Star Micronics LC-100+, LC-1011C User Manual

USER’S MANUAL

LC-1011C
LC-100

DOT MATRIX PRINTER

HL 80825190

+

COLOUR

Federal Communications Commission
Radio Frequency Interference Statement

The 120V version equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursu­ant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television, which can be determined by turning off and on, the user is encour­aged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Unauthorized modifications of this product by the user will void his authority to operate the equipment unless

expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance.
For compliance with the Federal Noise Interference Standard, this equipment requires a shielded cable.
The 220V version equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursu-

ant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer­ence when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.

Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own expense.

For compliance with the Federal Noise Interference Standard, this equipment requires a shielded cable.

The above statement applies only to printers marketed in the U.S.A.

Statement of The Canadian Department of Communications Radio Interference
Regulations

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in
the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectiques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils
numériques de la classe B prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le Ministère des
Communications du Canada.

The above statement applies only to printers marketed in Canada.

CE

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-10, LC-100, LC-100+, LC-200, LC-1011C, NX-1000, NX-1020, NX-1040, PT-10DT, SPC-8K:
Star Micronics Co. Ltd.

EX-800, FX-850, LX-810, LX-850: Seiko Epson Corporation
IBM PC, IBM Proprinter, IBM Proprinter2, IBM Proprinter 3:

International Business Machines Corporation.

TrueType: Apple Computer Inc.
MS-DOS, Microsoft windows: Microsoft Corporation

Notice

• All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this manual in any form whatsoever, without STAR’s express
permission, is strictly forbidden.

• 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.

© Copyright 1995, 1998 Star Micronics Co., Ltd.

About this manual

This manual describes how to set up, use, and care for the Star LC-1011C and
LC-100+ Colour printers. 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,

Chapter 2 How to use the control panel
Chapter 3 How to use the printer’s Electronic DIP Switch (EDS)

Chapter 4 How to set up for printing with MS-DOS
Chapter 5 Selecting the best type of paper, adjusting for paper

Chapter 6 How to install and use the optional accessories that are

Appendix A How to deal with printing problems

ribbon cassette installation, loading paper, connecting to
your computer

Mode to set up the printer to match the needs of your
system and software

thickness, manual sheet feeding, clearing paper jams

available for your printer

Appendix B Specifications
Appendix C Interface information
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
Installing the platen knob ... 4
Opening the front cover ... 4
Installing the ribbon cassette ... 5
Removing the ribbon cassette ... 7
Installing the paper guide ... 8
Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off ... 8
Loading fanfold paper ... 9
Printing on fanfold paper ... 12
Parking fanfold paper ... 13
Unparking fanfold paper ... 13
Using the tear-off function ... 14
Connecting to your computer ... 14

Chapter 2: Control Panel Operations ... 16

Switching between on-line and off-line ... 16
Selecting a font ... 17
Entering the Font Lock Mode ... 17
Setting the character pitch ... 18
Entering the Pitch Lock Mode ... 18
Line feed ... 19
Paper eject (cut-sheet paper) ... 19
Form feed (fanfold paper) ... 19
Parking fanfold paper ... 19
Micro feed ... 20
Setting the top of form position ... 20
Tear-off function (fanfold paper) ... 20
Selecting the Quiet Print Mode ... 21
Changing the auto load position ... 21
Saving a macro ... 22
Clearing the printer’s buffer ... 23
Initializing the printer ... 23

Chapter 3: Using the EDS Mode ... 24

About EDS Mode settings ... 24
Entering the EDS Mode ... 24
Selecting a bank ... 25
Selecting a switch ... 25
Changing a switch setting ... 25
Printing the current switch settings ... 26
Exiting the EDS Mode ... 26
EDS Mode Settings ... 26

Chapter 4: Using the Printer with MS-DOS ... 33

Setting up for printing with MS-DOS ... 33

Chapter 5: Paper Handling ... 35

Selecting paper types ... 35

Cut-Sheet Paper (Manual Feed) ... 35
Cut-Sheet Paper (with Optional Automatic Sheet Feeder) ... 35

Fanfold Paper ... 35
Adjusting for paper thickness ... 36
Automatic fanfold feeding ... 37
Manual sheet feeding ... 37
Clearing paper jams ... 38

Chapter 6: Optional Accessories ... 39

Appendix A: Troubleshooting ... 47

Appendix B: Specifications ... 58

Appendix C: Interface Pin Outs ... 60

Appendix D: Character Sets ... 61

Appendix E: Printer Control Codes ... 67

Appendix F: Glossary ... 72

Appendix G: Control Panel Operation Guide ... 73

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 platen knob
❏ 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.

1

2 Printer Setup

Unpacking the printer

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

Ribbon cassette

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), an Automatic Sheet Feeder
(SF-10DT) and ribbon cassettes (LC9W/LC9CL) are also available as options.
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 voltage shown on the label
on the bottom of your printer does not match the voltage for your ar ea, contact
your dealer immediately.

3.5” Floppy disk

General guide

The following illustrations show the major components of your printer.

General guide 3

4 Printer Setup

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 two splines of the platen shaft inside the
printer fit into the slots inside the knob’s spindle. Press the knob carefully
but firmly into place as far as it will go.

Opening the front cover

❏

Lift up on the front cover while pressing in gently on its sides.

Caution!

❏ To close the front cover, simply lower it back into place.

The tear assist edge is rather sharp. Take care to avoid injuring your hands.

Note:

Tension knob

You can completely remove the front cover from the printer or you can stand it
up without removing it. You should normally leave the front cover closed,
because it protects against objects getting into the printer, and it cuts down on
printer noise.

Installing the ribbon cassette

❏

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

Caution!

Never move the print head while the printer is turned on. Doing so can damage
the printer. If you have just finished printing, let the print head cool for a few
minutes before you touch it.

❏ Open the front cover of the printer.
❏ Remove the ribbon cassette from its package.
❏ Rotate the knob on the ribbon cassette counterclockwise to take up any

slack in the ribbon.

Installing the ribbon cassette 5

❏ 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. Also
make sure that the side tabs fit into the grooves on the sides of the cartridge
holder.

6 Printer Setup

❏ While guiding the ribbon between the print head and print head shield,

press down gently but firmly on the cassette until the side tabs snap
securely into place.

❏ Rotate the knob on the cassette again to take up any slack.
❏ Close the front cover of the printer.

Print head shield

Print head

Ribbon cassette

Note:

If you want to print with color, use an optional LC9CL color ribbon cassette. If
you change to a color ribbon, be sure to mak e the required c hanges to the EDS
settings (page 30).

Printing that is poor quality or too light is almost always due to a ribbon that is
simply worn out or “used up.” Check the following points whenever print
quality is not what you expect.

✓ Is your monochrome ribbon still in good shape? If the ribbon material

appears to be grey, it means that the black ink has been used up and it is
time to replace the ribbon.

✓ Are you using a color ribbon to print mainly black text? Doing so can cause

the black part of the color ribbon to be used up too quickly. Switch to a
monochrome ribbon whenever you plan to print mainly black text.
Remember to make any necessary EDS changes when you change ribbon
types.

✓ Are you getting muddy-looking colors from a color ribbon? The more

green, orange, and purple colors you use, the quicker the primary colors
(blue, red, yellow) will become mixed with other colors. This will cause a
drop in performance of the ribbon.

✓ Remember that changing the ribbon before it becomes frayed or completely

out of ink extends the life of your print head.

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.

Caution!

Never move the print head while the printer is turned on. Doing so can damage
the printer. If you have just finished printing, let the print head cool for a few
minutes before you touch it.

❏ Open the front cover of the printer.
❏ Lift up the front part (the part nearest the print head) of the ribbon cassette.
❏ Once it is free, carefully remove the cassette from the holder.
❏ Use the procedure under “Installing the ribbon cassette” on page 5 to install

a new cassette.

Removing the ribbon cassette 7

8 Printer Setup

Installing the paper guide

❏

Insert the two tabs on the bottom of the paper guide into the holes provided
on the rear cover of the printer.

❏ To remove the paper guide from the printer, simply pull the tabs out of the

holes.

Note:

Lay the paper guide down flat when using fanfold paper, and stand it up when
using cut-sheet paper.

Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off

❏

Plug the power cord of the printer into a standard power outlet whose
voltage matches the power rating noted on the label af fixed 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.

Note:

W e 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 “Testing the printer” on page 47 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 35 of this manual.

❏ Remove the paper guide from the printer.
❏ Position the stack of paper behind the printer.
❏ Make sure printer power is turned off.
❏ Set the release lever to the fanfold position.

Loading fanfold paper 9

Cut-sheet

Fanfold

10 Printer Setup

❏ Grasping the two back corners of the printer with the palms of your hands,

press back on the two raised areas on the top of the rear cover until it opens.

❏ Swing the rear cover back and down until it stops.

Note:

You can also completely remove the rear cover by simply pulling it away from
the back of the printer after you open it.

❏ Pass the fanfold paper through the space between the printer case and the

rear cover.

❏ Unlock the two tractor covers by pushing their gray levers down, and slide

them so they are aligned approximately with the holes on the sides of the
paper. Also move the center paper support so that it is approximately
halfway between the two tractors.

❏ Open the covers of both tractors and insert the paper so the tractor pins fit

into the holes of the paper.

❏ Close the tractor covers and make final adjustments to the paper position by

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

Note:

Loading fanfold paper 11

far apart). After making these adjustments, be sure that you re-lock the
tractors by pulling the gray levers into the locked position.

❏ Close the rear cover and press down gently on it until it locks into place

with a click.

If you removed the rear cover, first insert its two tabs into the holes provided in
the back of the printer and then swing it closed.

❏ Install the paper guide so that it lays down flat as shown below. In this

position, the paper guide keeps the printed paper separate from the
unprinted paper.

❏ Turn on the printer.

The printer will beep a number of times to indicate that paper is not loaded
properly. Also, the control panel’s POWER indicator flashes whenever
paper is not loaded.

12 Printer Setup

❏ Pull the bail lever tow ard the front of the printer. This will feed the paper to

the starting position.

❏ After the paper is fully fed (indicated by the printer’s beeping), return the

bail lever back to its original position toward the back of the printer.

Important!

Never return the bail lever to its original position until the paper is fully fed.
The printer will beep when you can return the bail lever to its original position.

LOAD

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 and cut-sheet paper.

Fanfold forms Single sheets

22 mm (0.87")

18 mm
(0.71")

25.4 mm (1.00")

25.4 mm (1.00")

70 mm (2.76")

18 mm
(0.71")

Perforation

5 mm
(0.20")

22 mm (0.87")

5 mm
(0.20")

21 mm (0.83")

Parking fanfold paper

It is not necessary to remove fanfold paper currently loaded in the printer in
order to print on cut-sheet paper. 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 off-line.
❏ While holding down the control panel’s FONT button, press the PAPER

FEED 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.

❏ Move the release lever to the cut-sheet position.
❏ Change the paper guide to its upright position.

You can now load cut-sheet paper into the printer using the procedures
under “Manual sheet feeding” on page 37.

Parking fanfold paper 13

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.

❏ Remove all cut-sheet paper from the printer.
❏ Change the paper guide position so that it is laying down flat.
❏ Move the release lever to the fanfold position.
❏ Pull the bail lever toward the front of the printer to feed the paper to the

starting position.

❏ After the paper is fully fed (indicated by the printer’s beeping), return the

bail lever back to its original position toward the back of the printer.
The printer automatically goes back on-line at this time.

14 Printer Setup

Using the tear-off function

The following procedure makes it easy to tear off fanfold paper.

❏ Check to make sure that the printer is on-line.
❏ Press the FONT button to perform the long tear-off operation, or press the

PITCH button to perform the short tear-off operation.
The long tear-off 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.

The short tear-off operation causes the paper to be fed automatically so the
tear assist edge of the printer cover is located just below the last line printed
on the paper.

❏ Pull the paper against the tear assist edge to tear it off.

Connecting to your computer

The computer sends data to the printer through a cable. This printer does not
come with a cable, so you must purchase one separately. You will probably
want to use a standard parallel cable for connection, but note that you can also
use an optional serial-to-parallel interface converter (SPC-8K).

Important!

The following instructions apply to the Centronics parallel cable that is used
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 to connect with your computer, 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

Important!

Make sure that the printer and the computer are turned off before connecting
them.

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

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

Connecting to your computer 15

cables can result in poor transfer of information.

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

printer and secure it in place with the clips.

Note:

Consult your dealer for details on how to set up your computer when using the
optional SPC-8K serial-to-parallel interface converter.

16

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.

DRAFT

COURIER

SANSERIF FONT

QUIET

ALT

10CPI

12CPI

PROP

COND

PITCH

MACRO

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.

MICRO FEED

QUIET

PAPER FEED

PARK

POWER

ON LINE

FF

CLEAR

Important!

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

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.
The following shows the fonts that are available.

Lit Indicator Font Name

DRAFT Draft

COURIER Courier

SANSERIF Sanserif

Note:

The font 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 Font
Lock Mode when you turn it on.

Selecting a font 17

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 18) 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 and pitch lock will not function if you are using Windows Truetype fonts.

18 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.

Lit Indicators Meaning

10CPI 10 characters per inch (Pica)

12CPI 12 character per inch (Elite)
10CPI + COND 17 characters per inch (Condensed Pica)
12CPI + COND 20 characters per inch (Condensed Elite)
10CPI + PROP Pica Proportional
12CPI + PROP Elite Proportional

10CPI + COND + PROP Condensed Pica Proportional
12CPI + COND + PROP Condensed Elite Proportional

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 17) 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!

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

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).

❏ While holding down PAPER FEED (which means the line feed operation

is being performed), press ON LINE and then release the two buttons.
The printer will automatically eject the sheet of paper that is in the printer.

Line feed 19

Form feed (fanfold paper)

❏

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

❏ While holding down PAPER FEED (which means the line feed operation

is being performed), press ON LINE and then release the two buttons.
The printer will automatically 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).

❏ While holding down the control panel’s FONT button, press the PAPER

FEED button.

❏ The printer automatically reverse feeds the fanfold paper until it is no

longer in contact with the platen.