DuraLabel 9000 User Manual

800.788.5572

DuraLabel.com

USER GUIDE

9000

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System: Windows XP SP2 or later, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1

Memory: 128MB RAM

Hard Drive: 100MB

Additional Requirements: IT Administrator Privileges

Supplies

DuraLabel supplies and the DuraLabel® 9000 printer have been optimized for compatibility and print quality. Use only DuraLabel supplies from Graphic Products with your DuraLabel 9000 printer.

No part of this guide, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except as documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of Graphic Products, Inc.

Products and corporate names appearing in this guide may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.

Specifications and other content contained in this guide are furnished for informational use only and are subject to change at any time without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Graphic Products. Graphic Products assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this guide.

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Introduction | 1

Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your DuraLabel 9000 thermal transfer printer. This guide will have you printing professional-quality labels and signs in no time!

Call us at 800.788.5572 with any questions about your DuraLabel 9000 printer. We’re here to help with all your label and sign-making needs.

2 | Contents

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Contents

1. Warranties

1.1 5-Year DuraLabel Printer Warranty

1.1.1 Repairs

1.1.2 Batteries

1.1.3 Warranty Details

1.2

5-Year DuraLabel Premium Vinyl Warranty

2. Loading the Printer

2.1 Printer Parts

2.2 Supplies

2.3 Loading Vinyl Supply

2.4 Printer Ribbon Parts

2.5 Loading Ribbon

3. Connecting the Printer

3.1 Inserting the Installation CD

3.2 Using a USB Cable

3.3 Using a Parallel Cable

3.4 Upgrading a Driver

4. Configuring Printer Drivers

4.1 Continuous Vinyl Printing Instructions

4.2 Die-Cut Label Printing Instructions

4.2.1 Label Supply Calibration

4.2.2 Driver Settings

4.2.3 Media Sensor Adjustment for Die-Cut Labels with Headers

4.2.4 Media Sensor Adjustment for RTK Color Bar Die-Cut Labels

4.3 B Mark Label Printing Instructions

4.3.1 Label Supply Calibration

4.3.2 Driver Settings

4.3.3 Adjusting the B Mark Media Sensor

4.4 Cutting Labels in Intervals

4.5 Adjusting Print Speed

4.6 Adjusting Darkness

5. Installing Labeling Software

5.1 DuraSuite Labeling Software

5.2 LabelForge Labeling Software

6. Label Creation

6.1 Label Creation with Your Word Processor

6.1.1 Using Templates

6.1.2 Setting up a Microsoft Word Document

7. Label Design

7.1 Text Boxes

7.1.1 Changing Text Box Size

7.1.2 Positioning Text Boxes

7.2 Graphics

7.3 Merging Information, Sequencing Labels

7.3.1 Creating an Excel Spreadsheet

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Contents | 3

CONTENTS

8. Configuring Ethernet Card

8.1 Setting an Ethernet Port using the Diagnostic Tool

8.2 Installing a Driver for the Ethernet Port

8.3 Manually Configuring the IP Address

8.4 Setting a Static IP

9. Cleaning and General Maintenance

9.1 Print Head

9.2 Cutter

9.3 Platen Roller

10. Troubleshooting

10.1 Speckles Appear Throughout Label

10.2 Fading of Text/Graphics Occurs During Printing

10.3 Hash Marks Appear Throughout Printing

10.4 Solid Printed Line Appears Across Entire Label

10.5 Unprinted Horizontal Lines Appear

10.6 LED Flashes Between Green “ON-LINE” and Red “ERROR”

10.7 Printer is Printing Labels but not Cutting Them

10.8 Receive a “No Ribbon” Error Message

10.9 Receive a “No Paper” or “Paper Jam” Error Message

10.10 Printer Cuts Labels Off-Center or into the Next Label

10.11 Wrinkles Appear on Half of Label

11. Specifications

11.1 Printer

11.2 Indicators and Buttons

11.3 Communication Interface

11.4 Power Requirements

11.5 Environment

11.6 Label Supply

11.7 Ribbon Supply

11.8 Printer Body

4 | 1.1 5-Year DuraLabel Printer Warranty

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1. Warranties

1.1 5-Year DuraLabel Printer Warranty

Graphic Products’ DuraLabel printers are warrantied to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase. Within this period, Graphic Products, Inc. will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components which fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the purchaser for parts or labor, provided that the purchaser shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does not cover loss, damages from accident, or equipment or parts which have been misused, altered, neglected, carelessly handled, used for purpose other than those for which the printer was manufactured, or damages resulting from unauthorized service.

1.1.1 REPAIRS

Repairs are warrantied for 90 days. If the original warranty is still in effect, repaired units will remain under their original warranty or for 90 days from the date of service, whichever is longer.

1.1.2 BATTERIES

The optional battery packs for the DuraLabel Toro and Lobo portable systems are warrantied for three years from the date of purchase.

The battery for the DuraLabel 2000 PLUS system is warrantied for one year from the date of purchase.

1.1.3 WARRANTY DETAILS

The warranties and remedies contained herein are exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties whether express, implied, or statutory, including any liability arising under any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, statutory or otherwise. This warranty gives the purchaser specific legal rights, which may vary from state to state.

In no event shall Graphic Products be liable for any incidental, special, indirect, or consequential damages, whether resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use the product for any reason including defect. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation may not apply in all areas.

Graphic Products retains the exclusive right within all warranty periods to repair, replace, or offer a full refund of the purchase price at its sole discretion. Such remedy shall be the purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy for any breach of warranty.

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1.2 5-Year DuraLabel Premium Vinyl Warranty | 5

WARRANTIES

General maintenance and cleaning of the DuraLabel printer is the purchaser’s responsibility and is not covered by the warranty. Expendable items or parts such as label supply and ribbon are not covered by this warranty.

NOTE: SpeciÀc preparation may be required before shipping. Please contact your Graphic Products representative to ensure correct return procedure: please call

800.788.5572 for details. Graphic Products, Inc. shall not be responsible for any loss or damages incurred during shipping.

1.2 5-Year DuraLabel Premium Vinyl Warranty

DuraLabel supplies are tested for durability under various conditions, including UV exposure, moisture, heating and cooling cycles, abrasion, and chemical exposures. Graphic Products warranties labels made from its Premium vinyl supplies for a period of five (5) years.

Within five years of purchase and after proper application, Graphic Products will replace labels made with DuraLabel Premium Vinyl which become unreadable or fail to maintain adhesion with the labeled surface. In such instance, Graphic Products, Inc. will provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply.

6 | 2.1 Printer Parts

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2. Loading the Printer

DuraLabel ribbon and vinyl supplies have been optimized for compatibility and print quality. Only authorized DuraLabel supplies from Graphic Products will print correctly in the DuraLabel 9000 printer.

An instructional video demonstrating how to load DuraLabel ribbon and supplies is included on your installation CD.

2.1 Printer Parts

A. Media Sensor (green)

B. Printed Label Opening

C. Print Head

D. Platen Roller (black)

E. Print Head Mechanism

F. Print Head Release Lever (green)

G. Adjustable Media Guides (white)

H. Media Guide Bar (metal)

I. Supply Bar

J. Supply Guides

K. Adjustable Pressure Knobs (green)

L. Printer Cover

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2.3 Loading Vinyl Supply | 7

LOADING THE PRINTER

2.2 Supplies

The DuraLabel 9000 ribbon and other media have been optimized for compatibility and print quality. Only authorized supplies from Graphic Products will print correctly in the DuraLabel 9000.

2.3 Loading Vinyl Supply

IMPORTANT! Always turn the printer OFF when loading supplies. Always wait at least 5

seconds before turning power back ON.

NOTE: Watch a demonstration of supply loading, viewable at DuraLabel.com/duralabel-videos.

A. Open the printer cover by lifting up on the

handle.

B. Push the green print head release lever to pop

up the print head mechanism.

C. Remove and set aside the outside supply guide from the supply bar.

Supply Guide

Supply Bar

Handle on Printer Cover

Print Head

Print Head Mechanism

Print Head Release Lever

8 | 2.3 Loading Vinyl Supply

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LOADING THE PRINTER

D. Adjust the inside supply guide to cover the number corresponding to the size of

label supply being loaded (see photo below).

E. Place the label supply onto the supply bar.

NOTE: Label supply should roll over the top and toward the front of the printer.

F. Fit the outside supply guide onto the label bar,

against the label supply but with enough room for the label supply to rotate with ease.

The inside supply guide is set for 6" label supply.

Supply Guides

Supply Bar

Loaded supply and outside supply guide placed on supply bar

Loaded vinyl supply moving right to left.

Adjustable Media Guides (white)

Platen Roller

Print Head Mechanism

Supply Guides

Supply Bar

Media Guide Bar

Adj

AAA

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2.3 Loading Vinyl Supply | 9

LOADING THE PRINTER

G. Pull the leading edge of the label supply and thread it under the media guide bar

and through the adjustable media guides.

H. Pull the label supply over the black platen roller and through the printed label

opening.

Adjustable media guides Àtted to width of vinyl supply

Adjustable Media Guides (white)

Guide Àtted correctly

Guide not Àtted correctly

Vinyl properly loaded

Media Guide Bar

Printed Label Opening

Platen Roller (black)

Media Sensor (green)

NOTE: Make sure the label supply threads under the green media sensor, located under the print head.

I. Move the adjustable media guides to fit the width of the label supply, securing the

label supply in place.

10 | 2.4 Printer Ribbon Parts

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LOADING THE PRINTER

2.4 Printer Ribbon Parts

A. Ribbon Rewind Spindle (front)

B. Ribbon Guides

C. Ribbon Sensor (black)

D. Print Head Release Lever (green)

E. Print Head Mechanism

F. Ribbon Spindle (back)

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2.5 Loading Ribbon | 11

LOADING THE PRINTER

2.5 Loading Ribbon

IMPORTANT! Always turn the printer OFF when loading supplies. Always wait at least 5

seconds before turning power back ON.

A. Set ribbon spindle guides based on

loaded ribbon size.

a. For 2.33” ribbon, move each

ribbon guide to the line indicated on the ribbon spindle and tighten the screw on the top of each ribbon guide.

b. For 8.66” ribbon, move the ribbon

guides against the inside printer wall.

B. Slide an empty supply core onto the

front ribbon rewind spindle.

Guides for 4.33" ribbon

Guides for 8.66" ribbon

Empty supply core applied to front ribbon rewind spindle

Ribbon Rewind Spindle

Ribbon Spindle

NOTE: Make sure the empty supply core is Áush against the ribbon guide.

C. Slide a ribbon supply roll onto the

ribbon spindle, flush against ribbon guide, with the leading edge hanging down toward the back of printer.

Ribbon supply being placed on ribbon spindle Loaded ribbon supply on ribbon spindle

12 | 2.5 Loading Ribbon

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LOADING THE PRINTER

D. Pull the leading edge of the ribbon supply toward the back of the printer to provide

enough ribbon to go through the printer.

E. Pull it down and thread it underneath the print head mechanism and above the

ribbon sensor (black bar above green media sensor).

F. Tape the end of the ribbon supply to the front of the empty supply core.

G. Roll the ribbon rewind spindle clockwise a few times toward the back of the printer

to tighten the ribbon and remove flaws and fingerprints.

Ribbon supply pulled to back of printer

Ribbon supply being pulled toward back of printer

Ribbon being threaded underneath the print head mechanism and above the ribbon sensor.

Media Sensor Ribbon Sensor

Ribbon being taped to front of supply core Ribbon supply tightened

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2.5 Loading Ribbon | 13

LOADING THE PRINTER

H. Press down to close, with a hand on each side of the print head mechanism.

NOTE: Make sure the print head release lever latches closed.

I. Close the printer cover.

J. Turn the printer ON.

Print Head Mechanism

Print Head Release Lever

Closed print head mechanism

14 | 3.1 Inserting the Installation CD

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3. Connecting the Printer

Connect the power supply from the DuraLabel 9000 printer to an electrical outlet. Connect the USB or parallel cable from the DuraLabel 9000 to your PC and power ON the printer.

3.1 Inserting the Installation CD

Before inserting the installation CD, refer to the instructions for the type of cable you’re using. When using a USB cable, follow instructions in Section 3.2, Using a USB Cable. When using a parallel cable, follow instructions in Section 3.3, Using a Parallel Cable.

NOTE: When printing RTK, arc Áash and other die-cut or B Mark labels, you must set up the printer driver and printer. Refer to Section 4.2, Die-Cut Label Printing Instructions, or Section 4.3, B Mark Label Printing Instructions.

3.2 Using a USB Cable

NOTE: You may need IT administrator privileges to install a driver.

The following instructions are only for those using a USB cable. Skip to Section 3.3,

Using a Parallel Cable, if installing manually.

A. Insert the DuraLabel 9000 Installation CD in

your computer’s disk drive. A DuraLabel 9000 startup screen appears.

NOTE: If the CD does not run automatically, go to Start > Computer and double-click on your CD/DVD

drive, which should show the DL icon.

B. Click on Driver Wizard, then click Next in the Driver Wizard window that appears.

C. Click I Agree on the Windows Printer Driver License Agreement window that

appears.

DuraLabel Driver Setup Wizard

Windows Printer Driver License Agreement

DuraLabel 9000 Startup Screen

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3.2 Using a USB Cable | 15

CONNECTING THE PRINTER

D. Select DuraLabel 9000 and click Next on

the DuraLabel Driver Selection window that appears.

E. Choose the install location and click Install

on the Choose Install Location window that appears. An Installing window shows installation progress.

F. Select Install printer drivers

on the Driver

Wizard window that appears and click Next.

NOTE: You will receive a notice if a previous driver

is found that should be removed. Please refer to Section 3.4, Upgrading a Driver, for instructions on uninstalling a driver.

G. A Plug and Play Detection window appears.

Highlight Graphic Products DuraLabel 9000 and click Next.

H. Enter printer name in the Printer name field in

the Specify Printer Name window that opens; set it as the default printer by checking the box below the Printer name field. Choose a sharing option, then click Next.

I. Review information on the Completing the

Seagull Driver Wizard window that appears.

Click Finish if the information is correct. If it isn’t, correct previous selections and click Finish when the information is correct.

Selecting a DuraLabel Driver

Driver Install Location Window

Installing Window

Install Printer Driver Window

Install Driver for a Plug and Play Printer. Specify Printer Name and Default and

Sharing Status.

Completing the Seagull Driver Wizard

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DuraLabel 9000 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual