Printronix SL5000e User Manual

RFID Labeling Reference Manual

SL5000e and T5000e SR

Smart Label RFID Thermal Printers

This Quick Setup Guide contains a CD-ROM with

the following materials:

• The User’s Manual

• Programmer’s Reference Manuals

• Useful utility programs

The CD-ROM is located in a plastic pocket in the back cover.

Do not discard this guide. If you move or pack the printer in the future, you will need to follow the instructions in this guide.

For technical assistance, contact your

Distributor/VAR/Reseller for service.

For further assistance, contact the Printronix Customer Support Center.

The Customer Support Center offers technical support with:

• Installation

• Configuration and Setup

• Operation and Supplies Loading

• Specifications of Proper Print Media and Ribbons

• Answers to Post-Sales Service Support Questions

Printronix Customer Support Center contact information:

Americas (714) 368-2686 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (31) 24 6489 410 Asia Pacific (65) 6548 4114 Web site: http://www.printronix.com/public/servicessupport/default.aspx

Genuine Printronix Supplies:

Americas (800) 733-1900 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (33) 1 46 25 1900 Asia Pacific (65) 6548 4116 or (65) 6548 4182 Web site: http://www.printronix.com/public/supplies/default.aspx

Or visit the Printronix web site at www.printronix.com

SL5000e and T5000e SR Smart Label RFID Thermal Printers

RFID Labeling Reference Manual

Printronix makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding this material, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Printronix shall not be held responsible for errors contained herein or any omissions from this material or for any damages, whether direct, indirect, incidental or consequential, in connection with the furnishing, distribution, performance or use of this material. The information in this manual is subject to change without notice.

This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. No part of this document may be reproduced, copied, translated or incorporated in any other material in any form or by any means, whether manual, graphic, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Printronix.

Trademark Acknowledgements

Alien and Alien Technology are registered trademarks of Alien Technology Corporation.

Manhattan Associates is a registered trademark of Manhattan Associates, Inc.

Matrics is a registered trademark of Matrics, Inc.

Printronix, PGL, and PrintNet are registered trademarks of Printronix, Inc.

Rafsec is a registered trademark of Rafsec.

SL5000e and T5000e are trademarks of Printronix, Inc.

Uniform Code Council, Inc. is a registered trademark of Uniform Code Council, Inc.

Zebra and ZPL are trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corporation.

1 RFID Smart Label Application

And Reference Notes7

Overview............................................................................... 7

What To Expect When Running Your RFID Application....... 9

Factors Affecting Smart Label Performance .................. 9

Overstruck Smart Labels................................................ 9

Smart Label Characteristics ......................................... 10

Transitioning From UCC/GTIN Applications Using

Printronix Software Migration Tools (SMT) ......................... 11

How Printronix Makes It Easy ...................................... 11

How It Works................................................................ 11

How To Order More Smart Labels...................................... 12

Printronix Professional Services ......................................... 12

What We Can Do ......................................................... 12

Contact Information ...................................................... 12

Hardware/Infrastructure Considerations ............................. 13

Useful Industry Web Links.................................................. 14

Reference Material ....................................................... 14

2 Smart Label Development....................... 15

Overview............................................................................. 15

RFID CONTROL Menu....................................................... 16

RFID CONTROL Menu Items ...................................... 18

Admin User Menu Items............................................... 21

RFID PGL Commands........................................................ 24

RFWTAG...................................................................... 24

RFRTAG ...................................................................... 30

VERIFY ........................................................................ 32

Write Tag...................................................................... 36

Read Tag ..................................................................... 38

Table of Contents

RFID PPI1 Commands ........................................................39

Get Tag Unique ID ........................................................39

Set Tag Type ................................................................39

Read Tag ......................................................................40

Write Tag ......................................................................41

Host Verification ............................................................42

PPI1 EPC Programming Examples...............................43

Software Migration Tools (SMT)..........................................44

Tools List.......................................................................44

Selecting The Tools ......................................................46

Error Messages ...................................................................47

Troubleshooting...................................................................48

1 RFID Smart Label

Overview

Application And Reference Notes

NOTE: For the latest version of this reference manual, visit the the

Services & Support page at www.printronix.com.

This manual covers the following products:

• Printronix SL5000e DK Smart Label Developer's Kit

• Printronix SL5000e MP Multi-protocol RFID printer, supporting

Class 0/0+, Class 1, and Class 1.19 RFID tags and labels

• Printronix SL5000e C1 Class 1 RFID printer, supporting

Class 1 RFID tags and labels

• Printronix T5000e SR Smart Ready RFID printer, upgradeable

with either:

• SLMP-Kit Multi-protocol Smart Label Upgrade kit,

supporting Class 0/0+, Class 1, and Class 1.19 RFID tags and labels

• SLC1-Kit Class 1 Smart Label Upgrade Kit, supporting

Class 1 RFID tags and labels

Chapter 1 Overview

The Printronix SL5000e DK Smart Label Developer’s Kit contains:

• SL5000e MP multiprotocol RFID printer

• Integrated RFID UHF encoder supporting Class 0/0+, Class 1,

and Class 1.19 RFID tags and labels

• Software Migration Tools that permit the seamless encoding of

smart labels

• Media starter kit (100 4 inch x 6 inch standard labels, 50 m

8500 thermal premium wax resin ribbon, and a printhead cleaning pen)

• 1000 Class 1 RFID smart labels

• One 625 m thermal premium wax ribbon

• Network interface card, which includes Printronix’s PrintNet

Enterprise, a remote network printer management software application.

• Programming manuals (CD)

• RFID Labeling Reference Manual (this manual)

• Application and reference notes (this chapter)

• Technical support

The intent of the kit is to provide a complete environment for the printing and encoding of RFID smart labels right out of the box. Printronix has specifically designed this kit to help you fast track your RFID printer application through the use of a suite of Software Migration Tools (SMT).

Factors Affecting Smart Label Performance

What To Expect When Running Your RFID Application

Factors Affecting Smart Label Performance

Smart labels are based on an EEPROM technology that requires some time to be programmed. You may notice this minor pause between labels. This time is necessary to better ensure consistent quality and improved reliability.

When dealing with smart labels, it is possible that an occasional RFID tag may need to be written and verified more than once (retry) before being considered acceptable. In this event each retry time will be added to the inter-label pause.

Static electricity can damage the smart labels. Open the media cover of the printer and touch an unpainted metal part of the printer before you handle smart labels. This will discharge any static electricity that may have built up on your hands.

Overstruck Smart Labels

If an RFID tag within a smart label is deemed unacceptable after execution of the defined number of retries, what occurs next depends upon the Error Handling setting. See “Error Handling” on page 18.

Chapter 1 What To Expect When Running Your RFID Application

Smart Label Characteristics

IMPORTANT

Purchase additional smart labels directly from Printronix to assure the highest level of performance and reliability. See “How To Order More Smart Labels” on page 12.

For a list of currently supported tag types, download the certified smart labels brochure available at www.printronix.com.

Currently supported smart labels have the following characteristics:

General Tag Type

• UHF 915 MHz radio frequency

Technology Tag Type

• EPC Class 0 tags – 64 data bits Read Only

• EPC Class 0 tags – 96 data bits Read Only

• EPC Class 0+ tags – 64 data bits Read/Write

• EPC Class 0+ tags – 96 data bits Read/Write

NOTE: For Class 0+ tags, the AWID multi-protocol reader used by

Printronix enforces the EPC format in the following manner:

• For 96–bit data, the two most significant bits must be 0.

• For 64–bit data, the two most significant bits must be 1.

• EPC Class 1 tags – 64 data bits Read/Write

• EPC Class 1 tags – 96 data bits Read/Write

• EPC Class 1.19 tags – 96 data bits Read/Write

Label Size

4 x 2, 4 x 4, 4 x 6, 4 x 8 inch label stock

Inlay Style

• 4 x 2, 4 x 4, 4 x 6, 4 x 8 inch label stock

• Alien

• 3 x 3 inch Rafsec

• 4 x 6 inch Matrics

• Number of labels per roll will vary depending on the label length

Squiggle or M-Tag inlays

#313, #342, #450, #504

X1020, X2020

How Printronix Makes It Easy

Transitioning From UCC/GTIN Applications Using Printronix Software Migration Tools (SMT)

It is likely that your software is already set up to create bar codes. You may have also spent a lot of time creating compliance label templates & integrating them into your system. The Smart Label Developer’s Kit Software Migration Tools will allow you to effortlessly transition from printing compliance labels to smart labels.

How Printronix Makes It Easy

If you are printing bar codes now, you can print smart labels — no change to your host data stream or existing compliance templates is required.

How It Works

A set of Software Migration Tools has been created to intercept the bar code data in the host data stream and copy the data to a smart label RFID tag according to a set of rules. Each tool has been designed for a specific end-use application. By simply selecting the desired Software Migration Tool from the printer’s control panel, you automatically enable the printer to create an RFID smart label from your existing software application even if it does not have the functionality to program RFID tags. The tools include:

• GTIN: Copies the Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN)

bar code data for case and pallet labels onto the smart label’s RFID tag.

• EAN-8, EAN13, UPCA, and UCC128: These tools copy the

data from their respective bar code symbologies to a smart label’s RFID tag. This enables the achievement of supply-chain efficiencies with RFID-ready trading partners while at the same time remaining compatible with those who are not.

Chapter 1 How To Order More Smart Labels

• EPC: This tool allows EPC data to be directly encoded into the

smart label’s RFID tag. Simply have your existing software application write the desired EPC number to a Code 3 of 9 barcode. The printer will then write the EPC data to the RFID tag without printing the bar code.

The existing toolset will meet the needs of many RFID early adopters. If you have a requirement for a Software Migration Tool not included in this kit, feel free to contact Printronix.

To select and use the tools, see “Software Migration Tools (SMT)” on page 44.

How To Order More Smart Labels

To order more RFID smart labels, contact Printronix: (800) 733-1900 www.printronix.com

Printronix Professional Services

What We Can Do

Printronix can partner with you on your RFID pilot project to make your existing software applications RFID/smart label capable. We specialize in smart label print and apply configuration and integration, RFID pilot implementation, and transition from RFID pilots to full production rollouts.

Contact Information

Printronix Customer Support Center

(714) 368-2686 Ask for Professional Services Support

Hardware/Infrastructure Considerations

Once your smart labels have been applied to their target container or pallet you will need external readers to track them through your supply chain. Such readers are typically networked devices that are deployed at key points in the warehouse or distribution center to track incoming and outgoing packages. The readers are managed through a server for gathering and filtering all the RFID information. Readers may have multiple antennas to maximize read range and reliability.

The readers you purchase must be compatible with the smart labels programmed by the printer. Specifically, they should be EPC Class 0, Class 0+, Class 1, and Class 1.19 compliant. Fixed position readers and their antennas can be purchased from companies such as Alien Technology (www.alientechnology.com). Handheld readers with integrated antennas can be purchased from AWID (www.awid.com).

The data that are gathered by the reader servers must be managed for tracking and archiving purposes. Software applications that perform these tasks are available from companies such as Manhattan Associates

(www.manh.com).

Contact Information

Chapter 1 Useful Industry Web Links

Useful Industry Web Links

Reference Material

Printronix, Inc.

www.printronix.com

Alien Technology Corporation

www.alientechnology.com

Applied Wireless Identifications Group, Inc.

www.awid.com

Auto-ID Labs

www.autoidlabs.org

EPC Tag Data Translation

www.autoidlabs.org/cambridge/TDS

EPCglobal, Inc.

www.epcglobalinc.org

RFID Journal

www.rfidjournal.com

Uniform Code Council, Inc.

www.uc-council.org

2 Smart Label

Overview

Development

This chapter describes how to use the RFID encoder. The RFID encoder is designed to be transparent to the printer operation. It provides the capability of programming smart labels (with embedded RFID tags) while printing the label format. The smart labels are provided with the printer or purchased separately from Printronix.

There are several ways to program RFID tags in smart labels:

• Use the Software Migration Tools (SMT) to enable the printer to

automatically create RFID commands from your existing bar code commands. These tools are described on page 44.

• Incorporate RFID commands into new or existing Printronix

• Incorporate RFID commands into new or existing ZPL™

PGL

programs. Command details start on page 24.

programs. By selecting the Printronix PPI1 emulation you can seamlessly upgrade from Zebra™ printers. Command details start on page 39.

Chapter 2 RFID CONTROL Menu

RFID CONTROL Menu

RFID CONTROL

RFID Reader

Tag Type

Error Handling

Label Retry

Max Retry Error

Tag Write Cnt

Failed Tag Cnt

Clear Tag Stat

RFID Test

Enable* Disable

Alien Squig 64

Alien Squig 96 Alien M-TAG 64 Alien M-TAG 96

RAF Omni 313 64 RAF Omni 342 96 Matrics1020 64

Matrics1020 96 Matrics2020 64 Matrics2020 96

RAFUCode 450 96

Overstrike* None

10* 1 to 10

Enable* Disable

Stop

Notes:

* = Default.

Italicized items appear only when Admin User is set to Enable (in the PRINTER CONTROL menu).

Display item only.

Appears only if Tag Type is set to Matrics2020 64

or Matrics2020 96.

PreErase Class 0+

Auto Retry

F/W-Version

Precheck Tags

(cont. on next page)

Disable

Enable

Disable* Enable

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