FARGO electronic M10, C10 User Manual

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Persona® C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

Part Number: L000527

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ersona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0), property of FARGO

P Electronics, Incorporated

Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by FARGO Electronics, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Exclusive permission is granted to authorized resellers of FARGO products to reproduce and distribute this copyrighted document to authorized FARGO customers, who have signed a no disclosure agreement regarding the restricted, proprietary use of said document.

The revision number for this document will be updated to reflect changes, corrections, updates and enhancements to this document.

Revision Control

Date Document Title

Number

Revision 4.0 1 May 2004 Persona C10/M10 ID ID Card Printer Service

Manual (Rev. 4.0)

These reference documents were thoroughly reviewed to provide FARGO with professional and international standards, requirements, guidelines and models for our technical, training and user documentation. At all times, the Copyright Protection Notice for each document was adhered to within our FARGO documentation process. This reference to other documents does not imply that FARGO is an ISO-certified company at this time.

• ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9001-2000 American National Standard, (sub-title) Quality Management

Systems - Requirements (published by the American Society of Quality, Quality Press, P.O. Box 3005, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-3005)

• The ASQ ISO 9000:2000 Handbook

(editors, Charles A. Cianfrani, Joseph J. Tsiakals and John E. West. Second Edition. published by the American Society of Quality, Quality Press, 600 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203)

• Juran's Quality Handbook

(editors, Joseph M. Juran and A. Blanton Godfrey. Fifth

Edition, McGraw-Hill)

Any questions regarding changes, corrections, updates or enhancements to this document. Please contact:

FARGO Electronics, Incorporated Support Services 6533 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (USA) (952) 941-9470 (800) 459-5636 FAX: (952) 941-7836 www.fargo.com E-mail: sales@fargo.com

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

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Table of Contents

Introduction ___________________________________________________________________ 7

How to use the manual__________________________________________________________ 7 Safety Messages (review carefully)________________________________________________ 8

Section 1: Specifications _________________________________________________________ 9

Safety Messages (review carefully)________________________________________________ 9 Technical Specifications _______________________________________________________ 10 Functional Specifications_______________________________________________________ 12

Printer Components: Buttons, Hoppers and Cover_________________________________ 12 Printer Components: Ribbons and Cards ________________________________________ 14

Section 2: Setup and Installation_________________________________________________ 16

Safety Messages (review carefully)_______________________________________________ 16 Introduction _________________________________________________________________ 17

Choosing a Good Location ___________________________________________________ 17 About Moisture Condensation_________________________________________________ 17

Unpacking and Inspection ____________________________________________________ 17 Connecting the Printer to the Computer ___________________________________________ 18 Installing the Windows Printer Driver_____________________________________________ 19

Installing the Printer Driver from the Software Installation CD _______________________ 20

Installing Printer Driver Updates_______________________________________________ 22

Downloading Printer Driver files ______________________________________________ 22

Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98______________________________ 23 Loading Ribbon Into The Printer_________________________________________________ 26

Loading Cards into the Printer_________________________________________________ 31 Powering-up the Printer________________________________________________________ 34

Applying Power____________________________________________________________ 34

Printing a Self Test _________________________________________________________ 36

Section 3: Troubleshooting the Printer____________________________________________ 37

Resolving problems with General Printer Operation________________________________ 37

Resolving problems with the flashing Online LED light_____________________________ 38

Resolving problems with the flashing On/Cancel LED light _________________________ 39

Resolving problems with Windows 95/98 printing capabilities _______________________ 39

Resolving problems with Ribbon winding and printing _____________________________ 40

Resolving problems with the Card Jams _________________________________________ 41

Resolving problems with the Ribbon Jams _______________________________________ 42

Resolving problems (related to the Printer stopping or making strange sounds) __________ 43

Resolving problems with Ribbon winding and printing _____________________________ 44

Resolving problems with torn or broken Ribbons__________________________________ 45

Resolving problems with streaks in Prints________________________________________ 46

Resolving problems with Print blotches or small voids______________________________ 46

Resolving problems with pixelated Photos on ID cards _____________________________ 47

Resolving problems with card feeding and Online LED blinking______________________ 48

Section 4: Printer Driver Setup__________________________________________________ 49

Safety Messages (review carefully)_______________________________________________ 49 Installing the Printer Driver_____________________________________________________ 50 Using the Color ID Card II Printer Advanced Document Settings _______________________ 51 Selecting Paper/Output ________________________________________________________ 52

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Selecting Card Size _________________________________________________________ 52

Determining the number of Copies _____________________________________________ 53

Selecting the Default Graphic Resolution ________________________________________ 54 Document Options____________________________________________________________ 55 Selecting Ribbon Type_________________________________________________________ 55

Selecting from the Ribbon Type options_________________________________________ 56

Selecting from the Color Matching options_______________________________________ 58 Using the Image Controls ______________________________________________________ 60

Controlling the Dye-Sub Intensity (YMCB) ______________________________________ 61

Controlling the Resin Heat ___________________________________________________ 62

Using the default Dither Mode ________________________________________________ 63

Selecting the K Panel Graphics Mode option _____________________________________ 64

Selecting K Panel Only (95%) / (99%) __________________________________________ 65

Selecting the Print Edge-to-Edge option _________________________________________ 66

Selecting the Rotate 180 Degrees option_________________________________________ 67

Selecting the Overlay option __________________________________________________ 68 Using the Magnetic Encoding Options ____________________________________________ 70

Using the Magnetic Encoding Mode option ______________________________________ 71

Selecting the Magnetic Track Options___________________________________________ 72

Selecting the Track Bit Density option __________________________________________ 73

Selecting the Track LRC Generation option ______________________________________ 74

Selecting the Track Character Size option________________________________________ 75

Selecting the Track Character Parity option ______________________________________ 76

Selecting the Track Character ASCII Offset option ________________________________ 77

Selecting the Shift Data Left option ____________________________________________ 78

Selecting the Verify Magnetic Encoding option ___________________________________ 79

Reviewing ISO Track Locations _______________________________________________ 80

Sending Track Information ___________________________________________________ 81

Entering Track Information ___________________________________________________ 81

Reviewing Tracks 1, 2, and 3 (in Table format) ___________________________________ 82

Reviewing the Track Data Note________________________________________________ 82

Reviewing the ASCII Code and Character Table __________________________________ 83

Selecting Smart Clipping Rectangle ____________________________________________ 84

Selecting the Disable Printing option ___________________________________________ 85 Selecting the Calibration window ________________________________________________ 86

Using the Image Placement controls ____________________________________________ 87

Selecting the Self Test button _________________________________________________ 89

Selecting Write Direct to Port _________________________________________________ 89 Printing a Card_______________________________________________________________ 90

Section 5: Diagnostic Tools, Calibration, and Interface Information____________________ 91

Safety Messages (review carefully)_______________________________________________ 91 Calibrating the Printhead _______________________________________________________ 93

Adjusting the RP1 Potentiometer ______________________________________________ 93

Aligning the Headlift Sensor __________________________________________________ 94

Positioning the Headlift Cam__________________________________________________ 94

Making Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead _________________________________ 95

Calibrating the Ribbon Sensor________________________________________________ 100

Adjusting the RP2 Potentiometer _____________________________________________ 101

Adjusting the RP2 Potentiometer _____________________________________________ 102

Calibrating the Left Card Sensor ______________________________________________ 103

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Adjusting the RP3 Potentiometer _____________________________________________ 103

Aligning the Stepper Motor__________________________________________________ 104

Calibrating the Ribbon ID Sensor Board________________________________________ 105

Calibrating the Ribbon ID Sensor Board________________________________________ 106

Calibrating the Ribbon ID Sensor Board________________________________________ 107 Interfacing Information _______________________________________________________ 108

Centronics-type Parallel Interface _____________________________________________ 108

Section 6: Parts Replacement __________________________________________________ 112

Safety Messages (review carefully)______________________________________________ 112

Reviewing the Drawing Index________________________________________________ 114

Reviewing the Print Circuit Board Cable Connector Locations ______________________ 115

Replacing the Rear Pivot Cover (830168)_______________________________________ 116

Replacing the Front Cover Assembly (830182-02)________________________________ 117

Replacing the Print Circuit Board (140300) _____________________________________ 118

Replacing the Power Circuit Board (140302) ____________________________________ 119

Replacing the Printhead Assembly (820102) ____________________________________ 120

Replacing the Printhead Harness Assembly (830162-00) ___________________________ 121

Replacing the Ribbon Sensor Board Assembly (830151) ___________________________ 123

Replacing the Cleaning Roller Assembly (830177) _______________________________ 124

Replacing the Front Panel Board Assembly (830164) _____________________________ 125

Replacing the Left Card Sensor Assembly (830135) ______________________________ 126

Replacing the Headlift Motor Assembly (830143) ________________________________ 127

Replacing the Card Feed Assembly (830145) ____________________________________ 128

Replacing the Ribbon Drive Assembly (830147) _________________________________ 129

Replacing the Slotted Sensor Mount Assembly (830149)___________________________ 130

Replacing the Lid Sensor Assembly (830150) ___________________________________ 131

Replacing the Stepper Motor Assembly (810113)_________________________________ 132

Replacing the Ribbon ID Sensor Board Assembly (763173-2)_______________________ 133

Replacing the Card Feed Switch Assembly (830136) ______________________________ 134

Replacing the LED Board Assembly (830133)___________________________________ 134

Replacing the Platen Roller (810261) __________________________________________ 135

Replacing the Card Input Roller (810262)_______________________________________ 136

Replacing the Left Card Input Roller __________________________________________ 137

Replacing the Card Feed Roller (810304)_______________________________________ 138

Replacing the Magnetic Head Assembly (High-Coercivity: 83019012 or Low Coercivity:

83019012) _______________________________________________________________ 139

Installing the New Magnetic Head Assembly ____________________________________ 140

Section 7: Maintenance and Cleaning____________________________________________ 141

Safety Messages (review carefully)______________________________________________ 141

Supplies Required _________________________________________________________ 143

Standard Printhead Cleaning _________________________________________________ 144

Expanded Printhead Cleaning ________________________________________________ 145

Cleaning the Printer Case ___________________________________________________ 146

Cleaning the Inside of the Printer _____________________________________________ 146

Cleaning the Card Feed Rollers_______________________________________________ 147

Cleaning the Drive Roller ___________________________________________________ 148

Maintaining the Cleaning Rollers _____________________________________________ 149

Section 8: Packing the C10/M10 Card Printer_____________________________________ 150

Section 9: Board Level Diagnostics ______________________________________________ 151

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Sensor Testing ______________________________________________________________ 151

Reviewing the Motor Voltages (when active) ____________________________________ 151

Section 10: FARGO Technical Support __________________________________________ 152

Contacting FARGO Technical Support___________________________________________ 152

Section 11: Reviewing C10 and M10 Spare Parts List ______________________________ 153

Glossary of Terms ____________________________________________________________ 154

Index _______________________________________________________________________ 175

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

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Introduction

How to use the manual

The C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0) is, in fact, the troubleshooting and field service manual for the entire C10/M10 Card Printer. The manual is designed to provide installers and technicians with quick, efficient lookup of related procedures, components, and terms. The manual can be used effectively in either soft or hard copy, depending on the preference of the installer or technician.

Manual Description

Glossary of Terms, and Technical/Functional Specifications (hyper-linked)

Table of Contents (hyperlinked)

Troubleshooting, Replacement, Removal, Diagnostic, and Navigation Procedures (in hyper-linked Sections)

Cross-Referencing (hyperlinked)

Comprehensive Index (hyper-linked)

You can go directly to the Glossary of Terms, Technical Specifications, and Functional Specifications to learn how to use the processes, procedures, functions, and windows for the C10/M10 Card Printer within concise, correlative Tables.

You can use the automated Table of Contents to quickly locate, for example, an error message, a procedure, the index, or an appendix.

You can go directly to Specifications, General Troubleshooting, Printer Adjustments, Parts Replacement, Printer Packing, and Board Level Diagnostics to find troubleshooting, removal, and replacement procedures. The section titles are always labeled according to their function for consistent usage.

You can use the cross-referencing links to quickly locate, for example, an error message or a procedure.

You can use the COMPREHENSIVE INDEX to quickly locate information on the C10/M10 Card Printer, relating to a specification, a procedural step, a window or screen, a component, a term, a qualifier, or a related feature to this printer.

Appendices You can use Appendix A and B to locate information

relating to engineering drawings and technical updates, which are specific to the C10/M10 Card Printer.

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Safety Messages (review carefully)

Symbol Critical Instructions for Safety purposes

Danger: Failure to follow these installation guidelines can result in death or

serious injury.

Information that raises potential safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent personal injury, refer to the following safety messages

before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent personal injury, always remove the power cord prior to

performing repair procedures, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent personal injury, make sure only qualified personnel

perform these procedures.

Caution: This device is electrostatically sensitive. It may be damaged if

exposed to static electricity discharges.

Information that raises potential electrostatic safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, refer to the following

safety messages before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, observe all established

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) procedures while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always wear an

appropriate personal grounding device (e.g., a high quality wrist strap grounded to avoid potential damage).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always remove the

C10/M10 Ribbon and Cards from the printer before making any repairs, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, take jewelry off of

fingers and hands, as well as thoroughly clean hands to remove oil and debris before working on the printer.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

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Section 1: Specifications

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Symbol Critical Instructions for Safety purposes

Danger: Failure to follow these installation guidelines can result in death or

serious injury.

Information that raises potential safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent personal injury, refer to the following safety messages

before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent personal injury, always remove the power cord prior to

performing repair Instructions, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent personal injury, make sure only qualified personnel

perform these Instructions.

Caution: This device is electrostatically sensitive. It may be damaged if

exposed to static electricity discharges.

Information that raises potential electrostatic safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, refer to the following

safety messages before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, observe all established

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Instructions while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always wear an

appropriate personal grounding device (e.g., a high quality wrist strap grounded to avoid potential damage).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always remove the

Ribbon and Cards from the Printer before making any repairs, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, take jewelry off of

fingers and hands, as well as thoroughly clean hands to remove oil and debris before working on the Printer.

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Technical Specifications

Term Description

Print Method Dye-sublimation / resin thermal transfer

Print Resolution 300 x 300 dpi

Print Speed Approximately 40 seconds per full-color card

Colors Up to 16.7 million or black, red, blue, green and gold

spot colors

Printing Area Standard CR-80 Card:

Card Size: 3.375L (86mm) x 2.125W (54mm) Print Area: 3.375L (86mm) x 2.125W (54mm)

Accepted Card Width 2.1 to 2.13 W (53mm to 54mmW)

Accepted Card Length 3.25 to 3.37 L (82mm to 86mmL)

Accepted Card Thickness .010 to .040 (.254mm to 1.0mm)

Card Types PVC or Polyester cards with polished PVC finish

Card Capacity Accepts up to 50 standard CR-80 PVC Cards. auto or

manual feed

Software Driver Windows Driver included for IBM-PC’s and compatibles

Interface Standard 8-bit Centronics-type parallel (ECP

compatible)

Power Source 100/110/120 VAC, 50/60 Hz

Operating Temperature 65ºF to 80ºF (18ºC to 27ºC)

Humidity Non-condensing 20%-60%

Dimensions 12.19 L x 10.27 W x 5.88 H (310mmL x 261mmW x

149mmH)

Weight 15 lbs. (7 kg)

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Technical Specifications (continued)

Term Description

Agency Listings

• Electrical: UL 1950, CUL C2.2 and TÜV-GS (IEC-950)

• EMI: FCC Class A, CRC c1374 Class A, CISPR 22-B, TÜV-

• EMCCE: Self-certified based on IEC 801-2-3-4,CISPR 22-B

and IEC-950 certification

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Functional Specifications

Printer Components: Buttons, Hoppers and Cover

This illustration shows the features found on the front of the Card Printer.

Term Description

On/Cancel button

On-line button

Card Input Hopper

Card Output Hopper

The On/Cancel button turns the Printer ON and OFF.

• It also serves to cancel the current print job and reset the Printer

• If a card is left within the Printer after a print job is canceled, it will

The On-line button takes the Printer on and off-line.

• The Printer must have the on-line light illuminated in order to

• When flashing, the on-line light also serves to indicate a print

The Card Input Hopper is where blank cards are loaded.

The Card Output Hopper is where printed cards eject. An Attachable Card Output Hopper is included with the Printer and serves to catch cards once they have finished printing.

• To attach this hopper, simply open the Top Cover of the Printer

for the next print job.

automatically be ejected when the Printer is turned back ON.

print.

error condition.

and slip it over the edge of the Printer’s baseplate.

• Once the Top Cover is closed, it will hold the hopper securely in

place.

Top Cover

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

The Top Cover tilts from front-to-back to open and is how you access the inside of the Printer to load cards and Ribbon. (Note: The Top Cover must be shut in order for the Printer to print.)

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Printer Components: Buttons, Hoppers and Cover (continued)

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Printer Components: Ribbons and Cards

Please note that the Printer requires specialized Ribbons in order to function properly. To order additional Ribbons, contact the authorized reseller.

Caution: Watches, rings, bracelets and other jewelry can damage the Printhead if accidentally bumped against it. For best results, remove such items before installing or removing Ribbons.

The Card Printer has the following Ribbon types available for printing:

Term Description

Standard Resin Black (K) Ribbon

Colored Resin Ribbons

Premium Resin Black (K) Ribbon

Metallic Resin Ribbons

Scratch-off Resin Ribbon

Dye-Sublimation Black (BO) Ribbon

Full-Color (YMCBO) Ribbon

Full-Color (YMCKO) Ribbon

Standard Resin Black (K) Ribbon with no clear overlay panel (produces 1,000 prints)

A variety of Colored Resin Ribbons with no clear overlay panel (produce 1,000 prints)

Premium Resin Black (K) Ribbon with no clear overlay panel (produces 1,000 prints)

Metallic Resin Ribbons with no clear overlay panel (produces 1,000 prints)

Scratch-off Resin Ribbon with no clear overlay panel (produces 1,000 prints)

Dye-Sublimation Black (BO) Ribbon with a clear overlay panel (produces 500 prints)

Full-Color (YMCBO) Ribbon with a dye-sublimation black panel and a clear overlay panel (produces 250 prints)

Full-Color (YMCKO) Ribbon with a resin black panel and a clear overlay panel (produces 250 prints)

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Printer Components: Ribbons and Cards (continued)

Term Description

Clear Overlay Panel

The Ribbons which have a clear overlay panel will print an ID card and place a clear, protective overlay over the card’s printable area. All color or monochrome dye-sublimation cards must have this overlay applied to them.

If it is not applied, the card’s dye-sublimation image will quickly begin to wear or fade.

Be sure the Overlay option within the Printer Driver setup window is selected when printing with Ribbons which have a clear overlay panel.

Note: The only time you should not utilize a Ribbon’s clear overlay panel is if you intend to apply a separate, custom overlaminate to a card immediately after printing.

Resin Black The Ribbons which utilize a resin black, are intended for printing bar codes

onto cards which can be read by both infra-red and visible light bar code scanners.

• Bar codes printed with a dye-sublimation black can only be read by a

visible light bar code scanner. Cards printed solely with monochrome resin text, bar codes or images do not require any type of protective overlay.

• The black monochrome resin Ribbons are available in both a premium

and standard quality. The premium resin black Ribbon provides maximum durability and is ideal for applications (e.g., access control where cards are repeatedly swiped through a magnetic stripe reader).

• The standard resin black Ribbon provides high durability ideal for most

general purpose ID card applications. In addition to a standard black resin Ribbon, several other standard resin Ribbons are available in a variety of spot colors including blue, green, red and metallic gold.

• All monochrome resin Ribbons provide 1,000 prints. The blue, green

and metallic Ribbons are capable of printing bar codes which can be read by visible light bar code scanners only. Bar codes printed with the red and scratch-off Ribbon are not readable.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

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Section 2: Setup and Installation

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Symbol Critical Instructions for Safety purposes

Danger: Failure to follow these installation guidelines can result in death or

serious injury.

Information that raises potential safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent personal injury, refer to the following safety messages

before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent personal injury, always remove the power cord prior to

performing repair Instructions, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent personal injury, make sure only qualified personnel

perform these Instructions.

Caution: This device is electrostatically sensitive. It may be damaged if

exposed to static electricity discharges.

Information that raises potential electrostatic safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, refer to the following

safety messages before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, observe all established

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Instructions while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always wear an

appropriate personal grounding device (e.g., a high quality wrist strap grounded to avoid potential damage).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always remove the

Ribbon and Cards from the Printer before making any repairs, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, take jewelry off of

fingers and hands, as well as thoroughly clean hands to remove oil and debris before working on the Printer.

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Introduction

Thank you for choosing the color Card Printer. This fast, compact Printer has been designed to print high-quality, full-color cards from virtually any Windows® application program. It offers many features which easily allow you to create durable cards complete with high resolution photos, graphics, text, bar codes and more.

To begin using the Printer, please refer to the remainder of this manual. This user’s manual is the complete step-by-step guide to efficiently setting up and printing with the new Card Printer.

Choosing a Good Location

• Place unit in a location with adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat build up.

• Do not place unit near heat sources such as radiators or air ducts or in a place subject to

direct sun-light, excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shock.

• Allow for adequate clearance above the unit to accommodate the height of the unit with

its Top Cover and Printhead Assembly open.

About Moisture Condensation

If the unit is brought directly from a cold to a warm location or is placed in a very damp room, moisture may condense inside the unit. Should this occur, print quality may not be optimum. Leave the unit turned OFF in a warm, dry room for several hours before using. (Note: This will allow the moisture to evaporate.)

Unpacking and Inspection

While unpacking the Card Printer, inspect the carton to ensure that no damage occurred during shipping. Also, make sure the following items are included:

• Printer

• Power Transformer

• Attachable Card Output Hopper

• Software Installation CD

• Warranty Statement and Registration Card

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Connecting the Printer to the Computer

The Card Printer is designed to be used with nearly any IBM-PC or compatible running Windows 3.1x, Windows 95/98 or Windows NT. For best performance, a Pentium™ class computer with 16 MB RAM or higher is recommended.

The Printer is equipped with an ECP-compatible, high-speed Centronics parallel port. (Note: This port is the means through which the Printer receives data from the computer.)

Connect the Printer to the computer with a shielded, bi-directional parallel cable and refer to the following steps:

Step Procedure

1 Connect the Centronics-type parallel side to the Printer. Snap the fastening clips

into place.

2 Connect the other side to the back of the PC at the PARALLEL connector. The

Printer must have its on-line light illuminated to receive data. If the light is not ON, press the on-line button.

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Installing the Windows Printer Driver

The Card Printer can be used with virtually any Microsoft Windows 3.1x, Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 software application program. (Note: This is accomplished through what is called a Printer Driver. The Printer Driver is simply software which gives the Printer all the information needed for printing.)

The Printer Driver software is located on the Software Installation CD included with the Printer.

• If you are reading this on the computer screen from the Online User's Guide, you have

already installed the Printer Driver and this guide using this CD.

• If you would like to provide others with these instructions, however, the following

describes how to install the Printer Driver for the first time. The latter part of this section also describes how to install Printer Driver updates.

Note: The Windows 3.1 Printer Driver is not included with the Printer or on the Software Installation CD. If you would like to use this Driver, please contact the authorized reseller.

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Installing the Printer Driver from the Software Installation CD

Step Procedure

1 To install the Printer Driver, close down all other programs and insert the Software

Installation CD into the computer's CD drive. The CD will automatically open and prompt you to click on the photo of the specific Printer model to begin installation.

2 If the CD does not automatically open, use My Computer or Windows Explorer to

view the contents of the CD. Then, double-click on the Setup.exe file listed on the CD.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation. Once installed, the icon for the specific Printer model will appear in the Printers folder.

3 The Online User's Guide will also automatically install along with the Printer Driver.

An icon for this will appear in the Start->Programs->Card Printer folder. Select this icon to open the Online User's Guide any time you have a question about operating the Printer.

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Installing the Printer Driver from the Software Installation CD (continued)

Step Procedure

Click the Start button, point to Settings and select Printers.

Double-click on the Add Printer icon.

3 Follow the on-screen instructions to begin installation. When prompted, click on

the Have Disk button. the Install From Disk window will appear.

a. Click on Browse, navigate to the folder containing the Printer Driver files

you just downloaded and unzipped and click on OK.

b. Click on OK again to close the Install From Disk window, then click on

NEXT.

5 a. Follow the remainder of the on-screen instructions to complete installation.

b. When prompted, do not have Windows print a test print, since you most

likely performed a Printer self test while you were setting up the Printer.

c. Once installed, the Driver's icon will appear in the Printers folder.

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Installing Printer Driver Updates

Occasionally, new Printer Driver versions are released which have new or updated features. Before installing an updated Printer Driver version, always delete the existing Printer Driver version from the system.

Step Procedure

1 To do this, select Start, Programs and point to the Card Printer folder. Then,

select the Uninstall Printer Driver icon for the specific Printer model.

2 Once the existing Printer Driver is deleted, the updated version can be installed.

The best way to get Printer Driver updates is to download them from the reseller's or the Printer manufacturer's website. The following instructions explain how to download and install updated Printer Drivers.

Downloading Printer Driver files

The downloadable Printer Driver files have names ending in .exe and are self-extracting PKZip archives. A PKZip archive is a package, containing one or more files, that has been zipped to make it smaller and provide easy downloading of numerous files simultaneously. An archive that is self-extracting is capable of unzipping itself.

Step Procedure

1 Download the latest Printer Driver version by clicking on the Printer Driver's

highlighted .exe file name on the web site.

2 Save this program to the disk when you are prompted to do so.

4 Once the file has completely downloaded to the computer, unzip the contents of

Click the OK button, then choose the folder in which you would like to save the Printer Driver file. (Note: You may wish to save it in an empty folder to prevent mingling its files with others already on the computer.)

the file by simply double-clicking on it. (Note: The archive will unzip itself, revealing its contents as a new list of files within the folder.)

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Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98

The Card Printer ships with a print utility program called the 32-Bit Print Spooler. (Note: This print spooler is for use only with Windows 95/98.)

• Once installed, the print spooler is located on the Software Installation CD and is able to

process the print jobs and send them to the Printer at consistently faster speeds than if sending print jobs through the Windows print spooler. (Note: This is especially true if printing with an ECP compatible parallel port or if printing off a network.)

• The 32-Bit Print Spooler is ideal for printing a large number of consecutive ID cards, for

printing larger file formats (1 MB or more) or if printing on a somewhat slower computer.

• The 32-Bit Print Spooler can be installed automatically from the Software Installation CD.

To do so, close down all other programs and insert the Software Installation CD into the computer's CD drive.

• The CD will automatically open and prompt you to click on the photo of the specific

Printer model to begin installation. (Note: If the CD does not automatically open, use My Computer or Windows Explorer to view the contents of the CD. Then, double-click on the Setup.exe file listed on the CD.)

• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation. Once installed, the 32-Bit Print

Spooler icon will appear in the Start->Programs->Card Printer folder. (Note: Before installing updated 32-Bit Print Spooler versions, always uninstall the existing print spooler version from the system. To do this, simply select 32-Bit Print Spooler from the list of programs in the Add/Remove Programs Properties window and click on the Add/Remove button.)

• To print with the 32-Bit Print Spooler, you must select the Fast 32-bit Spooler option

from within the Printer Driver setup window as described in Section III. When this option is selected, the print spooler will automatically open and close with the start and finish of each print job. Note: You can also manually open the 32-Bit Print Spooler simply by selecting its icon from the Start->Programs->Card Printer folder.

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Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98 (continued)

When the 32-Bit Print Spooler is running, its icon will appear in the Windows Task Bar. During a print job, it is sometimes helpful to click on this icon to bring the 32-Bit Print Spooler status window to the foreground of the application. This window provides a number of details about the print jobs being sent to the Printer.

Term Description

Current Job

tab

The Current Job tab tells you the name and size of the file printing, the progress of the overall print job, as well as the total number of copies left to print.

It also provides buttons which allow you to pause or cancel the print job at any time during the printing process.

Settings tab The Settings tab tells you the port and Printer to which you are printing

and allows you to configure the timeout settings. In most instances, these settings will rarely need to be changed.

This tab also provides two other options called Save last job for

reprint and Direct to Port Mode.

Save last job for reprint

option

When the Save last job for reprint option is selected, the 32-Bit Print Spooler will automatically save the last print job you sent to the Printer and allow you to instantly reprint the job without the delay of having to reprocess it.

The print job will be saved in the spooler until another print job is sent and saved over it. If you do not wish to save the last print job for reprint, deselect this option.

To print a saved job, simply select the Print button from the spooler’s Current Job tab.

Direct to Port Mode option

The Direct to Port Mode option is selected by default. In most instances, this option allows the spooler to send data to the Printer at its optimum speed. If, however, you experience problems when printing with this option selected, simply deselect it and try the print job again.

Job Queue tab The Job Queue tab appears only when a print job is being sent to the

Printer. This tab tells you the name and status of each job in the queue and shows you the order in which the jobs will print if you have sent multiple jobs to the Printer. A control button is also provided which allows you to delete every job listed in the queue.

To delete the job currently being printed, simply select the Cancel Print button under the Current Job tab.

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Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98 (continued)

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Loading Ribbon Into The Printer

Follow these steps to load Ribbon into the Printer:

Step Procedure

1 Remove the Ribbon from its packaging. Do not touch the colored portion of the

Ribbon. Oil or dirt from the hands can impair print quality.

2 The supply end of the Ribbon is the side with the fresh, unused Ribbon on it.

The Ribbon take-up is the other end. Note that the black plug in the supply Ribbon core must be present in order for the Printer to print properly.

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Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Step Procedure

3 Open the Top Cover of the Printer by gently grasping the front sides of the

Cover and lifting upward. The Cover will tilt open from front-to-back.

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Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Step Procedure

4 Open the Printhead Assembly by gently pulling up on the assembly’s

Release Tab and lifting upward. Allow the assembly to swing completely open.

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Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Step Procedure

5 a. Place the supply end of the Ribbon in between the two black Ribbon Drive

Hubs located on the right-hand side of the Printer’s interior.

b. Make certain that the Ribbon is fed from underneath the Ribbon roll. Hint:

The Ribbon Drive Hub nearest you, as you are looking into the Printer from the front, is spring loaded.

c. Use the end of the ribbon supply core to push in this Ribbon Drive Hub

when inserting the ribbon.

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Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Step Procedure

6 Place the take-up end of the Ribbon roll in between the two black Ribbon Drive

Hubs located on the left-hand side of the Printer’s interior.

7 Load the Ribbon take-up end of the Ribbon just as you loaded the Ribbon supply

end.

8 When loaded properly, the Ribbon should feed underneath both ends of the

Ribbon roll. Grasp the Release Tab and gently lower the Printhead Assembly to close it.

9 Lift slightly on the Release Tab to latch the assembly shut. Close the Printer’s

Top Cover. When you start to print, the Ribbon Drive Hubs will automatically engage the notches on both cores of the Ribbon roll.

Caution: Do not reverse the Ribbon. Damage may occur to the thermal Printhead!

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Loading Cards into the Printer

The Card Printer prints onto standard CR-80 size cards (3.375L x 2.125W x .030 / 86mmL x 54mmW x .75mm), which have a clean, level, polished PVC surface.

• Although the Printer is equipped with card cleaning Rollers, it is very important to always

print onto cards designed for direct-to-card, thermal printing. (Note: For this reason, a special card stock is available which is specifically designed for printing with the Printer.)

• This card stock provides a level, polished PVC surface free of fingerprints, dust and any

other types of embedded contaminants.

• In addition, this card stock is packaged and shipped in dust-free plastic bags. To order

compatible card stock, contact the authorized reseller.

Caution: Never run cards with a contaminated, dull or uneven surface through the Printer. Printing onto such cards will ultimately lead to poor print quality and will greatly reduce the life of the Printhead. In addition, always store the card stock in its original packaging or in a clean, dust-free environment. Do not print onto cards which have been dropped or soiled. Printheads damaged by contaminated or poor quality cards will automatically void the Printhead’s factory warranty.

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Loading Cards Into the Printer (continued)

The Printer holds a maximum of 50 CR-80 size cards in its Card Input Hopper. The Printer will automatically feed each card off the top of the stack. To load the cards into the Printer, refer to the following steps:

Step Procedure

1 Open the Top Cover of the Printer by gently grasping the front sides of the

Cover and lifting upward. The Cover will tilt open from front-to-back.

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Loading Cards into the Printer (continued)

Step Procedure

Remove a stack of 50 or fewer cards from the card packaging. Do not touch the area of the cards on which you intend to print. Oil or dirt from the hands can impair print quality. Handle cards only along the edges.

Load the stack of cards into the Printer by depressing the spring loaded Card Input Tray and pushing the stack all the way to the front of the Card Input Hopper. Always load cards with the top or primary print side facing up.

If inserting cards with a magnetic stripe, be sure the magnetic stripe is positioned downward and that the stripe is oriented toward the rear of the Printer. If inserting smart cards, be sure the end of the card containing the smart card chip is inserted first.

Once the cards have been inserted, remove the top card and throw it away if you suspect it has been contaminated with oil from the fingertips. Close the Printer’s Top Cover.

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Powering-up the Printer

Applying Power

Locate the Desk-Top Transformer supplied with the system. Check that it is properly configured for the power used in the country.

Caution No. 1: If you have any doubts about the plug configuration or the voltage, do not attempt to use the Printer. Contact the authorized reseller for information on the correct Transformer. Use the Printer only if you are certain that the plug and power rating are correct.

Caution No. 2: The Transformer is designed for desktop use only.

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Applying Power (continued)

Step Procedure

2 Plug the DC power plug end of the transformer cord into the Power Input Port

on the rear panel of the Printer. (Note: Optional external transformer must be a Listed Class 2 device with an output rating of 16.5 volts and 3.5 amps AC (alternating current).

The alternating current should be between 50 and 60 Hz.)

3 Plug the AC power plug end of the transformer cord into an available wall outlet.

(Note: The wall outlet should be located near the Printer and should be easily accessible.)

Power is automatically applied to the Printer when it is plugged in. Press the On/Cancel button if you wish to turn the Printer OFF.

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Printing a Self Test

Now that Ribbon and cards are installed, a self test should be performed to check for proper operation of the Printer. The standard self test function requires only that a full-color Ribbon and at least one card is installed. A sample of the self test pattern is shown below.

Step Procedure

• If power is ON, turn it OFF now by pressing the On/Cancel button. (Note:

The LED indicator lights should no longer be illuminated.)

• Verify that a full-color Ribbon is installed and that cards are properly

loaded.

2 Press and hold the on-line button.

3 While holding the on-line button down, turn the Printer power back ON by

quickly pressing and releasing the On/Cancel button.

Release the on-line button. (Note: The gray scale self test pattern will begin printing approximately 10 seconds after the on-line button is released.)

Self Test Example: (Actual size)

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Section 3: Troubleshooting the Printer

If you have difficulty operating the Card Printer, the troubleshooting suggestions in this section should, in most cases, solve the problem. If you still have difficulty after trying these suggestions, contact the authorized reseller for technical assistance.

Please refer to the following possible symptoms and solutions to troubleshoot the Card Printer:

Resolving problems with General Printer Operation

Symptoms: Nothing happens or an error message comes up in the Windows application

program.

Step Procedure

1 Make sure that the power cord is plugged in securely on both ends and that the

Printer is turned ON. Also, be sure the Printer is on-line. The green LED below both the On/Cancel and the on-line buttons should be illuminated.

2 Make certain the Printer’s interface cable is securely connected.

3 Make certain the Top Cover and/or Printhead Assembly is securely shut.

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Resolving problems with the flashing Online LED light

This indicates a reCoverable printing error regarding the print media or supplies. Refer to the following list for possible causes to this problem.

Step Procedure

1 Once the problem is corrected, press the on-line button to resume printing. (Or, if

necessary, turn the print power ON and OFF by pressing the On/Cancel button and send the print job again.)

2 Check that cards and Ribbon are installed in the Printer. Also, check that cards

are pushed all the way into the Printer and that the Ribbon is installed properly.

3 Check that the proper Ribbon type is installed according to the Ribbon type

option selected in the Printer Driver setup window.

4 Are you using a Ribbon other than those sold specifically for use with the Card

Printer? Remember, the Printer requires specialized Ribbon rolls in order to function properly.

5 Check for a Ribbon or card jam.

6 The Ribbon Sensor may need to be recalibrated.

Symptom A: If the Printer has a magnetic encoding module installed and you are attempting to encode magnetic information onto a card while printing, a flashing on-line LED can also indicate an encoding mis-verify.

Symptom B: If information is not encoded properly or encoded onto a bad magnetic stripe, the Printer is unable to verify the encoded data.

a. When this happens, the Printer will simply eject the card before printing

begins and the on-line LED will begin flashing.

b. Press the on-line button to resume encoding and printing with a new card.

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Resolving problems with the flashing On/Cancel LED light

Step Procedure

If the On/Cancel LED is flashing, this indicates a possible error with the Printer’s memory. Contact the authorized reseller for technical assistance.

Resolving problems with Windows 95/98 printing capabilities

Print with either the 32-Bit Print Spooler or the Write Direct to Port option selected from within the Printer Driver setup. In most cases, one or the other of these options will provide the best results when printing from Windows 95/98.

Due to the wide variety of PC hardware and software configurations, however, some systems may print more effectively through the Windows 95/98 print spooler.

If you choose not to print with either the 32-Bit Print Spooler or the Write Direct to Port option selected, but instead wish to print through the Windows print spooler, the following steps will help you optimize the system for printing:

Step Procedure

Click the Start button, point to Settings and select Printers. When the Printers window appears, click on the Printer’s icon using the right mouse button and select the Properties option.

Select the Details tab, then select the Spool Settings button.

Select the Print directly to the Printer option and click on OK.

Again from the Details tab, select the Port Settings button.

Deselect both the Check Port state before printing option and the Spool MS-DOS print jobs option and click on OK.

Increase the Transmission retry value of the Details tab from 45 to 900. Click on OK to close the Properties window.

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Resolving problems with Ribbon winding and printing

Symptoms: The Printer skips Ribbon panels, prints Ribbon panels out of the usual YMCK

order (resulting in strangely colored output) or simply winds the Ribbon until the Printer’s online LED light flashes.

Check that the proper Ribbon type is installed according to the Ribbon type option selected in the Printer Driver setup window. See Ribbon Type. The Ribbon Sensor needs to be recalibrated. This is a simple procedure which may be required every so often.

Refer to the following steps to recalibrate this sensor:

Step Procedure

1 Install a Full-Color YMCKO Ribbon into the Printer and position an unused

Magenta (red colored) panel across the top of the light emitting portion of the Ribbon Sensor.

2 Close the Printhead Assembly securely, but leave the Top Cover open.

3 With the Top Cover open, locate the rectangular opening on the left-hand side of

the Printer. Just inside this opening are four small, white switches aligned vertically. The switches are labeled 1 through 4, with the top switch being number 1.

4 With the tip of a small flathead screw Driver, flip Switch 1 towards the rear of the

Printer to turn the switch ON.

5 Disconnect the power cable from the back of the Printer and close the Printer’s

Top Cover.

6 Press and hold the on-line button. Then, reconnect the power cable into the back

of the Printer while continuing to hold the on-line button.

7 Release the finger from the on-line button once either of the Printer’s LED lights

turn ON. Notice that only one LED will be lit, either the on-line or the On/Cancel.

8 On the right-hand side of the Printer, locate the three small holes toward the rear

of the Top Cover. Through the center hole, there is a potentiometer labeled RP2 which adjusts the sensitivity of the Ribbon Sensor.

Continued on the next page

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Resolving problems with the Card Jams

If a card becomes jammed inside the Printer, remove it through the following steps:

Step Procedure

1 Leave the power ON and open the Printer’s Top Cover by gently grasping the

front sides of the Cover and lifting upward. (Note: The Cover will tilt open from front-to-back.)

2 a. Open the Printhead Assembly by gently pulling up on the assembly’s

Release Tab and lifting upward.

b. Allow the assembly to swing completely open.

3 Remove the Ribbon.

a. Press the On/Cancel button to advance the card. b. Press the on-line button to reverse the card.

5 a. Once the card is cleared, re-install the Ribbon and close the Printhead

Assembly and Top Cover.

b. If the on-line light is flashing, press and release it. (Note: The Printer will

save the print information and resume printing with a new card.)

c. Remember, both the On/Cancel and on-line lights must be ON solid in order

to print.

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Resolving problems with the Ribbon Jams

If the Ribbon becomes jammed in the drive Roller (visible when you open the Printer), use the following procedure to correct the problem:

Step Procedure

1 Leave the power ON.

2 Remove the Take-Up core (the side with used Ribbon on it) from in between the

two black Ribbon Drive Hubs.

3 Steadily pull the Ribbon up and out of the Printer as you press and hold down

the Printer’s on-line button. (Note: This will rotate the drive Roller backwards and eject the Ribbon while you are pulling gently upwards.)

If the Ribbon breaks, simply tape it back together making sure that it is fed from beneath both Ribbon cores.

4 Once the jam is cleared, re-install the Ribbon and close the Printhead Assembly

and Top Cover.

• If the on-line light is flashing, press and release it. (Note: The Printer will

save the print information and resume printing with a new card. Remember, both the On/Cancel and on-line lights must be ON solid in order to print.)

• If the drive Roller appears dirty after the jam is cleared, clean it according to

the steps in Section IX.

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Resolving problems (related to the Printer stopping or making strange sounds)

Symptoms: Printer makes strange sounds or stops printing and the on-line LED light is

flashing.

Step Procedure

3 Review the proper procedures for clearing Ribbon and card jams.

Symptom: If the dye-sublimation Ribbon is sticking to the card, check to see that you are using a card with a polished PVC finish.

A card with a dull or sticky finish can cause the Ribbon to stick to its surface causing the Ribbon to jam or even break See Card.

Symptom: If you are using an acceptable video imaging card stock and the Ribbon is still consistently being jammed down into the drive Roller, you may need to reposition the Headlift Assembly.

a. To do this, open the Printer’s Top Cover (do not open the Printhead

Assembly).

b. With the Printer powered ON, push down both the On/Cancel and the on-line

buttons at the same time.

c. You should then hear the Headlift Assembly rotate and realign itself.

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Resolving problems with Ribbon winding and printing

Step Procedure

1 Gently insert the tip of a small flathead screw Driver into the hole so it fits into the

slot of RP2. Slightly rotate RP2 in either direction until both the on-line and On/Cancel LED’s turn OFF.

Caution: RP2 cannot be rotated all the way around. It has a stopping

point in each direction. Do not rotate RP2 beyond these points.

2 Once both LED’s are OFF, Ribbon Sensor calibration is complete.

3 Remove the power cable, open the Top Cover and flip Switch 1 toward the front

of the Printer to turn the switch back OFF. Close the Top Cover, reconnect the power cable and try the print job again.

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Resolving problems with torn or broken Ribbons

Symptoms: Printer stops printing or simply continues to wind the take-up end of the roll

and the on-line LED light is flashing.

Step Procedure

Symptom: If the dye-sublimation Ribbon is sticking to the card, check to see that you are using a card with a polished PVC finish.

A card with a dull or sticky finish can cause the Ribbon to stick to its surface causing the Ribbon to jam or even break.

Symptom: If you are using an acceptable video imaging card stock and the Ribbon is still consistently being jammed down into the drive Roller, you may need to reposition the Headlift Assembly.

a. To do this, simply open the Printer’s Top Cover (do not open the Printhead

Assembly). With the Printer powered ON, push down both the On/Cancel and the on-line buttons at the same time.

b. You should then hear the Headlift Assembly rotate and realign itself.

Symptom: You may have tried to feed in a card that was too thick or perhaps two cards fed at once. This can sometimes cause the Ribbon to tear or break.

Remember, the Printer is designed to feed and print primarily onto a standard CR-80 card size (3.375L x 2.125W x .030 / 86mmL x 54mmW x .75mm) and will not accept cards with a thickness greater than .040 (1.0mm).

Symptom: If you selected Calibrate in the Printer Driver setup window and changed the Top Adjust value to an extreme negative number, such as -10, you may have over-adjusted for the specific Printer. This can sometimes cause the Ribbon to break just as printing begins.

Try entering another Top Adjust value which is not quite so extreme, such as -5.

Symptom: If the Ribbon breaks, simply tape the broken end of the supply roll directly onto the take-up roll. Then, wind a few inches worth of Ribbon from the supply roll onto the take-up roll.

Be sure the Ribbon is passing beneath both the supply and take-up rolls.

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Resolving problems with streaks in Prints

Symptoms: Scratches or lines travel the entire length of the printed card.

Step Procedure

Symptom: There may be dust on the Printhead.

Symptom: There may be a scratch or a burned out element in the Printhead.

Contact the authorized reseller for technical assistance.

Resolving problems with Print blotches or small voids

Symptoms: There are small spots on the print with no ink or different colors of ink.

Step Procedure

1 Most likely due to dust inside the Printer.

Symptom: May also be caused by dust or embedded contaminants on the card. Be sure the cards you are using are clean and stored in a dust free environment.

Some card stocks can have embedded contaminants in their polished surface and should not be used. Only use card stock recommended for use with the Card Printer.

Symptom: May also be caused by a filthy Cleaning Roller.

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Resolving problems with pixelated Photos on ID cards

Symptoms: Photos do not look smooth or continuous, but rather grainy and unclear.

Step Procedure

1 Some applications have selections you must enable in order for the Printer to

use its own dither patterns. For best output, you should always use the Printer’s dither patterns.

2 Refer to the application program’s instruction manual or contact the software

manufacturer for details on how such selections are enabled.

3 For best photo-realistic output, you should always use high resolution, 24-bit

color images. Be sure the image capture equipment is capturing at a high enough resolution

and at about the same size at which the image will be printing.

4 If you stretch or blow up a small or low resolution image, you will always get a

pixelated or grainy effect when printing.

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Resolving problems with card feeding and Online LED blinking

Symptoms: The Printer starts to make noise like everything is fine, but no card feeds.

Step Procedure

1 a. Be sure the cards are inserted all the way into the Printer and that you

haven’t inserted more than 50 standard sized cards. You are trying to feed a card that is too thick.

b. Be sure the cards you are using fall within the .010 to .040 (.254mm to

1.0mm) accepted card thickness range.

c. The gray card Feed Rollers are extremely dirty. Clean these Rollers

according to the directions in Chapter 5, Section VIII.

2 a. Be sure the top card is not sticking to the one below it. Manually separate the

cards if you suspect they are sticking to one another.

b. If separating cards, remember not to touch the surface of the card where you

intend to print, since dirt or oil from the hands will impair print quality. The printing gets cut off or is not centered on the card.

3 Check that the correct card size is selected in the Printer Driver setup. Improper

card size settings will always send the image to the wrong area of the card. Two or more cards feed at the same time.

4 a. Be sure the cards you are using are not sticking together.

b. Manually separate the cards if you suspect they are sticking to one another. c. If separating cards, remember not to touch the surface of the card where you

intend to print, since dirt or oil from the hands will impair print quality.

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Section 4: Printer Driver Setup

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Symbol Critical Instructions for Safety purposes

Danger: Failure to follow these installation guidelines can result in death or

serious injury.

Information that raises potential safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent personal injury, refer to the following safety messages

before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent personal injury, always remove the power cord prior to

performing repair procedures, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent personal injury, make sure only qualified personnel

perform these procedures.

Caution: This device is electrostatically sensitive. It may be damaged if

exposed to static electricity discharges.

Information that raises potential electrostatic safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, refer to the following

safety messages before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, observe all established

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) procedures while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always wear an

appropriate personal grounding device (e.g., a high quality wrist strap grounded to avoid potential damage).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always remove the

Ribbon and Cards from the Printer before making any repairs, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, take jewelry off of

fingers and hands, as well as thoroughly clean hands to remove oil and debris before working on the Printer.

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Installing the Printer Driver

Once the appropriate Printer Driver has been installed, you will need to set the Driver up with the proper print options. Although each of the included Printer Drivers displays the print options in a slightly different format, the basic options are the same.

For this reason, this section lists and describes each of the Printer driver options in alphabetical order, rather than displaying them in the order in which they appear within any one of the Printer Drivers.

To open the Printer Driver setup window, please refer to the following steps for the specific operating system:

Step Procedure

6 To change or verify the appropriate Printer Driver options for the print job, please

Windows 95/98 Click the Start button, point to Settings and select Printers.

Windows NT

Click on the Card Printer icon with the right mouse button and select Properties.

Click the Start button, point to Settings and select Printers.

Click on the Card Printer icon with the right mouse button and select Document Defaults.

Click on the Advanced tab of the Document Settings window. (Note: Most applications allow you to change these same Printer Driver options from their own Print screens.

This means that you don’t have to go back to the main Printer setup window each time you want to change a setting or option in the Printer Driver.

These applications will usually give you the same choices and options, but in a slightly altered format.

refer to the following descriptions given in alphabetical order:

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Using the Color ID Card II Printer Advanced Document Settings

Access the Color ID Card II Printing Preferences window via Start > Settings > Printers > C10/M10 Card Printer (icon) > Color ID Card Printer Printer Preferences window > Advanced button (which brings up the Advanced Document Settings window).

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Selecting Paper/Output

Selecting Card Size

This option displays a list of the available card size selections. These selections prevent you from printing over or damaging the area of the card containing the magnetic stripe, IC chip or punched slot. Select the card size option that’s appropriate for the type of card you are using.

Step Description

The Std CR-80 selection allows you to print and overlay the entire printable area of a standard CR-80 size card.

The Smart Card, Magstripe and Punch Offset selections allow you to print and overlay only within the given card areas.

The Smart Chip selection allows you to print and overlay anywhere on a card except over the immediate location of a standard smart card chip or signature panel.

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Determining the number of Copies

Use this function to indicate copies required.

Step Procedure

1 Specify the number of copies to be printed by clicking on the up or down arrows.

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Selecting the Default Graphic Resolution

This is a default selection.

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Document Options

Step Procedure

1 Use the Device options tab to select options that control the Printer’s

functions.

Selecting Ribbon Type

Step Procedure

1 Use this option to select the Ribbon type option that is appropriate for the type

of Ribbon you are using.

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Selecting from the Ribbon Type options

Use the Ribbon Type dropdown menu to select the correct ribbon type.

Step Procedure

1 Select Ribbon Type under Document options to change the setting.

2 Select the correct Print Ribbon Type, as shown below. Adjust to match the

Ribbon Type selection with the Ribbon Type already loaded in the Printer.

• K - Standard Resin Black

• Colored Resin: Colored Resin is available in Red, Blue, Green, or White

• K - Premium Resin Black

• Metallic Resin: Metallic Resin is available in Gold or Silver

• Scratch-Off Resin

• BO: Dye Sub Black, Overlay

• YMCBO - Full Color/Dye-Sub Black/Overlay

• YMCKO - Full Color/Resin Black/Overly

• YMCKOK – Full Color/2 Resin Black/Overlay

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Selecting from the Ribbon Type options (continued)

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Selecting from the Color Matching options

Use this option to control where the resin black (K) panel of a full-color ribbon is printed. When printing with a resin-only ribbon type or a ribbon type that does not have a K panel, all K Panel Resin options will be grayed out. (Note: Resin black text is desirable due to its sharp, saturated black coloring and resin black bar codes are often required to ensure readability when scanned.)

Step Procedure

Select None for print speed versus print color or for use of third party color matching software.

Select Algebraic to control the Contrast and Gamma of the printed image, as well as the individual color balance of Yellow, Magenta and Cyan. (Note: In most cases, the default settings of these options will suffice. When the Algebraic color matching option is selected, all control options will display and can be adjusted.)

Select FargoColor to make appropriate adjustments.

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Selecting from the Color Matching options (continued)

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Using the Image Controls

Use the Custom Settings option under Image Controls to control the Contrast and Gamma of the printed image, as well as the individual color balance of Yellow Balance, Magenta Balance and Cyan Balance. (Note: In most cases, the default settings of these options will suffice.)

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Controlling the Dye-Sub Intensity (YMCB)

Step Procedure

1 Control the overall darkness and lightness of the printed image by adjusting

the Dye-Sub Intensity slide by clicking and dragging the slide's box or by clicking on the left and right arrows.

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Controlling the Resin Heat

Step Procedure

1 Control the amount of heat the Printer uses when printing with the resin black

panel(s) of a full-color ribbon or when printing with a resin-only ribbon by adjusting the Resin Heat.

Note #1: This control can be helpful for fine-tuning the saturation of resin text and bar codes.) Adjust the Resin Heat (K) setting (as needed), as shown below.

Note #2: This option only effects objects printed with a resin-only print ribbon or those objects printed on the back side of a card with the resin black panel of a YMCKO, YMCKOK, or YMCKK print ribbon.

Note #3: Use this option to control the amount of heat the Printer uses when printing with the resin black panel(s) of a full-color ribbon or when printing with a resin-only ribbon, adjust the Resin Heat slide.

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Using the default Dither Mode

This is a default selection.

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Selecting the K Panel Graphics Mode option

Use this option to control where the resin black (K) panel of a full-color ribbon is printed.

Step Procedure

Select the K Panel Graphics Mode option to control where the resin black (K) panel of a full-color ribbon is printed. (Note: If printing with a resin-only ribbon type or a ribbon type that does not have a K panel, all K Panel Resin options will be grayed out. Resin black text is desirable due to its sharp, saturated black coloring and resin black bar codes are often required to ensure readability when scanned.)

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Selecting K Panel Only (95%) / (99%)

These option are only active when the K Panel Graphics options is selected.

• Selecting either of the K Panel Only options forces all of the black within text bar codes

or bitmap images to be printed only with the Ribbon's resin black (K) panel (i.e. without the YMC composite black underneath). (Note: This increases the precision of printed bitmap bar codes, there by assuring greater accuracy when read by a bar code scanner.)

• The difference between these two option is that when K Panel Only (95%) is selected, all

95% black (or higher) bitmapped image pixels will be printed using only the Ribbon's resin black (K) panel. (Note: When the K Panel Only (99%) is selected, all 99% black (or higher) bitmapped image pixels will be printed using only the resin black (K) panel.)

• These options are useful if, for example, you have a bitmapped photograph with dark

areas in which you do not wish the resin black panel to print.

• In this case, the K Panel Only (99%) mode will eliminate the greatest amount of

unwanted resin black printing. (Note: Be sure, however, the object you do wish to print with resin black has a black density of at least 99%.)

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Selecting the Print Edge-to-Edge option

Use this option for Edge-to-Edge type printing.

Step Procedure

1 Select this option to adjust the maximum printable area on a card, which results

in printed cards with virtually no border.

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Selecting the Rotate 180 Degrees option

Use this option to rotate the image on the front of the card 180 degrees when printed.

Step Description

1 Select this option to change the position of the printed image in relation to

the set location of a card's Magnetic Stripe or smart chip.

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Selecting the Overlay option

Use this option to automatically print Neither Side, Back Side Only, Front Side Only, or Both Sides of a card.

Step Procedure

1 Select this option in conjunction with any application program that supports a

multiple page document. (Note: In other words, the program must be able to send down two or more separate pages to be printed within the same document.)

• Select Neither Side for non-use of the Overlay option.

• Select the Front Side Only, Back Side Only, or Both Sides setting to

designate the side or sides of the card for the image to print on.

Note #1: Print a full-color ID format on the front of the card and monochrome text or bar codes on the back by creating the full-color front side of the card (on page 1) of the document and the monochrome backside (on page 2). (Note: The Printer Driver always places the odd numbered pages on the front side of the card and the even numbered pages on the backside.)

Note #2: To customize the overlay and/or print area, select one of the options listed under Overlay. Use this option to control the overlay (O) panel and/or the print area appearing on a card; also, use it to omit or block out the overlay or printing around a card's smart chip or Magnetic Stripe. By default, this option is set to print and overlay the entire card.

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Selecting the Overlay option (continued)

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Using the Magnetic Encoding Options

Use this option only if the Printer has an optional Magnetic Stripe Encoding Module installed. (Note: This section describes these options and the Printer's Magnetic Encoding process.)

Step Procedure

1 Select the Magnetic Encoding Options to change the encoding mode,

coercivity setting, or to modify the ISO Standards for Tracks 1, 2 and 3. (Note: By default, the Printer Driver is set to encode according to ISO Standards onto high-coercivity Magnetic Stripes.)

Continued on the next page

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Using the Magnetic Encoding Mode option

Use the Magnetic Encoding Mode option to specify the desired, Magnetic Encoding standard.

Step Procedure

Select the ISO option provides encoding capability for either high or lowcoercivity cards on Tracks 1, 2 and 3. (Note: The ISO option is the industry's most standard mode of Magnetic Encoding.)

Select the JIS II mode provides encoding compatibility with the JIS C 6220 Type II cards commonly used in Japan. When the JIS II mode is selected, only Track 2 will be encoded. (Note: No encoding customization options are available with the JIS II mode.)

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Selecting the Magnetic Track Options

Use the Magnetic Track options for these purposes:

• Customize the ISO encoded data format for each of the Magnetic Stripe's three Tracks.

• Customize each Track independently of the other two.

• Specify which of the three Tracks to customize by selecting one of the three Track

options.)

(Note #1: After making the required selection, the Magnetic Track options box displays the current set of customization options for the selected Track.)

(Note #2: For most applications, the default settings for these options do not need to be changed.)

Step Procedure

1 Properly adjust the Magnetic Encoding options to change the ISO Standards

for Tracks 1, 2 and 3.

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Selecting the Track Bit Density option

Use this option to customize the Bit Recording Density (Bits per Inch) used to encode the magnetic data on the currently selected Track. (Note: The default ISO Standard selections for this option are Track 1: 210 BPI, Track 2: 75 BPI and Track 3: 210 BPI.)

Step Procedure

1 Select 75 BPI to change the bits per inch to 75 BPI.

Select 128 BPI to change the bits per inch to 128 BPI.

Select 210 BPI to change the bits per inch to 210 BPI.

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Selecting the Track LRC Generation option

Use this option to customize the LRC Generation Mode (used to encode the magnetic data on the currently selected Track). (Note: The default ISO Standard selections for this option are Track 1: EVEN, Track 2: EVEN and Track 3: EVEN.)

Step Procedure

1 Select NO LRC to change the LRC Generation to none.

Select Even Parity to change the LRC Generation to Even Parity.

Select Odd Parity to change the LRC Generation to Odd Parity.

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Selecting the Track Character Size option

Use this option to customize the Character Data Size (Bits per Character) used to encode the magnetic data on the currently selected Track. (Note: This character size includes the parity bit, if enabled.) (Note: The default ISO Standard selections for this option are Track 1: 7 BPC, Track 2: 5 BPC and Track 3: 5 BPC.)

Step Procedure

1 Select 5 Bits to change the bits per character to 5 BPC.

Select 7 BPI to change the bits per character to 7 BPC.

Select 8 BPI to change the bits per character to 8 BPC.

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Selecting the Track Character Parity option

Use this option to customize the Character Data Parity (used to encode the magnetic data on the currently selected Track). (Note: The default ISO Standard selections for this option are Track 1: ODD, Track 2: ODD and Track 3: ODD.)

Step Procedure

1 Select No Parity to change the Character Parity to none.

Select Even Parity to change the Character Parity to Even Parity.

Select Odd Parity to change the Character Parity to Odd Parity

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Selecting the Track Character ASCII Offset option

Use this option to customize the Character ASCII Offset used to encode the magnetic data on the currently selected Track. This character offset value is subtracted from the ASCII value of each Magnetic Stripe data character prior to encoding on the Track. (Note: The default ISO Standard selections for this option are Track 1: SPACE, Track 2: ZERO and Track 3: ZERO.)

Step Procedure

1 Select NULL to change the ASCII Offset to NULL.

Select SPACE to change the ASCII Offset to SPACE.

Select ZERO to change the ASCII Offset to ZERO.

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Selecting the Shift Data Left option

Use this option to shift the recorded magnetic data to the left-hand side of the card's Magnetic Stripe. (Note: This is useful in situations that require cards to be readable with insert type readers that may not be able to read the right-hand side of the card.)

Step Procedure

Select the Shift Data Left option to apply to all Tracks.

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Selecting the Verify Magnetic Encoding option

Use this option to verify the encoding settings.

Step Procedure

Select this option to instruct the Printer to verify that all magnetic data has been correctly encoded on each card. (Note: This option is selecTable for both ISO and JIS II encoding modes.)

• If this option is selected, any verify errors will cause the Printer to signal an

error condition.

• If this option is not selected, the verify pass will not be executed.

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Reviewing ISO Track Locations

Review the Magnetic Encoding module, which encodes onto Tracks in accordance with an ISO 7811-2 Magnetic Stripe. Refer to the diagram (below) for Track locations. (Note: All standard Card Printers are capable of printing onto oversized cards; however, a special version of the Printer is required to encode the Magnetic Stripe of oversized cards.)

0.223" 0.353" 0.493"

TRACK1 0.110"

0.130"

TRACK2 0.110"

0.140"

TRACK3 0.110"

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Sending Track Information

Magnetic Track data is sent in the form of text strings from the application software to the Printer Driver along with all of the other printable objects within the card design.

• Magnetic Track Data added: In order for the Printer Driver to differentiate between

magnetic Track data and the rest of the printable objects, the magnetic Track data strings must be uniquely tagged or added.

• Specific Characters added: In other words, specific characters must be added to the

magnetic Track data in order for the Printer Driver to know which data is to be encoded, which Tracks to encode, when the Track data stops and starts and so forth.

• Manually or automatically added: In some cases, these specific characters are

automatically added to the string of Track data by customized ID software applications. In most cases, however, the User must manually add these characters to the string of magnetic Track data.

Entering Track Information

(Note: If these characters are not added to the Track data, the text intended for the magnetic Track will most likely appear as printed text on the card.)

Step Procedure

1 To avoid this symptom, Track information must be entered as follows.

When entering Track data, the "~" character is entered first, followed by the desired Track number (1, 2, or 3) used to encode the data.

• The data to be encoded should then follow. (Note: The first character of this

data string must be the Track's specific Start Sentinel (SS) and the last character must be the specific End Sentinel (ES).)

• The characters or data in between the SS and ES can include all of the valid

characters specific to each Track. (Note: The number of these characters is limited by each Track's maximum character capacity.)

Caution: When segmenting Track data, strictly use the appropriate Field

Separator (FS).

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Reviewing Tracks 1, 2, and 3 (in Table format)

Review this Table, which displays the SS, ES, FS and the valid characters defined for each Track.

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Start Sentinel

% ? ^ 0-9, A-Z, Punct.

; ? = 0-9, ;, =, ?

End Sentinel

Field Separator

Valid Characters Maximum

Number of Characters

78 (ASCII 32-95) (See the Table below.)

39 (ASCII 48-63) (See the Table below.)

106 (ASCII 48-63) (See the Table below.)

Reviewing the Track Data Note

Review this Table, which displays how Track Data should be entered for Tracks 1, 2 and 3.

Track Data Entry

Sending data to Track 1

Sending data to Track 2

Sending data to Track 3

~1%JULIE ANDERSON^623-85-1253?

~2;0123456789?

~3;0123456789?

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Reviewing the ASCII Code and Character Table

ASCII Code Character ASCII Code Character ASCII Code Character

32 space 56 8 80 P

33 ! 57 9 81 Q

34 " 58 : 82 R

35 # 59 ; 83 S

36 $ 60 < 84 T

37 % 61 = 85 U

38 & 62 > 86 V

39 ' 63 ? 87 W

40 ( 64 @ 88 X

41 ) 65 A 89 Y

42 * 66 B 90 Z

43 + 67 C 91 [

44 ' 68 D 92 \

45 - 69 E 93 ]

46 . 70 F 94 ^

47 / 71 G 95 _

48 0 72 H

49 1 73 I

50 2 74 J

51 3 75 K

52 4 76 L

53 5 77 M

54 6 78 N

55 7 79 O

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Selecting Smart Clipping Rectangle

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Selecting the Disable Printing option

Use this option to disable the printing capabilities of the Printer and still allow the Printer to encode cards.

Step Procedure

1 Select this option:

• To encode or re-encode preprinted cards without wasting additional time,

effort, or printing supplies.

• To ensure that all encoding instructions will be sent according to how they

are configured within the software (even though all print data will not be sent to the Printer).

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Selecting the Calibration window

Use this option to (a) control the position of the printable area in relation to the card, (b) calibrate Sensors and (c) adjust the internal Printer settings.

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Using the Image Placement controls

Step Procedure

Click on the Vertical and Horizontal adjustment arrows to adjust the Image Position values.

• When adjusting these values, keep in mind that cards always remain in the

same position while moving through the Printer, regardless of image orientation.

• To illustrate this, the card illustration shown in the Image Position box will flip

and rotate according to the Portrait, Landscape, or Rotate 180 Degrees selection.

• The outline around the illustration will always remain in the same Landscape

orientation.

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Using Image Placement controls (continued)

Review the Image Position diagram, which displays how the printed image will move in relation to the fixed card position as positive and negative image placement values are entered.

Step Procedure

Use the Vertical adjustment to move the image:

• Move toward the rear of the Printer if a positive number is entered.

• Move toward the front of the Printer if a negative number is entered.

OR Use the Horizontal adjustment to move the image:

• Move toward the card output side of the Printer if a positive number is entered.

• Move toward the card input side of the Printer if a negative number is entered.

(Note #1: The maximum value for the Vertical and Horizontal adjustments is ±100 pixels (10 pixels = about .03"/. 8mm).)

(Note #2: The Vertical and Horizontal adjustment arrows point to within the Image Position window, which represents the direction that the printed image moves.

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Selecting the Self Test button

Use this option to send a Self Test page to the Printer.

Step Procedure

Click on the Self Test button to print out a test page and ensure that the computer is effectively communicating with the Printer and that the Printer is functioning properly.

Selecting Write Direct to Port

Selecting this option provides the fastest print processing when printing exclusively from Windows 3.1x.

• When selected, this option allows the Printer Driver to bypass the Windows 3.1x Print

Manager and to send all print data directly to the Printer.

• This option devotes all of the system resources to the current print job, thereby increasing

overall print speed.

Step Procedure

1 When the print job is finished, the system resources will again be released and

devoted to the normal function of the on-screen applications.

2 Depending upon the processing speed and brand of the computer, you may or

may not need to select this option when printing.

3 For most computers with a non-ECP compatible parallel port, selecting this

option will enhance the speed of the rasterizing and printing process. In this case, the Write Direct to Port option should be selected.

4 For some computers, however, this option may either not be supported by the

particular brand of PC or simply may not be necessary due to the PC’s fast processing speed.

In this case, the Write Direct to Port option should not be selected.

5 This option will not function properly if using any type of external Printer buffer.

When using a Printer buffer, all print jobs should be sent through the system print spooler or through the Printer’s 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98.

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Printing a Card

Now that you have set up the Printer, loaded media and installed the Printer Driver, you are ready to print an ID card. Follow these steps to print the first card:

Step Procedure

1 Go to the Windows application program in which you will be creating the cards

and open it or create a card format.

4 a. After the image is processed and sent to the Printer, the Printer will feed in a

a. Once you are ready to print, select Print Setup (or the equivalent) from the

program’s File menu to verify that the Printer Driver settings are correct for the card design.

b. Remember to select the proper card size and Ribbon type and, if applicable,

to verify that the proper magnetic encoding settings are selected.

c. After you have properly configured the Driver, select the Print button from

the application’s Print screen.

The Printer’s RIP (raster image processing) begins. (Note: The image processing time will vary depending upon the complexity of the image and the processing speed of the computer. In most cases, this will only take a few seconds.)

card, print and then eject the card.

b. If everything looks good, you have successfully completed set-up, initial

testing and printing with the Card Printer.

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Section 5: Diagnostic Tools, Calibration, and Interface Information

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Symbol Critical Instructions for Safety purposes

Danger: Failure to follow these installation guidelines can result in death or

serious injury.

Information that raises potential safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent personal injury, refer to the following safety messages

before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent personal injury, always remove the power cord prior to

performing repair Instructions, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent personal injury, make sure only qualified personnel

perform these Instructions.

Caution: This device is electrostatically sensitive. It may be damaged if

exposed to static electricity discharges.

Information that raises potential electrostatic safety issues is indicated by a warning symbol (as shown to the below).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, refer to the following

safety messages before performing an operation preceded by this symbol.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, observe all established

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Instructions while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always wear an

appropriate personal grounding device (e.g., a high quality wrist strap grounded to avoid potential damage).

• To prevent equipment or media damage, always remove the

Ribbon and Cards from the Printer before making any repairs, unless otherwise specified.

• To prevent equipment or media damage, take jewelry off of

fingers and hands, as well as thoroughly clean hands to remove oil and debris before working on the Printer.

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Diagnostic Tools – Start by running a Self-Test

Perform a self test after initial setup of the printer, after a calibration procedure has been conducted, or after a part has been replaced. The self test checks for proper operation of the printer. The procedure described below is an alternative to method found in the User’s Manual. A sample of the self test print is shown below.

Step Procedure

1 Unplug the power cord from the rear panel.

2 Install a full-color ribbon and cards in the Card Printer.

3 Press and hold the on-line button; plug the power cord back into the rear panel

connection while holding down the on-line button.

4 Release the on-line button once the printer begins to cycle the drive motor.

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Calibrating the Printhead

Caution No. 1: This device is electrostatic sensitive. It may be damaged if

exposed to static electrical discharges. (Discharges may be generated by various means, such as walking on a carpeted floor.) Be sure to observe all established Electro-Static

Caution No. 2: Discharge (ESD) procedures while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies. Always wear an appropriate personal grounding device, such as a wrist strap with integral resistor, connected to an ESD ground to avoid potential damage. At a minimum, make positive contact with the bare metal chassis of the printer with the hand before proceeding with the procedure.

Adjusting the RP1 Potentiometer

The RP1 potentiometer controls the lightness and darkness of the printed image. When a new printhead is installed, it may need to be adjusted. Follow the steps below to perform this minor adjustment.

When the Printhead Harness is replaced (along with the power and data cables for the printhead), the Board Assembly, Ribbon Sensor, and Headlift Sensor Switch are also terminated in the Upper Imaging Assembly.

To calibrate the Ribbon Sensor, see Calibrate the Ribbon Sensor. (Note: Do not overtighten the mounting screw when installing the Headlift Sensor Switch. The screw should be snug up to the plastic housing of the switch.)

Step Procedure

1 Locate the three small holes on the right-hand side of the printer. RP1 is located

within the first hole down from the top.

2 Run a self test. The self test will print 15 gray scale boxes.

3 Turn RP1 clockwise in 1/8-turn increments if the output is too dark. Adjust RP1

counterclockwise in 1/8-turn increments if it is too light. Continue to adjust RP1and run self tests until the desired intensity is achieved.

Consult Make Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead if mechanical adjustments are needed to achieve the correct intensity level.

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Aligning the Headlift Sensor

Step Procedure

1 Close the Upper Imaging Assembly; leave the Top Cover open.

2 Apply power to the printer; press both the on-line and on/cancel buttons at the

same time. You will hear the Headlift motor energize for a moment and then stop — it sounds like a low-pitched winding noise.

Positioning the Headlift Cam

Step Procedure

1 Examine the eccentric cam in the middle of the Headlift Shaft Assembly. The

cam is a black, semi-round cylinder ¾-inch wide positioned midway across the width of the Upper Imaging Assembly, riding against the Cam Lift Plate and a thin metal plate called a Cam Follower Spring.

2 Run the Headlift Alignment procedure above.

3 Watch the rotation of the eccentric cam.

• The eccentric cam will make one complete rotation (360°)

counterclockwise; it should come to rest with the fattest portion of the cam face down, pushing the Cam Lift Plate to its lowest position.

• The lifter arm of the Headlift Switch should be depressed, opening the

contacts of the Headlift Switch. (It should be an open contact when depressed; with the arm released the contacts will close.) The Headlift Switch could be malfunctioning if the fat portion of the cam stops at the highest point. Adjust the mounting screw of the Headlift Switch; it may be too tight.

• Ensure that the switch is positioned correctly on the Print Assembly

Sideplate. Make sure the switch activates when the lifter arm is depressed. This can be measured with an ohmmeter for continuity.

• Check the rotation of the cam during the Headlift Alignment procedure if

difficulty persists. Normally, the cam should rotate counterclockwise (from the front of the printer).

• If the camis rotating clockwise, the HeadliftMotor cable connection (J15 on

the Print Circuit Board) is reversed.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

ESTRICTED USE ONLY Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Making Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead

Refer to the following troubleshooting tips if you feel the Printhead Assembly requires additional adjustment.

Caution No. 1: DO NOT make mechanical adjustments to the Printhead unless one of these troubleshooting symptoms is present. Keep close track of all adjustments so you can reset the assembly to its original settings if needed. The adjustments described below are very minute; be sure to turn the adjustment screws only the amount suggested.

Caution No. 2: This device is electrostatic sensitive. It may be damaged if exposed to static electrical discharges. (Discharges may be generated by various means, such as walking on a carpeted floor.) Be sure to observe all established Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) procedures while handling cables in or near the Circuit Board and Printhead Assemblies.

Caution No. 3: Always wear an appropriate personal grounding device, such as a wrist strap with integral resistor, connected to an ESD ground to avoid potential damage. At a minimum, make positive contact with the bare metal chassis of the printer with the hand before proceeding with the procedure.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

ESTRICTED USE ONLY Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Making Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead (continued)

Symptom Overall printed image looks broken up and/or faded. Solution: The ribbon deflector on the Printhead may be too low.

Step Procedure

1 Open the Top Cover.

2 Loosen the two Screws (Item 1, below) that hold the ribbon deflector (Item 2,

below) in place.

3 Locate the adjustment screws for the ribbon deflector (Item 3, below).

4 Turn each adjustment screw 1/8-turn clockwise if the entire card is faded. Turn

each screw the same amount. If one side of the card is faded, turn the adjustment screw on that side of the card 1/8-turn clockwise.

5 Tighten the screws loosened in step 2. Do not overtighten them.

6 Close the Top Cover.

7 Print a sample card.

8 Repeat steps 1-7 until the image is correct.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

ESTRICTED USE ONLY Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Making Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead (continued)

Symptom: Printed image has a dark band across the card, about 1/8 in. (3mm) from the

card leading edge.

Solution: The ribbon deflector on the Printhead may be too low.

Step Procedure

1 Open the Top Cover.

2 Loosen the two Screws (Item 1, below) that hold the ribbon deflector (Item 2,

below) in place.

3 Locate the adjustment screws for the ribbon deflector (Item 3, below).

4 Turn each adjustment screw 1/8-turn clockwise. Turn each screw the same

amount.

5 Tighten the screws loosened in step 2. Do not overtighten them.

6 Close the Top Cover.

7 Print a sample card.

8 Repeat steps 1-7 until the image is correct.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

ESTRICTED USE ONLY Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Making Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead (continued)

Symptom: Printed image has discolored arcs across the card. Solution: The ribbon deflector on the Printhead may be too high.

Step Procedure

1 Open the Top Cover.

2 Loosen the two Screws (Item 1, below) that hold the ribbon deflector (Item 2,

below) in place.

3 Locate the adjustment screws for the ribbon deflector (Item 3, below).

4 Turn each adjustment screw 1/8-turn counterclockwise if the entire card has

arcs. Turn each screw the same amount. If one side of the card has arcs, turn the adjustment screw on that side of the card 1/8-turn counterclockwise.

5 Tighten the screws loosened in step 2. Do not overtighten them.

6 Close the Top Cover.

7 Print a sample card.

8 Repeat steps 1-7 until the image is correct.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

ESTRICTED USE ONLY Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Making Mechanical Adjustments to the Printhead (continued)

Caution: In order for the printer to function properly with the new Printhead

Assembly, you MUST have firmware version 1.0.7. The firmware version of the printer is shown on the edge of the Self Test print.

Contact FARGO Technical Support for a firmware update at (952) 941-0050 or FAX (952) 941-1852.

Note: Be sure to record the total number of passes the printer has made to date. This is necessary for warranty purposes in order to accurately count the total number of passes made by each new printhead. To have the printer report the total number of passes made to date, press and hold the on-line button for 12 seconds. A card will be printed showing this number. Store this card in a safe place so you can accurately determine the pass count of the printhead if the need arises.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

ESTRICTED USE ONLY Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Calibrating the Ribbon Sensor

Use this procedure (a) when colors on the printed card are out of alignment, (b) when a black bar appears on the leading edge of the card or covers the entire card where the clear overlay should be placed, or (c) when too many color panels are passed without being used.

Tools Needed

(1) Small standard screwdriver (1) Full-color ribbon (1) Dark colored note pad (or similar object) Note: The Ribbon Sensor array can be affected by exposure to direct light. To ensure

proper operation, the Top Cover should be kept closed during normal operation. As it is necessary to have the Top Cover open during the calibration procedure, place a dark colored object such as a cardboard note pad over the Printhead Assembly to block light from entering the printer.

Persona C10/M10 ID Card Printer Service Manual (Rev. 4.0)

100

FARGO electronic M10, C10 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

How to use the manual

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Section 1: Specifications

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications (continued)

Functional Specifications

Printer Components: Buttons, Hoppers and Cover

Printer Components: Buttons, Hoppers and Cover (continued)

Printer Components: Ribbons and Cards

Printer Components: Ribbons and Cards (continued)

Section 2: Setup and Installation

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Introduction

Choosing a Good Location

About Moisture Condensation

Unpacking and Inspection

Connecting the Printer to the Computer

Installing the Windows Printer Driver

Installing the Printer Driver from the Software Installation CD

Installing the Printer Driver from the Software Installation CD (continued)

Installing Printer Driver Updates

Downloading Printer Driver files

Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98

Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98 (continued)

Installing the 32-Bit Print Spooler for Windows 95/98 (continued)

Loading Ribbon Into The Printer

Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Loading Ribbon Into The Printer (continued)

Loading Cards into the Printer

Loading Cards Into the Printer (continued)

Loading Cards into the Printer (continued)

Powering-up the Printer

Applying Power

Applying Power (continued)

Printing a Self Test

Section 3: Troubleshooting the Printer

Resolving problems with General Printer Operation

Resolving problems with the flashing Online LED light

Resolving problems with the flashing On/Cancel LED light

Resolving problems with Windows 95/98 printing capabilities

Resolving problems with Ribbon winding and printing

Resolving problems with the Card Jams

Resolving problems with the Ribbon Jams

Resolving problems (related to the Printer stopping or making strange sounds)

Resolving problems with Ribbon winding and printing

Resolving problems with torn or broken Ribbons

Resolving problems with streaks in Prints

Resolving problems with Print blotches or small voids

Resolving problems with pixelated Photos on ID cards

Resolving problems with card feeding and Online LED blinking

Section 4: Printer Driver Setup

Safety Messages (review carefully)

Installing the Printer Driver

Using the Color ID Card II Printer Advanced Document Settings

Selecting Paper/Output

Selecting Card Size

Determining the number of Copies

Selecting the Default Graphic Resolution

Document Options

Selecting Ribbon Type

Selecting from the Ribbon Type options

Selecting from the Ribbon Type options (continued)

Selecting from the Color Matching options

Selecting from the Color Matching options (continued)

Using the Image Controls

Controlling the Dye-Sub Intensity (YMCB)

Controlling the Resin Heat

Using the default Dither Mode

Selecting the K Panel Graphics Mode option

Selecting K Panel Only (95%) / (99%)

Selecting the Print Edge-to-Edge option

Selecting the Rotate 180 Degrees option

Selecting the Overlay option