Star Micronics NL-10 User Manual

NL-10

USERS MANUAL

PN 80820108

Federal Communications Commission

Radio Frequency Interference

Statement

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used
properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause
interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to com­ply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications
in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protec­tion against such interfernce in a residential installation. However, ther is no guarantee
that interfernce will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
interference to radeo or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

• Reorient the receiving antenna

• Relocate the conputer with rewpect to the receiver

• Move the computer away from the receiver

• Plug the computer into a different outlet so that computer and receiver are on
different branch circuits.

If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television tech­nician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet, prepared by
the Federal Communications Commission helpful: “How to Identify and Resolve Ra­dio-TV Interference Problems.” This booklet is available from the U.S. Govertnment
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 20402, Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.

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

This statement will be applied only for the printers marketed in U.S.A.

Self Declaration

Radio interferences regarding this equipment has been eliminated according to Vfg
1046/1984 announced by the DBP.
DBP has been informed about the introduction of this special equipment and has been
conceded the right to examine the whole series.
It is upon the responsibility of the user to assume that his own assembled system is in
accordance with the technical regulations under Vfg 1046/1984.
To observe FTZ-regulations it is necessary, to establish all connections to the printer
with shielded cable.
The equipment may only be opened by qualified service representatives.

This statement will be applied only for the printers marketed in West Germany.

T rademark Acknowledgement

NL-10: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.

NOTICE

• All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this manual in any form whatso
ever, without STAR’S express permission is 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 going to press. However, should any errors be detected, STAR would be
greatly appreciate being informed of them.

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

Copyright 1985 Star Micronics Co., Ltd.

A Special Message

to the New Owner

Congratulations! You ar e now the proud owner of one of the best dot-matrix
printers around. With a touch of your finger, you can choose fast, quality
draft printing or superb near-letter-quality printing. Despite its advanced
features, your printer is amazingly easy to use. And it’ s compatible with nearly
every computer on the market by using a separated Interface Cartridge.

W e hope you’ll find this manual easy and pleasant to use. It was master-minded
by experts in microcomputers and written by professionals skilled in presenting
technical details accurately - and in Plain English!

T ake a look at the Table of Contents and you’ll see what we mean. Every impor­tant topic has a section of its own, and descriptions are clear but to the point.
You’ll find everything you need to know about the printer . We suggest that every­body take the time to scan Chapters 1 and 2

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“Getting to Know Your Printer”

no matter how knowledgeable you are.

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the “Setting Up Your Printer” and

For those of you who want to learn everything you can about your printer, you’ll
have a ball! With an almost infinite variety of dot graphics to explore, you’ll find
the interface cartridge manual fascinating - special effects, control codes, and
dot graphics.

We’ve supplied plenty of short, interesting programs that show off the features
of your new printer - all written in BASIC that will run on most computers.

So, gentle reader, with this manual we hand you the key to the wonderful world
of dot-matrix printing. May you enjoy years of handsome, fast, and carefree printing!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Setting Up Your Printer 1

Where shall we put it?
What have we here?

Removing the printer cover
Removing the packing tube
Installing the ribbon cartridge
Installing the interface cartridge

Chapter 2 Getting to Know Your Printer 9

Controls and parts of the printer

Parts of the printer
Controls and indicators
Extra functions
Other controls

Selecting and loading paper

Loading single sheets
Loading sprocket-feed paper

Adjusting the print head

Chapter 3 Caring for Y our Printer 21

Cleaning the printer
Replacing the ribbon
Replacing the print head

Chapter 4 Technical Specifications 27

Index 29

CHAPTER 1

SETTING UP YOUR

PRINTER

1

Subjects we’ll cover in Chapter 1 include

• Choosing a suitable place for your printer;

• Unpacking your new printer;

• Setting it up.

WHERE SHALL WE PUT IT?

Before you do anything else, give some thought to where you’ll be using your
printer. Obviously, it will be somewhere near your computer. And both printer
andcomputer will lead longer, healthier lives if they like their surroundings. For
instance, we recommend...

•Using the printer on a flat surface.

• Keeping it out of direct sunlight and away from heat-producing appliances.

•Using it only in temperatures where you are comfortable.

•Avoiding areas with a lot of dust, grease, or humidity.

•Giving it “clean” electricity . Don’t connect it to the same circuit used by
large, noise-producing appliances (such as refrigerators).

•The line voltage should be within 10% of the voltage specified on the
identification plate.

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2

WHAT HAVE WE HERE?

Now let’s take a look at what’s in the carton. Open it up and check each item in the
box against Figure 1-1. There should be four items.

Figure 1-1. Check to make sure you have all four items: 1) printer, 2) paper
guide, 3) ribbon cartridge, and 4) user’s manual.

In addition to your printer, you also need an Interface cartridge that connects
your computer to this printer.
These are sold separately because each brand of computer uses a different inter­face cartridge.

Removing the printer cover
The printer’s cover is important for two reasons
from the printer’s delicate mechanism, and absorbs nearly all of the printer’s

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it keeps dust and dirt away

operating noise. Don’t take off the cover except when you have to change the
ribbon, or to make an adjustment.
Removing the printer cover is easy. Lift up the back of the cover to disengage the
two tabs at the front and then lift it off the rest of teh way . To replace it, just slide
the tabs in at the front and lower it into place. Figure 1-2 shows the proper posi­tion and movement for both removing and replacing the cover.

3

Figure 1-2. Remove the printer cover by lifting carefully.

Removing the packing tube
The printer is shipped with a protective spiral tube to keep the print head from
being damaged in transit.
W e have to remove this tube. First, remove the printer cover. The protective tube
is split along its bottom side to allow easy removal. Grasp one end of the spiral
tube and firmly pull it upward and away from the carriage rail.

4

Figure 1-3. Remove the protective tube from the carriage rail.

Up to this point, we’ve been clearing the decks for action, so to speak. Only two
more things left to do before we can start printing
and the interface cartridge.

Installing the ribbon cartridge
This printer uses a neat, easy-to-change ribbon cartridge so you don’t have to
spend a lot of time threading a standard ribbon through the printer and getting
your hands all dirty to boot.
T elling you how to put in a ribbon is like telling you how to tie your shoelaces ­it takes a lot longer to describe it than it does to do it. So, you can just follow the
illustrations if you wish; they’ll tell you all you really need to know .

Or, if you feel better following written instructions, read on.

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install the ribbon cartridge,

1. Turn off the power and remove the printer cover.

2. Now slide the print head gently to the center of the printer.

W arning: The print head gets hot during operation, so let it cool of f before
you touch it.

3. Using the guide holders as a fulcrum with the ribbon facing away from

you, as shown in Figure 1-4, lightly press the cartridge down until the two
holder springs snap shut to hold the cartridge firmly in place.

4. Check that the cartridge fits so that the drive pins engage the cartridge teeth.

5

Figure 1-4. Press the cartridge into place until the holding springs snap into its
sides.

5. Gently slide the print head carriage manually all the way to your right or

left until the ribbon automatically slips down into its proper place between
the print head and the silver ribbon guide.