Star Micronics LC-8521 User Manual
USER’S MANUAL
LC-8521
DOT MATRIX PRINTER
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.
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
Ambient Noise Statement
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
• 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 1997 Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
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.
✓
1
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 voltage shown on the label
on the bottom of your printer does not match the voltage for your ar ea, contact
your dealer immediately.
Printer
Platen knob Ribbon cassette
User,s manual
3.5" Floppy disk
General guide
The following illustrations show the major components of your printer.
Adjustment lever
Release lever
Paper guide
Power switch
Document table
Control panel
General guide 3
Front cover
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.
Cardboard
Front cover
Document table
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.
Installing the platen knob 5
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.
Cartridge holder
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.
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!
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.
❏
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
I
OFF
O
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.
W e recommend that you unplug the printer from 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.
Rear feed
Front feed
Important!
To protect against paper jams, make sure that the fanfold paper is stacked in a
position that is lower than the printer.
T o decrease paper jams, be sure that the perforations cannot catch 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.
Loading fanfold paper 11
❏ 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.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Adjustment
lever
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.
Sheet guide Pin tractorPin tractor
❏ 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.
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.
Perforation
18 mm
(0.7")
Perforation
Bottom of
Form
Fanfold paper
4 mm (0.16") *1
4 mm (0.16")
4 mm (0.16")
4 mm (0.16")
4 mm (0.16")
117 mm (4.6")
First page
18 mm
(0.7")
Last page
Cut-sheet paper
4 mm (0.16")
5 mm
(0.2")
4 mm (0.16")
5 mm
(0.2")
*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.
12.7 mm
(0.5") min.
Labels
2.54 mm (0.1") min.
C
C
C
C
Label
C : 2.54 mm (0.1") min.
Perforation
12.7 mm
(0.5") min.
25.4 mm
(1")
Envelope
4 mm (0.16")
25.4 mm (1")
36 mm (1.42")
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
Parking fanfold paper 15
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 parallel interface to a serial interface . This effectively 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.
❏ Lift up the back of the printer and insert two books or other similar objects
❏ Plug the other end of the parallel cable into the socket on the back of the
17
The parallel port should be labeled “Printer,” “Parallel,” “PRN,” “LPT1,”
or something similar.
underneath it to keep the printer raised
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.
HS-DRAFT
DRAFT
ROMAN
SANSERIF
COURIER
PRESTIGE
ORATOR
FONT
BANK SW
A 1
B 2
C 3
PITCH
D 4
E 5
F 6
SET/EJECT
10 CPI
12 CPI
15 CPI
COND
PROP
PAPER
FEED
POWER
ON LINEPARK
BANK SW ON/OFF
EDS
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. Y ou 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.
PRINT EXIT
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.
Lit Indicator Font
HS-DRAFT HS-Draft
HS-DRAFT + ROMAN Draft
ROMAN Roman
ROMAN + COURIER Sanserif
COURIER Courier
COURIER + ORATOR Prestige
ORATOR Orator
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.
Selecting a font 21
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.
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.
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
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.
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