Zebra P640i Frequently Asked Questions Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Zebra Card Printer P640i
Page 1 of 14 P640 FAQ 3/17/2006
Zebra makes no claims to the accuracy of this document as product changes may occur without
updating this document. If a statement is in question, please contact your Zebra technical support
representative for the latest updates.
1-PRINT STATION............................................................................................................................4
Q: Can I use the P310-type i series ribbons in a P640i? ...................................................................4
Q: When I use an application such as MS Word, Card Five, etc. I cannot change some of the
printing parameters in the application. Is this normal?................................................................4
Q: Can I reconfigure an RFID-enabled printer to a non-RFID printer?............................................4
Q: What cards are compatible with the P640i?.................................................................................4
Q: Are there special precautions to loading a printer ribbon?...........................................................4
Q: There seems to be little space to route the ribbon between the print head and the chassis..........5
Q: Why are there white lines on my card images?............................................................................ 5
Q: Can I print colors on both sides?..................................................................................................5
Q: Why are there black solid lines on my prints? .............................................................................5
Q: Can I print edge-to-edge?.............................................................................................................5
Q: What might happen if I send an image size larger that the selected one in the driver? ...............5
Q: Why isn’t the printer printing on the back side of the card?........................................................5
Q: The ribbon synchronizes on the black panel although it's a multicolor one. Is this normal?....... 5
Q: How do the Contrast and Brightness settings affect the printed image?......................................6
Q: Can I print UV on both sides?......................................................................................................6
Q: Can I print the UV using a variable data?....................................................................................6
Q: My printer does not have the UV printing enabled. Is this option? .............................................7
Q: How do I print with UV ribbons?.................................................................................................7
Q: Can I use any Zebra card for UV printing?..................................................................................7
2-DRIVER/CONFIGURATION........................................................................................................8
Q: I just installed driver 2.12.00, and I can’t select any ribbon because the ribbon menu is
grayed out. Why? ........................................................................................................................ 8
Q: Can I send Escape commands from the driver?...........................................................................8
Q: Is the ID/KEY the same as the IDCode?......................................................................................8
Q: I've made some changes in the driver and now I'm lost?.............................................................8
Q: What is the purpose of the “Update Backup Config” in the driver?............................................8
Q: There is a “Color Management” tab in the driver, but nothing is in it.........................................8
Q: Some users can print to the printers, others cannot. Why? .........................................................8
Q: Are there any special requirements to have several printers connected to the same network?....8
Q: Is it better to select, in the driver the Auto mode, 110V/60Hz or 230V/50Hz?...........................9
Q: Is there a diagnostic program to check the printer?......................................................................9
Q: Can I select any image orientation? .............................................................................................9
Q: What is the recommended “Polling Frequency”? ........................................................................9
Q: Is it better to select “Local” or “Shared” printer when connecting the printer to a network?......9
Q: Is my P640i CE certified? ............................................................................................................9
Q: Which is the correct FW and driver combination for my P640i..................................................9
Q: I have a non-CE printer. How can I identify it as an RFID or non-RFID model?.......................9
3-FRONT PANEL.............................................................................................................................10
Q: What is the function of the “Print” button?................................................................................10
Q: What is the function of the “Ribbon” button?............................................................................10
Q: What is the function of the “Laminate” button?.........................................................................10
Q. How do I disable a front panel control button?..........................................................................10
Q: What do the LEDs indicate?.......................................................................................................11
Page 2 of 14 P640 FAQ 3/17/2006
4-GENERAL......................................................................................................................................11
Q: What is the capacity, in cards, of the Cleaning Cartridge? ........................................................11
Q: Can I use the P310-type Cleaning Cards?..................................................................................11
Q: Can I load the cards with the magnetic track on the bottom of the card in the card feeder? .....11
Q: Must the card weight must be used? ..........................................................................................11
Q: Why can't I print with the media cover open?............................................................................12
Q: Why can't I print with the main cover open?..............................................................................12
Q: There is a small spring in the platen. Does it have to be in place?.............................................12
Q: The printing ribbon is supplied with an empty core. Can I use the one from the previous
ribbon?........................................................................................................................................12
Q: What is the recommended card thickness?.................................................................................12
Q: Can I use LoCo magnetic stripe cards?......................................................................................12
Q: Are there laminator patches of 0.6mil?......................................................................................12
5-LAMINATOR ................................................................................................................................12
Q: Why are the laminate patches mis-feeding or misaligned on the card?.....................................12
Q: Why are the magnetic stripe laminate patches skewed? ............................................................13
Q: Are the laminate cartridges interchangeable? ............................................................................13
Q: Can I change the laminator's heaters temperature?....................................................................13
Q: Can I laminate the back side only?.............................................................................................13
Q: Can I laminate a card previously printed but not laminated?.....................................................13
6-IDPRINT LITE..............................................................................................................................13
Q: Is IDPrint Lite an application to create print jobs? ....................................................................13
Q: What are the image's positions in IDPrint Lite?.........................................................................14
7-Ethernet Connectivity....................................................................................................................14
Q: Why can’t my printer be assigned a DHCP address?.................................................................14
Q: Why can’t I print from my terminal service application?..........................................................14
Page 3 of 14 P640 FAQ 3/17/2006
1-PRINT STATION
Q: Can I use the P310-type i series ribbons in a P640i?
A: P3XXi ribbons are not compatible with the P640i. There are three multicolor ribbons specifically
designed for the P640:
1) 800015-945 YMCK; 600 images/roll
2) 800015-980 YMCKK; 500 images/roll
3) 800015-941 YMCuvK; 500 images/roll
Please note that there are no monochrome or varnish overlay ribbons available for the P640i.
There are also specific 1.0 mil laminates for the P640i:
1) 800015-914 1.0 mil Full Image Clear Coverage; 600 laminate patches/roll
2) 800015-912 1.0 mil Partial Clear Coverage for Mag Stripe Cards; 600 laminate patches/roll
3) 800015-913 1.0 mil Partial Clear Coverage for Contact Smart Cards; 600 laminate patches/roll
4) 800015-915 1.0 mil Full Image Coverage with a World Globe Hologram; 600 laminate patches/roll
Q: When I use an application such as MS Word, Card Five, etc. I cannot change some of the
printing parameters in the application. Is this normal?
A: Yes. Parameters such as printing size, selection of where to apply the colors and black are
automatically disabled from within an application. These parameters may only be changed in the
printer's driver menus.
Exit your application. Make the changes in the P640i driver menus, apply the changes and re-start
your application. The changes should take effect.
Q: Can I reconfigure an RFID-enabled printer to a non-RFID printer?
A: No, once configured an RFID-enabled printer is permanently configured as an RFID-enabled printer
and will not print properly with non-RFID ribbons.
Q: What cards are compatible with the P640i?
A: To maintain the ISO/AAMVA flatness specifications for laminated cards, cards used with the P640i
must be no less than 27mils and no more than 33mils thick and be ISO standard PVC composite
material. Standard non-composite PVC cards will result in non-compliance of ISO/AAMVA flatness
standards. Zebra composite cards are specifically designed to meet these standards. Please refer to
your Zebra Card Printer Solutions catalogue for a list of available cards.
Q: Are there special precautions to loading a printer
ribbon?
A: Yes, the ribbon must be routed inside the color sensor. If it
is not, the ribbon motor will continually attempt to
synchronize the ribbon. If this happens (the MEDIA LED
will stay on), correct the condition by routing the ribbon
inside the sensor.
Note that contrary to the P3xx series, the right spindle is
fixed and should not be forcibly rotated.
Page 4 of 14 P640 FAQ 3/17/2006
Q: There seems to be little space to route the ribbon between the print head and the chassis.
A: In normal operation, the print head is positioned lower close to the truck/chassis. However, when you
open the main cover, as when you need to replace the ribbon, the print head will raise approximately
10mm to provide more room to route the ribbon.
Q: Why are there white lines on my card images?
A: This may be caused by failing pixel(s) on the print head. Gently and carefully wipe the head with a
cleaning swab (105909-057). If the white lines continue to show, call customer support to order a
printhead replacement.
Q: Can I print colors on both sides?
A: Yes, but only with the YMCK ribbon (P/N 800015-941). Select full colors on both sides. When
selecting this option, the ribbon will synchronize on the yellow panel.
Q: Why are there black solid lines on my prints?
A: There may be an issue with the print head, where some pixels are inoperative. However, this solid line
can also be caused if the image size was changed without power-cycling (turning the printer off, then
turning it back on) the printer.
If you have changed the image size, power-cycle the printer before attempting to print with the new
image size. As a general rule of thumb, counting to ten after turning off the machine, before turning
it back on is a good idea. It gives time for the capacitors to discharge.
Q: Can I print edge-to-edge?
A: The P640i is intentionally designed to print an image that is smaller than the entire surface of the card
to allow the laminate patch to fully cover and protect the printed surface of the card. Any uncovered
portions of the image would eventually wear and fade away with time or UV exposure. It is highly
recommended that any printed security elements be located under the laminate patch.
Q: What might happen if I send an image size larger that the selected one in the driver?
A: Depending on the application software, you might have one of the following occur:
• The image will be resized without any loss
• The image will be cropped, loosing the edges
• The printer may print and behave erratically.
Once an image size is selected in the menu, it's best to design your card within the confines of this
size.
Q: Why isn’t the printer printing on the back side of the card?
A: For non-RFID printers, this may be due to an incorrect selection of the ribbon type. The driver has
two choices for each ribbon. Be sure to select the one according to the ribbon code (800015-XYZ).
For RFID as well as non-RFID printers, verify in the printer driver menu that the black panel printing
is enabled.
Q: The ribbon synchronizes on the black panel although it's a multicolor one. Is this normal?
A: Unlike the P420i or the P520i, the P640i prints the back side of the card first. So when printing, it will
use the last K panel of a series first (K-YMC, K-YMCK or K-YMCUv) After flipping the card, the
other panels (YMC, YMCK or YMCUv respectively) print the YMC colors then any secondary K or
Uv panels. The only exception to this is when you use a YMCK ribbon and select to print colors on
both sides. Here, the ribbon will synchronize on the yellow panel.
Page 5 of 14 P640 FAQ 3/17/2006
Loading...