Epson TM-C3500 User Manual

Developer’s Guide

Series

Before use

Functions and Operating Procedures of the Printer

How to Use the Printer Driver

Application Development Information

Media Design

Printer Management

Appendix

M00107502

Rev.C

Before use

This chapter describes information you should know before using the product.

Manuals for This Product

Paper manual

Manual viewable

with PC

Manual viewable

with PC

Start Here

Describes precautions on handling the product. Be sure to read the precautions before use in order to ensure safe and proper use, and to prevent personal injury to you and other persons and damage to property. This also gives instructions for unpacking and installing the product.

User's Guide

Describes details about the functions and operating procedures of the product and software, maintenance information, and troubleshooting.

Developer's Guide (This Manual)

Provides information necessary for developing a system using the product.

It can be viewed from the supplied CD.

Downloading the Latest Version

The latest versions of the printer driver, utilities, and manuals can be downloaded from the following URLs.

For customers in North America, go to the following web site: <www.epson.com/support/>

For customers in other countries, go to the following web site: <www.epson-biz.com/>

Symbols Used in This Guide

The following symbols are used in this guide to indicate important information.

Handling the product improperly by ignoring this symbol can lead to

CAUTION

c IMPORTANT

injury and property damage.

Indicates information with which you must comply when using the product. Mishandling due to ignoring this information may cause the product to fail or malfunction.

Q NOTE

U Indicates a reference page containing related information.

Indicates supplementary explanations and information you should know.

Product and Driver Versions

Firmware version

Printer driver version

Unless otherwise specified, the explanations in this manual are for the following versions.

Product firmware: WAM31000

Printer driver: Ver.2.0.0.0

How to Check the Product Version

You can check the version of the product firmware being used by performing self test printing. Check the first line of the self test print results. For the procedure for the self-test printing, see the User’s Guide.

How to Check the Printer Driver Version

You can check the version in the printer driver screen.

Screens in This Manual

The screens in this manual and the screens actually displayed in Windows may differ depending on the product used and operating system. Unless otherwise specified, the screens in this manual are those when using TM-C3500 in Windows 7.

Before use ..................................... 2

■ Manuals for This Product ................................2

Downloading the Latest Version.........................................2

Symbols Used in This Guide .................................................3

■ Product and Driver Versions...........................4

How to Check the Product Version....................................4

How to Check the Printer Driver Version .........................4

■ Screens in This Manual ....................................5

■ Contents ...........................................................6

Functions and Operating

Procedures of the Printer............. 8

■ Preventing Mistaken Operation of the Power

Button ...............................................................8

■ Disabling the Power Button............................9

■ Saving and Restoring PrinterSetting

Settings.......................................................... 11

Saving Settings....................................................................... 12

Restoring Settings................................................................. 13

How to Use the Printer Driver....14

■ Printing Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbols 14

Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbol Settings................... 15

Font Replacement................................................................. 23

Printing from an Application............................................. 25

Checking the Feeding Position......................................... 35

■ Favorites........................................................ 36

Favorites Screen Configuration ........................................ 36

Registering Favorites............................................................ 37

■ Importing/Exporting Settings Files ............ 39

Settings that can be Exported to a BSF File ................. 39

Settings that cannot be Exported to a BSF File .......... 39

Exported Settings.................................................................. 40

Importing Settings................................................................ 41

Application Development

Information.................................42

■ Epson Inkjet Label Printer SDK.....................42

Media Design.............................. 43

■ Types of Media that can be Used..................43

Paper that cannot be Used................................................. 44

■ Paper Loading Detection ..............................45

Detection Methods ...............................................................45

Paper Limitations...................................................................46

■ Paper Specifications......................................48

Continuous Paper..................................................................48

Continuous Paper (Black Marks)....................................... 49

Full-page Label .......................................................................51

Die-cut label (Gap)................................................................. 52

Die-cut label (black marks).................................................54

Wristband .................................................................................58

■ Print Position and Cut Position.....................60

Continuous Paper and Roll Paper ....................................60

Continuous Paper (Black Marks) and Roll Paper......... 62

Continuous Paper (Black Marks) and Fanfold Paper..64

Full-page Label and Roll Paper..........................................66

Die-cut Label (Gaps) and Roll Paper................................ 68

Die-cut Labels (Black Marks) and Roll Paper ................70

Die-cut Labels (Black Marks) and Fanfold Paper......... 72

Wristband and Roll Paper (WB-S Series)........................74

Wristband and Roll Paper (WB-M Series) ...................... 76

Wristband and Roll Paper (WB-L Series) ........................ 79

■ Paper Handling to Prevent Unprinted

Labels .............................................................83

Printing from the First Label at Paper Loading ........... 83

Printing the Final Label........................................................ 86

Printer Management.................. 89

■ Software ........................................................ 89

■ Efficiently Setting Up a Printer .................... 90

Specify Printer Settings Before Ink Charging............... 90

Efficiently Setting up Multiple Printers.......................... 91

■ Efficiently Setting up the Printer Driver ..... 92

Creating an Installation Package ..................................... 92

Client Computer Procedures............................................. 92

■ Efficient System Management..................... 93

Printer Monitoring................................................................. 93

Changing Printer Settings.................................................. 95

Changing Printer Driver Settings..................................... 96

Automatically Changing a Printer Driver USB Port.... 97

Appendix ..................................101

■ Notes............................................................ 101

■ Trademarks.................................................. 101

Functions and Operating Procedures of the Printer

This chapter describes the functions of and how to use the printer.

Preventing Mistaken Operation of the Power Button

Attach the supplied power switch cover to prevent users from mistakenly pressing the power button. You can turn the printer power on and off by inserting a ballpoint pen or similar item with a thin tip into the hole of the power switch cover.

Attach the power switch cover by following the procedures below.

Pierce the middle of the power switch cover with a thin-tipped hard object

to open the hole.

Peel off the backing of the double-sided tape of the power switch cover.

Affix the power switch cover over the printer power button.

Disabling the Power Button

You can disable power button operation so that the power remains constantly on. Pressing the power button with the power disabled does not turn the power off but rather resets the printer.

Disable the power button by following the procedures below.

Turn the printer off before removing the dip switch cover.

CAUTION

Check that the printer is powered off.

Open the ink cartridge cover and remove the dip switch cover.

Removing the cover while the power is on may cause the printer to fail due to a short circuit.

Use an object with a sharp tip to operate the dip switches.

1 23456

The dip switches are numbered in order from the left. Up is the ON state and down is the OFF state. Turn on dip switch 1.

Attach the dip switch cover and close the ink cartridge cover.

Saving and Restoring PrinterSetting Settings

PrinterSetting is a utility to set the printer from a Windows computer. You can save settings made using PrinterSetting in a settings file. A settings file can be used as a backup file or master file when operating multiple printers.

✓: Can be saved

-: Cannot be saved

Menu Setting item Savable

General Media Settings Media source settings ✓

Media detection settings ✓

Advanced Settings

Printer Adjustment

Printer Operation Settings

Notification Settings

Panel Button Settings

Operating Time Settings

Paper Feed Adjustment

Nozzle Check Mode Settings ✓

Paper Loading Settings ✓

Beep Notification Setting at an Error ✓

LED Notification Setting at Ink Low ✓

Notification Setting at a Media Size Error ✓

Panel Button Settings ✓

Platen Vacuum Operation Pause Time Settings

Data Standby Time Settings

Cut Position Adjustment

Print Start Position Adjustment (Vertical Direction)

Print Start Position Adjustment (Horizontal Direction)

✓

Sensor Adjustment

Print Head Alignment

Option Media Source Settings Option -

Adjust the Label Gap Detection Sensor

Adjust the Black Mark Detection Sensor

Banding Adjustment

Bi-directional Printing Adjustment

Saving Settings

Save settings by following the procedures below.

Display the printer driver.

Select the Printer Utilities tab and then click Printer Setting.

The TM-C3500 PrinterSetting screen appears.

Select Settings Save and Restore.

The Settings Save and Restore screen appears.

If set values can be acquired from this printer, the values acquired from the

current settings will be displayed.

Click Save Settings.

The Save as screen appears

Specify a file name and saving location, and then click Save.

The successful operation message is displayed to indicate that settings have been saved.

Restoring Settings

Restore settings by following the procedures below.

Display the printer driver.

Select the Printer Utilities tab and then click Printer Setting.

The TM-C3500 PrinterSetting screen appears.

Select Settings Save and Restore.

The Settings Save and Restore screen appears.

Click Restore Settings.

The Open screen appears.

Select the settings file you want to restore and click Open.

A confirmation screen appears.

Click OK. File restoration starts.

A message is displayed when restoration is completed. Click OK.

The successful operation message is displayed to indicate that settings have been restored.

How to Use the Printer Driver

This chapter describes the functions and operating procedures of the printer driver.

Printing Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbols

This section describes how to use the fonts for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols of the printer driver, and how to print barcodes/2-dimensional symbols. Using a font for barcodes/2-dimensional symbol allows you to print barcodes/2-dimensional symbols with a high level of readability that is suitable for the resolution of this printer.

The settings flow is as follows.

Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbol Settings

Set the type and size of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols in the font for barcodes/ 2-dimensional symbols of the printer driver.

Font Replacement

You can replace the printer driver fonts to replace the font for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols with a True Type font.

Printing from an Application

Use an application to create values for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols and print accordingly.

Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbol Settings

Set items such as the type, size, and print direction of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols, and set the font for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols. You can specify a total of 30 items for a barcodes and 2-dimensional symbols font.

Specify settings by following the procedures below.

Display the printer driver.

Click Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbols Settings on the Driver Utilities

tab.

The Barcode and 2D Symbol Settings screen appears.

From Type, select the barcode/2-dimensional symbol you want to specify.

Setting items change depending on the type.

Set the displayed items. Right-click an item and then click Help to display

an explanation of the setting item.

Q NOTE

Setting point displays a point value corresponding to the size of the barcodes/2-dimensional symbols. Specify this value when printing from an application.

Click Size Display and check the printing size of the barcodes/2-dimen-

sional symbols.

Input a character string into Test print and then click Print. After printing

barcodes/2-dimensional symbols, use a scanner to check that they can be read.

Input the name of the font for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols into Font

name and then click Add on the lower left.

Check that the font for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols has been added to

the Font list and then click OK. Close the Barcode and 2D Symbol Settings screen.

Setting of the barcodes/2-dimensional symbols is now completed.

Barcode Print Direction

8 1 0 1 0 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 0 0

Paper feed direction

Fence barcode

Ladder barcode

Barcode print direction and name are as follows.

When printing ladder barcodes, it may not be possible to read the barcode with a barcode reader if printed straddling the feeding position. (U“Checking the Feeding Position” on page

35) For this reason, it is recommended to use fence barcodes or set the Print Quality to

Quality (Mode2).

Printing with ANSI Print Quality Grade

You can print with ANSI print quality grade depending on the media type, printer driver settings, and direction and size of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols. The setting items are as follows.

Barcodes

-: Not guaranteed

General settings

Media type

Plain paper Speed Fence Yes 4 dot

Synthetic paper

Matte paper

Glossy

quality

Speed Fence Yes 3 dot

Quality (Mode1)

direction

Ladder 6 dot

Fence 3 dot

Font settings of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols

Upper line: Minimum module (dot)

Adjust

Bar

Width

Lower line: Minimum element ratio

grade D or

higher

2.5

2.7

2.5

2.7

ANSI

grade C or

higher

4 dot

2.5

4 dot

2.5

ANSI

grade B or

higher

Quality (Mode2)

Ladder 6 dot

2.5

Fence 3 dot

2.7

Ladder 6 dot

2.5

4 dot

2.5

General settings

Font settings of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols

Media type

Wristbands Speed Fence Yes 3 dot

*1: In some cases, missing dots and irregularity in ink shots may occur when printing ladder barcodes,

resulting in the ANSI grade being lowered to F and making barcodes unreadable. Apply an innovative method such as printing HRI characters.

*2: Ink may penetrate the paper due to its characteristics, causing the bars of printed barcodes to

become thicker. In such cases, reduce the data in a bar by one pixel and increase the blank space by one pixel (Adjust Bar Width).

*3: The recommended values for specified media types and barcodes are as follows.

For wristbands and Code 128: Five-dot module and ANSI grade D For wristbands and Codabar: Four-dot module, minimum element ratio of 2.5, and ANSI grade C

quality

Quality (Mode1)

direction

Ladder 6 dot

Fence 3 dot

Ladder 6 dot

Adjust

Bar

Width

Upper line: Minimum module (dot) Lower line: Minimum element ratio

ANSI

grade D or

higher

2.7

2.5

2.7

2.5

ANSI

grade C or

higher

4 dot

2.5

4 dot

2.5

grade B or

higher

ANSI

Q NOTE

If an odd number value is set for the Module, changing the Media Type and Print Quality causes the resolution to change, resulting in a change in the size of the printed barcode.

Stacked Type 2-Dimensional Symbols Fonts

Symbols: PDF417, GS1 DataBar Stacked, GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional, GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked

-: Not guaranteed

General settings

Straddling

Font settings of barcodes/2-dimensional sym-

bols

Minimum module (dot)

paper

Media type

quality

feeding

Module

height

ANSI

grade D

higher

ANSI

grade C

higher

Plain paper Speed No 3 6 dot - -

Yes 6 do t - -

Synthetic paper

Speed No 4 dot - -

Yes 4 do t - -

Matte paper

Glossy

Quality

No 4 dot - -

(Mode1)

Yes 4 do t - -

Quality

-4 dot--

(Mode2)

ANSI

grade B

higher

Wristbands Speed No 3 4 dot - -

Yes 4 do t - -

Quality (Mode1)

No 4 dot - -

Yes 4 do t - -

*1: To check whether a 2-dimensional symbol is straddling paper feeding, use Display Media Feed

Position of the print preview function. For the print preview function, refer to "Checking the

Feeding Position" on page 35

*2: Recommended value when using PDF417

Matrix Type 2-Dimensional Symbols Fonts

Symbols: QR Code, DataMatrix

-: Not guaranteed

General settings

Media type

quality

Straddling paper

feeding

Font settings of barcodes/2-dimensional

symbols

Minimum cell size (unit: 360 dpi)

ANSI

grade D or

higher

ANSI

grade C or

higher

Plain paper Speed No 6 dot - -

Yes 8 dot - -

Synthetic paper

Speed No 5 dot 6 dot

Yes 6 dot 7 dot -

Matte paper

Glossy

Quality (Mode1)

Quality

No 5 dot 6 dot

Yes 6 dot 7 dot -

- 6 dot 7 dot -

(Mode2)

Wristbands Speed No 5 dot 6 dot

ANSI

grade B or

higher

Yes 6 dot 7 dot -

Quality

No 5 dot 6 dot

(Mode1)

Yes 6 dot 7 dot -

*1: To check whether a 2-dimensional symbol is straddling paper feeding, use Display Media Feed

Position of the print preview function. For the print preview function, refer to "Checking the

Feeding Position" on page 35

*2: QR Code only

Font Replacement

The Windows .NET application cannot be used to specify printer driver fonts for barcodes/2dimensional symbols. For this reason, you must replace the font for barcodes/2-dimensional symbols set in the previous procedure with a Windows True Type font.

For True Type fonts replacing barcode fonts, select fonts that are not being

c IMPORTANT

Replace fonts by following the procedures below.

Display the printer driver.

Select the Driver Utilities tab and then click Font Replacement. The Font

Replacement screen appears.

From the True Type Font Name, click the True Type font you want to

replace.

The selected font is displayed in the Replacement True Type Font.

used as print data.

From the Replacement Target Font, select the previously set barcodes/2-

dimensional symbols font.

Click OK to close the Font Replacement screen.

Font replacement is now completed.

Printing from an Application

This section describes how to create character strings of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols and print using a specified True Type font.

Creating Character Strings of Barcodes/2-Dimensional Symbols

Refer to the following to create character strings of barcodes/2-dimensional symbols.

UPC-A

• Specify a character string of 11 to 12 digits.

• Although the first digit is the number system character, the bar code font is not checked.

• For 11 digits: The check digit is automatically added.

• For 12 digits: The 12th digit is processed as the check digit but the barcode font is not verified.

If the composite is checked, the 12th digit is ignored and the check digit is automatically added.

UPC-E

• Specify a character string of six to eight or 11 to 12 digits.

• For six digits: The check digit is automatically added.

• For seven digits: Digits two to seven are data digits and the check digit is automatically added.

• For eight digits: Digits two to seven are data digits and the eighth digit is processed as the check

digit but the barcode font is not verified. If the composite is checked, the eighth digit is ignored and the check digit is automatically added.

• For 11 digits: The check digit is automatically added.

• For 12 digits: The 12th digit is processed as the check digit but the barcode font is not verified.

If the composite is checked, the 12th digit is ignored and the check digit is automatically added.

• For seven digits or more: Specify 0 (zero) because the first digit is processed as the number system digit.

JAN13(EAN)

• Specify a character string of 12 to 13 digits.

• For 12 digits: The check digit is automatically added.

• For 13 digits: The 13th digit is processed as the check digit but the barcode font is not verified.

If the composite is checked, the 13th digit is ignored and the check digit is automatically added.

JAN8(EAN)

• Specify a character string of 7 to 8 digits.

• For seven digits: The check digit is automatically added.

• For eight digits: The 8th digit is processed as the check digit but the barcode font is not verified.

If the composite is checked, the eighth digit is ignored and the check digit is automatically added.

CODE39

• Specify a character string with a maximum of 256 digits.

• If one or both of the start and stop codes (“*”) are not specified, they are automatically added.

ITF

• Specify a character string with a maximum of 256 digits.

• If odd-digit data is specified, 0 (zero) is automatically added at the beginning of the string.

Codabar

• Specify a character string with a maximum of 256 digits.

• If a start code is not specified, ‘A’ is automatically added as the start code.

• If a stop code is not specified, a stop code that is the same as the start code is automatically

added.

• If the start or stop code is input with lower-case characters, they are automatically converted to upper-case characters.

CODE93

• Specify a character string of 1 to 255 digits. awd

• A start code, two check digits, and a stop code are automatically added.

• Print characters indicating a start code (n) at the beginning of the HRI characters.

• Print characters indicating a stop code (n) at the end of the HRI characters.

• Print a combination of ■ and one alphabet character for the HRI control characters (00h to

1Fh, and 7Fh).

Control

characters

HRI char-

Hexa-

ASCII

NULL 00 ■U VT 0B ■K SYN 16 ■V

SOH 01 ■A FF 0C ■L ETB 17 ■W

STX 02 ■B CR 0D ■M CAN 18 ■X

ETX 03 ■C SO 0E ■N EM 19 ■Y

EOT 04 ■D SI 0F ■O SUB 1A ■ Z

ENQ 05 ■E DLE 10 ■P ESC 1B ■A

ACK 06 ■F DC1 11 ■Q FS 1C ■B

BEL 07 ■G DC2 12 ■R GS 1D ■C

BS 08 ■H DC3 13 ■S RS 1E ■D

decimal number

acters

Control

characters

ASCII

Hexa-

decimal

number

HRI char-

acters

Control

characters

ASCII

HRI char-

Hexadecimal number

acters

HT 09 ■I DC4 14 ■T US 1F ■E

LF 0A ■J NAK 15 ■U DEL 7F ■F

CODE128

• Specify a character string of 2 to 255 digits.

• Specify either a start code or code selection characters (CODE A, CODE B, or CODE C) for the

first two digits.

• Indicate special characters with a combination of ‘{’ followed immediately by a single character.

• Adding a check mark to Automatically Convert Symbol Overall Width to Minimum results

in the overall width of the Code 128 symbol being automatically converted to the minimum. Use this function when it is not necessary to specify a code set and you want to print barcodes by only inputting data for a desired symbol. Manually specify the code set if not checked. If code set C is specified, consider the two created digits as ASCII decimal numbers and specify the corresponding ASCII character(s). Example) “37”: Specify as “%”.

“65”: Specify as “A”. “979899”: Specify as “abc”.

• An error occurs if the data immediately following ‘{’ is not as indicated below.

Control characters ASCII Control characters ASCII Control characters ASCII

SHIFT {S CODE C {C FNC3 {3

CODE A {A FNC1 {1 FNC4 {4

CODE B {B FNC2 {2 '{' {{

• Special HRI characters are expressed as follows.

Control characters HRI characters

SHIFT Not printed

CODE A/B/C Not printed

FNC1-4 Space is printed

Control characters (00h to 1Fh, and 7Fh) Space is printed

GS1-128

• Specify a character string of 2 to 255 digits.

• The delimiter of the application identifier is separated by “()” (parenthesis). (Although printed

as HRI characters, they are not encoded.)

• A start code (CODE A, CODE B, or CODE C) and stop code are automatically added.

• Symbol characters FNC1 are automatically added following the start code.

• Specifying ‘*’ results in the check digit being automatically calculated and converted to ‘*’.

• Specify two consecutive digits for the application identifier. An error occurs if not correctly

specified.

• If the application identifier is (01), the 14th digit of data is made the check digit but if the check digit is specified, the barcode font is not verified. The check digit being automatically calculated and converted to ‘*’ if the 14th digit is “*”.

• Indicate special characters with a combination of ‘{’ followed immediately by a single character.

• An error occurs if the data immediately following ‘{’ is not as indicated below.

Control characters ASCII HRI characters

Control characters (00h to 1Fh, and 7Fh) Space is printed

FNC1 {1 Space is printed

FNC3 {3 Space is printed

'{' {{ { is printed

'(' {( ( is printed

')' {) ) is printed

'*' {* * is printed

Left parenthesis of application identifier ( ( is printed

Right parenthesis of application identifier ) ) is printed

Check digit position * Check digit is printed

GS1-128M

• Specify a character string of 38 to 66 digits.

• The delimiter of the application identifier is separated by “()” (parenthesis). (Although printed

as HRI characters, they are not encoded.)

• A start code (CODE A, CODE B, or CODE C) and stop code are automatically added.

• Symbol characters FNC1 are automatically added following the start code.

• FNC1 is automatically added if FNC1 is not present at the end of the data following application

identifier (30).

• An error occurs if FNC1 is present at the end of the data following application identifier (10) or (21) because FNC1 is not necessary.

• If the application identifier is (01), the 14th digit of the data section is made the check digit but if the check digit is specified, the barcode font is not verified. The check digit is automatically calculated and converted to ‘*’ if the 14th digit is “*”.

• An error occurs if the data immediately following the { is not a 1.

• Specify special characters according to the following formats.

Control characters ASCII HRI characters

FNC1 {1 Space is printed

Left parenthesis of application identifier ( ( is printed

Right parenthesis of application identifier ) ) is printed

Check digit position * Check digit is printed

• An error occurs if not according to the following formats.

Application identifier Format

01 14-digit number

10 1 to 20 alphanumeric characters

17 6-digit number (YYMMDD)

21 1 to 20 alphanumeric characters

30 1 to 8 digit number

GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional/GS1 DataBar truncated

/GS1 DataBar Limited

• Leading application identifier 01 is not included in the character string.

• When printing HRI characters, leading application identifier 01 is printed as “(01)” before the

packing identification code.

• Do not add a check digit to the bar code data.

• When printing HRI characters, the check digit is printed after the product code.

• Specify ‘0’ or ‘1’ as the first digit if using GS1 DataBar Limited.

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