Star LC-8521 User Manual

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LC-8521

USER’S MANUAL

DOT MATRIX PRINTER

Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity

EC Council Directive 89/336/EEC of 3 May 1989

This product, has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the International Standards EN 50081-1/01.92 and EN 50082-1/01.92, following the provisions of the Electro Magnetic Compatibility Directive of the European Communities as of May 1989.

EC Council Directive 73/23/EEC and 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993

This product, has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the International Standards EN 60950, following the provisions of the Low Voltage Directive of the European Communities as of July 1993.

The above statement applies only to printers marketed in EU.

Ambient Noise Statement

Machine Noise Information Ordinance 3. GSGV, January 18, 1991: The sound pressure level at the operator position is equal or less than 70 dB(A) according to ISO 7779.

The above statement applies only to printers marketed in EU.

Trademark acknowledgments

LC-8521, LC24-30, LC24-300, NX-2450, NX-2480, SPC-8K : Star Micronics Co. Ltd. LQ-850, LQ-860, LQ-1050, LQ-1060 : Seiko Epson Corporation IBM PC, IBM Proprinter X24E, IBM Proprinter XL24E, IBM Proprinter X24, IBM Proprinter XL24 :

International Business Machines Corporation.

TrueType : Apple Computer Inc. MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Windows 3.1, Windows 95 : Microsoft Corporation

Notice

• The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.

• All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this manual at the time of printing. However, should any errors be found, STAR would greatly appreciate being informed of them.

• The above notwithstanding, STAR can assume no responsibility for any errors in this manual.



About this manual

This manual describes how to set up, use, and care for the Star LC-8521 printer. The following is a list of what you can expect to find in each chapter.

Chapter 1

Choosing a place for your printer, unpacking and setup, ribbon cassette installation, loading paper, connecting to your computer

Chapter 2

How to use the control panel

Chapter 3

How to use the printer’s Electronic DIP Switch (EDS) Mode to set up the printer to match the needs of your system and software

Chapter 4

How to set up for printing with Microsoft Windows 3.1, how to prepare for printing, how to print a document

Chapter 5

How to set up for printing with Microsoft Windows 95, how to prepare for printing, how to print a document

Chapter 6

How to set up for printing with MS-DOS

Chapter 7

Selecting the best type of paper, adjusting for paper thickness, manual sheet feeding, clearing paper jams

Chapter 8

Optional accessories that are available for your printer

Appendix A Troubleshooting Appendix B Speciﬁcations Appendix C Interface pin outs Appendix D Character sets Appendix E Printer control codes Appendix F

Glossary

Appendix G Control panel operation guide

Contents

Chapter 1: Printer Setup ... 1

Choosing a place for the printer ... 1 Unpacking the printer ... 2 General guide ... 3 Removing the protective materials ... 4 Installing the platen knob ... 5 Opening the front cover ... 5 Installing the ribbon cassette ... 6 Removing the ribbon cassette ... 7 Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off ... 9 Loading fanfold paper ... 10 Printing on fanfold paper ... 14 Parking fanfold paper ... 15 Unparking fanfold paper ... 15 Using the tear-off function ... 15 Connecting to your computer with a parallel cable ... 16 Connecting to your computer with a serial cable ... 18

Chapter 2: Control Panel Operations ... 20

Switching between on-line and off-line ... 20 Selecting a font ... 21 Entering the Font Lock Mode ... 21 Setting the character pitch ... 22 Entering the Pitch Lock Mode ... 22 Line feed ... 23 Paper eject (cut-sheet paper) ... 23 Form feed (fanfold paper) ... 23 Parking fanfold paper ... 23 Micro feed ... 23 Setting the top of form position ... 24 Tear-off function (fanfold paper) ... 24 Selecting the Quiet Print Mode ... 24 Changing the auto load position ... 25

Saving a macro ... 26 Clearing the printer’s buffer ... 26 Initializing the printer ... 27 Entering the Multi-part Mode ... 27

Chapter 3: Using the EDS Mode ... 28

About EDS Mode settings ... 28 Entering the EDS Mode ... 28 Selecting a bank ... 29 Selecting a switch ... 30 Changing a switch setting ... 30 Printing the current switch settings ... 30 Exiting the EDS Modes ... 30 EDS Modes Settings ... 30 EDS-1 Settings ... 31

Chapter 4: Using the Printer with Windows 3.1 ... 42

Setting up for printing with Microsoft Windows 3.1 ... 42 Getting ready to print ... 44 Printing a document ... 45 Installing TrueType fonts ... 46 Selecting fonts in Windows applications ... 47

Chapter 5: Using the printer with Windows 95 ... 48

Setting up the printer in Windows 95 ... 48 Preparing to print ... 51 Printing a document ... 53 Installing TrueType fonts ... 54

Chapter 6: Using the Printer with MS-DOS ... 56

Setting up for printing with MS-DOS ... 56

Chapter 7: Paper Handling ... 57

Selecting paper types ... 57 Adjusting for paper thickness ... 58 Automatic fanfold feeding ... 59 Manual sheet feeding ... 60 Clearing paper jams ... 62

Chapter 8: Optional Accessory ... 63

Serial-to-Parallel Converter (SPC-8K) ... 63 Connecting the Interface Converter ... 64 Setting the converter’s DIP switches ... 65 Push Tractor Unit (CT-15HA) ... 67 Removing the push tractor unit from the back of the printer ... 68 Installing the push tractor unit ... 69

Appendix A: Troubleshooting ... 70

Short test ... 70 Long test ... 70 Hexadecimal dump ... 71 Adjusting the dot alignment ... 71 Troubleshooting guide ... 73 Checking system software settings in Windows ... 79 Checking system software settings in MS-DOS ... 80

Appendix B: Speciﬁcations ... 81

Appendix C: Interface Pin Outs ... 83

Appendix D: Character Sets ... 84

Appendix E: Printer Control Codes ... 96

Appendix F: Glossary ... 102

Appendix G: Control Panel Operation Guide ... 103

Chapter 1: Printer Setup

This chapter contains important information on setting up your printer. Be sure to read this chapter carefully before using the printer for the first time. In this chapter you will learn about:

❏

Choosing a place for the printer

❏

Unpacking and setting up the printer

❏

Installing the ribbon cassette

❏

Loading paper

❏

Connecting to your computer

Choosing a place for the printer

Before actually unpacking the printer, you should take a few minutes to think about where you plan to use it. Remember the following points when doing this.

✓

Choose a ﬁrm, level surface where the printer will not be exposed to vibration.

✓

The power outlet you plan to connect to for power should be nearby and unobstructed.

✓

Make sure that the printer is close enough to your computer for you to connect the two with your printer cable.

✓

Allow six inches (15 centimeters) of free space on either side of the printer . If you are going to use fanfold paper, make sure that there is adequate space for paper behind the printer.

✓

Make sure that the printer is not exposed to direct sunlight.

✓

Make sure that the printer is well away from heaters.

✓

Make sure that the surrounding area is clean, dry, and free of dust.

✓

Make sure that the printer is connected to a reliable power outlet. It should not be on the same electric circuit as copiers, refrigerators, or other appliances that cause power spikes.

✓

Use a power outlet that matches the power rating noted on the label afﬁxed to the bottom of your printer.

✓

Make sure that the room where you are using the printer is not too humid.

2 Printer Setup

Unpacking the printer

Check to make sure that the carton contains each of the items shown in the following illustration.

If anything is missing, contact the store where you bought the printer and ask them to supply the missing part. Note that it is a good idea to keep the original box and all the packing materials just in case you need to pack the printer up again and send it somewhere at a later date.

A serial-to-parallel interface converter (SPC-8K) and a push tractor unit (CT15HA) are also available as an option. Consult your dealer for details.

Important!

There are several versions of this printer designed for different voltages. It is not possible to change the voltage of a printer. If the volta ge shown on the label on the bottom of your printer does not match the voltage for your area, contact your dealer immediately.

Printer

User,s manual

Platen knob Ribbon cassette

3.5" Floppy disk

General guide 3

General guide

The following illustrations show the major components of your printer.

Front cover

Adjustment lever

Paper guide

Release lever

Power switch

Document table

Control panel

Platen knob

Parallel Interface  connector

Serial Interface  connector

4 Printer Setup

Removing the protective materials

Two packing materials are inserted into the printer to protect components during shipping. Before using the printer, be sure to remove all packing materials from inside the front cover and the document table as shown in the illustration.

Document table

Cardboard

Front cover

Installing the platen knob 5

Installing the platen knob

The platen knob is packed into a recess in the packaging material.

❏

Install the knob on the shaft located inside the large hole on the right side of the printer. Make sure that the flat side of the shaft is aligned with the corresponding flat surface inside the knob’s spindle. Press the knob carefully but firmly into place as far as it will go.

Opening the front cover

❏

Hook your ﬁngers under the two small tabs on either side of the front cover and pull forward and up to swing the front cover open.

Front cover

6 Printer Setup

Installing the ribbon cassette

❏

Make sure that the printer is unplugged from its power outlet.

❏

Open the front cover of the printer.

❏

By hand, move the cartridge holder to the center position of the paper guide where there is a cutout to allow easy installation and removal of the ribbon cassette.

Important!

Never try to move the print head while the printer is plugged into a power outlet. Doing so can damage the printer. If you have just used the printer, let the print head cool for a few minutes before you touch it.

❏

Remove the ribbon cassette from its package.

❏

Rotate the knob on the ribbon cassette clockwise to take up any slack in the ribbon.

❏

Carefully place the cassette onto the cartridge holder making sure that the spindle of the holder ﬁts into the socket on the bottom of the cassette.

Cartridge holder

Removing the ribbon cassette 7

❏

Press down gently but ﬁrmly on the cassette until it snaps securely into place.

❏

Rotate the knob on the cassette again to take up any slack.

❏

Close the front cover of the printer.

Important!

Printing that is poor quality or too light is almost always due to a ribbon that is simply worn out or “used up.” If you experience problems with print quality, check the condition of the ribbon. If the black part looks gray and well-worn, replace the ribbon with a new one.

Removing the ribbon cassette

Use the following procedure to remove the ribbon cassette from the printer when you want to replace it with a new one.

❏

Make sure that the printer is unplugged from its power outlet.

❏

Open the front cover of the printer.

❏

By hand, move the cartridge holder to the center position of the paper guide where there is a cutout to allow easy installation and removal of the ribbon cassette.

8 Printer Setup

Important!

❏

Using your thumb and foreﬁnger to squeeze the two tabs on the ribbon cassette towards the center, carefully remove the cassette from the holder.

❏

Use the procedure under “Installing the ribbon cassette” on page 6 to install a new cassette.

Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off 9

Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off

❏

Lift up the back of the printer and insert two books or other similar objects underneath it to keep the printer raised and connect the power cord.

❏

Plug the power cord of the printer into a standard power outlet whose voltage matches the power rating noted on the label afﬁxed to the bottom of your printer.

Caution!

If the voltage marked on the bottom of your printer does not match the voltage from the outlet you are using, do not plug in the power cord. Contact your dealer for assistance.

❏

Set the switch on the front of the printer to ON to turn power on, and to OFF to turn power off.

ON

OFF

10 Printer Setup

Caution!

Whenever you turn off the power, wait at least ﬁve seconds before turning it back on; otherwise you may damage the printer. We recommend that you unplug the printer fr om the power outlet whenever you do not plan to use it for long periods. Because of the this, you should locate the printer so that the power outlet it is plugged into is nearby and easy to access.

At this point you may want to perform a test of the printer to make sure it is working properly. See page 70 for details on how to perform tests.

Loading fanfold paper

This section tells you how to load fanfold paper. Note that you can also use cutsheet paper and multi-part form paper. For details on using other types of paper, see “Paper Handling” on page 57 of this manual.

❏

Position the stack of paper in front of or behind the printer. See page 68 for details on setting up the printer for feeding either from the

back or the front of the printer.

❏

The following ﬁgures show the correct paths for fanfold paper.

Front feed

Rear feed

Loading fanfold paper 11

Important!

To protect against paper jams, make sure that the fanfold paper is stacked in a position that is lower than the printer. To decrease paper jams, be sur e that the perforations cannot catc h on anything in the paper path.

❏ Unplug the printer from its AC power supply. ❏ Pull the release lever on the Front of the printer to the fanfold position.

❏ Set the adjustment lever to the value that matches the thickness of the paper

you are using. The setting for normal paper is 1. Set the lever to a larger value for thicker paper, or to a smaller value for thinner paper. See the table on page 59 for details.

Adjustment  lever

8 7

6 5 4 3

2 1

12 Printer Setup

❏ Unlock the tractor on the left (when viewing the printer from behind) by

pulling its blue lever up, and adjust the position of the left tractor.

Note that there is a guide inside the printer in front of the left tractor. The ▲

mark of the guide indicates where the left margin of the printing will be.

❏ Once the left tractor is aligned the way you want it, push the blue lever

back down to lock it in place.

❏ Now move the tractor on the right to the approximate position of the right

side of the paper you are using. Pull its blue lever up to unlock it, and push the lever back down to lock it into place. Also move the center paper support so that it is approximately halfway between the two tractors.

❏ Open the covers of both tractors and align the paper so that the pins on the

tractors are inserted into the holes of the paper.

❏ Close the tractor covers. At this point you can make ﬁnal adjustments to the

paper position by releasing the blue levers and moving the tractors. The paper should lie ﬂat with no buckling or bulging (tractors too close) or no stretching or elongation of the holes (tractors too far apart). After making these adjustments, be sure that you re-lock the tractors by pushing the blue levers back into their original positions.

Sheet guide Pin tractorPin tractor

Loading fanfold paper 13

❏ Plug the printer back into its AC power source. The printer will beep a

number of times to indicate that paper is not loaded.

❏ Press the control panel’s PAPER FEED button and the paper will feed to

the starting position.

14 Printer Setup

Printing on fanfold paper

When printing on fanfold paper, take care not to print too close to the perforations that separate each sheet. The following shows the recommended print area for fanfold paper, cut-sheet paper, Labels and Envelope.

4 mm (0.16") *1

18 mm

First page

Last page

18 mm (0.7")

4 mm (0.16") 4 mm (0.16")

117 mm (4.6")

Bottom of Form

Perforation

Cut-sheet paper

5 mm

4 mm (0.16")

5 mm

4 mm (0.16")

(0.2")

(0.7")

4 mm (0.16") 4 mm (0.16")

Fanfold paper

2.54 mm (0.1") min.

12.7 mm (0.5") min.

Labels

Label

C : 2.54 mm (0.1") min.

12.7 mm (0.5") min.

Perforation

Envelope

*1 : When stapled multi-part paper with  a width of less than 4.5 inches is used,  the print area is 37 mm from the edge  of the paper.

25.4 mm

36 mm (1.42")

25.4 mm (1")

4 mm (0.16")

(1")

Parking fanfold paper 15

Parking fanfold paper

It is not necessary to remove fanfold paper currently loaded in the printer in order to print on cut-sheet paper fed by hand. Instead, simply use the following procedure to park the fanfold paper.

❏ Tear off the paper at a perforation so there is no more than half a page

sticking out of the front cover of the printer. If necessary, you can press the control panel’s ON LINE button to put the

printer off-line. Then use the PAPER FEED button to feed the paper until a perforation is just past the front cover.

❏ Press the control panel’s ON LINE button to put the printer on-line. ❏ Press the control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT button. The printer

automatically reverse feeds the fanfold paper until it is no longer in contact with the platen, which is indicated by the printer beeping a number of times. Also, the control panel’s POWER indicator starts to ﬂash because paper is not loaded.

❏ Set the release lever on the front of the printer to the cut-sheet position.

The paper is now parked, and you can load cut-sheet paper into the printer using the procedures under “Manual sheet feeding” on page 60.

Unparking fanfold paper

After you are finished printing on cut-sheet paper, use the following procedure to unpark fanfold paper and make it available for printing.

❏ If any cut-sheet paper is still in the printer, put the printer on-line and then

press the control panel’s PAPER FEED button to eject it.

❏ Check to make sure the printer is off-line. ❏ Set the release lever on the front of the printer to the fanfold position. ❏ Press the control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT button. The printer

automatically feeds the fanfold paper back into position, ready for printing.

Using the tear-off function

The following procedure makes it easy to tear off fanfold paper without disturbing the current position of the paper.

❏ Check to make sure that the printer is on-line. ❏ Press the control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT button.

The printer feeds the perforation of the fanfold paper to the tear-off edge of the printer cover.

16 Printer Setup

❏ Tear off the paper. ❏ When you resume printing, the printer reverse feeds the paper to its former

position.

Connecting to your computer with a parallel cable

The printer is equipped with a parallel interface as standard. It does not come with a cable, so you must separately purchase one that matches the needs of your computer. You will probably want to use a standard parallel cable when connecting to the printer’s parallel interface.

The printer is also equipped with a serial interface (page 18).

Note:

In addition to using the parallel interface as-is to connect a parallel interface, you can also connect an optional serial-to-parallel converter (page 63) to convert the par allel interface to a serial interface. This ef fectively provides two serial interfaces for connection of separate computers.

Important!

The following instructions apply to the Centronics parallel cable that is suitable for use with an IBM-compatible personal computer. Note that they do not apply to all types of computers and cables. If you are unsure about what type of cable you should use, consult your dealer.

For an IBM-compatible personal computer:

✓ Use a standard 36-pin Centronics parallel cable. ✓ The parallel cable should be no longer than six feet (two meters). Longer

cables can result in poor transfer of information.

Important!

Make sure that the printer is unplugged from the AC outlet and that the computer is turned off before connecting them.

❏ Plug one end of the parallel cable into the parallel port of your computer.

The parallel port should be labeled “Printer,” “Parallel,” “PRN,” “LPT1,” or something similar.

❏ Lift up the back of the printer and insert two books or other similar objects

underneath it to keep the printer raised

❏ Plug the other end of the parallel cable into the socket on the back of the

printer and secure it in place with the clips.

18 Printer Setup

Connecting to your computer with a serial cable

The printer is equipped with a serial interface as standard. It does not come with a cable, so you must separately purchase one that matches the needs of your computer. You will probably want to use a standard serial (RS-232C) cable when connecting to the printer’s serial interface.

The printer is also equipped with a parallel interface (page 16).

Important!

• The following instructions apply to the serial cable that is suitable for use with an IBM-compatible personal computer. Note that they do not apply to all types of computers and cables. If you are unsure about what type of cable you should use, consult your dealer.

• Make sure that the printer is unplugged from the AC outlet and that the computer is turned off before connecting them.

Connecting to your computer with a serial cable 19

❏ Plug one end of the serial cable into the serial port of your computer. The

parallel port should be labeled “COM1,” “COM2,” or something similar.

❏ Lift up the back of the printer and insert two books or other similar objects

underneath it to keep the printer raised.

❏ Plug the other end of the serial cable into the socket on the back of the

printer and secure it in place with the screws.

20 Control Panel Operations

Chapter 2: Control Panel Operations

The control panel gives you push-button control over the printer’s operations. It includes indicator lights, which tell you the current status of the printer at a glance.

This chapter describes control panel functions that can be performed while the printer is turned on and either on-line or off-line. The buttons perform different functions in the EDS and Dot Adjustment Modes. Functions of control panel buttons in these modes are described in the relevant sections covering them.

Switching between on-line and off-line

❏

Press ON LINE to switch the printer between being on-line and off-line.

❏ When the printer is on-line, the ON LINE indicator is lit and the printer can

receive data from the computer . You should make sure that the printer is online whenever you are trying to print.

❏ When the printer is in off-line, the ON LINE indicator goes out, which

means that the printer cannot receive any data.

❏ Note that you can also press ON LINE while a printing operation is in

progress to stop the printing.

Important!

Make sure that the on-line/off-line setting of the printer is correct before performing a control panel operation.

HS-DRAFT

BANK SW

D 4

E 5

F 6

A 1

B 2

C 3

10 CPI

POWER

15 CPI

COND

PROP

12 CPI

DRAFT

ROMAN

SANSERIF

COURIER

PRESTIGE

ORATOR

FONT

BANK SW ON/OFF

EDS

PRINT EXIT

PITCH

ON LINEPARK

SET/EJECT

PAPER

FEED

Selecting a font 21

Selecting a font

❏

Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).

❏ Press FONT to change the font selection. An indicator lights to the left of

the name of the font that is currently selected.

Note:

The font setting you make with the above procedure can be changed if the software you are using overrides the setting on the control panel. You can prevent this in some applications by using the following procedure to put the printer into the Font Lock Mode when you turn it on.

Entering the Font Lock Mode

When the printer is in the Font Lock Mode, the font settings you make on the control panel are used even if your software tries to override the font. Use the following procedure to enter the Font Lock Mode.

❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ While holding down FONT, turn printer power on.

The printer is now in the Font Lock Mode. You could enter the Font Lock Mode and Pitch Lock Mode (page 22) at the same time by holding down both FONT and PITCH when you turn on printer power.

To exit the Font Lock Mode, simply turn the printer off.

Important!

Font lock will not function if you are using Windows Truetype fonts.

Lit Indicator Font

HS-DRAFT HS-Draft

HS-DRAFT + ROMAN Draft

ROMAN Roman

ROMAN + COURIER Sanserif

COURIER Courier

COURIER + ORATOR Prestige

ORATOR Orator

22 Control Panel Operations

Setting the character pitch

The character pitch setting controls how many characters are printed per inch. Use the following procedure to select the pitch you want.

❏ Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ Press PITCH to change the pitch selection.

The following shows the meanings of the indicators that light on the control panel when you press PITCH.

Note:

The pitch setting you make with the above procedure can be changed if the software you are using overrides the setting from the control panel. You can prevent this by using the following procedure to put the printer into the Pitch Lock Mode when you turn it on.

Entering the Pitch Lock Mode

When the printer is in the Pitch Lock Mode, the pitch settings you make on the control panel are used even if your software tries to override the pitch. Use the following procedure to enter the Pitch Lock Mode.

❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ While holding down PITCH, turn printer power on.

The printer is now in the Pitch Lock Mode. You could enter the Pitch Lock Mode and Font Lock Mode (page 21) at the same time by holding down both FONT and PITCH when you turn on printer power.

To exit the Pitch Lock Mode, simply turn the printer off.

Important!

Pitch lock will not function if you are using Windows Truetype fonts.

Lit Indicators Meaning

10CPI 10 characters per inch (Pica)

10CPI + 15CPI 12 characters per inch (Elite)

15CPI 15 characters per inch

10CPI + COND 17 characters per inch (Condensed Pica)

10CPI + 15CPI + COND 20 characters per inch (Condensed Elite)

PROP Proportional

COND + PROP Condensed proportional

Line feed

❏

Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).

❏ Press PAPER FEED once to feed paper one line. Holding down PAPER

FEED continually feeds paper, one line at a time, until you release the

button.

Paper eject (cut-sheet paper)

❏

Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).

❏ Press PARK/SET/EJECT to eject the paper. ❏ After the paper is ejected, the printer will beep and the POWER indicator

will ﬂash to indicate there is no paper in the printer.

Form feed (fanfold paper)

❏

Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).

❏ While holding down PAPER FEED, press ON LINE to feed the paper to

the top of the next page.

Parking fanfold paper

❏

Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit).

❏ Press the control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT button. ❏ The printer automatically reverse feeds the fanfold paper until it is no

longer in contact with the platen.

Micro feed

Use the following operation to feed the paper in very small increments. This makes it possible to align the print head exactly where you want it.

❏ Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ While holding down ON LINE, press PAPER FEED to feed the paper

forward or PARK/SET/EJECT to feed the paper backward.

24 Control Panel Operations

Setting the top of form position

The current position of paper loaded in the printer is automatically set as the top of the page whenever you turn power on. You can also use the following procedure at any time to specify a different position as the top of the page.

❏ Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ Use the micro feed operations (see above) to move the paper so that the

print head is located where you want the new top of form position to be.

❏ While holding down FONT, press PARK/SET/EJECT.

The printer will beep once to indicate that a new top of form position has been set.

Tear-off function (fanfold paper)

This procedure feeds fanfold paper to a position where it can be torn off easily.

❏ Make sure the printer is on-line (ON LINE indicator is lit). ❏ Press the control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT button. ❏ Tear off the paper. ❏ When you resume printing, the printer reverse feeds the paper to its former

position.

This operation causes the paper to be fed automatically so the tear assist edge of the printer cover is aligned with the paper’s next perforation.

Selecting the Quiet Print Mode

The Quiet Print Mode lets you print with less noise than that produced with normal printing. Use the following procedure to enter and exit the Quiet Print Mode.

Important!

Though the Quiet Print Mode prints more quietly, it also causes printing to take considerably longer than normal printing.

❏ Make sure the printer is on-line (ON LINE indicator is lit). ❏ Press FONT, to toggle between the Quiet Print Mode and normal printing.

The printer emits one short beeps when the Quiet Print Mode is selected, and two short beep when normal printing is selected.

Changing the auto load position 25

Changing the auto load position

Normally the printer automatically feeds paper to a standard position (1/6-inch from the top of the paper). This is called the auto load position. You can use the following procedure to specify a different auto load position.

❏ Make sure the printer is off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ While holding down ON LINE, press PITCH and then release the two

buttons. The printer will automatically eject the cut-sheet that is in the printer, or

reverse feed fanfold paper until it is no longer in contact with the platen. Also, all the font and pitch indicators on the control panel will light.

❏ Press PITCH to feed the paper to the starting position. ❏ Feed the paper so the print head is located where you want the new auto

load position to be. Press P APER FEED to feed the paper forward and PARK/SET/EJECT to

feed the paper backward. This is the micro feed operation.

❏ After you have the paper at the position you want, hold down ON LINE

and press PAPER FEED to make the current print head position the new auto load position. The printer will beep twice to indicate that the new auto load position is set.

❏ To clear the new auto load position and return to the one that you set

previously (using the above procedure), press ON LINE. To clear the currently set auto load position and return to the standard position (1/6-inch from the top of the paper), hold down ON LINE and press PITCH.

Note:

The auto load position you set remains in ef fect until you turn the printer of f . If you want to save the auto load position in memory, press PARK/SET/EJECT instead of PAPER FEED while holding down ON LINE in the above step.

26 Control Panel Operations

Saving a macro

Normally, any settings you make on the control panel are cleared when you turn the printer off. Use the following procedure to save the current control panel settings so that they are used whenever you turn the printer on.

❏ Make the control panel settings you want. ❏ Use ON LINE to put the printer off-line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ Hold down FONT and then PITCH. Keep both buttons held down until the

printer beeps twice. Pressing FONT normally changes the font setting, so when you press it in

the above step the indicator for the next font lights. Pressing PITCH, however, returns the font setting to what it was before you pressed FONT.

This procedure saves the following settings.

• Current font and pitch settings

• Quiet Print Mode status These items can be set separately for the Standard mode and the IBM mode.

❏ To clear saved control panel settings repeat the above procedure, but keep

FONT and PITCH depressed after the printer beeps twice. Soon the printer will beep again three times to indicate that the saved control panel settings have been cleared.

Clearing the printer’s buffer

When the printer receives data from a computer, it temporarily stores it in a memory called a buffer. If you stop a print job partway through, there is the chance that some data will remain in the buffer. The following procedure clears the printer’s buffer by deleting any data that might be there.

❏ Execute the necessary command in the program you are using to stop the

print job.

Important!

Be sure to stop the print job before taking the printer off line. Otherwise, the print job will resume from where you interrupted it when you put the printer back on-line.

❏ Use ON LINE to take the printer off line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ Hold down FONT and then PAPER FEED. Keep both buttons held down

until the printer beeps once, which indicates that the buffer is cleared.

Initializing the printer 27

Initializing the printer

The following procedure initializes the printer to its power-on settings. If you have control panel settings stored in memory, this procedure sets up the printer using them.

❏ Use ON LINE to take the printer off line (ON LINE indicator is not lit). ❏ Hold down FONT and then PAPER FEED. Keep both buttons held down

until the printer beeps once (indicating the printer buffer is cleared) and then beeps again three times, which indicates that the printer is reset.

Entering the Multi-part Mode

When the printer is in the Multi-part Mode, the print head prints with greater impact. It should be noted, however, that printing in the Multi-part Mode also reduces the life of the print head. Because of this, you should use the Multi-part Mode only for printing on four or five-ply paper. Return to the normal mode for printing on one to three-ply paper.

Use the following procedure to enter the Multi-part Mode

❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ While holding down the control panel’ s PAPER/SET/EJECT button, turn

the printer back on.

❏ To exit the Multi-part Mode, Simply turn the printer off and back on again.

28 Using the EDS Mode

Chapter 3: Using the EDS Mode

The letters “EDS” stand for “Electronic DIP Switches.” Just like the small DIP switches that are used by many computers, printers, and other devices, the EDS lets you configure the printer so that it matches your system and software needs.

This chapter describes how to enter the printer’s EDS Mode and provides details about available settings and how to change them.

All switch settings, except for EDS 2B-2, are ON when the printer is shipped from the factory.

About EDS Mode settings

The EDS Mode of this printer actually consists of two sub-modes, named EDS1 and EDS-2. EDS-1 is used for general settings (such as emulation, print pitch, and paper length), while EDS-2 is used to specify communication parameters for the serial interface and a number of paper handling settings.

EDS-1 settings are grouped among six “banks” (representing banks of switches) that are identified by the letters A through F. Each bank contains a number of “switches” numbered 1 through 6 that you can turn on and off to configure the printer.

EDS-2 settings consist of three “banks” named A, B, and C, with each bank containing six switches.

Entering the EDS Mode

❏

Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer.

❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ To enter the EDS-1 Mode, turn the printer on while holding down the

control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT, PAPER FEED, and ON LINE buttons.

To enter the EDS-2 Mode, turn the printer on while holding down the control panel’s FONT, PITCH, and PARK/SET/EJECT buttons.

Either of the above operations causes the following message to be printed, which indicates the printer is in the EDS Mode.

Selecting a bank 29

Note:

The contents of the above message are the same, regardless of whether you enter EDS-1 or EDS-2. The asterisks indicate the current EDS Mode switch settings for all the banks in both sub-modes.

Selecting a bank

❏

While in the EDS Modes (EDS-1 or EDS-2), use the control panel’ s B ANK button to select a bank. While the BANK indicator is ﬂashing, the lit indicator indicates the currently selected bank.

Note:

EDS-2 has only three banks, so pr essing the B ANK button cycles thr ough banks A, B, and C only. Indicators D4, E5, and F6 do not light with EDS-2.

Lit Indicator Selected Bank

A1 A B2 B C3 C D4 D E5 E F6 F

30 Using the EDS Mode

Selecting a switch

❏

While in the EDS Modes (EDS-1 or EDS-2), use the control panel’s SWITCH button to select a bank switch. While the SW indicator is ﬂashing, the lit indicator indicates the currently selected switch.

Changing a switch setting

❏

After selecting a bank and switch, press the control panel’s ON/OFF button to turn the switch on and off. The current setting of the switch is shown by the ON LINE indicator: the indicator is lit when the switch is on, and is not lit when the switch is off.

Printing the current switch settings

❏

In the EDS Modes, press and hold the control panel’s PRINT button to print out the current switch settings. Asterisks on the printout show whether a switch is turned on or off.

Exiting the EDS Modes

❏

Press the control panel’s EXIT button to exit the EDS Modes.

EDS Modes Settings

The following details all of the settings you can program in the EDS Mode.

Lit Indicator Selected Switch

A1 1 B2 2 C3 3 D4 4 E5 5 F6 6

EDS-1 Settings 31

EDS-1 Settings

The following details all of the settings you can make for EDS-1.

BANK A

Switch 1: Emulation

Selects Standard emulation (ON) or IBM emulation (OFF). Standard emulation causes the printer to act like the Epson ESC/P (24-pin), while IBM emulation makes it act like the IBM Proprinter XL24E.

Switch 2: Character Table

The function of this switch depends on whether you are using IBM or Standard emulation.

Switch 3: RAM Usage

Specifies whether RAM should be used as an input buffer (ON) or as a download buffer (OFF). Selecting input buffer (ON) tells the printer to use available RAM to store data it receives from the computer, which speeds up the printing. Selecting download buffer (OFF) tells the printer to use available RAM to store character patterns.

Switch 4: Paper Out Detector

Specifies whether the printer’s paper out detector is enabled (ON) or disabled (OFF). When the paper out detector is enabled (ON), the printer automatically stops printing whenever it senses there is no more paper. When it is disabled (OFF), the printer continues printing as long as there is data. Selecting disabled (OFF) makes it possible to print right up to the bottom of a page, but it also creates the danger of printing when there is no paper loaded in the printer, which can damage the print head and platen.

Switch 5, 6: Multi-Part mode

When the printer is in the Multi-part Mode, the print head prints with greater impact. It should be noted, however, that printing in the Multi-part Mode also reduces the life of the print head.

Emulation

Switch 2

Setting

Description

Standard

ON Graphics: IBM Character Set #2

OFF Italics: Italic character table used

IBM

ON IBM Character Set #2

OFF IBM Character Set #1

32 Using the EDS Mode

When Auto (SW5: ON and SW6: ON) is selected, the printer mode automatically switches between Multi-part Mode and Normal Mode. For example, if the adjustment lever is set to 3 or less, Normal Mode is selected; if the lever is set to 4 or more, Multi-part Mode is selected.

BANK B

Switch 1: Graphics Direction

Selects uni-directional (OFF) or bi-directional (ON) printing for graphics. Bidirectional printing (ON) is faster, while uni-directional (OFF) printing generally provides better print quality in the graphics mode.

Switch 2: Auto Tear-off

Specifies whether the printer’s auto tear-off feature (page 24) is enabled (OFF) or disabled (ON). Note that this setting controls the application software’s tearoff function only. It does not affect the manual tear-off function that is performed using the control panel buttons as described on page 24. The manual tear-off function is always enabled.

Switch 3: Line Spacing

Selects 1/6-inch (ON) or 1/8-inch (OFF) spacing between lines.

Switch 4: Auto LF with CR

Specifies whether auto LF with CR is enabled (OFF) or disabled (ON). When auto LF with CR is enabled (OFF), the printer automatically performs a line feed whenever it receives a carriage return from the computer. When it is disabled (ON), the computer must send both a line feed code and a carriage return code at the end of each line. Most applications do this automatically. Note the following checkpoints when trying to figure out which setting to use here:

✓ If you ﬁnd that your output is double-spaced when it should not be, turn

this switch ON (Disabled).

✓ If you ﬁnd that lines are printing over each other, turn this switch OFF

(Enabled).

Switch 5: Zero Style

Specifies whether a normal zero (ON) or a slashed zero (OFF) will be used. Selecting Normal (ON) prints zeros without lines running through them, while Slashed (OFF) prints zeros with a diagonal slash running through them.

Switch 6: Reserved

Mode SW5 SW6

Auto selectable ON ON

Multi-part mode OFF ON

Normal mode ON OFF

EDS-1 Settings 33

BANK C

Switches 1, 2: Print Mode

Turn these switches on or off to select the print mode you want to use.

Switches 3, 4, 5: Print Pitch

Turn these switches on or off to form the pattern that matches the print pitch setting you want to make.

Switch 6: Quiet

When the Quiet Mode is enabled (OFF), the printer prints with less noise than normal printing. Though the Quiet Mode prints more quietly, it also takes considerably longer than normal printing.

Print Mode SW1 SW2

LQ ON ON

Draft OFF ON

HS-Draft ON OFF

Print Pitch SW3 SW4 SW5

10cpi ON ON ON 12cpi OFF ON ON 15cpi ON OFF ON 17cpi OFF OFF ON 20cpi ON ON OFF

Proportional OFF ON OFF

BANK D

Switches 1, 2, 3, 4: Page Length

Turn these switches on or off to form the pattern that matches the Page Length setting you want to make.

Switch 5: Eject direction for cut sheet

Switch 6: Skew sensor for cut sheet

BANK E

Switches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Code Page/International Character Set

If your EDS settings specify IBM emulation (Bank A, Switch 1 OFF) with either character table (Bank A, Switch 2), or Standard emulation (Bank A, Switch 1 ON) with the graphics character table (Bank A, Switch 2 ON), use the Bank E switches to select the default character code page you want to use.

Page Length SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4

11”/Letter ON ON ON ON

8” OFF ON ON ON

11.7”/A4 ON OFF ON ON 12” OFF OFF ON ON

8.5”/Letter ON ON OFF ON 14”/Legal OFF ON OFF ON

10.5”/Executive ON OFF OFF ON

7.25”/Executive OFF OFF OFF ON

3.5” ON ON ON OFF

5.5” OFF ON ON OFF

ON Eject cut-sheet paper towards front

OFF Eject cut-sheet paper towards back

ON Disable skew sensor for cut-sheet paper

OFF Enable skew sensor for cut-sheet paper

EDS-1 Settings 35

Code Page SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 SW6

#437 IBM-PC ON ON ON ON ON ON #850 Multi-lingual OFF ON ON ON ON ON #860 Portuguese ON OFF ON ON ON ON #861 Icelandic OFF OFF ON ON ON ON #863 Canadian French ON ON OFF ON ON ON #865 Nordic OFF ON OFF ON ON ON

#866 Russian ON OFF OFF ON ON ON #3840 IBM-Russian OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON #3841 Gost-Russian ON ON ON OFF ON ON #3843 Polish OFF ON ON OFF ON ON #3844 CS2 ON OFF ON OFF ON ON #3845 Hungarian OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON #3846 Turkish ON ON OFF OFF ON ON #3847 Brazil-ABNT OFF ON OFF OFF ON ON #3848 Brazil-ABICOMP ON OFF OFF OFF ON ON

#852 Latin-2 OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON #1001 Arabic ON ON ON ON OFF ON

#737 Greek OFF ON ON ON OFF ON

#851 Greek ON OFF ON ON OFF ON

#869 Greek OFF OFF ON ON OFF ON

#928 Greek ON ON OFF ON OFF ON #2001 Lithuanian-KBL OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON

#772 Lithuanian ON OFF OFF ON OFF ON

#774 Lithuanian OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON #3001 Estonian-1 ON ON ON OFF OFF ON #3002 Estonian-2 OFF ON ON OFF OFF ON #3011 Latvian-1 ON OFF ON OFF OFF ON #3012 Latvian-2 OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON #3021 Bulgarian ON ON OFF OFF OFF ON #3031 Hebrew OFF ON OFF OFF OFF ON #3041 Maltese ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON #3850 Standard KU OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON

36 Using the EDS Mode

A code page is the set of symbols and characters that your printer can print. Your printer converts ASCII hexadecimal data according to a code page to print symbols and characters. By supporting different code pages, the printer can print in a variety of different languages. The following table shows detailed information about code pages.

#3860 Rajvitee KU ON ON ON ON ON OFF #3861 Microwiz KU OFF ON ON ON ON OFF #3863 STD 988 TIS ON OFF ON ON ON OFF #3864 Popular TIS OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF #3865 Newsic TIS ON ON OFF ON ON OFF

Code Page Name Country Remarks

#437 IBM PC

United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, United States, Spain

#850 Multi-Lingual

United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, United States, Spain

Preferred by Microsoft

#860 Portuguese Portugal #861 Icelandic Iceland

#863

Canadian

French

Canada

#865 Nordic Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden Preferred by Microsoft

#866 Russian Russia Preferred by Microsoft #3840 IBM-Russian Russia, Bulgaria #3841 Gost-Russian Russia Gost: government standard #3843 Polish Poland Also called “Mazowia” #3844 CS2 Czech Republic Also called “Kamenicky” #3845 Hungarian Hungary #3846 Turkish Turkey #3847 Brazil-ABNT #3848 Brazil-ABICOMP

Code Page SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 SW6

EDS-1 Settings 37

#852 Latin-2

Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia

Preferred by Microsoft

#1001 Arabic

Egypt, Saudi Arabia Mainly in Arabic speaking

countries #737 Greek Greece Almost 80% #851 Greek Greece #869 Greek Greece #928 Greek Greece For UNIX

#2001 Lithuanian-KBL Lithuania Commonly used for DOS

#772 Lithuanian Lithuania New standard #774 Lithuanian Lithuania

#3001 Estonian-1 Estonia #3002 Estonian-2 Estonia Most often used #3011 Latvian-1 Latvia #3012 Latvian-2 Latvia Government standard #3021 Bulgarian Bulgaria #3031 Hebrew Israel #3041 Maltese Malta #3850 Standard KU Thailand #3860 Rajvitee KU Thailand #3861 Microwiz KU Thailand #3863 STD988 TIS Thailand #3864 Popular TIS Thailand #3865 Newsic TIS Thailand

Code Page Name Country Remarks

38 Using the EDS Mode

If your EDS settings specify Standard emulation (Bank A, Switch 1 ON) with the italic character table (Bank A, Switch 2 OFF), use the Bank E switches to select the international character set you want to use. This setting determines the assignment of 14 character codes in the Standard Italic character set.

International

Character Set

SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 SW6

U.S.A. ON ON ON ON ON ON France OFF ON ON ON ON ON Germany ON OFF ON ON ON ON England OFF OFF ON ON ON ON Denmark-1 ON ON OFF ON ON ON Sweden OFF ON OFF ON ON ON Italy ON OFF OFF ON ON ON Spain-1 OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON Japan ON ON ON OFF ON ON Norway OFF ON ON OFF ON ON Denmark-2 ON OFF ON OFF ON ON Spain-2 OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON Latin America ON ON OFF OFF ON ON Korea OFF ON OFF OFF ON ON Ireland ON OFF OFF OFF ON ON Legal OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON

EDS-2 Settings 39

BANK F

Switches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: LQ Font Selection

Turn these switches on or off to form the pattern that identifies the font you want to use for LQ printing.

Note:

Bank C Switches 1 and 2 must be in the corr ect position before this setting has any effect.

EDS-2 Settings

The following details all of the settings you can make for EDS-2. For communications protocol settings (Banks A and B), the matching settings you have to make in your MS-DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT file or with the Ports option of the Windows Control Panel are also provided.

BANK A

Switch 1: Data Length

Specifies the number of bits that the computer transmits as one byte. This setting is normally 8.

Font SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 SW6

Roman ON ON ON ON ON ON

Sanserif OFF ON ON ON ON ON

Courier ON OFF ON ON ON ON

Prestige OFF OFF ON ON ON ON

OCR B OFF ON OFF ON ON ON

Orator OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON

Data Length SW1 DOS/Windows Setting

8 bits ON 8 7 bits OFF 7

Switch 2: Parity Check

This switch specifies whether or not a parity check should be performed on the data.

Switch 3: Parity

This switch specifies the parity as non, odd, or even.

Switch 4: Protocol

Protocol, which is sometimes referred to as “handshaking,” is the communications convention that is used to allow the printer and computer to regulated the flow of data. DTR is the most commonly used protocol.

Switch 5, 6: Not used

Parity Check SW2 DOS/Windows Setting

Disabled ON Disabled

Enabled OFF Enabled

Parity SW3 DOS/Windows Setting

Odd ON O

Even OFF E

Protocol SW4 DOS/Windows Setting

DTR ON DTR

XON/XOFF OFF XON/XOFF

EDS-2 Settings 41

BANK B

Switch 1, 2, 3: Baud Rate

The baud rate is the speed, in bits per second, that the printer sends data to the computer. The common setting is 9600 or 19200.

Switch 4: Not used Switch 5, 6: Waiting period for paper loading

BANK C

Switch 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Paper Control

Bank C lets you specify the top and bottom margins for printing.

Baud Rate SW1 SW2 SW3 DOS/Windows Setting

300 OFF OFF OFF 300

600 ON OFF OFF 600 1200 OFF ON OFF 1200 2400 ON ON OFF 2400 4800 OFF OFF ON 4800 9600 ON OFF ON 9600

19200 OFF ON ON 19200

Waiting period SW1 SW2

2.0 seconds ON ON

1.5 seconds OFF ON

1.0 seconds ON OFF

0.5 seconds OFF OFF

Switch Setting Meaning

SW1

ON 1/6

″

top margin for cut-sheet paper

OFF 0″ top margin for cut-sheet paper

SW2

ON 1/6″ top margin for fanfold paper (Rear)

OFF 0″ top margin for fanfold paper (Rear)

SW3

ON 1/6″ top margin for fanfold paper (Front)

OFF 0″ top margin for fanfold paper (Front)

SW4

ON 1/6″ bottom margin for cut-sheet paper

OFF 0″ bottom margin for cut-sheet paper

SW5

ON 1/6″ bottom margin for fanfold paper (Rear)

OFF 0″ bottom margin for fanfold paper (Rear)

SW6

ON 1/6″ bottom margin for fanfold paper (Front)

OFF 0″ bottom margin for fanfold paper (Front)

42 Using the Printer with Windows 3.1

Chapter 4: Using the Printer with Windows 3.1

This chapter contains specific information you need to know when using the printer with Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later. It also tells you how to install the printer driver on your computer so that it can control the printer correctly. In this chapter, you will learn about:

❏

How to set up for printing with Microsoft Windows 3.1

❏

How to prepare for printing

❏

How to print a document

❏

How to install TrueType fonts

❏

How to select fonts from within an application

Important!

See the “readme .txt” ﬁle for important information that became available after this documentation was printed.

Setting up for printing with Microsoft Windows 3.1

This printer is designed to work best with computers running Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later. If you are running an earlier version of Windows, we recommend that you upgrade to 3.1.

Before you can use the printer with Windows, you must first use the procedure outlined below to install the printer driver that is supplied on the 3.5” floppy disk that comes with the printer. This procedure assumes that you are using a mouse and that you are familiar with common mouse operations like click and

double-click . If you need information on mouse operations or if you want to

install the printer driver without using a mouse, refer to your Microsoft Windows

User’s Guide .

❏

Insert the disk that contains the printer driver into one of your computer’s disk drives. This explanation assumes you are using a drive named “A:”, but you could use any drive. Just remember to change the “A:” in the following steps to the name of the drive you are using.

❏

In the Main group, double-click on the Control Panel icon.

❏

Double-click on the Printers icon in the Control Panel window.

Setting up for printing with Microsoft Windows 3.1 43

❏

Click Add and the dialog box will expand to show a List of Printers.

❏

In the List of Printers: box, select Install Unlisted or Updated Printer .

❏

Click Install .

❏

This causes the Install Driver dialog box to appear, which instructs you to insert the disk that contains the printer driver file.

❏

Click Browse .

❏

In the Directories: list, select WIN 31 .

❏

Click on the language you want to use and then click OK . We will use English in all of our examples here.

44 Using the Printer with Windows 3.1

❏

In the List of Printers: box of the Add Unlisted or Updated Printer dialog box, select your printer driver and then click OK .

This causes the Printers dialog box to appear. Your printer is now listed in the Installed Printers: list.

❏

Double-click on the name of the printer model you just installed to select it as the default printer.

❏

Click Close to close the Printers dialog box.

Note:

Windows applications automatically print on the currently selected default printer. If you want to print on a different printer, you must ﬁrst select it.

Getting ready to print

Before printing, there are a number of things you must first do to set up the printer. You must select the printer driver, and the paper source, size, and orientation. Use the following procedure to make these selections.

Note:

You do not need to perform printer driver and paper selections mentioned above each time you print, but only if there are any changes to the last selections you made.

❏

In the Windows Program Manager, open the Main group by clicking on its icon.

❏

Double-click on the Control Panel icon.

❏

Double-click on the Printers icon in the Control Panel window.

❏

Double-click on the name of the printer model you selected above to choose it as the default printer.

❏

Click on Setup to display the window for setting up your printer.

Printing a document 45

❏

From this window you select buttons that let you control a wide variety of printer setup parameters. This manual does not include any information about how to do this because everything you need to know is included in an on-line manual that tells you how to use all the buttons and menus that appear. To view the on-line manual, click on the Help button.

❏

After the printer is set up the way you want it, click on OK .

❏

Click on the Close button in the Printers window to save your setup and return to the Program Manager.

Note:

Depending on the application software you are using, settings similar to those in the above procedure can be made using the Print Setup command of the File menu instead of the Control Panel.

Printing a document

The following Print window appears when you select the Print command of the File menu of your Windows application.

46 Using the Printer with Windows 3.1

Note:

The actual appearance of the Print window may differ somewhat depending on the application you are using.

Use this window to specify the range of the pages to be printed, the quality of the printing (in dots per inch), and the number of copies you want to print. Note also that there are boxes that you can select to specify printing to a file or collating (printing from back to front).

You can change the printer setup by clicking on the Setup button. When you do, the following window for setting up your printer appears on the display.

Make changes by clicking on the appropriate radio button or highlighting your selection on the appropriate pull-down menu.

Installing TrueType fonts

The TrueType fonts that are supplied on one of the 3.5” floppy disks that come with the printer can be used only when you are running Windows 3.1 or later. Use the following procedure to install the fonts.

❏ Launch Windows. ❏ Close any applications that may be open. ❏ Open the Windows Control Panel. ❏ Double-click the Fonts icon and the Fonts dialog box appears. ❏ Click Add and the Add Fonts dialog box appears.

❏ Insert the disk that contains the fonts into one of your computer’s disk

drives. This explanation assumes you are using a drive named “A:”, but you could use any drive. Just remember to change the “A:” in the following steps to the name of the drive you are using.

❏ Select the letter that represents the drive where the ﬂoppy disk is installed.

When you do, the names of all the fonts on the disk appear in the List of Fonts window. Select the fonts you want to install by clicking on their

names. If you want to install all of the fonts, click Select All.

❏ Click OK. The Fonts dialog box appears and installation is performed. The

names of the newly installed fonts are automatically added to the Installed Fonts list.

❏ If you were in an application program when you installed the new fonts,

you will need to select Printer Setup from the application’s FILE menu, and reselect the printer. After that, the application can display on-screen text and print text on the printer using the newly installed fonts.

Selecting fonts in Windows applications

Refer to the manual of the application you are using for details on how to select fonts within that application.

In addition to the Windows fonts, you can also use the TrueType fonts that come with this printer.

48 Using the printer with Windows 95

Chapter 5: Using the printer with Windows 95

This chapter describes how to use the printer with Microsoft Windows 95. The following topics are covered:

❏ Setting up the printer in Windows 95 ❏ Preparing for printing ❏ Printing a document ❏ Installing the TrueType fonts

Note:

The ﬁle “readme .txt” on the ﬂoppy disk contains any late-br eaking information that has been made available since this manual was printed.

Setting up the printer in Windows 95

To use the printer with Windows 95, you need to install a file known as the printer driver onto your computer. This file is supplied on the floppy disk that comes with the printer.

The following description assumes that you are using a mouse (“click” and “double-click” refer to the action of using the mouse to point at an item with the on-screen pointer, and then clicking either once, or twice in quick succession).

To install the printer driver under Windows 95, use the following steps:

❏ Turn on the printer and start up your computer. ❏ Click on the Start button in the bottom lefthand corner of the screen. ❏ Select Settings. ❏ Release the mouse button on Printers. ❏ Double-click on the Add Printer icon in the Printers window.

❏ Click on the Next button.

❏ When the above window is displayed, make sure the Local printer radio

button is checked. Then click on the Next button.

❏ Click on the Next button and click on the Back button. Then click on the

Have Disk button.

❏ Insert the disk with the printer driver ﬁle on it into the ﬂoppy disk drive.

Make sure that the drive’s name (“A:” or “B:”) is displayed in the ﬁeld named Copy manufactur er’ s ﬁles from:. T o select a drive name, click on the arrow by the side of the ﬁeld and select the drive from the list that appears.

❏ Click on the Browse button. A list of folders on the ﬂoppy disk is

displayed.

❏ Select “WIN95” (either by double-clicking on it or by clicking on it and

clicking on the OK button).

❏ Click on the OK button twice.

❏ Select the language or language group you want to use by clicking on it. ❏ Select the printer model name (“Star LC-8521”) by clicking on it and then

click on the Next button.

❏ Select the printer port to which the printer is connected by clicking on it

(usually “LPT1”). Click on the Next button.

❏ Change the printer name if you want. If you have previously installed

another printer, you must select whether you want the new printer to be the default printer. Click on the appropriate radio button.

Preparing to print 51

Note:

Windows applications always print to the currently selected default printer, unless the user chooses a different printer from within the application.

❏ Click on the Next button. ❏ Select whether to print out a test page by clicking on the appropriate radio

button.

❏ Click on the Finish button. ❏ If a message appears requesting you to insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM,

insert it into the CD-ROM drive and click on the OK button.

❏ If a message appears saying that the printer driver ﬁle LC8521.DRV cannot

be found on the W indows 95 CD-ROM, click on the Browse button, select the ﬂoppy disk drive’ s name (“A:” or “B:”), click on “WIN95” in the list of directories and click on the OK button (or double-click on “WIN95”).

❏ Click on the OK button.

This concludes the printer set-up.

Preparing to print

Often you can simply select the Print command in the application you are using, click the OK button, and your document will be printed out. However, sometimes you may need to change certain settings beforehand, such as the default printer, which port a printer uses, which printer driver it uses, the paper size, the paper source etc.

Settings are made by checking radio buttons, entering numbers into fields or by clicking on the arrow by the side of a ﬁeld and selecting an option from the list that appears. All these settings, and how to make them, are fully explained in the Microsoft Windows 95 User’s Guide.

Some settings, e.g. paper size and paper source, can be made within an application when you select the Print command (see the next section: Printing a document). However, settings made within an application only affect printing from that application.

To change the default printer and to make general settings that will apply to any application, proceed as follows:

❏ Click on the Start button in the bottom lefthand corner of the screen. ❏ Select Settings. ❏ Release the mouse button on Printers.

52 Using the printer with Windows 95

❏ Double-click on the icon bearing the name of the printer (Star LC-8521) in

the Printers window. A window appears listing any documents that are currently being printed on the printer.

❏ Click on the Printer menu. ❏ To set the printer as the default printer, click on the Set As Default

command so that a tick mark appears in the check box. This denotes that the selected printer is the default printer.

❏ Click on the Printer menu and click on the Properties command.

❏ Click on any of the ﬁve index-card type buttons and change the parameter

settings as you require. For a detailed explanation of any of the settings, click on the “?” button on the top right of the window and then click on the relevant parameter ﬁeld. Click once more to clear the help message from the screen.

Note:

Paper, Graphics and Device option settings can also be made when you select the Print command in an application. However, settings made within an application only apply to printing from that application.

❏ Click on the Close (X) button on the top right of the Properties window. ❏ Click on the Close (X) button on the top right of the printer’s window

Printing a document 53

This concludes the printing preparation. The printer which you selected is now the default printer, and the page size, paper source setting and any other settings which you made for the printer, apply to printing from all applications. To override these settings for a specific application, refer to the next section, Printing a document.

Printing a document

Windows 95 applications always print to the currently selected default printer. If you want to change the default printer, refer to the previous section,

Preparing to print.

To print from any Windows 95 application, proceed as follows:.

❏ Click on the application’s File menu. ❏ Click on the Print command.

Note:

The actual appearance of the Print window may differ somewhat depending on the application you are using.

❏ If you do not want to use the default printer, select a different printer by

clicking on the arrow by the side of the Name ﬁeld and selecting one from the list that appears.

❏ Click on the Properties button. ❏ If you want to change any of the printer settings, for example paper size,

orientation or paper source, click on the appropriate index card-type button (Paper, Graphics or Device options) and change the parameter settings as you require. For a detailed explanation of any of the settings, click on the ? button on the top right of the window and then click on the relevant parameter ﬁeld. Click once more to clear the help message from the screen. Changes you make here apply only to printing from the current application

❏ Click on the Close (X) button on the top right of the window.

54 Using the printer with Windows 95

❏ Select how many copies of the document will be printed by entering the

appropriate number into the Number of copies ﬁeld. If you want to print all the pages in your document, make sure that the All radio button is checked. If you do not want to print all the pages in your document, enter the ﬁrst and last pages to print into the from and to ﬁelds.

❏ If you want the output to be collated (each copy automatically sorted into

page order) or if you want to print to ﬁle (instead of a print-out, a graphic ﬁle of the print-out is saved on disk), check the appropriate radio button.

❏ Click on the OK button.

Your document will now be printed out.

Installing TrueType fonts

To install the TrueType fonts that are on the floppy disk accompanying this printer, follow the procedure below.

❏ Insert the disk in your computer’s ﬂoppy disk drive. ❏ Click on the Start button in the bottom lefthand corner of the screen. ❏ Select Settings. ❏ Release the mouse button on Control Panel. ❏ Double-click on the Fonts folder. The currently-installed font ﬁles are

displayed.

❏ Click on the File menu.

❏ Click on the Install New Font... command. ❏ Display the drive’ s name (“A:” or “B:”) in the Drives ﬁeld. To select a drive

name, click on the arrow by the side of the ﬁeld and select the drive from the list that appears. The names of the fonts stored on the disk are displayed in the List of fonts window.

Installing TrueType fonts 55

❏ Select the fonts you wish to install by clicking on them. If you want to

install all of them, click on the Select All button.

❏ Click on the OK button.

The new fonts can now be seen in the Fonts folder window. This concludes the font installation.

56 Using the Printer with MS-DOS

Chapter 6: Using the Printer with MS-DOS

This chapter contains information about how to use the printer with applications software running under MS-DOS. In this chapter, you will learn about:

❏ How to set up for printing with MS-DOS ❏ How to select fonts from within an application

Setting up for printing with MS-DOS

To print from an application running under MS-DOS, you must first select the printer from within the application. Typically, the program will feature an INSTALL or SETUP command for selection of printers. Refer to the manual for the application you are using for details on how to select a printer for it.

❏ Start up the application and use the correct procedure for that application to

select a printer. The following is a list of printers that can be used. If your application lists more than one of these, select the printer that is nearest to the top of this list. For these printers, you should use the EDS Mode to select standard emulation (page 31).

If none of the printers listed above are available in the application, choose one of the printers listed below. Once again, you should choose the printer that is nearest to the top in the following list. For these printers, you should use the EDS Mode to select IBM emulation (page 31).

❏ To print, follow the instructions given in the manual of the application you

are using. Typically, you would select the application’s PRINT command, make any necessary changes in the window that appears (such as the number of copies to be printed), and then press the Enter key to start printing.

Star LC-8521 Star LC-8211

Star LC24-300 / NX-2480

LC24-30 / NX-2450 Epson LQ-860/1060 Epson LQ-850/1050

IBM Proprinter X24E/XL24E

IBM Proprinter X24/XL24

Chapter 7: Paper Handling

Your printer is designed to print on a variety of paper types. This chapter tells you everything you need to know about paper, and how to set the printer up for manual paper feed. In this chapter, you will learn about:

❏ Selecting the best type of paper ❏ Adjusting for paper thickness ❏ Manual sheet feeding ❏ Clearing paper jams

Selecting paper types

Use the following information when selecting paper.

Cut-Sheet Paper

Width: 2″ to 16.5″ / 51 to 420 mm Length: 2.75″ to 14″/ 70 to 356 mm (min.) Weight (1-ply): 14 to 42 lbs / 52 to 156 g/m2 / 45 to 135 kg Multi-part: 11 to 14 lbs / 40 to 52 g/m2 / 34 to 45 kg; pressure sensitive

paper Total Thickness: 0.014″/0.35 mm

Copies: Original + 4

Fanfold Paper

Width: 3″ to 16″ / 76 to 406 mm Length: 6″/15 2mm (min.) Weight (1-ply): 14 to 22 lbs / 52 to 82 g/m2 / 45 to 70 kg Multi-part: 11 to 14 lbs / 40 to 52g/m2 / 34 to 45 kg; pressure sensitive

paper Total Thickness: 0.014″ / 0.35mm

Copies: Original + 4

58 Paper Handling

Labels

Backing sheet: 3″ to 16″ / 76 to 406 mm Thickness:

Backing sheet 0.0028″ to 0.0035″ / 0.07 to 0.09 mm Total thickness 0.0075″ / 0.19 mm

* Use labels only under normal temperature and humidity conditions.

Envelope

#10: 9.4″ × 4.1″ / 240 × 104 mm #6: 6.5″ × 3.6 ″ / 166 × 92 mm

Adjusting for paper thickness

Paper comes in different weights, normally expressed as gsm (grams per square meter) or lbs (pounds). Some types of forms have multiple pages that make them quite thick. Use the following procedure to change the gap between the print head and the platen and adjust for paper thickness.

❏ Move the adjustment lever to one of its nine settings. Position 1 is most

suitable for single-sheet paper.

Adjustment  lever

8 7

6 5 4 3

2 1

The following table provides a general guide for setting the adjustment lever. Experiment with different settings until you find the one that gives you the print quality you want.

Important!

Continuous use of the wrong adjustment lever setting can drastically reduce the print head life. Position “0” is used only when the print quality is too light. Setting the lever to position “0” when you are using thin paper may damage the print head.

Automatic fanfold feeding

❏

See “Loading fanfold paper” on page 10 for details on using fanfold paper.

Paper Type Weight Per Sheet Thickness

Recommended

Position

Single-sheet

14 lbs (52 gsm) 0.06 mm 1 17 lbs (64 gsm) 0.08 mm 1

21 lbs (81 gsm) 0.10 mm 1 28 lbs (104 gsm) 0.13 mm 1 42 lbs (156 gsm) 0.19 mm 2

Multi-part

2-ply 11 lbs (40 gsm) 0.13 mm 2 3-ply 11 lbs (40 gsm) 0.20 mm 3 4-ply 11 lbs (40 gsm) 0.26 mm 4 5-ply 11 lbs (40 gsm) 0.33 mm 5

Labels — Max. 0.19 mm 2

Envelope

11 lbs (50 gsm) 0.12 ~ 0.21 mm 2 or 3

15 lbs (70 gsm) 0.18 ~ 0.30 mm 3

19 lbs (85 gsm) 0.20 ~ 0.36 mm 4

60 Paper Handling

Manual sheet feeding

You can use the following procedure to manually feed cut-sheet paper into the printer.

❏ Make sure that there is no fanfold paper in the printer. If there is, use the

procedure under “Parking fanfold paper” on page 15 to park the fanfold paper and prepare for manual sheet feeding.

❏ Set the release lever on the front of the printer to the cut-sheet position.

❏ Set the adjustment lever to the value that matches the thickness of the paper

you are using. The setting for normal paper is 1. Set the lever to a larger value for thicker paper, or to a smaller value for thinner paper.

Adjustment  lever

8 7

6 5 4 3

2 1

❏ Adjust the paper guide to the position you want.

Note that the ▼ mark of the guide indicates where the left margin of the

printing will be.

❏ Making sure that the left edge of the paper is against the paper guide, insert

straight a sheet of paper into the front of the printer as far as it will go. The paper will automatically be fed into the printer.

❏ Start the printing operation from your software application. ❏ After printing is complete, press PARK/SET/EJECT while the printer is

on line to eject the paper from the printer.

Paper guide

Scale

Table

Paper

Paper guide

62 Paper Handling

Note:

If you are inserting letterhead paper, insert the sheet so that it is face up with the letterhead portion up.

Clearing paper jams

Use the following procedure to clear paper jams from the printer.

❏ Turn the power off. ❏ Unplug the printer from its AC power outlet. ❏ Open the front cover of the printer. ❏ Carefully try to pull the jammed paper from the printer.

If necessary, move the release lever on the front of the printer to the fanfold position or rotate the platen knob to remove the paper.

❏ Close the front cover of the printer.

Chapter 8: Optional Accessory

This chapter explains how to connect and set up the following optional accessories that are available for this printer:

❏ Serial-to-Parallel Converter (SPC-8K) ❏ Push Tractor Unit (CT-15HA)

Important!

Always make sure that printer power is turned off whenever installing or removing optional accessories.

Serial-to-Parallel Converter (SPC-8K)

Connecting the serial-to-parallel converter to the printer’s parallel connector provides a second serial connection. This provides separate serial connections for two separate computers.

Since this printer is already equipped with one serial interface, connecting the serial-to-parallel converter provides a second connector for serial data communication.

Dip switch

Serial connector

Clear button

Parallel connector

Connecting the Interface Converter

❏

Unplug the printer from its AC power outlet.

❏ Set the DIP switches on the SPC-8K to the settings you want to use before

you connect it to your printer. See the following section for details on how to set the DIP switches

❏ Plug the interface converter’s Centronics connector into the socket on the

side of the printer and secure it in place with the clips.

❏ Plug one end of a serial cable into the serial interface connector’s 25-pin D-

TYPE connector.

❏ Plug the other end of the serial cable into your computer’s serial ports.

Serial ports are usually marked COM1, COM 2, etc. If your computer has only one serial port, it will be marked COM1.

Interface converter

Serial cable

Serial interface connector

Setting the converter’s DIP switches 65

Important!

❏ Make sure that the serial-to-parallel converter is resting on a stable, level

surface where it will not be subject to vibration or damage.

Setting the converter’s DIP switches

[CORRECT METHOD] [INCORRECT METHOD]

You should set the converter’s DIP switches so they match the settings you make on your computer. The table to the right shows the parameter that each DIP switch on the serial-to-parallel converter controls.

The tables below show all of the settings you can make with the serial-toparallel’s DIP switches to control certain parameters. The tables also include the matching settings you have to make in your MS-DOS AUTOEXEC.BA T file or with the Ports option of the Windows Control Panel. The highlighted cells in the tables indicate default settings for the serial-to-parallel converter.

Switc

Function

1 Data length 2 Parity 3 Protocol 4 Protocol 5 Parity 6 Baud rate 7 Baud rate 8 Baud rate

66 Optional Accessory

Data Length

Parity

Protocol

Baud Rate

Switch 1 Data Length DOS/Windows Setting

ON 8 bits 8

OFF 7 bits 7

Switch 2 Switch 5 Parity DOS/Windows Setting

ON ON or OFF None N OFF ON Odd O OFF OFF Even E

Switch 3 Switch 4 Protocol

ON ON DTR ON OFF XON/XOFF

OFF ON ETX/ACK

Switch 6 Switch 7 Switch 8 Baud Rate DOS/Windows Setting

OFF OFF OFF 150 bps 150 OFF OFF ON 300 bps 300 OFF ON OFF 600 bps 600 OFF ON ON 1200 bps 1200

ON OFF OFF 2400 bps 2400 ON OFF ON 4800 bps 4800 ON ON OFF 9600 bps 9600 ON ON ON 19200 bps 19200

Push Tractor Unit (CT-15HA) 67

Push Tractor Unit (CT-15HA)

The printer comes with a push tractor unit pre-installed for back-to-front feeding of fanfold paper. You can use the push tractor unit as it is, or you can move it to the front of the printer for front-to-back feeding.

Users who find themselves having to frequently move the push tractor unit between the front and back may wish to purchase an optional CT-15HA Push Tractor Unit. Then the feed direction can be switched whenever necessary, without having to physically move the push tractor unit each time.

The following procedures describe how to remove the push tractor unit from the printer and how to install it. You can use these procedures when moving the push tractor unit between the front and back of the printer, or when installing a second unit.

Note:

Use the release le ver (pag e 11) to specify whether paper should be fed bac k-tofront or front-to-back.

68 Optional Accessory

Removing the push tractor unit from the back of the printer

❏

Make sure that the printer is unplugged from its AC power source.

❏ Open the cover where the push tractor unit is located.

If the push tractor unit is located in the back of the printer, open the back cover. If it is located in the front of the printer, open the document table. In either case, opening the cover as far as it will go will cause it to lock in place.

❏ Pressing down on the two releases on the left and right of the tractor feeder,

lift it up and away from the printer.

❏ Close the cover of the printer.

[Back of the printer]

[Front of the printer]

Installing the push tractor unit 69

Installing the push tractor unit

❏

Make sure that the printer is unplugged from its AC power source.

❏ Open the cover where you want to install the push tractor unit.

If you want to install the push tractor unit in the back of the printer, open the back cover. If you want to install it in the front of the printer, open the document table.

In either case, opening the cover as far as it will go will cause it to lock in place.

❏ Pressing down on the two releases on the left and right of the tractor feeder,

carefully lower it into the printer, making sure that the proper parts of the tractor feeder ﬁt into the slots provided in the printer as shown in the illustration below.

❏ Close the cover of the printer.

[Back of the printer]

[Front of the printer]

70 Troubleshooting

Appendix A: Troubleshooting

The appendix will provide help if you experience problems with your printer. It tells you how to test the printer, how to check system software settings, and how to adjust the vertical alignment. In addition, there is information on actions to take for specific problems, and on the meanings of printer beep tones.

Warning!

The printer uses high voltage. Do not attempt any other repair or maintenance except as expressly recommended in this appendix. Unauthorized repair and maintenance not only exposes you to the danger of electrical shock, it also may damage your printer and void your warranty.

Short test

Use the following procedure to test the printer to make sure that everything is working correctly.

❏ Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer. ❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ While holding down the control panel’s ON LINE button, turn the printer

back on. This test prints the version number of the software contained in the printer’s

ROM followed by the current EDS settings.

❏ To stop demo printing, turn the printer off.

Long test

Use the following procedure to test the printer to make sure that everything is working correctly.

❏ Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer. ❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ While holding down the control panel’s PAPER FEED button, turn the

printer back on. This test prints the title and seven lines of text, and then continues to print

the entire character set for each font and pitch available.

❏ To stop demo printing, turn the printer off.

Hexadecimal dump 71

Note:

Test printing prints across the entire width of the carriage. Make sure that the printer is loaded with the widest paper available in order to avoid damage to the print head and platen.

Hexadecimal dump

This procedure prints in hexadecimal format all codes (character codes and control codes) that are sent to the printer by the computer. The printer does not execute any control codes (such as 0A - linefeed), it just prints them out. The hexadecimal dump is useful when you are writing programs for printer control.

❏ Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer. ❏ Turn off the printer. ❏ While holding down the control panel’s PAPER FEED and ON LINE

buttons, turn the printer back on to enter the Hex Dump Mode.

❏ To exit the Hex Dump Mode, turn the printer off.

Adjusting the dot alignment

You may never have to use the procedure described in this section, but after you have been using your printer for some time you may find that the dots of some graphics do not align correctly. For example, what should look like:

may come out looking like one of the following:

This is caused when mechanical parts of the printer get out of alignment. This happens only rarely and you may never experience it at all throughout the life of the printer. If you do have problems, use the following procedure to correct it.

❏ Make sure that paper is loaded in the printer. ❏ Turn off the printer.

or like this

72 Troubleshooting

❏ While holding down the control panel’s PARK/SET/EJECT and ON

LINE buttons, turn the printer back on to enter the Dot Adjustment Mode.

The printer will print something like the following.

Note that the printer will feed the paper forward and back each time during this operation so you can view the printout.

❏ If the two lines do not align properly, use FONT to move the lower line to

the left or PITCH to move it to the right. The above step performs alignment for Normal-density mode only. You

must make separate adjustments for the HS-DRAFT, CRT graphics mode I, DRAFT Text, DRAFT Graphics, Double-density, CRT graphics mode II, Triple-density, Quadruple-density, LQ Text and LQ Graphics modes as well.

❏ Press PARK/SET/EJECT to change to another printing mode. ❏ Repeat the above steps for each printing mode, if necessary. ❏ After making changes to the adjustments, press ON LINE to exit the Dot

Adjustment Mode and register your adjustments.

***

DOT ADJUSTMENT SETTING ***



Normal-density 0:

Troubleshooting guide 73

Troubleshooting guide

Use the following table to help track down the causes of problems and to determine the best solution to deal with them.

Problem Possible Cause Recommended Action

The ON LINE indicator does not light.

The printer is not receiving power.

Check whether the power cord is correctly plugged into the power outlet.

Check whether the power outlet is working by unplugging the printer and plugging in another device.

Printer sounds like it is printing, but it is not.

Printing is weak.

The ribbon is jammed, twisted, or not set correctly between the print head and the print head shield.

Make sure that the ribbon cassette is installed correctly.

The printer is not set up correctly for the thickness of paper you are using.

Set up the printer for the paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

The ribbon is worn out or “used up.”

Replace the ribbon with a new one.

Printer test works, but printer will not print out data from the attached computer.

The wrong emulation is selected.

Check the emulation selection and change it if necessary. See page 31.

Your application program’s or system software’s printer selection is wrong.

Check the printer selection of your application software.

The computer’s system software is not set up properly for the printer or for the port you are using.

Check the system software settings. Check the settings for LPT1, COM 1, or COM 2 if you are using the Serial Interface.

74 Troubleshooting

Printer test works, but printer will not print out data from the attached computer.

The interface cable is connected incorrectly or damaged.

Check to make sure that the printer interface cable is connected correctly. If it is, try a different cable.

Printer does not feed paper properly.

Jamming paper. Remove all paper from the

printer and then reload it.

The printer is not set up correctly for the thickness of paper being used.

Set up the printer for the paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

Line spacing is incorrect. Jamming paper. Set up the printer for the

paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

The line spacing or leading selected in your application program is wrong.

Choose a different line spacing or leading setting from your application.

Auto line feed with carriage return is enabled.

Use the EDS Mode to disable auto line feed with carriage return (page 32).

Lines print over each other. Auto line feed with carriage

return is disabled.

Use the EDS Mode to enable auto line feed with carriage return (page 32).

Jamming paper. Set up the printer for the

paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

Problem Possible Cause Recommended Action

Troubleshooting guide 75

Incorrect number of lines are printed on the page.

Auto line feed with carriage return is enabled.

Use the EDS Mode to disable auto line feed with carriage return (page 32).

The line spacing or leading selected by your application program is wrong.

Choose a different line spacing or leading setting from your application.

Dot adjustment is not correct.

See “Adjusting the dot alignment” on page 71.

Text and graphics are malformed.

Print quality is poor.

The ribbon is worn out or “used up”.

Replace the ribbon with a new one.

The printer is not set up correctly for the thickness of paper being used.

Set up the printer for the paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

The print head is damaged. Return the printer to your

dealer for repair.

Forms are smudged. Printing is too dark.

The printer is not set up correctly for the thickness of paper being used.

Set up the printer for the paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

The ribbon is jammed, twisted, or not set correctly between the print head and the print head shield.

Make sure that the ribbon cassette is installed correctly. See “Installing the ribbon cassette” on page 6.

Print head shield is damaged or missing.

Return it to your dealer for repair.

Problem Possible Cause Recommended Action

76 Troubleshooting

Printer case is hot. The printer’s air vents are

blocked or obstructed.

Switch off the printer and let it cool. Check the air vents on the bottom of the printer to see if they are blocked. Remove the obstruction if possible. If the problem persists, return the printer to your dealer for repair.

Printer makes excessive noise.

The front cover is removed. Replace the front cover. The printer is vibrating. Move any objects that are

touching the printer. Make sure that the printer is

on a level steady surface.

Printer prints past the edge of the paper.

Incorrect margin settings are selected by your application program.

Choose different margin settings from your application program.

The paper guide is not positioned correctly.

Remove the paper and adjust the position of the paper guide. Reload the paper and try printing again.

The ribbon is jammed, causing the print head to jam.

Make sure that the ribbon cassette is installed correctly. See “Installing the ribbon cassette” on page 6.

Paper is jamming, causing the print head to jam.

Remove all paper from the printer and reload it. Try printing again.

Set up the printer for the paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

Problem Possible Cause Recommended Action

Troubleshooting guide 77

Left margin moves to the right during printing.

The paper is not loaded correctly, causing the print head to jam.

Remove all paper from the printer and reload it. Try printing again.

The ribbon cassette is not installed correctly, causing the print head to jam.

Make sure that the ribbon cassette is installed correctly. See “Installing the ribbon cassette” on page 6.

The printer is not set up correctly for the thickness of paper being used.

Set up the printer for the paper thickness you are using. See “Adjusting for paper thickness” on page 58.

Inappropriate settings are selected by your application program.

Choose different settings in your application.

Static electricity caused by interference from nearby electrical devices or by lowlevel humidity is affecting printer operation.

Make sure that the printer is not too close to any devices with electric motors or that raise the humidity level.

Some characters are printed incorrectly .

The wrong emulation is selected.

Check the emulation selection and change it if necessary. See page 31.

The wrong character table, code page, or international character set is selected.

Use the EDS Mode to select the correct character table, code page, or international character set (page 34).

Static electricity caused by interference from nearby electrical devices or by lowlevel humidity is affecting printer operation.

Make sure that the printer is not too close to any devices with electric motors or that raise the humidity level.

Problem Possible Cause Recommended Action

78 Troubleshooting

Some characters are printed incorrectly .

Inappropriate settings are selected by your application program.

Choose different settings in your application.

Wires are missing from the print head.

Return the printer to your dealer for repair.

Printer behaves erratically. Printing suddenly stops.

The interface cable is connected incorrectly or damaged.

Check to make sure that the printer interface cable is connected correctly. If it is, try a different cable.

Static electricity caused by interference from nearby electrical devices or by lowlevel humidity is affecting printer operation.

Make sure that the printer is not too close to any devices with electric motors or that raise the humidity level.

Problem Possible Cause Recommended Action

Checking system software settings in Windows 79

Checking system software settings in Windows

Whenever you have problems printing from a Windows application, you should check the following four things:

✓ Is the printer you are using set as the default printer? ✓ Is the drive setup correctly? ✓ Is the printer you are using correctly selected in your application? ✓ Is the correct port selected?

You should also refer to your Microsoft Windows User’s Guide for other information that might be helpful. If you still experience problems, consult your software dealer.

To check the default printer selection

❏ Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main window. ❏ Double-click the Printers icon. ❏ Check to see that the name of your printer is the default printer. If it is not,

double-click on the name of your printer in the list of installed printers.

❏ Click on Close to return to the Control Panel window.

To check the Driver Setup

❏ Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main window. ❏ Double-click the Printers icon. ❏ Double-click on the name of your printer in the list of installed printers. ❏ Click on Setup. ❏ Check resolution, paper source, etc. ❏ Click OK. ❏ Click on Close to return to the Control Panel window.

80 Troubleshooting

To check the application printer selection

❏ Select Print from the application’s File menu, and a window appears listing

available printers.

❏ Check to see that the name of your printer is selected. If it is not, select it

and try printing from your application again.

To check the port

❏ Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main window. ❏ Double-click the Printers icon. ❏ Double-click on the name of your printer in the list of installed printers. ❏ Click on Connect. ❏ Make sure that your printer cable is connected to the port highlighted in the

list of ports. If you are using a parallel cable, you will probably be using LPT1. If you are

using the serial interface, you should be using COM1 or COM2. Click on the correct port name.

❏ Click OK. ❏ Click on Close to return to the Control Panel window.

Checking system software settings in MS-DOS

If you are using a parallel cable and cannot print a text file using the MS-DOS PRINT command, you may have a problem with your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Open the file and look for the following line:

MODE LPT1:=COM1 or MODE LPT1:=COM2 These lines indicate you are using a serial cable connection, and so you should

delete them, save the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, reboot and try printing again. Of course, if you are having problems printing with the optional serial-to-

parallel converter, you should conversely check to make sure that one of the above lines is included in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The file must also contain information on parameter settings. For details, see the user’s manual that comes with the optional Serial-to-Parallel Interface Converter.

If the above is not the problem or if you make the above changes and still experience problems printing using the MS-DOS PRINT command, refer to your MS-DOS Users’ Guide or consult your software dealer.

If you are successful in printing using the MS-DOS PRINT command but cannot print from an application, check to see what printer driver is selected in the application. See “Setting up for printing with MS-DOS” on page 56. If this does not help, consult your software dealer.

Checking system software settings in MS-DOS 81

Appendix B: Speciﬁcations

Printing System Serial Impact Dot-Matrix Printing Speed Pitch HS-Draft (cps/dpi) Draft (cps/dpi) LQ (cps/dpi)

Pica (10 cpi) 400/80H 300/120H 100/360H Elite (12 cpi) 360/120H 120/360H Semi-condensed (15 cpi (S)) 450/120H 150/360H Semi-condensed (15 cpi (I)) 225/240H 150/360H Condensed pica (17 cpi) 255/240H 170/360H Condensed elite (20 cpi) 300/240H 198/360H 24 cpi (I) 360/240H 238/360H H: half-dot

(S): Standard mode only (I): IBM mode only

Print Direction Draft: Uni-directional/bi-directional logic seeking (selectable)

LQ: Uni-directional/bi-directional logic seeking (selectable) Bit-Image: Uni-directional/bi-directional logic seeking (selectable)

Print Head Number of pins: 24

Life: 200 million dots/pin (adjustment lever position 1 to 3)

100 million dots/pin (adjustment lever position 4 to 8)

Line Spacing 1/6”, 1/8”

7/60”, 7/72”, n/72”, n/180”, n/216”, n/360”: software

Character Matrix Pitch HS-Draft Draft LQ

Pica (10 cpi) 24

7H 24 × 9H 24 × 31H Elite (12 cpi) 24 × 9H 24 × 27H Semi-condensed (15 cpi(S)) 16 × 7H 16 × 21H Semi-condensed (15 cpi(I)) 24 × 9H 24 × 16H Condensed pica (17 cpi) 24 × 9H 24 × 16H Condensed elite (20 cpi) 24 × 9H 24 × 16H 24 cpi (I) 24 × 9H 24 × 14H H: half-dot

(S): Standard mode only (I): IBM mode only

Environment Operating temperature: 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C)

Storage temperature: -22°F to 149°F (-30°C to 65°C) Operating humidity: 30% to 80% (noncondensing) Storage humidity: 20% to 90% (noncondensing)

82 Specifications

Paper Cut-sheet

Paper width: 2″ to 16.5″ / 51 to 420 mm Paper length: 2.75″ to 14″/ 70 to 356 mm Paper weight (1-ply): 14 to 42 lbs / 52 to 156 g/m2 / 45 to 135 kg Multi-part: 11 to 14 lbs / 40 to 52 g/m2 / 34 to 45 kg; pressure

sensitive paper Total thickness: 0.014″ / 0.35 mm

Copies: Original + 4

Fanfold

Paper width: 3″ to 16″ / 76 to 406 mm Paper length 6″ / 152 mm (min.) Paper weight (1-ply): 14 to 22 lbs / 52 to 82 g/m2 / 45 to 70 kg Multi-part: 11 to 14 lbs / 40 to 52 g/m2 / 34 to 45 kg; pressure

sensitive paper Total thickness: 0.014

″

/ 0.3 5 mm

Copies: Original + 4

Labels

Backing sheet: 3″ to 16″ / 76 to 406 mm Thickness:

Backing sheet 0.0028″ to 0.0035″ / 0.07 to 0.09 mm Total thickness 0.0075″ / 0.19 mm max.

Envelope

#10 9.4″ × 4.1″ / 240 × 104 mm #6 6.5″ × 3.6″ / 166 × 92 mm

Emulation Standard Mode: EPSON ESC/P (24-pin)

NEC Graphic Compatible IBM Mode: Proprinter XL24E

Interface Standard: Centronics parallel

RS-232C serial

Ribbon Type On-carriage, dedicated

Monochrome: Black only LZ24HD (Standard)

Ribbon Life LZ24HD: 4million characters (ASCII Draft) Dimensions and Weight Width: 25.6″ / 650 mm

Depth: 13.1″ / 333 mm Height: 9.5″ / 240 mm Weight: 28.7 lbs. / 13 kg

Power Supply 110V AC +20%/-18%, 230V AC +14%/-13%; 50/60Hz (depending on country of

purchase)

Power Consumption 17 W during stand-by

63 W during ASCII draft printing

Options SPC-8K Serial-To-Parallel Converter

CT-15HA Push Tractor Unit

Checking system software settings in MS-DOS 83

Appendix C: Interface Pin Outs

Parallel Interface

Pin Name Function

1 STROBE Goes low for ≥0.5µs when active. 2 DATA0 These signals represent information for the 1st through 8th bit of parallel data,

respectively. Each signal is HIGH when data is logical 1, and LOW when logical

3 DATA1 4 DATA2 5 DATA3 6 DATA4 7 DATA5 8 DATA6 9 DATA7

10 ACK

10µs low to acknowledge receipt of data. 11 BUSY Printer sets line low when ready to receive data. 12 PAPER High when paper runs out. 13 SELECT High when printer is on-line. 14 AFXT Printer ignores this signal. 15 Not used. 16 SIGNAL GND Signal ground 17 CHASSIS Chassis ground (isolated from signal ground) 18 +5V +5V DC output from printer

19 - 30 GND Twisted pair ground return

31 RESET Printer is reset when this signal goes low. 32 ERROR Low when printing cannot continue due to error. 33 EXT GND External ground

34 - 35 Not used

36 SELECT IN Printer ignores this signal

Serial Interface

Pin Name Function

1 CHASSIS Printer chassis ground 2 TXD Data from printer 3 RXD Data to printer 4 RTS Always space 5 CTS Space when computer is ready to send data. Printer ignores this signal. 6 Not used. 7 GND Signal ground

8 - 10 Not used.

11 RCH Printer sets line to space when ready to receive data. Same signal as Pin 20. 12 Not used. 13 Not used. (signal ground)

14 - 19 Not used.

20 DTR Printer sets line to space when ready to receive data.

21 - 25 Not used.

84 Character Sets

Appendix D: Character Sets

Standard Italic Character Set

International Character Set

The character codes shown in the table are hexadecimal.

IBM Character Set #2 Code Page #437 (IBM-PC)

Character Set #1

Other characters are the same as those for Character Set #2.

86 Character Sets

IBM Special Character Set

The following characters can be printed using the <ESC> ^ command.

Code Page #850 Multi-lingual

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #860 Portuguese

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #861 Icelandic

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #863 Canadian French

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #865 Nordic

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3840 IBM-Russian

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #866 Russian

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

88 Character Sets

Code Page #3843 Polish

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3841 Gost-Russian

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3845 Hungarian

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3844 CS2

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3847 Brazil-ABNT

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3846 Turkish

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #852 Latin-2

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3848 Brazil-ABICOMP

The other characters are the same as in code page #437.

90 Character Sets

Code Page #1001 Arabic

Code Page #737 Greek

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #851 Greek

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #928 Greek

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #869 Greek

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #772 Lithuanian

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #2001 Lithuanian-KBL

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

92 Character Sets

Code Page #3001 Estonian1

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #774 Lithuanian

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3011 Latvian1

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Code Page #3002 Estonian2

Other characters are the same as those for Code Page #437.

Star LC-8521 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual