Printronix SL5000E series, T5000e series User Manual

User’s Manual

™

™

The Printronix SL5000

e

and T5000

e

Series of Thermal Printers

Software License Agreement

CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
BEFORE USING THIS PRINTER. USING THIS PRINTER INDICATES
YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO
NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, PROMPTLY RETURN
THE PRINTER AND ALL ACCOMPANYING HARDWARE AND WRITTEN
MATERIALS TO THE PLACE YOU OBTAINED THEM, AND YOUR MONEY
WILL BE REFUNDED.

Definitions

“Software” shall mean the digitally encoded, machine-readable data and
program. The term “Software Product” includes the Software resident in the
printer and its documentation. The Software Product is licensed (not sold) to
you, and Printronix, Inc. either owns or licenses from other vendors who own
all copyright, trade secret, patent and other proprietary rights in the Software
Product.

License

1. Authorized Use. You agree to accept a non-exclusive license to use the
Software resident in the printer solely for your own customary business or
personal purposes.

2. Restrictions.
a. To protect the proprietary rights of Printronix, Inc., you agree to

maintain the Software Product and other proprietary information

concerning the typefaces in strict confidence.
b. You agree not to duplicate or copy the Software Product.
c. You shall not sublicense, sell, lease, or otherwise transfer all or any

portion of the Software Product separate from the printer, without the

prior written consent of Printronix, Inc.
d. You may not modify or prepare derivative works of the Software

Product.
e. You may not transmit the Software Product over a network, by

telephone, or electronically using any means; or reverse engineer,

decompile or disassemble the Software.
f. You agree to keep confidential and use your best efforts to prevent

and protect the contents of the Software Product from unauthorized

disclosure or use.

3. Transfer. You may transfer the Software Product with the printer, but only
if the recipient agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Your license is automatically terminated if you transfer the
Software Product and printer.

Limited Software Product Warranty

Printronix, Inc. warrants that for ninety (90) days after delivery, the Software
will perform in accordance with specifications published by Printronix, Inc.
Printronix, Inc. does not warrant that the Software is free from all bugs, errors
and omissions.

Remedy

Your exclusive remedy and the sole liability of Printronix, Inc. in connection
with the Software is replacement of defective software with a copy of the
same version and revision level.

Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Remedies

1. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY ARE EXCLUDED.
Printronix, Inc. does not warrant that the functions contained in the
Software will meet your requirements or that the operation of the Software
will be uninterrupted or error free. Printronix, Inc. reserves the right to
make changes and/or improvements in the Software without notice at any
time.

2. IN NO EVENT WILL PRINTRONIX, INC. BE LIABLE FOR LOST
PROFITS, LOST DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, OR ANY
OTHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE
THIS PRODUCT, EVEN IF PRINTRONIX, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES CAUSED
BY THE ABUSE OR MANIPULATION OF THE SOFTWARE. SOME
STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF
LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO
THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

3. Printronix, Inc. will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by delay in
furnishing a Software Product or any other performance under this
Agreement.

4. Our entire liability and your exclusive remedies for our liability of any kind
(including liability for negligence except liability for personal injury caused
solely by our negligence) for the Software Product covered by this
Agreement and all other performance or nonperformance by us under or
related to this Agreement are limited to the remedies specified by this
Agreement.

5. California law governs this Agreement.

Termination of License Agreement

This License shall continue until terminated. This license may be terminated
by agreement between you and Printronix, Inc. or by Printronix, Inc. If you fail
to comply with the terms of this License and such failure is not corrected
within thirty (30) days after notice. When this License is terminated, you shall
return to the place you obtained them, the printer and all copies of the
Software and documentation.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights

Use, duplication or disclosure by the government is subject to restrictions as
set forth in the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at
FAR 242.227-7013, subdivision (b) (3) (ii) or subparagraph (c) (1) (ii), as
appropriate. Further use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions
applicable to restricted rights software as set forth in FAR 52.227-19 (c) (2).

Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT,
UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND
CONDITIONS. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE BOUND BY ANY STATEMENT
OR REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT. NO
CHANGE IN THIS AGREEMENT IS EFFECTIVE UNLESS WRITTEN AND
SIGNED BY PROPERLY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH
PARTY. BY USING THIS PRINTER, YOU AGREE TO ACCEPT THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Communication Notices

T5000e

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Statement: This equipment

has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provided reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user
will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

Properly shielded and grounded cables and connectors must be used in order
to meet FCC emission limits. Printronix is not responsible for any radio or
television interference caused by using other than recommended cables and
connectors or by any unauthorized changes or modifications to this
equipment. Unauthorized changes or modifications could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Canadian Department of Communications Compliance Statement: This
Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Avis de conformite aux normes du ministere des Communcations du
Canada: Cet appareil numerique de la classe A est conform á norme NMB-

003 du Canada.

European Community (EC) Conformity Statement:

This product is in conformity with the protection requirements of EC Council
Directive 89/336/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to electromagnetic compatibility. Printronix cannot accept
responsibility for any failure to satisfy the protection requirements resulting
from a non-recommended modification of the product, including the fitting of
non-Printronix option cards.

German Conformity Statement:

Zulassungsbescheinigung Gesetz über die elektromagnetische
Verträglichkeit von Geraten (EMVG) vom 30. August 1995

Dieses Gerät ist berechtigt in Übereinstimmung mit dem deutschen das EG­Konformitätszelchen - CE - zu führen.

Der Außteller der Konformitätserklärung ist die Printronix......(1)

Informationen in Hinsicht EMVG Paragraph 3 Abs. (2) 2:

Das Gerät erfüllt die Schutzanforderungen nach EN 55024 und
EN 55022 Klasse A.

EN 55022 Klasse A Geräte bedürfen folgender Hinweise:
Nach dem EMVG: “Geräte dürfen an Orten, für die sie nicht asreichend

entstört sind, nur mit besonderer Genehmigung des Bundesminesters für
Post und Telekommunikation oder des Bundesamtes für Post und
Telekommunikation betrieben werden. Die Genehmigung wird erteilt, wenn
keine elektromagnetischen Störungen zu erwarten sind.” (Auszug aus dem
EMVG, Paragraph 3, Abs. 4) Dieses Genehmigungsverfahren ist nach
Paragraph 9 EMVG in Verbindung mit der entsprechenden Kostenverordnung
(Amtsblatt 14/93) kostenpflichtig.

EN 55022: Dieses ist eine Kategorie A Vorrichtung. Betrieb in den
Wohnbereichen kann elektrische Störung verursachen. Es ist die
Verantwortlichkeit des Benutzers, passende Gegenmaßnahmen zu ergreifen.

EN 55024: Begrenzung Werte für Gebrauch in bevölkerten Bereiche,
kommerziellen und Industriegebieten sind innen Übereinstimmung mit den
spezifizierten Anforderungen Hinsichtlich Störfreiheit.

Anmerkung: Um die Einhaltung des EMVG sicherzustellen sind die Geräte,
wie in den Handbüchern angegeben, zu installieren und zu betreiben.

This product has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A
Information Technology Equipment according to European Standard EN

55022. The limits for Class A equipment were derived for commercial and
industrial environments to provide reasonable protection against interference
with licensed communication equipment.

Warning

This is a Class A product. In a domestic
environment this product may cause radio
interference in which case the user may be
required to take adequate measures.

SL5000e

Hereby, Printronix, Inc., declares that this T5204e, T5304e, SL5204e,
SL5304e with optional suffixes is in compliance with the essential
requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC.

Par la présente Printronix, Inc. déclare que l'appareil T5204e, T5304e,
SL5204e, SL5304e avec des suffixes facultatifs est conforme aux exigences
essentielles et aux autres dispositions pertinentes de la directive 1999/5/CE.

Par la présente, Printronix, Inc. déclare que ce T5204e, T5304e, SL5204e,
SL5304e avec des suffixes facultatifs est conforme aux exigences
essentielles et aux autres dispositions de la directive 1999/5/CE qui lui sont
applicables.

Hiermit erklärt Printronix, Inc., dass sich dieser/diese/dieses T5204e, T5304e,
SL5204e, SL5304e mit wahlweise freigestellten Suffixen in Übereinstimmung
mit den grundlegenden Anforderungen und den anderen relevanten
Vorschriften der Richtlinie 1999/5/EG befindet. (BMWi)

Con la presente Printronix, Inc. dichiara che questo T5204e, T5304e,
SL5204e, SL5304e con i suffissi facoltativi è conforme ai requisiti essenziali
ed alle altre disposizioni pertinenti stabilite dalla direttiva 1999/5/CE.

Por medio de la presente Printronix, Inc. declara que el T5204e, T5304e,
SL5204e, SL5304e con sufijos opcionales cumple con los requisitos
esenciales y cualesquiera otras disposiciones aplicables o exigibles de la
Directiva 1999/5/CE.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to

which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Properly shielded and grounded cables and connectors must be used in order
to meet FCC emission limits. Printronix is not responsible for any radio or
television interference caused by using other than recommended cables and
connectors or by any unauthorized changes or modifications to this
equipment. Unauthorized changes or modifications could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Any change or modification to this product voids the user’s authority to
operate it per FCC Part 15 Subpart A Section 15.21 regulations.

CAUTION: This product should be positioned so that personnel in the area for
prolonged periods may safely remain at least 23 cm (9 in) from the readers
antenna surface in an uncontrolled environment. See FCC OET Bulletin 56
“Hazards of radio frequency and electromagnetic fields.”

This product contains an intentional radiator with the following parameters:
Operating Frequency: 902 to 928 MHz
Typical RF Power: 25 to 100 milliwatts (SL5x04 MP) or 25 to 205 milliwatts
(SL5x04 C1)
Maximum RF Power: 1 Watt under abnormal conditions

e

Printronix SL5000

and T5000e SR

Tested To Comply
With FCC Standards

FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE

Canada

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 and
RSS 210.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003
du Canada.

CE Notice (European Union)

Marking by the CE symbol indicates compliance of this Printronix system to
the EMC Directive and the Low Voltage Directive of the European Union.
Such marking is indicative that this Printronix system meets the following
technical standards:

• EN 300 220-1 (2000), Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Spectrum

Matters; Short Range Devices; Radio equipment to be used in the 25
MHz 10 1000 MHz frequency range with power levels ranging up to 500
mW.

• EN 55022 — “Limits and Methods of Measurement of Radio Interference

Characteristics of Information Technology Equipment.”

• EN 50082-1: 1992 — “Electromagnetic compatibility—Generic immunity

standard Part 1: Residential, commercial, and light industry.”

• EN 60950 — “Safety of Information Technology Equipment.”

This printer is a Class B product for use in a typical Class B domestic
environment.

CE Symbol

Declaration Of Conformity

Manufacturer: Printronix, Inc.

14600 Myford Rd.

Irvine, CA 92623 U.S.A.
declares that the product:
Product Type: Information Technology Equipment, Printer
Equipment Class: Commercial and Light Industrial
Model Numbers: T5204e, T5304e, SL5204e, SL5304e with

optional suffixes
Configuration: serial, parallel, coax, twinax, external LAN,

Ethernet, Wireless Ethernet, RFID
conforms to the following standards:
Safety: EN 60950: 1992 +A1, A2, A3, A4, A11
EMC: ETSI EN 301 489-1

ETSI EN 301 489-3

ETSI EN300 220 V1.3.1 Sec. 8.1, 8.2, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9

EN 55022: 1998 +A1 Class B

EN 55024: 1998

EN 61000-4-2

EN 61000-4-3

EN 61000-4-4

EN 61000-4-5

EN 61000-4-6

EN 61000-4-8

EN 61000-4-11

EN 61000-3-2: 2000

EN 61000-3-3: 1995 +A1
and complies with:
The Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.

Taiwan

Lithium Battery Warning

The controller board contains a lithium battery sealed inside the real-time
clock chip. Do not disassemble the chip to replace the battery. Do not dispose
of the chip by incineration. Failure to comply may cause the battery to
explode. Contact your local waste agency for the correct disposal procedure.

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.

Copyright 2002, 2005, Printronix, Inc.

Trademark Acknowledgements

Printronix, IGP, IGP/Auto Label Mapping, LinePrinter Plus, PGL, and PrintNet
are registered trademarks of Printronix, Inc.

ThermaLine, T5000
HP is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company.
PCL is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Code V is a trademark of QMS, Inc.
QMS is a registered trademark of Quality Micro Systems, Inc.
IBM is registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp.
MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Centronics is a registered trademark of Genicom Corporation.
IEEE is a registered service mark of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic

Engineers, Inc.
ANSI is a registered trademark of American National Standards Institute, Inc.
EIA is a registered service mark of Electronic Industries Association.

e

, and SL5000e is a trademark of Printronix.

IMPORTANT WARRANTY INFORMATION

PRINTER WARRANTY

Printronix® warrants to purchaser that under normal use and service, this
printer (excluding the thermal printhead) purchased hereunder shall be free
from defects in material and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days
from the date of shipment from Printronix.

Consumable items such as media and ribbons are not covered under this
warranty. This warranty does not cover equipment or parts that have been
misused, altered, or used for purposes other than those for which they were
manufactured. This warranty also does not cover loss, shipping damage,
damage resulting from accident or damages resulting from unauthorized
service.

THERMAL PRINTHEAD

Printronix warrants the printhead for a period of one hundred eighty (180)
days, or 1,000,000 linear inches for direct thermal use, or 2,000,000 linear
inches for thermal transfer use, whichever comes first. The warranty does not
cover printheads that have been misused, damaged due to improper
cleaning, or damaged due to use of improper ribbons or media.

SUPPLIES

For the nearest Printronix full-service distributor that carries Printronix
genuine supplies, please call 1-800-733-1900 or fax [phone].
Supplies design, specification, and selection are integral to the development
of any computer imaging system. Printronix's extensive manufacturing and
research capabilities, along with years of experience in the design of printers
and their applications, assures that you will receive the exact materials that
you require to maximize the performance of your Printronix printer. For more
information, call the Printronix Customer Solutions Center at [phone]
or access the Printronix website at http://www.printronix.com.

ON-SITE MAINTENANCE SERVICE

Printronix offers on-site support services in the United States. Please contact
the Printronix Maintenance Contracts Group at [phone] for detailed
service agreement information.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ......................................................... 21

Printronix Customer Support Center.................................................... 21

Training Available On Printronix Products ........................................... 21

Warnings And Special Information ...................................................... 22

Manual Conventions ............................................................................ 22

The T5000 Series Label Printer........................................................... 23

Standard Features ........................................................................ 24

Optional Features.......................................................................... 25

Thermal Printer Technology ................................................................ 27

The Printing Process ..................................................................... 27

Dynamic Print Control ................................................................... 27

Thermal Consumables......................................................................... 28

Media Selection............................................................................. 28

Ribbons ......................................................................................... 28

Setting Up The Printer ......................................................................... 29

Unpacking The Printer .................................................................. 29

Installation ..................................................................................... 31

2 Operation ............................................................ 35

Controls And Indicators ....................................................................... 35

Power Switch ................................................................................ 35

Control Panel ................................................................................ 35

Powering On The Printer............................................................... 39

Operating Modes........................................................................... 39

Media Handling Modes ........................................................................ 39

Loading Media And Ribbon ................................................................. 40

Loading Roll Media ....................................................................... 41

Loading Fanfold Media.................................................................. 48

Loading Ribbon ............................................................................. 53

Using The Optional Internal Rewinder................................................. 56

Batch Rewind Mode ...................................................................... 56

Label Peel-Off ............................................................................... 62

Removing The Media Guide.......................................................... 65

Table of Contents

Printing Adjustments............................................................................ 66

Printhead Pressure Adjustment .................................................... 66

Printhead Pressure Block Adjustments ......................................... 67

Positioning The Media Sensors .................................................... 68

Sensing Different Media Types ..................................................... 73

Running Auto Calibrate ................................................................. 74

Running Media Profile ................................................................... 75

Running Manual Calibrate............................................................. 77

Cleaning............................................................................................... 78

General Cleaning .......................................................................... 78

Printhead Cleaning........................................................................ 78

3 Configuring The Printer ....................................... 81

Overview.............................................................................................. 81

Setting Printer Configuration Parameters ..................................... 81

Moving Within The Configuration Menu ........................................ 82

Selecting A Menu Option .............................................................. 83

Changing Printer Settings ............................................................. 83

Saving A Configuration ................................................................. 84

Specifying A Power-Up Configuration ........................................... 85

Modifying A Saved Configuration.................................................. 86

Printing A Configuration ................................................................ 87

Menu Overview.................................................................................... 91

Main Menu ........................................................................................... 92

QUICK SETUP .................................................................................. 100

QUICK SETUP Submenus.......................................................... 101

VALIDATOR ...................................................................................... 108

VALIDATOR Submenus.............................................................. 110

CONFIG. CONTROL ......................................................................... 115

CONFIG. CONTROL Submenus ................................................ 116

MEDIA CONTROL............................................................................. 118

MEDIA CONTROL Submenus .................................................... 120

CALIBRATE CTRL ............................................................................ 134

CALIBRATE CTRL Submenus.................................................... 135

PRINTER CONTROL ........................................................................ 141

PRINTER CONTROL Submenus................................................ 144

EMULATIONS ................................................................................... 154

Overview ..................................................................................... 154

COAX SETUP.................................................................................... 158

TWINAX SETUP................................................................................ 161

SPC COAX SETUP ........................................................................... 164

SPC TWINAX SETUP ....................................................................... 165

Table of Contents

IPDS SETUP ..................................................................................... 166

TN3270 SETUP ................................................................................. 170

TN5250 SETUP ................................................................................. 173

IGP/PGL SETUP ............................................................................... 175

IGP/VGL SETUP ............................................................................... 178

IGP/PPI1 SETUP............................................................................... 181

IGP/PPI2 SETUP............................................................................... 183

P-SERIES SETUP ............................................................................. 184

P-SER XQ SETUP............................................................................. 187

SER MATRIX SETUP........................................................................ 189

PROPRINTER SETUP ...................................................................... 191

EPSON FX SETUP............................................................................ 193

Emulation Submenus......................................................................... 195

DIAGNOSTICS .................................................................................. 249

DIAGNOSTICS Submenus ......................................................... 250

PARALLEL PORT.............................................................................. 253

PARALLEL PORT Submenus ..................................................... 254

SERIAL PORT ................................................................................... 257

SERIAL PORT Submenus .......................................................... 258

C/T PORT .......................................................................................... 265

C/T PORT Submenus ................................................................. 265

ETHERNET ADDRESS ..................................................................... 267

ETHERNET ADDRESS Submenus ............................................ 268

ETHERNET PARAMS ....................................................................... 269

ETHERNET PARAMS Submenus............................................... 270

WIRELESS ADDRESS...................................................................... 272

WIRELESS ADDRESS Submenus ............................................. 273

WIRELESS PARAMS ........................................................................ 275

WIRELESS PARAMS Submenus ............................................... 280

KERBEROS PARAMS....................................................................... 283

KERBEROS PARAMS Submenus.............................................. 284

BATTERY CONTROL........................................................................ 286

BATTERY CONTROL Submenus ............................................... 287

Downloading Emulation And Operating System Software................. 289

Flash Memory ............................................................................. 289

Downloading Software Through The Serial Or Parallel Port ....... 290

Downloading Software Through The

Network Interface Card (NIC)...................................................... 293

Downloading Optional Font Files To Flash Memory ................... 295

Downloading True Type Fonts .................................................... 298

Table of Contents

4 Interfaces .......................................................... 299

Overview............................................................................................ 299

Auto Switching ................................................................................... 299

Centronics Parallel Interface.............................................................. 300

Centronics Parallel Interface Signals .......................................... 301

IEEE 1284 Parallel Interface.............................................................. 302

Compatibility Mode...................................................................... 302

Nibble Mode ................................................................................ 302

Byte Mode ................................................................................... 302

Signals ........................................................................................ 303

Terminating Resistor Configurations........................................... 305

RS-232 And RS-422 Serial Interfaces ............................................... 305

RS-232 ........................................................................................ 306

RS-422 ........................................................................................ 306

5 Diagnostics And Troubleshooting ..................... 307

Printer Tests ...................................................................................... 307

Troubleshooting Common Situations................................................. 307

Improving Processing Time......................................................... 308

Data Exchange............................................................................ 308

Controlling Print Quality .............................................................. 310

Determining Printhead Wear....................................................... 311

Replacing The Printhead ................................................................... 312

Restore The Printer To Operation ..................................................... 314

Solving Other Printer Problems................................................... 315

Printer Alarms ............................................................................. 322

Fault Messages........................................................................... 322

A Specifications .................................................... 337

Print Method................................................................................ 337

Media .......................................................................................... 338

Ribbon......................................................................................... 340

Indicators And Switches .............................................................. 340

Memory ....................................................................................... 340

Media Cutter Options .................................................................. 341

Host Interfaces ............................................................................ 342

Power .......................................................................................... 342

Environmental ............................................................................. 343

Physical....................................................................................... 343

Acoustic Specifications ............................................................... 343

Maximum Page Length ............................................................... 344

Table of Contents

B Printer Options .................................................. 345

Hardware Options.............................................................................. 345

Interface Options ......................................................................... 346

Supplies And Accessories ................................................................. 347

Genuine Printronix Thermal Transfer Ribbons............................ 348

Genuine Printronix Media............................................................ 349

Accessories................................................................................. 351

C ASCII Control Codes......................................... 353

D Standard And Heavy-Duty Media Cutter

Installation......................................................... 355

Prepare The Printer ........................................................................... 355

Installing The Standard Cutter........................................................... 356

Restore The Printer To Operation............................................... 357

Installing The Heavy-Duty Cutter....................................................... 358

Restore The Printer To Operation............................................... 359

Removing The Media Cutter.............................................................. 360

E Media Cutter Tray Installation ........................... 361

Assembling The Media Cutter Tray ................................................... 361

Installing The Media Cutter Tray........................................................ 362

F PPI1 and PPI2 Menu Conversions ................... 365

G Glossary............................................................ 375

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

Printronix Customer Support Center

The Printronix Customer Support Center offers technical support with:

• Installation

• Configuration and setup

• Operation and supplies loading

• Specifications of the proper print media and ribbon

• Answers to post-sale service support questions

Call the Printronix Customer Support Center at:

1-714-368-2686 in the Americas

31-24-6489489 in Europe, Middle East, and Africa

65-65484114 in Asia Pacific

or visit the Printronix web page at www.printronix.com

http://www.printronix.com/public/servicesupport/default.aspx

Training Available On Printronix Products

Printronix offers Product Maintenance Training Classes designed to enhance

the knowledge of your service personnel. Led by Printronix’ staff of highly

trained, experienced instructors, these structured classes include:

• Hands-on work with the product

• Theory of operation

• Diagnosis of equipment failures

• Preventive and corrective maintenance requirements and procedures.

Customized classes designed to meet your specific needs are available upon

request. Call Customer Training at [phone] or visit the Printronix

website at www.printronix.com.

21

Chapter 1 Warnings And Special Information

Warnings And Special Information

For your safety and to protect valuable equipment, read and comply with all
information highlighted under special headings:

WARNING

WARNING

WARNING

WARNING

WARNING

CAUTION

IMPORTANT

Conditions that could harm you and damage the equipment.

Achten Sie auf folgendes, um keine Personen in Gefahr zu bringen bzw.
das Gerät zu beschädigen.

Condiciones que pueden causar daños a personas y equipos.

Conditions à respecter pour éviter tout danger corporel et dommage
matériel.

Condizioni che possono arrecare danni alle persone e alle
apparecchiature.

Conditions that could damage the printer or related equipment.

Information vital to proper operation of the printer.
NOTE: Information and helpful tips about printer operation.

Manual Conventions

• Operator panel keys are printed in uppercase letters.

Example: Press the PAUSE key and then press ENTER.

• Operator panel keys are often shown by their symbol or icon (located on

the control panel directly below the key).
Example: Press the

↵ key for ENTER.

• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) messages are printed in uppercase letters

inside quotation marks ( “ ” ).
Example: When “OFFLINE” appears on the LCD, you may release the

PAUSE key.

• LCD fault messages display the specific fault in uppercase letters on the

top line. A corrective action in upper and lowercase letters displays on the
bottom line.

Example: PAPER OUT

Load Paper

• Key combinations are indicated by the + (plus) symbol.

Example: Press ↑ + ↓ means

the same time.

Press the Up ↑ key and the Down ↓ key at

22

The T5000 Series Label Printer

NOTE: As used in this manual, the terms “T5000” and “printer” refer to all

models within the T5000 series. “SR” refers to all models that are
Smart Ready. “SL” refers to all SmartLine models.

The T5000 series consists of a family of high quality, direct thermal and

thermal transfer printers specifically designed for printing labels and tags from

any MS-DOS

based compatible computer.

The T5000, Smart Ready, and SmartLine series are comprised of the

products detailed in Table 1.

®

, Windows®, ASCII, or EBCDIC (with the Coax/Twinax option)

Table 1. The T5000, Smart Ready, and SmartLine Series

Model

SL5204e-MP 10 203 4.1

SL5204e-C1 10 203 4.1

SL5204e-DK 10 203 4.1

SL5204e-SR 10 203 4.1

SL5304e-MP 8 300 4.1

T5204 10 203 4.1

T5204e 10 203 4.1

T5204e SR 10 203 4.1

T5204-DT* 10 203 4.1

T5206 10 203 6.6

T5208 8 203 8.5

T5304 8 300 4.1

T5304-DT* 8 300 4.1

Max Print

Speed (ips)

Printing

Density (dpi)

Max Print

Width (inches)

SL5304e-C1 8 300 4.1

SL5304e-MP 8 300 4.1

SL5304e-SR 8 300 4.1

T5306 8 300 6.6

T5308 6 300 8.5

* Direct Thermal only 4 inch models (no ribbon transfer support)

23

Chapter 1 The T5000 Series Label Printer

Standard Features

• Your thermal printer has the standard LinePrinter Plus

which provides direct compatibility with Printronix P-series printers. In
addition, the printer has co-resident IGP
which provide printer system commands for text, barcodes, graphics,
lines, and boxes.

®

/PGL® and IGP/VGL emulations

®

(LP+) emulation

• Direct thermal printing and thermal transfer (thermal transfer is not

supported on 4 inch DT models).

• Standard interfaces:

• Serial: RS-232 and RS-422

• Parallel: Centronics

parallel

NOTE: The interface cable needed to connect the printer to the host device is

supplied by the user.

®

-compatible parallel, IEEE® 1284 compliant

• Supports over 20 types of bar codes.

• Download fonts, forms, and graphics to printer memory.

The standard resident fonts are Letter Gothic Bold (#93779), Courier Bold
(#93952), CG Triumvirate Bold Condensed (#92250), OCR-A (#90993),
and OCR-B (#91409). All other fonts are optional.

• High resolution printhead for sharp graphics and text.

• Label Taken Sensor for detecting removal of labels in Tear-Off mode (and

in Peel-Off mode when optional rewinder is installed).

• Tear-Off mode for positioning the label at the tear-off position and

detecting its removal before printing the next label.

• Tear-Off Strip mode for printing a specified number of labels and

positioning the last label at the tear-off position.

• 8MB DRAM memory.

• 4MB Flash memory.

• Auto Label Mapping

Line Matrix printers.

®

for compatibility with programs written for Printronix

• Ventless system for operation in environments with airborne particulate

matter without compromising performance.

24

Optional Features

Optional Features

Ask your authorized representative about the following enhancement options:

• Fonts: A selection of fonts is available to extend the capabilities of the

standard resident fonts.

• Internal Label Rewinder: In label peel-off mode, peels off labels one at a

time before printing the next label and rewinds the liner into a discardable
roll. In batch rewind mode, rewinds printed labels into a removable roll.

• Memory Expansion (for non-IPDS printers only):

• 16MB DRAM SIMM - Provides additional memory to accommodate

long label formats.

• 10MB Flash SIMM - Provides additional memory for forms, logos, and

fonts.

• Media Cutter: The cutter is used to automatically cut printed media when

the media exits the printer. Cutters are available in the Standard 4 inch
model and the Heavy Duty 4 , 6, and 8 inch models. See Appendix A for
details.

• Media Cutter Tray: This option is used with the media cutter option to

catch the cut media in a bin.

• Coax/Twinax Host Interface: This provides connection to a host

computer system using a Coax or Twinax interface.

• Network Interface Card (NIC): This option allows you to attach the

printer to a LAN (Local Area Network) rather than attaching it directly to a
host computer.

• NIC adapters are available as an internally installed option, mounted

inside the printer with the 10/100Base-T (UTP) connection only. The
parallel port is no longer accessible when the NIC option is installed.

NOTE: In this manual, the terms “Network Interface Card” (or “NIC”) and

“Ethernet” are used interchangeably.

• IPDS: IPDS™ is available for Twinax or a NIC or a combination of both.

NOTE: The basic NIC does not support IPDS.

• TN5250/TN3270: The TN5250/TN3270 feature enables your printer to

communicate with an IBM host through a NIC using the 5250/3270
datastream. This feature allows you to use an application generated for
the Twinax/Coax emulation to be printed through the NIC.

• Online Barcode Validator: This option provides online validation of

printed barcodes. When you incorporate a bar code quality procedure into
the printing process, you will increase the overall bar code quality, reduce
waste from misprinted bar codes, and achieve high, first-time read rates.
This is increasingly important in newer, more efficient systems where
manually entered data is not acceptable as a back-up function. Validation
also minimizes the cost of returned products due to poor reading or
unaccountable bar codes.

25

Chapter 1 The T5000 Series Label Printer

• Power Cart: The Power Cart is an ergonomically designed cart with

durable steel frame and battery support systems for maximum
maneuverability. The combination of the wireless T5000e and the rugged
Power Cart delivers a mobile on demand bar code printing system.

• PPI1 and PPI2 Interpreters: PPI 1.0 (Zebra) and PPI 2.0 (TEC)

interpreters are powerful integration tools that allows the T5000e to
function in virtually all legacy ZPL and TEC application environments
without requiring modification to host data stream. PPI 1.0 (Zebra)
enables you to print files formatted for Zebra printers to the Printronix
T5000e. PPI 2.0 (TEC) prints files formatted for TEC printers to the
Printronix T5000e.

• Dual NIC Card (10/100BaseT & 802.11b wireless): The Dual NIC

provide both 10/100BaseT or 802.11b connectivity in one. The card
provides wireless connectivity without expensive cabling and
reconfigurations required from a wired network. It also provides 10/100
BaseT for wired network and wireless back up. The remote management
software, a powerful printer management tool, is standard with the Dual
NIC (10/100BaseT & 802.11b wireless).

• NIC (10/100BaseT) Internal or External: The NIC 10/100BaseT

connectivity option provides wired networks in either internal or external
options. The remote management software is standard with this option.

For more information about printer options, see Appendix B.

26

Thermal Printer Technology

Quiet and fast, with excellent print quality, your multifunction thermal printer

uses an inline thermal printhead. The thermal printer operates differently from

a line matrix or laser printer, because the thermal printer uses a printhead with

heating elements and special paper or ribbon.

The Printing Process

The thermal printhead allows two modes of operation:

• Direct Thermal

During

direct

thermal printing, the thermal printhead selectively heats
small, rectangular
paper, the dyes and developers in the coating react to the heat and
develop an image. This mode of printing is generally used for short-term
labeling applications.

• Thermal Transfer

During thermal
thermal ribbon. The heat reacts with the ribbon and bonds the image to
the paper. This method is used especially for abrasive, long-storage
applications and for specialized applications, such as in extreme
environmental conditions or where tamper-proofing is required.

thermal

transfer

The Printing Process

dots. When these contact the coated thermal

printing, the heated thermal dots contact a

NOTE: Thermal transfer is not supported on 4 inch DT model printers.

Dynamic Print Control

Dynamic print control is a unique feature of your thermal printer that provides
excellent print quality by preventing unevenness of print density.

Print quality largely depends on how the thermal paper or the thermal ribbon
and thermal transfer paper responds to the heat of the thermal printhead.
During printing, the thermal printhead must reach a set temperature in the
shortest possible time. Then it must cool down to the original temperature in
the shortest possible time after printing. Thus print quality is dependent on the
precise control of the energy supplied to the thermal dots.

The dynamic print control is a method for predicting the quantity of heat
required to print dots based on the results of the previous printing. This
prevents unevenness of print density and results in the printing of narrow­ladder bar codes or vertical grid lines that are straight from the microscopic
viewpoint.

27

Chapter 1 Thermal Consumables

Thermal Consumables

Media Selection

Since there are two print modes of operation, there are two kinds of thermal
media:

• Direct thermal media

• Thermal transfer media

Direct thermal media is paper coated with special chemicals that act as an
accelerator, acceptor dye, and binder. During direct thermal mode, the heat
from the thermal printhead contacts the paper and causes a chemical
reaction.

Thermal transfer media requires ribbon. A wide range of Printronix thermal
transfer media is available, such as film or synthetic paper substitutes. Most
of these media options can be die-cut for easy label applications. The wide
selection of media sizes and face stocks have been tested with Printronix
ribbons for print quality and usage. Consult your Genuine Printronix Supplies
Catalog, call the Printronix Customer Solutions Center at [phone], or
access the Printronix web page at www.printronix.com.

NOTE: The term “media” used in this manual refers to all the different kinds

of paper or tag stock that can be used in the printer.

See “Genuine Printronix Media” on page 349 for more information.

Ribbons

Printronix offers a wide range of ribbons specifically engineered to enhance
printing capabilities and to prevent premature printhead wear. Therefore, you
should use a Genuine Printronix Thermal Ribbon in your printer.

See “Genuine Printronix Thermal Transfer Ribbons” on page 348 for more
information.

28

Setting Up The Printer

Unpacking The Printer

The printer is shipped in a carton and protective bag. The top lid of the carton
has instructions for removing the internal packing material. Keep all packing
material in case repacking is required.

Unpacking The Printer

CAUTION

CAUTION

Frame

Avoid touching the electrical connectors to prevent electrostatic
discharge damage while setting up the printer. The discharge of
accumulated electrostatic energy can damage or destroy the printhead
or electronic components used in this device.

Do not place the printer on its backside during unpacking or handling,
because you may damage the printer interface connector.

Media Cover

Tape Strips (2)

Foam Pads (2)

1. Remove the tape strips from the media cover. Lift open the media cover.

2. Remove the tape securing the foam pad to the inside of the media cover.

3. Remove the foam pad between the front door and the frame.

29

Chapter 1 Setting Up The Printer

Foam

4. Remove the foam pad between the pivoting deck and the frame.

Pivoting
Deck

Platen

Foam
Pad

Printhead

5. Open the pivoting deck by rotating the blue deck lock lever fully
clockwise.

Deck Lock
Lever

30

6. Remove the foam pad from between the printhead and the platen (rubber
roller).

7. Close the pivoting deck and media cover.