Polaroid P3000 User Manual

P3000 Printer Guide

566372-001 Rev A

January 2006

Information resources for the P3000 ID Card Printer

Installation To install one printer to a PC using a USB cable, see the

Installation Map, shipped at the top of the printer carton.
For detailed installation information or for special
situations (such as network installation), see e-Guide/
InfoCent.chm on the driver CD-ROM.

Message Help If you see a message, click Help on the message box.

Help topics are short and to the point.

Printer Guide This Printer Guide contains operating information for the

printer and driver.

Info Central For in-depth information about using the printer, install

Info Central on a Windows PC, then click the icon on the

desktop. (Insert the PCID Driver CD-ROM and choose
User Information to install Info Central.)

FAQs

Dealer

Customer
Care

The Support and Service area at www.polaroid-id.com provides a
area where you can search for information about a problem you experience.

For help with questions not addressed by other P3000 ID Card Printer information,
you purchased your product from for technical support. If your reseller is not available or cannot assist
you, please contact Polaroid Commercial ID Systems at 1-866-484-0611. Please make sure you have
the serial number of the printer available at the time of your call.

Contact
number of the printer available at the time of your call.

Polaroid Commercial ID Systems at 1-866-484-0611. Please make sure your have the serial

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

contact the Reseller

Contents

About the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Loading cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Loading print ribbon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Check the PC connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Power on the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Status light. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Opening Printing Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Open the Printer Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Cleaning the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Printer supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Getting the most out of your printer . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Site requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Legal Notices (FCC) . . . . . . . . . . .

Inside back cover

539251-401 Rev A Page iii

About the printer

The outside of the printer

Printer Cover.

Latch: Lift the latch to open the printer cover.

Input hopper: Lift the cover to load blank cards.

Output hopper: Remove completed cards.

Ready button: Push to pause or unpause the printer.

Page 1

The status light helps you understand printer operation.
See ”Status light” on page11 for details.

Ports are located on the left side of the printer.

Manual Advance Knob: Use to release a card in
the printer or to turn rollers.

Power Receptacle: Plug in the power supply to
power on the printer.

Cable Guides: Hold the data cable securely.

Optional Smart Card USB Port: See “Features
and options” on page 4.

Optional Smart Card Serial Port: See “Features
and options” on page 4.

USB Data Port: Connect the data cable to the
printer. All printers use this port.

Page 2

The inside of the printer

Cover Arm: Holds the cover and printhead cartridge in place.

Printhead Cartridge: Applies the image to the card.

Print Ribbon Cartridge (shown with color print ribbon).

Printer Label: Includes the serial number and model information
(located on the left side of the printer and not visible in this drawing).

Cleaning roller (not visible in this drawing): Removes dust and debris
from cards.

Tip: Lift the latch to open the printer and see inside.

1

1

Page 3

Features and options

Features and options are identified on the printer label.

• Printers with “U” printing can print one color (monochrome). Printers
with “C” printing can print in full color or monochrome (with specific
ribbons).

• All P3000 ID Card printers use a USB connection.

• A magnetic stripe module can be a three-track (IAT) module. The
optional magnetic stripe module is visible inside the printer.

• An optional smart card module can be one of the following:

— Combination smart card reader (SC347 on the label): SCM

331 DI (dual interface) reader. Visible inside the printer.
Includes a USB port.

— Contact station (SC400 on the label). Visible inside the

printer. Includes a serial port.

Page 4

Loading cards

1 Open the input hopper cover.

2 Remove cards from the original package.

Tips: Handling cards

• Cards can stick together: Slide or fan cards to

separate the edges.

• Do not touch the surface of cards before printing them.
(Oils on hands will reduce printing quality.)

• Handle cards by the edges or wear gloves.

• Orient all cards the same way.

Page 5

3 Place the cards in the input hopper.

The diagram shows the typical locations for the
magnetic stripe and smart card chip.

4 Push the input hopper cover closed until it

latches.

See Info Central for current information about cards to use in the printer.

Page 6