC power to the host computer and applicator system are OFF.

2. Ensure that the printer’s Power Switch is OFF.

Power Switch

3. Connect the AC Power Cord to the printer and then to a properly grounded outlet.

4. Turn ON (in the following order) the host computer, the applicator system, and then the
printer.

A-Class Mark II 17

18 A-Class Mark II

Setting up the Printer

3

3.1 Loading Media

Load media according to its type and desired output:

1. Open the Access Cover and raise the Head
Lift Lever.

If your printer is equipped with Rear Pinch

Roller option open the Pinch Roller by pulling
outward on the Release Knob.

Rear Pinch

Roller Option

Release Knob

2. Route the Media between the Media Posts, through the Media Sensor, over the Peel Bar, and
out of the printer, as shown below.

Access Cover

Head Lift Lever

Media

Media Sensor

Media Posts

A-Class Mark II 19

3. To peel die-cut labels after printing, press down on the Peel Assembly Release Lever to lower
the Peel Assembly; otherwise, proceed directly to Step 6.

Peel Assembly
Release Lever

Media

Peel Assembly

4. Remove the labels from 12 inches (30 cm) of the Media Liner. Route the Media Liner down to
the Peel Assembly, over the Latch Roller, and through the Slot as shown below.

Media

Slot

Media Liner

Latch Roller

Peel Assembly

Peel Assembly

20 A-Class Mark II