Chapter 0
Manual Front Cover
MICROLINE
520/521 Printer Handbook
®
59256804
Printed in USA
Division of Oki America, Inc.
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
Chapter 1
Unpacking
Unpacking
Choose a sturdy table, desk or printer stand to place your printer on when you remove it from the carton.
Be sure to save all packing materials in case you need to ship the printer again. Check the box for these
contents:
1) Printer
2) Ribbon cartridge
3) Power cord
Interface cable and paper are sold separately.If any of these items is missing or damaged, see
Note:
your dealer immediately for a replacement.
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Remove The Protective Film
Remove The Protective Film
Peel the clear protective film from the carriage cover (1). Lift up on the ridged area at either end of the
carriage cover ( 2 ), and peel the clear protective film from the access cover ( 3 ). Press the carriage
cover back into place.
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Remove The Shipping Retainers
Remove The Shipping Retainers
Open the access cover ( 1 ) by grasping the tabs at either end and lifting. Remove the printhead shipping
retainer ( 2 ), leaving the cover open. Grasp the front edge of the paper separator ( 3 ) and pull it up.
Remove the styrofoam shipping retainer, then lower the paper separator and press it into place.
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Install (or Replace) The Ribbon Cartridge
Install (or Replace) The Ribbon Cartridge
Be sure to use only ribbons specifically for use with MICROLINE 520/521 printers. For best results,
Note:
use genuine OKIDATA ribbons,
With the access cover open, slide the printhead ( 1 ) to the center of the platen.
Part No. 52107001.
Caution!!!
If you're replacing the ribbon, lift up the cartridge at the end nearest the platen, then lift it out, and discard
it.
Remove the new ribbon cartridge from its packaging.
Holding the ribbon cartridge with the knob ( 2 ) facing up and the ribbon shield ( 3 ) facing the platen, fit
the grooves on either side at the back end of the cartridge over the pins on the ribbon plate ( 4 ). Lower
the front of the the cartridge over the printhead ( 5 ) until it snaps into place, then turn the knob ( 2 ) in the
direction of the arrow (clockwise) to take up the ribbon slack.
Printhead may be hot!!!
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ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
Connect to Power and Computer
Connect to Power and Computer
You must supply the cable for connecting your printer to your computer. A shielded cable is required in
order to ensure compliance of this equipment with FCC regulations.
Make sure both the printer and the computer are OFF. Plug the power cord into the back of the printer ( 1
). Plug the other end into a grounded outlet.
These instructions are for the standard parallel interface. If you have the optional serial interface, see the
instructions included with it.
Plug the interface cable into the partallel port on the back of the printer ( 2 ), and secure it in place with
the wire loops ( 3 ).
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Power Up
Power Up
Turn the printer on. The printhead will cross back and forth along the platen, and the pins will gently fire
to determine the printhead gap setting. The POWER light will come on. The ALARM light will also come
on, but don't be concerned: it's just telling you that there is no paper loaded.
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Chapter 2
Loading paper
Your printer has provision for
· Single sheets (top feed)
· Continuous-forms (rear feed)
You can also install options:
· Cut Sheet Feeder, for top feed, holds 100 sheets
· Push and/ or Pull Tractors, for bottom feed of continuous forms, including
- labels
- heavy card stock
- multi-part forms
See the instructions provided with the options for information on installing them andloading paper
Note:
with the option installed.
Your printers innovative, smart printhead automatically detects and adjusts to the thickness of the paper
you're using, so you don't have to fuss with setting the printhead gap when you change the type of paper
or print path youre using.
See Appendix A for more details on the types and sizes of print media you can use.(
)
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Loading Rear- Feed Paper
Loading Rear- Feed Paper
The rear-feed path is recommended for printing reports, etc., on single-thickness,
continuous-form paper. For graphics or charts, it's best to use the single-sheet paper path.
If you have any paper in the paper path, be sure to remove it from the path before
Note:
installing rear-feed paper!
Move the paper lever to the position marked REAR ( 1 ). Grasp the front edge of the paper
separator ( 2 ) and pull it up to access the tractors ( 3 ).
Pull up on the tractor lock levers ( 4 ) to release them, then open the tractor covers ( 5 ). Position
the right- hand tractor for the width of the paper you're loading. Pull the paper through the
opening between the printer and the rear cover, and place the first two holes on each side over
the tractor pins ( 6 ). Please note that an equal number of paper holes must be engaged on either
tractor in order to ensure proper paper feed.
The movement of the left tractor is limited to ensure that the paper will always contact
Note:
the paper sensor when loaded.
Close the tractor covers and adjust the left tractor to position the edge of the paper: reference
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marks ( 7 ) on the printer indicate the left edge position for the two most common paper sizes.
Lock the left tractor in place by pushing back on the lock lever. Adjust the right tractor so that the
paper holes are centered on the pins (careful if paper is stretched too tight or left too loose, it can
jam and cause problems), then lock the right tractor in place by pushing back on the lock lever.
Close the paper separator ( 8 ) and flip the wire feed guide ( 9 ) over onto the pull-up roller
assembly.
Note:
The wire feed guide keeps paper from curling back into the printer.
Push the FF/ LOAD button. The paper automatically feeds into the printer and the ALARM light
goes out. The printhead moves back and forth, gently firing the pins to sense the paper thickness
and set the printhead gap.Check the baseline for the Top of Form (TOF), indicated by the red line
on the clear plastic paper shield ( 10 ). If its OK, press the SEL button and you're ready to start
printing. If it needs adjustment, set the Top of Form following the instructions on page 16(
)
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Loading Single-Sheet Paper
Loading Single-Sheet Paper
The single sheet path is best for letterhead stationery, memos, and envelopes and is recommended for
printing graphs and charts because it provides the most accurate control of the paper.
If you have any continuous-form paper in the paper path, you must press the PARK button on the
Note:
front panel to remove it from the path before loading single sheets.
Make sure the printer is turned ON and deselected (SEL light off press SEL button to deselect if
necessary).
The ALARM light will remain on until paper is loaded.Move the paper lever to the position marked
Note:
TOP (1 )
Grasp the back of the paper separator and unsnap it from the housing, then swing it up into the singlesheet feed position ( 2 ), making sure that the wire feed guide is nestled in the separator. Adjust the
paper feed guides for the width of the paper and drop a sheet of paper into the separator ( 3 ). The paper
will automatically feed into the printer, and the printhead will move back and forth, gently firing the pins to
sense the paper thickness and set the printhead gap.
If the paper doesn't feed in properly, the "15" light on the control panel will begin flashing.
Note:
correct this, press theSHIFT and RESET buttons simultaneously, then reload the sheet.
Check the baseline for the Top of Form (TOF), indicated by the red line on the clear plastic paper shield (
Í ). If its OK, press the SEL button and youre ready to start printing. If it needs adjustment, set the Top of
Form following the instructions on the next page.
To
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Setting Top of Form
Setting Top of Form
Make sure the printer is deselected (SEL light off if necessary, press SEL button to deselect printer).
Hold down the SHIFT button ( 1 ) and press:
FF/ LOAD button ( 2 ) to move the paper up in micro increments (TOF lower on page), or
LF button ( 3 ) to move the paper down in micro increments (TOF higher on page).
The red line ( 4 ) on the clear plastic paper shield shows the baseline of the current printing position to
help you place the top of form.
When you're done setting the TOF, press the SEL button ( 5 ) to reselect the printer.
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Temporarily Changing Top of Form Setting
Temporarily Changing Top of Form Setting
To temporarily change the Top of Form setting for a particular print job, deselect the printer (press SEL
button) and press the LF button (1 ) until you reach the TOF position you want to use. The printer will
retain this setting until you turn it off.
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Resetting Top of Form to Default
Resetting Top of Form to Default
To reset the Top of Form to the factory default, turn off printer, then hold down the QUIET ( 2 ) and
PARK ( 3 ) buttons while turning printer back on.
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Tear Feature
Tear Feature
When you're using continuous forms with either the built-in rear-feed tractor or the optional bottom- feed
push tractor, you can use this feature to advance the forms up to the tear position so you can easily tear
off a printed sheet without wasting paper or readjusting the printer. To do this, press the TEAR button ( 1
) on the front panel.
The tear feature can not be used when the optional pull tractor is installed.
Note:
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Forms Tear- off Feature
Forms Tear-off Feature
Never Engage the Forms Tear-off when printing on labels!
Note:
The Forms Tear-off feature can be engaged to automatically move the paper up to the tear position after
the selected interval (500 milliseconds, 1 second, or 2 seconds). The page will stay in the tear-off position
until the printer receives data. It will then move down to the initial printing position.
This feature is normally turned off. To activate it:
1. Hold the SHIFT button ( 1 ) and press the SEL button ( 2 ) to enter the Menu mode.
2. Press the GROUP button ( 3 ) until the line
3. Press the SET button ( 4 ) until the time interval you wish to select prints .
4. Hold the SHIFT button ( 1 ) and press the SEL button ( 2 ) to exit the Menu mode and
save the setting.
Some programs pause occasionally while sending data. If the pause lasts more than the selected
interval, the paperwill advance to the tear-off position until more data is received. This extra paper
movement can cause uneven printregistration in graphics. If you have this problem, use the menu to
deactivate Forms Tear-Off.
If you have problems setting the Top of Form high enough on the page when using Forms Tear-Off, see
Problem Solving in Chapter 6.(
)
Rear Feed Form Tear- Off Off
prints.
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Paper Park Feature
Paper Park Feature
To switch from continuous form paper to another paper path, tear off the printed pages, then press the
PARK button ( 1 ). The continuous-form paper immediately retracts from the paper path.
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Switching Paper Paths
Switching Paper Paths
To switch to single-sheet feed, tear off any printed pages, then press PARK. Swing the wire guide up into
the paper separator, and swing the separator upright. Move the paper lever to TOP. Load single sheet
paper.To switch to continuous- form feed, press FF/ LOAD to remove single sheet from paper path if
needed. Lower the paper separator and swing the wire guide out. Move the paper lever to REAR or BOT,
as appropriate. Press FF/ LOAD.
When you switch paths, the printhead travels and gently fires pins to sense paper
Note:
thickness and set the gap.
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Clearing Paper Jams - Rear Feed Jams
Clearing Paper Jams
Note: Always turn the printer off before you turn the platen knob!
Clearing Rear Feed Jams
To clear a rear- feed paper jam, turn off printer then turn the platen knob to back the paper out of the
printer. Remove any ripped pieces of paper. Reload the paper, turn the printer back on and press the FF/
LOAD button.
Correcting for Continuing Rear-Feed Jams
If the paper keeps jamming, you probably have bits of paper stuck in the paper path. Turn off the printer.
Use the platen knob to back the paper out. Open the access cover and lift off the pull- up roller assembly
( 1 ). Lift the paper separator, open the tractors and remove the paper ( 2 ). Fold some continuous- feed
paper over three times to make a page four sheets thick and load it on the tractors ( 3 ). Use the platen
knob to draw the sheet around the platen: this brings any jammed bits of paper out. Back the sheet out,
replace the roller assembly, and reload regular paper. Close the access cover, turn the printer on, and
press FF/ LOAD.
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Clearing Single Sheet Feed Jams
Clearing Single Sheet Feed Jams
Turn the printer off, then rotate the platen knob to back the jammed paper out of the carriage. If
necessary, open the access cover and lift off the pull-up roller assembly ( 1 ) to provide access to remove
any ripped pieces from around the carriage.
Check the baseline for the Top of Form (TOF), indicated by the red line on the clear plastic paper shield (
4 ). If its OK, press the SEL button
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Chapter 3
Testing Your Printer: Rolling ASCII & Font Sample
Tests
After you've installed ribbon and paper, you're ready to run the self tests. Do this any time you want to
make sure the printer is functioning properly.
Font Sample Test
Hold down the LF button while turning on the printer to produce a limited sample of the available print
styles. When the test is complete (one page), the printer stops and the SEL light goes on.
Note: To stop the test before its done, press the SEL button.
Rolling ASCII Test
Hold down the QUIET button while turning on the printer to produce a continuous sample of the default
print style. To stop the test, press the SEL button.
Note: For wide carriage Model 521, be sure you have wide paper loaded!
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Chapter 4
Basic Terminology Printer Commands
Basic Terminology Printer Commands
Printer commands are signals sent by your computer to the printer which guide and control the operation.
They usually begin with the ESC character and can be sent in decimal, ASCII, or hexadecimal form.
Note: If youre using commercial software with an appropriate printer driver selected (see next page),
printer commandswill normally be sent to your printer by the software and you wont even need to think
about them.
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Emulations
Emulations
Your printer has three emulations:
· IBM Proprinter III (factory default)
· Epson FX
· OKIDATA Microline Standard
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Changing Emulations
Changing Emulations
Your printer is set at the factory for the IBM Proprinter III emulation. To change the emulation, enter the
Menu mode by holding the SHIFT button while pressing the SEL button. The following line will print:
Printer Control Emulation Mode IBM PPR
Press the SET button until the emulation you wish to select prints. Then exit the Menu and save your
setting by once again holding the SHIFT button while pressing the SEL button.
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Printer Drivers
Printer Drivers
Commercial software packages use printer drivers to control the appearance of printed documents. A
printer driver is a set of printer commands which cause the printer to perform various functions at the
request of the software. When you use your printer with a software package, you must use the software
to select a printer driver which is compatible with your printer (see next page)(
).
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Selecting a Printer Driver
Selecting a Printer Driver
The drivers in the table below are listed by decreasing compatibility with your printer: use one as close to
the top of the list as possible. If your software does not have a printer driver from near the top of the list,
call them to see if they have added any drivers to those supplied when you purchased your software.
Note: Check your software documentation for instructions on how to install a printer driver.
Printer Drivers
IBM Proprinter III Emulation
Okidata ML 520/ 1 IBM
IBM Proprinter III
IBM Proprinter II
IBM Proprinter
IBM Graphics Printer
Epson FX Emulation
Okidata ML 520/ 1 Epson
Epson FX850/ 1050
Epson FX86/ 286
Epson FX Epson EX800/ 1000
OKIDATA Microline Standard Emulation
Okidata Microline 520/ 521
Okidata Microline 320/ 321
Okidata Microline 292/ 293
Okidata Microline 192/ 193
Okidata Microline 182/ 183
Okidata Microline 92/ 93
Okidata Microline 82A/ 83A
OKIDATA drivers are available for Microsoft®WindowsTM 3.1, Microsoft Word 5.0/5.5/6.0, and for
Note:
WordPerfect®5.1/5.2/6.0: call the OKILINK®II BBS at (609) 234-5344 and download them, or mail your
request for a driver diskette(# MS-8838 for 3½ or # MS-8839 for 5¼) to OKIDATA, P.O. Box 4603,
Trenton, NJ 08650-9852.
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Chapter 5
Control Panel Indicator Lights
Control Panel Indicator Lights
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Control Panel Buttons: Print Mode
Control Panel Buttons: Print Mode
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Control Panel Buttons: Menu Mode
Control Panel Buttons: Menu Mode
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Print Mode
Print Mode
The seven buttons to the left on your control panel are multi-function buttons. In the print mode, they are
used to manipulate the paper (see the illustration on the first page of this chapter).The PRINT QUALITY
and CHARACTER PITCH buttons on the right side of the control panel are used to select the quality and
size of the printing.
The print quality and character pitch set by means of the front panel can be overridden by
Note:
commands sent by thecommercial software package from which you're printing a document. If you run
into this problem, see Problem Solving in Chapter 6 for information on how to correct it.()
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Selecting Print Quality
Selecting Print Quality
Press the PRINT QUALITY button successively until the light underneath the print quality you wish to
engage is lit:
Your printer also prints bar codes accessible through printer commands. For more information on
Note:
programming barcodes, mail your request for # MS- 8837 OKIDATA MICROLINE Reference Manual to
OKIDATA, P.O. Box 4603,Trenton, NJ 08650-9852.
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Selecting Character Pitch
Selecting Character Pitch
If the SI command is received from your software, the character pitch selected on the control panel
Note:
will be overridden by the SI command.
Character pitch determines the width of the individual characters and is measured in characters per inch
(cpi).
Press the CHARACTER PITCH button successively to page through the possible selections.
Epson and IBM emulations 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17 cpi, 20 cpi, or Proportional. The lights indicate
which pitch is selected.
OKIDATA Microline Standard emulation 10, 12, 15, 17, or 20 cpi, either non-proportional or
proportional: proportional is selected when both the light under the desired cpi and the light under
PROP are lit.
To reset the character pitch to the factory default (10 cpi), make sure the printer is deselected (SEL light
out), then hold the SHIFT button while pressing CHARACTER PITCH button.
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Available Fonts
Available Fonts
Typeface Spacing
NLQ Courier 10 cpi*, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17 cpi, 20 cpi, Proportional
NLQ Letter Gothic 10 cpi*, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17 cpi, 20 cpi, Proportional
Utility (Gothic) 10 cpi*, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17 cpi, 20 cpi, Proportional
High Speed Draft
(Gothic)
Bar Code Code 39, UPC A, UPC E, EAN 8, EAN 13,
10 cpi*, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17 cpi, 20 cpi
Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 128, Postnet
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Menu Mode
Menu Mode
When your printer is in the Menu Mode, you can use the front panel controls to change the
defaults for the printer parameters, including emulation, page length, line spacing, typeface, pitch,
etc. The changes you make in the Menu Mode will automatically be saved in your printer's
memory when you exit the Menu Mode and will be retained even if you turn the printer off.
Note:
have made in the menu will be lost.
If you are in the Menu Mode and turn the printer off without first exiting, any changes you
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The Menu Mode: Entering, Exiting and Reseting
Entering The Menu Mode
To place your printer in the Menu Mode hold the SHIFT button while pressing the SEL button. The MENU
light will come on and, if the printer was selected, the SEL light will go out.
Exiting The Menu Mode
MENU light will go out and the SEL light will come on.
Resetting The Menu
and LF buttons while turning it back on.
To exit the Menu Mode, hold the SHIFT button and press the SEL button. The
To reset the Menu to the factory defaults, turn the printer off, then hold the SEL
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Sample Default Menu Printout
Sample Default Menu Printout
Note: To print out a list of your current Menu settings, enter the Menu Mode, then press the PRINT
button.
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Summary of Menu Settings
Summary of Menu Settings
The table below details all possible entries in the printer Menu. The defaults are the
Settings.
Group Item Settings
Printer Control
Font
Font Pitch 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi, 20 cpi
Font Proportional spacing No,Yes
Font Style Normal,Italics
Font Size Single,Double
Symbol Sets
Symbol Sets Language Set American,French, German, British,
Emulation Mode IBM PPR, Epson FX, ML
Print Mode Utility, NLQ Courier, NLQ Gothic, HSD
Character Set Set I,Set II
Danish I, Swedish, Italian, Spanish I,
Japanese, Norwegian, Danish II,
Spanish II, Latin American, French
Canadian, Dutch, Publisher
First Item in the
Symbol Sets Zero Character Slashed, Unslashed
Symbol Sets Code Page USA, Canada French, Multilingual,
Portugal, Norway
Rear Feed
Rear Feed Form Tear- Off Off, 500ms, 1 sec, 2 sec
Rear Feed Skip Over Perforation No, Yes
Rear Feed Page Width* 13.6, 8
Rear Feed Page Length 11,11- 2/ 3, 12, 14, 17, 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5,
Rear Feed Gap Control Auto Gap,Semi Auto Gap, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
Bottom Feed
Bottom Feed Form Tear- Off Off, 500ms, 1 sec, 2 sec
Bottom Feed Skip Over Perforation No, Yes
Bottom Feed Page Width* 13.6, 8
Bottom Feed Page Length 11,11- 2/ 3, 12, 14, 17, 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7,
Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI
6,7,8,8.5
7, 8, 9
Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI
8, 8.5
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Bottom Feed Gap Control Auto Gap,Semi Auto Gap, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9
Top Feed
Top Feed Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid
Top Feed Page Width* 13.6, 8
Top Feed Page Length 11,11- 2/ 3, 12, 14, 17, 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7,
Top Feed Gap Control Auto Gap,Semi Auto Gap, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
Top Feed Wait Time 1 sec, 500 ms, 2 sec
Set- Up
Set- Up 7 or 8 Bit Graphics• 8, 7
Set- Up Receive Buffer Size 64K, 1 Line, 32K
Set- Up Paper Out Override No, Yes
Set- Up Print Registration 0, 0.05 mm Left, 0.10 mm Left, 0.15 mm
Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI
8, 8.5
7, 8, 9
Graphics Uni-directional, Bi-directional
Left, 0.20 mm Left, 0.25 mm Left, 0.25
mm Right, 0.20 mm Right, 0.15 mm
Right,
0.10 mm Right, 0.05 mm Right
Set- Up Operator Panel
Function
Set- Up Reset Inhibit No, Yes
Set- Up Print Suppress Effective Yes, No
Set- Up Auto LF No, Yes
Set- Up Auto CR• No, Yes
Set- Up Print DEL Code• No, Yes
Set- Up SI Select Pitch (10 cpi)• 17.1 CPI, 15 CPI
Set- Up SI Select Pitch (12 cpi)• 20 CPI, 12 CPI
Set- Up Time Out Print Valid, Invalid
Set- Up Auto Select No, Yes
Set- Up Printhead Gap Adjust 0, -1, +1
Parallel I/ F
Parallel I/ F Pin 18 +5V, Open
Parallel I/ F Auto Feed XT© Invalid, Valid
I- Prime Buffer Print, Buffer Clear, Invalid
Full Operation, Limited Operation
Applicable only when optional Bottom- Feed Push Tractor is installed. * Model 521 only
© Appears only when Epson LQ emulation is selected. Appears only when IBM Proprinter emulation is
selected. Appears only when IBM Proprinter emulation is selected.
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Explanation of Menu Items
Explanation of Menu Items
These explanations are in alphabetical sequence. Line Spacing, Form Tear-Off, Skip Over Perforation,
Page Length, and Gap Control appear several times in the menu.
7 or 8 Bit Graphics.
printed.
Auto CR (IBM).
received at the end of the line, change the setting to Yes.
Auto LF.
Yes.
Auto Feed XT (Epson).
change the setting to Valid.
Auto Select.
paper so that you can set the Top of Form. If you always use the same Top of Form setting, change this
setting to Yes.
Bottom Margin.
Caution!! This can cause loss of data and damage the printhead.
(factory default) or IBM Set II.
Code Page.
Emulation Mode
Microline Standard.
If your printout is consistently double spaced, select No (factory default); if it overprints, choose
With the factory default (No) engaged, the printer will remain deselected after you load in
Choose USA (factory default), Canada French, Multilingual, Portugal, or Norway.
Choose graphics your system uses: 7 or 8 (factory default) dots in each column
If you wish to have the printer automatically add a carriage return when a Line Feed is
If your system uses pin 14 of the parallel interface to control automatic line feed,
Change the setting to Invalid if you want printer to ignore the bottom margin setting.
Character Set.
. Choose IBM PPR (default) for IBM Proprinter III, Epson FX, or ML for OKIDATA
Choose IBM Set I
Form Tear- Off.
printer to wait before advancing the paper.
Gap Control.
thickness on first page: for single sheets, it also rechecks each page while printing. Semi Auto Gap is
similar; but it does not recheck single sheets while printing. You can also choose a fixed headgap setting
of 1 (narrowest) to 9 (widest).
Graphics.
in the Menu.
I- Prime.
(factory default): prints out buffer contents before resetting. Buffer Clear: dumps buffer contents
immediately. Invalid: ignores I-Prime signal.
Language Set.
language.
Line Spacing.
Operator Panel Function.
CHARACTER PITCH buttons when several people are using the printer and you don't want these
settings changed from the control panel.
Note: This feature also prevents normal access to the Menu. To access the Menu, turn the printer off,
Sets what the printer does when it receives the I- Prime signal from software. Buffer Print
Choose 500ms, 1 sec, or 2 sec to turn this feature on and select a time interval for the
Determines how the printhead gap is set. Auto Gap automatically determines paper
Change to bi-directional graphics for faster printing: optimize by the Print Registration setting
Replaces certain symbols with special characters used in the respective foreign
Change from 6 to 8 lpi (lines per inch) to get more lines per page.
Change to Limited Operation to deactivate PRINT QUALITY and
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then hold down theSEL key while turning the printer on.
Page Length.
Page Width (Model 521 only).
Paper Out Override.
to override the detector. Caution!! This can cause loss of data and damage the printhead.
Pin 18.
Pitch.
Print DEL Code (Microline Standard).
as a solid box.
Print Mode.
faster draft printing, or HSD for fastest printing (lowest quality).
Print Registration.
printing.
Print Suppress Effective.
suppress mode, change the setting to No.
Printhead Gap Adjust.
consistently printing too light, change the setting to -1; if its too dark, change the setting to +1.
Sets the signal on pin 18 to +5V (factory default) or Open..
Choose character width measured in characters per inch (cpi).
Selects the length of the paper you're using.
Choose 8 for letter- size paper.
Senses when less than one inch of paper remains and stops printing. Choose Yes
Change to Yes if you wish to print the DEL code (decimal 127)
Choose NLQ Courier or NLQ Gothic font for letter quality printing, utility (factory default) for
Change the setting as required to obtain the best registration for bi- directional
If you system uses the DC1 and DC3 codes for something other than the print
Fine tunes the automatic setting of the printhead gap. If your printer is
Proportional Spacing.
Receive Buffer Size.
received data. 1 Line will tie up your computer while printing, but if you abort the print job, the printer will
stop printing much sooner.
Reset Inhibit.
SI Select Pitch, 10 CPI (IBM only).
be engaged when the printer control panel is set for 10 cpi and the SI command is received.
SI Select Pitch, 12 CPI (IBM only).
engaged when the printer control panel is set for 12 cpi and the SI command is received.
Double for double width and height printing.
Skip Over Perforation.
within 1 of the bottom. Keep it set to No if your software has its own page formatting controls.
Style.
Change to Italics if you want the printed characters to be slanted.
Time Out Print.
printer, change the setting to Invalid to keep your printer from inadvertently dumping the received data
while it's waiting for more.
Wait Time.
data before moving to the form tear- off position.
Selecting Yes prevents your software from resetting your printers settings.
If your software spends a long time processing between portions of data it feeds to the
Sets the amount of time 500 ms, 1 sec (factory default), or 2 sec the printer will wait for more
Change the setting to Yes to engage proportional spacing of characters.
64K (factory default), 1 Line, or 32K. Selects amount of memory devoted to holding
Sets the pitch (17.1 the factory default or 15 characters per inch) to
Sets the pitch (20 the factory default or 12 characters per inch) to be
Size.
Change to
Change to Yes if you want the printer to go to the next page when it comes
Zero Character.
letter O, change the setting to Unslashed.
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
If you dont wish the printer to use a slash to distinguish the number 0 from the capital
Chapter 6
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Problem:
Solution:
printer. If you're using a power strip, make sure it's turned on. Check to be sure that the fuse hasn't blown
or that the circuit breaker hasn't tripped.
Problem:
Solutions:
printer.(2) The printer cable may not be securely connected. Check the cable to be sure that it is properly
connected to both the PC and the printer.(3) If you have installed the serial I/ F board, it may not be firmly
seated. Check to be sure that the board is firmly seated in the printer.
Problem:
Solution:
printer.To check the emulation selected, make sure paper is loaded, then press the SEL and SHIFT
buttons simultaneously to enter the MENU on your printer. Next, press the GROUP button: this will print
the emulation selected.If the emulation is not the one you want to use, press the SET button to change it
to the one you want before exiting the MENU (to exit, press SEL and SHIFT buttons).If the emulation is
correct, check your software documentation on how to select a printer driver, then check to be sure that
you have selected one of the drivers listed for that emulation in Chapter 4(
the top of the list, the more compatible it will be with your printer. If your software doesn't have any of the
indicated drivers available, check with the software manufacturer to see if they have added any additional
drivers since you purchased your software.If you have embedded any printer commands in your
software, check to be sure that you entered them correctly.
Problem:
Solution:
the printhead to the center of the platen and lift off the ribbon cartridge. If the ribbon shield is loose,
secure it in place properly. If it's missing, locate it and reinstall it.
Nothing happens when I turn on the printer.
The printer may not be plugged in. Check the power cord connection to the outlet and to your
The printer doesn't print when the computer sends data.
(1) The printer may be deselected. If the SEL light is out, press the SEL button to select the
I'm getting strange symbols, incorrect fonts, etc., when I try to print a document.
The printer driver you have engaged does not agree with the emulation selected for your
). The closer the driver is to
I've installed a brand new ribbon and the printing is smeared and streaked.
The plastic ribbon shield is either loose or missing. Move
(caution printhead may be HOT!)
Problem:
Solution:
adjustment. To do this:
1. Hold SHIFT button and press SEL button to enter Menu mode.
2. Press GROUP button until Setup group prints.
3. Press ITEM button until Printhead Gap appears.
4. Press SEL button to change setting. The default setting is 0. If the printing is sometimes lighter,
change the setting to -1; if it's sometimes darker, change it to +1.
5. Hold SHIFT button and press SEL button to save setting and exit Menu mode.
Problem:
Solution:
trying to load paper again, check to be sure that the paper lever is in the correct position (BOT, TOP,
REAR) for the path you're using.If the paper lever is in the correct position and you're using rear feed, lift
up the paper separator and check to be sure that the paper is properly on the tractors and has not
jammed up.If the paper lever is in the correct position and you're using the optional bottom- feed push
tractor, check the bottom tractor unit to be sure that the paper is properly on the tractors and has not
jammed up before entering the printer.Once the paper is correctly loaded, press and release the SEL
button, then hold the SHIFT button and press the RESET (Character Pitch) button.
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
I see printing on the right side of the page which is lighter or darker than the rest of the print.
Although the printer automatically sets the head gap, it may sometimes need minor
The Alarm light is on and the Character Pitch 15 light is flashing.
This indicates a paper loading error. To stop the flashing light, press the SEL button. Before
Problem:
and LF/MicroFeed Down buttons.
Solution:
engaged when you set the TOF. To correct for this, you must reset the TOF with the Forms Tear- Off
disengaged, as follows:
1. Hold SHIFT button and press SEL button to enter Menu mode.
2. Use GROUP and ITEM buttons to reach Rear Feed Form Tear- Off entry and/ or Bottom Feed Form
Tear- Off entry, depending on paper path( s) you're using.
3. Use SET button to change Form Tear- Off setting to Off.
4. Hold SHIFT button and press SEL button to exit Menu mode.
5. Press SEL button to deselect printer.
6. Hold SHIFT button while pressing LF/ Micro Shift Down button to set TOF at desired position.
7. Hold SHIFT button and press SEL button to enter Menu mode.
8. Use GROUP and ITEM buttons to reach Rear Feed Form Tear- Off entry and/ or Bottom Feed Form
Tear- Off.
9. Use SET button to change Form Tear- Off to desired setting (500ms, 1 sec or 2 sec).
10. Hold SHIFT button and press SEL button to exit Menu mode.
The first line is printing too far down on the page and I can't get it any higher using the SHIFT
The setting for the Top of Form (TOF) will be restricted if you have the Forms Tear- Off feature
Problem:
Solution:
and release the SEL button, then hold the SHIFT button and press the RESET (Character Pitch) button.
The Alarm light will come on and you'll be able to load paper.
Problem:
Solution:
an I- Prime signal to the printer. The initialization string contains codes that reset the printer to a default
set of features: otherwise the printer might accidentally print using features set for a previous job. These
codes override panel or MENU settings. To set your printer to ignore the reset code, enter the printer
MENU (hold SHIFT button while pressing SEL/ MENU button) and change the Reset Inhibit item (in the
Set- Up group) to Yes. Please note that while this will stop the reset code from resetting your printer,
other codes in the initialization string may still override the printer MENU and/ or front panel settings. The
I- Prime signal is sent over the parallel interface (pin 31) and will automatically override any settings you
have made using the front panel buttons. To eliminate this problem, enter the program MENU (hold
SHIFT button while pressing SEL/ MENU button) and change the I- Prime item (in the Parallel I/ F group)
to Invalid.
Problem:
Solution:
If the printer is part of a customized system or if it is used by a number of people, the system manager
may have used this option to make sure the printer is always set properly.
Problem:
Solution:
Try moving the single sheet paper guides on the separator together so that the paper rests on the guides
rather than on the separator itself. Problem Solving & Maintenanc
I need to load paper, but the Alarm light is not on and I cant load paper.
If the Alarm light is off, the printer thinks it has paper loaded. To correct this problem, press
My word processor files don't print the way I have the MENU and front panel set.
Before sending a file to the printer, many word processors send either an initialization string or
The Print Quality and Character Pitch buttons on the front panel won't work.
The Operator Panel Function item on the printer MENU can be used to disable these buttons.
Static electricity causes the paper to stick.
In cold, dry weather, static charges can build that make the paper cling to the paper separator.
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
Maintenance Cleaning the Housing
Maintenance Cleaning the Housing
You should clean the printer every six months (or after about 300 hours of operation).Turn the printer
OFF and remove the paper from the path. Open the access cover and remove the pull- up roller
assembly ( 1 ). Use a clean, dry cloth to dust the area around the carriage shaft and platen
( 2 ). Be sure to remove any loose particles of paper. Reinstall the pull- up roller assembly and close the
access cover.
Note: Never use solvents or strong detergents on the cabinet they could damage the housing.
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
Appendix A
Specifications
Printhead
Print Speed Mode
Characters per Line (CPL) Setting
Emulations
Interface
Graphics Resolution
9 pins, 0.34 mm diameter, automatically adjusting to paper thickness, with thermal protection
High Speed Draft (HSD) 427 cps
Utility 320 cps
Near Letter Quality (NLQ) 80 cps
10 cpi 80 cpl 136 cpl
12 cpi 96 cpl 163 cpl
15 cpi 120 cpl 204 cpl
17.1 cpi 137 cpl 233 cpl
20 cpi 160 cpl 272 cpl
Epson FX, IBM Proprinter, and OKIDATA Microline Standard co-resident
Standard: Centronics parallel
Optional: RS- 232C serial
Emulation Resolution
Epson/ IBM Single Density: 144 ´ 240 dpi
OKIDATA Microline Standard Single Density: 144 ´ 288 dpi
Characters per second at 10 Cpi
ML520 ML521
Double Density: 120 ´ 144 dpi
Quadruple Density: 72 ´ 120 dpi
Double Density: 144 ´ 144 dpi
Quadruple Density: 72 ´ 72 dpi
Resident Fonts Print Quality
Near Letter Quality Courier, Gothic
Utility Gothic
High Speed Draft Gothic
Bar Codes
Postnet
Receive Buffer Size
Reliability Parameter
density
mode at 25%
Paper Width
Paper Weight
Paper Thickness
Code 39, UPC A, UPC E, EAN 8, EAN 13, Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 128 (A, B, and C),
64K
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) 6000 hours at 25% duty cycle and 35% page
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) 15 minutes
Printhead life 200 million characters average in 10 cpi utility
Ribbon Life (on average, 10 cpi utility) 4 million characters
Minimum: 3 Maximum: Model 520, 10 Model 521, 16
12 to 24 lb.
Rear feed: 0.014 (0.36 mm) Bottom feed: 0.017 (0.44 mm)
Available Fonts
Reliability
duty and 35% page density
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
Paper Specifications
Dimensions (W
Weight
Environmental Requirements
Electrical requirements
volts ac or 240 (+ 10%) volts ac, 50/ 60 Hz ( ±2%)
Specifications subject to change without notice.
´ ´ D ´ ´
Model 520: 17 ´ 15 ´ 6½ inches (431 ´ 380 ´ 166 mm) Model
521: 23 ´ 15 ´ 6½ inches (585 ´ 380 ´ 166 mm)
Model 520: 17 lb. 10 oz. (8 kg)
Model 521: 23 b. 2 oz. (10.5 kg)
H)
Parameter Range
Operating Temperature 41 to 104° F (5 to 40° C)
Storage Temperature 14 to 122° F (- 10 to +50° C)
Operating Humidity 20 to 80% RH
Storage Humidity 5 to 95% RH
120 volts ac (+ 5.5%, -15%), 60 Hz (± 2%) Also available for 230 (+ 6%,- 10%)
ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
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