USER'S GUIDE Bradyprinter™ THT Model 200M and 260M Thermal Transfer Printer W. H. BRADY CO.
Bradyprinter THT Model 200M and 260M Thermal Transfer Printer TM USER'S GUIDE Customer part #31450L-12 Manufacturer part # 31450LB-12 Rev. 1 W. H. BRADY CO.
Proprietary Statement This manual contains proprietary information of Brady USA, Inc. It is intended solely for the information and use of parties operating and maintaining the equipment described herein. Such proprietary information may not be used, reproduced, or disclosed to any other parties for any other purpose without the expressed written permission of Brady USA, Inc. Product Improvements Continuous improvement of products is a policy of Brady USA, Inc.
Bradyprinter THT Models 200M and 260M WARRANTY INFORMATION 1. Pri n te r Wa r ra n ty BRADY printers, excluding thermal printheads which are warranted separately below, are warranted against defects in material or workmanship for six (6) months from the date of original shipment by BRADY USA, INC.
3. Wa r ra n ty Exc lu si o ns a nd C o n di t io n s The above warranties are in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, oral or written, statutory or otherwise, including any implied warranty of merchant-ability or fitness for a particular purpose. BRADY USA, INC. shall not be responsible for the specific application to which any Products are applied, including but not limited to compatibility with other equipment.
Table of Contents Printer Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-i Supplies Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-i Warranty Exclusions and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-ii Introduction Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Model Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storage and Reshipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 Power Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 AC Voltage Selection Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 AC Power Fuse Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 100-120 VAC Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 220-240 VAC Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Site Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . .
PAUSE Key and CANCEL Key Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 FEED Key and CANCEL Key Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 Extended Printer Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 Battery Replacement (200M Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 Configuration and Calibration Option Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Bank 1 (For Serial-Interface Printers Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmissive Media Sensor Positioning Using the Locator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 Lower Transmissive Media Sensor Position Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6 Media and Ribbon Sensor Sensitivity Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7 Troubleshooting Options Peel-Off Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 Rewind Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction Scope oi n This user’s guide contains descriptive information and operational instructions for the Brady 200M and 260M thermal transfer demand printers. This user’s guide contains information on how to set up and operate the printer as well as adjustment and maintenance procedures that can be performed by the operator. Information covering the use and operation of Brady M-Series Printer options is also included. Additional documentation for the Brady M-Series Printer is available.
Introduction M-Series U ser s G uid e Connection of the M-Series Printer to data sources using data codes other than ASCII requires the use of an appropriate protocol converter. Connection to data sources using interfaces other than the type installed in the printer requires the use of an appropriate interface converter. Communication Capabilities The M-Series Printer comes with either an Electronics Industries Association (EIA) RS-232 serial data interface or a factory-installed parallel interface.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e In trod uction die-cut labels, ticket and tag stock, continuous roll, and fanfold media. Media may be rewound internally onto standard three-inch cores if the Rewind Spindle option is installed. With the Peel-off option, backing material may be rewound internally. Ribbons for the M-Series Printer are supplied on cores in standard widths and lengths.
Introduction M-Series U ser s G uid e of the printhead may be reduced by abrasion from exposed paper fibers when using perforated media. Since print quality is affected by media and ribbon, printing speeds, and printer operating modes, it is very important to run tests for your applications. This is especially true if you’re operating in “ Peel-Off” mode, where these variables combine with label size, backing content, diecut depth, and even humidity to affect printer operation.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e In trod uction Ribbons and Printhead Wear CAUTION: Ribbons used in the Brady USA, Inc. Printer MUST be as wide as or wider than the media. Brady-brand ribbons provide an extremely smooth backing surface that protects the printhead from abrasion by the media. If the ribbon is narrower than the media, areas of the printhead will be unprotected and subject to premature wear.
Introduction M-Series U ser s G uid e Printer Specifications Printing Considerations Specification 200M 203 dots per inch (8 dots per mm) Dot size Maximum print width 0.00492" (0.125 mm) 4.09" (104 mm) Maximum print length 15" (381 mm) 39" (991 mm) 26" (660 mm) 39" (991 mm) 9.5" (241 mm) 25" (635 mm) 5 mil to 55 mil 6.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e In trod uction Media Media Specifications Total media width Label length Total thickness (includes liner) Maximum Minimum 200M Maximum Minimum 4.5" 0.75" Tear-Off Refer to “ Printing Considerations” on page 1-6. 0.5" 12.8 mm 0.63" 16.00 mm Peel-Off Rewind 0.5" 0.5" 12.8 mm 12.8 mm 0.75" 0.75" 19.05 mm 19.05 mm 0.012" 0.304 mm 0.012" 0.304 mm 0.0023" 3.0" 0.058 mm 75 mm 0.0023" 3.0" 0.
Introduction M-Series U ser s G uid e Ribbon Ribbon Width Brady recommends using ribbon at least as wide as the media you are using to protect the printhead from wear. Standard Lengths Roll size 200M Maximum Minimum 260M 4.33" 0.95" 110 mm 24 mm 6.85" 2.0" 174 mm 50.8 mm 2:1 media to ribbon roll ratio 984 ft 300 m 984 ft 300 m 3:1 media to ribbon roll ratio Inner diameter of core 1476 ft 1.0" 450 m 25.6 mm 1476 ft 1.0" 450 m 25.6 mm Outside diameter of full roll of ribbon 3.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e In trod uction Standard Fonts The scalable smooth font (CG Triumvirate Bold Condensed) is expandable on a dot-by-dot basis, height- and width-independent, while maintaining smooth edges. Maximum size depends on available memory. Fonts A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and GS are expandable up to 10 times, height- and width-independent; however, fonts E and H (OCR-A and OCR-B) are not considered in-spec when expanded.
Introduction M-Series U ser s G uid e Font Matrices for 6 dots/mm Printhead Character Size 25.40 16.93 12.70 11.72 9.53 3.18 10.16 6.35 1.50 1.83 3.00 3.50 4.33 10.00 2.83 4.00 Standard Printer Font Examples Figure 1.1 Default Fonts (8 Dots/mm Printhead) 1-10 Char./mm A 9 5 1 U-L-D 0.059 0.039 B 11 7 2 U 0.072 0.059 C, D 18 10 2 U-L-D 0.118 0.079 E 21 10 3 OCR-B 0.138 0.085 F 26 13 3 U-L-D 0.171 0.105 G 60 40 8 U-L-D 0.394 0.315 H 17 11 4 OCR-A 0.112 0.098 GS 24 24 0 SYMBOL 0.157 0.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e In trod uction n oi t c u d or t nI Figure 1.2 Default Fonts (6 Dots/mm Printhead) Physical Physical Characteristics Height Width Depth Weight (option-dependent) 200M 15.4" 10.5" 18.9" 43 lbs. 391 mm 267 mm 480 mm 19.5 kg 260M 15.4" 13.1" 18.9" 55 lbs. 391 mm 333 mm 480 mm 24.9 kg Electrical 100-120 VAC +10%/-15% or 220-240 VAC +10%/-15%; 48-62 Hz 5 Amps @ 115V, 3 Amps @ 230V UL 1950 Listed-Certified to CAN/CSA-C22.2 No.
Introduction M-Series U ser s G uid e Communications Interface • RS-232 at 110 to 19,200 baud (select from standard rates). Baud rate, data bits, parity, error detection protocol, and XON-XOFF or DTR/DSR handshaking are all switchselectable. • 200M: Centronics ® parallel interface. 260M: Compatibility Mode Parallel Interface. Maximum cable length: 10 ft. (304.
Installation Unpacking When unpacking the Brady M-Series Printer, make sure you save all packing materials. Once the printer is out of the box, raise the printer’s Media Access Door and remove the power cord. Inspection Inspect the printer for possible damage incurred during shipment. • Check all exterior surfaces for damage. • Raise the Media Access Door and inspect compartment for damage to components. t oi n Reporting Damage al l at If you discover shipping damage upon inspection: s nI 1.
Installatio n M-Series U ser s G uid e Should it become necessary to ship your printer, remove any ribbon and paper roll from the supply spools, otherwise damage to the printer could result. Carefully pack the printer in a suitable container to avoid damage during transit. Whenever possible, use the original container and packaging material from the factory. If you use a different container, a procedure similar to the original factory packaging should be followed.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e Ins ta lla tion AC Power Fuse Replacement A user-replaceable AC Power Fuse is located just above the Power ON/OFF Switch. (See Figure 2.1.) For a 100-120 VAC installation, the replacement fuse is a 3AG Fast Blow style rated at 5 Amp/250VAC. For a 220-240 VAC installation, the fuse is the same style but rated at 3 Amp/250VAC. Make sure the fuse you use is correct for the voltage source. Before replacing the fuse, turn the AC Power Switch OFF and unplug the AC Power Cable.
Installatio n M-Series U ser s G uid e Site Requirements CAUTION: To ensure that the M-Series Printer has proper ventilation and cooling, do not place any padding or cushioning material on the back of or underneath the unit because this will restrict the air flow. The M-Series Printer may be installed on any solid, level surface of sufficient size and strength to accommodate the unit. The area in which the printer will operate must meet the environmental conditions specified.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e Ins ta lla tion 1. Align the segments of the Ribbon Supply Spindle. See Figure 2.2. The Ribbon Supply Spindle is actually made up of either two or three segments that rotate independently. Each segment has a Spring Plate on it. It is important that these Spring Plates be in alignment prior to installing the ribbon roll on the spindle. 2. Place the Ribbon Roll on the Ribbon Supply Spindle. 3. Open the printhead by moving the handle to the OPEN position. 4. Important.....
Installatio n M-Series U ser s G uid e 200M 260M Figure 2.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e Ins ta lla tion Media Loading To load media, move the Printhead Locking Lever to the OPEN position. Refer to Figures 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6. When the media is loaded, close the printhead by moving the lever on the upper printhead mechanism to the CLOSED position. Note: The first time you load media and whenever you subsequently change the media type you must re-calibrate the printer. See the Configuration and Calibration Section.
Installatio n M-Series U ser s G uid e 200M 260M Figure 2.4 Roll Media Loading Diagrams Figure 2.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e Ins ta lla tion Tear- Off Mode Follow the instructions described in Roll Media. Rewind Mode The Rewind Option must be installed in the printer. To initially configure the printer for this mode, follow these steps: 1. Remove the Media Rewind Plate from its storage location in front of the printhead inside the media compartment. 2. Invert the Rewind Plate so that the lip on the attached Hook Plate points down. 3.
Installatio n M-Series U ser s G uid e Fanfold Media To load fanfold media, place the fanfold media in the bottom or to the rear of the media compartment and thread it through the printhead as shown in Figure 2.6. Adjust the media guide using the thumb screw to keep the media from drifting left or right. Fanfold media from outside the printer feeds through one of the two access slots, one at the bottom of the printer and one at the rear. 200M 260M Figure 2.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e Ins ta lla tion Removing Used Ribbon To remove used ribbon, refer to Figure 2.7 and follow the steps below. 1. Pull the hook out slightly, then rotate the hook back-and-forth several times as shown and remove it from the spindle. 2. Grasp the used ribbon and remove it from the Ribbon Take-Up Spindle. 3. Remove the empty core from the Ribbon Supply Spindle. 4. Follow the Ribbon Loading procedure on page 2-4 to load the new ribbon. n oi t al l at s nI Figure 2.
Installatio n 2-12 M-Series U ser s G uid e
Operation Operating Your Brady M-Series Printer Now that your printer is ready for operation, how does it work? The Brady M-Series Printer is designed to receive instructions from a host computer, such as an IBM-compatible PC. To create a label, you will either need to use label design software or write a format in ZPL II ® , which is a programming language for creating label formats.
O peration M-Series U ser s G uide Black-Mark Sensing Mode In Black-Mark Sensing Mode, you use continuous media (no notch or gap) having black marks printed on the back of the label liner for each label. To determine the label length and top of label, the printer’s Black Mark Sensor detects the black mark similar to the way in which the Transmissive Sensor detects the notch or gap in the media.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e O peration label is held in this position by that portion of the backing that has not crossed the Tear-Off/Peel-Off Bar. The Label Available Sensor is located on the printer in a position where it is activated by the label. When the operator removes the label, the printer backfeeds the media either to the rest (idle) position or to the printing position and prints the next label.
O peration M-Series U ser s G uide CANCEL Key The CANCEL key is only recognized in PAUSE mode. Press CANCEL to cancel the current label format. If no format is printing, then the next one to be printed will be canceled. If no formats are in memory, the CANCEL key is ignored. If the CANCEL key is pressed for an extended period of time (3 seconds), the printer cancels all formats in memory and the DATA light turns OFF. MODE Key The MODE key puts the printer in Configuration Mode.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e O peration Front Panel Lights Refer to Figure 3.1 for the location of the lights. Note: Light (LED) If an operating condition which causes a light to be ON constantly and one which causes the same light to Flash occur simultaneously, the light Flashes. Status Indication Name POWER ON PRINTHEAD OFF ON PAPER/ RIBBON PAUSE Flashing OFF ON Flashing OFF ON DATA OFF ON Single flash Flashing Slow flashing DARKEN ON POSITION ON CALIBRATE ON Printer is ON.
O peration M-Series U ser s G uide Power On Self Test A Power ON Self Test (POST) is performed each time the printer is turned ON. This test checks for proper initialization of various electronic circuits and establishes starting parameters as those stored in the printer’s memory. During this test sequence, the front panel lights will turn ON and OFF to ensure proper operation. At the end of this self test, only the POWER light will remain lit.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e O peration CANCEL Key Self Test This self test prints a single label which contains a listing of the printer’s current configuration parameters stored in Configuration (EEPROM) Memory. Press the CANCEL key while turning the AC Power Switch ON. See Figure 3.2. The configuration may be changed either temporarily (for specific label formats or ribbon and label stock), or permanently (by saving the new parameters in EEPROM Memory.
O peration M-Series U ser s G uide PAUSE Key Self Test This self test is actually comprised of four individual test features. 1. The initial self test prints 15 labels at speed “ A” (2" per second) then automatically PAUSES the printer. Each time the PAUSE key is pressed, an additional 15 labels print out. 2. While the printer is PAUSED, pressing the CANCEL key once alters the self test. Now each time the PAUSE key is pressed the printer prints 15 labels at speed “ D” (6" per second). 3.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e O peration This self test can be used to provide the test printouts required when making adjustments to the printer’s mechanical assemblies. See the sample printout in Figure 3.3. FEED Key Test The CANCEL Key Self Test should be performed before this self test. Information on the “ Configuration” printout (CANCEL Key Self Test) will be used with the results of this self test to determine the best Darkness Setting for a specific media/ribbon combination.
O peration M-Series U ser s G uide FEED Key and PAUSE Key Pressing these two keys at the same time, while turning the Power ON, temporarily resets the Printer Configuration to the factory default values. These values will be active until Power is turned OFF. Whenever the printer is reset to factory defaults, a Media Calibration procedure must be performed immediately. MODE Key Test This test places the printer in the Communications Diagnostics Mode.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e O peration FEED Key and CANCEL Key Test This test prints seven pre-programmed label formats at different speeds. The printer automatically pauses after each format. The sequence of label formats is as follows.
O peration 3-12 M-Series U ser s G uide
Option Switches Configuration and Calibration n oi These switches are located at the rear of the printer above the Signal Interface Cable Connection. See Figure 4.2. t ar bi l a C In the tables on the following page, an “ R” means the switch is OFF (positioned to the right), while an “ L” means the switch is ON (positioned to the left). All switches are in the OFF position when the printer is shipped from the factory. d n a n oi t ar gi u Figure 4.1 Option Switches f n o C 200M 260M Figure 4.
C o nfigu ra tion a n d C a lib ra tio n M-Series U ser s G uide Bank 1 (For Serial -I nt erfac e Print ers O nl y) The M-Series Printer, with the RS-232 Serial Interface, uses eight miniature switches located on the rear of the printer, above the Signal Interface Cable Connector. The ON/OFF positions of these switches establish some of the Printer Configuration Parameters. Bank 1 switches must be properly positioned to establish serial data communications with the host computer.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e Bank 2 Configuration and Calibration ( 260M Print ers O nl y) These switches can manually override any ZPL II commands that affect print mode, media mode, and media type. They can also override settings established during the calibration procedure.
C o nfigu ra tion a n d C a lib ra tio n M-Series U ser s G uide Configuration Mode The Configuration Mode allows you to fine-tune the internal printer configuration settings for your application.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e Configuration and Calibration the printer. If non-continuous media is sensed, Label Length is also calibrated. If ribbon is sensed, the Thermal Transfer Print Method is configured. If no ribbon is present, the Direct Thermal Print Method is configured. oi n The results of this calibration are stored in the printer’s memory. These parameters will remain in effect until the next calibration is performed.
C o nfigu ra tion a n d C a lib ra tio n M-Series U ser s G uide Adjust the Print Darkness This procedure sets the darkness of the printing on the label. Use the lowest setting which provides the necessary print quality. 1. Press the MODE key. PAUSE and DARKEN lights turn ON. 2. Press UP or DOWN to adjust the current setting. 3. Press the MODE key 3 times. The MODE lights will flash ON and OFF to indicate that the settings have been saved in memory. 4. Press PAUSE to exit PAUSE mode.
Interconnections System Components HOST BRADY PRINTER I.E.: COMPUTER Figure 5.1 System Components System Considerations s n Communications Code oi t c The Brady M-Series Printer sends and receives American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII). This code consists of 128 characters (256 for Code Page 850) including upper and lower case letters, punctuation marks, and various control codes.
Interco nnectio ns M-Series U ser s G uid e Data Specifications When communicating via the serial data port (RS-232), the baud rate, number of data bits, and the parity are user-selectable (see Section 4 for acceptable setting combinations). Parity only applies to data transmitted by the printer, since it ignores the parity of received data. The M-Series Printer is fixed at 1 stop bit, so make sure that your host is also set at 1 stop bit.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e Interconnections Hardware Control Signal Descriptions Request To Send (RTS) is a Control Signal from the M-Series Printer to the host computer. RTS is always in the ACTIVE condition (positive voltage) whenever the printer is powered ON. Data Set Ready (DSR) is a control signal from the host computer to the printer. When DSR is in the ACTIVE condition (positive voltage), the printer can transmit status to the host.
Interco nnectio ns M-Series U ser s G uid e Interconnect to DTE Devices The printer is configured as Data Terminal Equipment (DTE). To connect the printer to other DTE devices (such as the serial port of a PC), use an RS-232 Null Modem (crossover) cable. Figure 5.2 illustrates the connections required for this cable. Figure 5.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e Interconnections Parallel Cabling Requirements The required cable must have a standard 36-pin parallel connector on one end, which is plugged into the mating connector located at the upper rear of the printer. The parallel interface cable is connected using bail clips, instead of screws, in a similar position to that of the serial data cable. The other end of the parallel interface cable connects to an appropriate point at the host computer.
Interco nnectio ns M-Series U ser s G uid e Signal Descriptions The following chart provides a description of each of the pins in the parallel connector. A standard parallel data cable will provide the required interconnection between the computer and the printer. IEEE 1284-B Connector Pin Assignments Description Pin No. 1 The nStrobe printer input has internal 3.3 kWpull-up resistors to 5 V (IOL= 1.5 mA) and is designed to receive a signal driven open collector VOL <= 0.8 V.
Preventive Maintenance Overview c e This section contains Preventive Maintenance information for the Brady M-Series Printer. These procedures may be performed by the operator. Cleaning et n a n ni a M E xter io r S ur fac es vi e The exterior surfaces of the printer may be cleaned as required by using a lint free cloth. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaning agents or solvents. If necessary, a mild detergent solution or desktop cleaner may be used sparingly.
Preventive Main tenance M-Series U ser s G uide Pr int hea d a nd Pl a ten Ro ll er Inconsistent print quality, such as voids in the bar code or graphics, may indicate a dirty printhead. For optimum performance, Brady recommends performing the cleaning procedure on page 6-3 after every roll of ribbon (after every roll of media, for direct thermal printing). Note: Label Available Sensors are shown for location purposes only. They are not standard on all printers. Figure 6.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e Preventive M aintenance It is not necessary to turn printer power OFF prior to cleaning. If power is turned OFF, all label formats, images, and parameter settings stored in the printer’s formatting RAM will be lost. Permanent parameter settings stored in EEPROM will be retained. When power is turned back ON, it may be necessary to reload some items. e To clean the printhead and platen roller, open the media compartment door, refer to Figure 6.
Preventive Main tenance 6-4 M-Series U ser s G uide
Adjustments Toggle Positioning Note: The 200M has one toggle, the 260M printer has two toggles. The toggle(s) should be positioned to provide even pressure on the media. Toggles are positioned by sliding them left or right to the desired location. On the 200M, the single toggle should normally be positioned over the center of the media.
Adjustments M-Series U ser s G uid e Figure 7.1 Printhead Pressure Adjustment Black-Mark Media Sensor Position Adjustment This sensor position requires no adjustment or calibration by the user. Transmissive Media Sensor Position Adjustment The transmissive media sensor senses either the “ web” between labels or a hole or notch in the media to determine the length of the label or ticket. The locator is a device designed to make media sensor positioning easier and more accurate.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e A djustments Adjustment” and “ Lower Media Sensor Position Adjustment” later in this chapter. Transmissive Media Sensor Positioning Using the Locator Brady materials require only two distinct upper media sensor positions. These two positions are shown as position A and position B in Figure 7.4. The lower media sensor should not be repositioned when using Brady media; it should remain at its factory-set position of 0.6" away from the fire wall at all times.
Adjustments M-Series U ser s G uid e Figure 7.3 Sensor Guide Plate Figure 7.4 Locator Refer to Figures 7.3 and 7.4 while performing this procedure. 1. Position the upper media sensor (approximately 1 inch from the sensor guide plate edge) such that as the locator is dropped in place, the sensor (Phillips head screw) will protrude through the locator slot. 2. Place the locator on the sensor guide plate so that the three locator pins (see Figure 7.4) fit securely in the sensor guide plate slot.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e A djustments Upper Transmissive Media Sensor Position Adjustment To adjust the upper media sensor to accommodate non-Brady-brand media, refer to Figure 7.2 and follow these steps. 1. Remove the ribbon and locate the Upper Media Sensor. 2. Loosen the Phillips head screw. 3. Slide the upper sensor along the slot to the desired position.
Adjustments M-Series U ser s G uid e Lower Transmissive Media Sensor Position Adjustment To adjust the lower media sensor, follow these steps. 1. Locate the lower media sensor assembly (a spring clip holding a small printed-circuit board) under the rear idler roller. 2. Position the sensor so that the two brass-colored infrared emitters are under the upper sensor by sliding it in its slot. 3. Gently pull wires out of the printer frame as required. (Wires should have a little slack.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e A djustments Media and Ribbon Sensor Sensitivity Adjustment Note: This adjustment is initially set during final printer calibration. Under normal circumstances, further adjustments should not be necessary. The exception to this might be the use of media with exceptionally thick or thin backing, which could require re-adjustment of the Sensor Sensitivity.
Adjustments M-Series U ser s G uid e 9. Pull the media out of the printer until a label is positioned under the Printhead. Move the ribbon back to its normal position. Note: Be sure that label is positioned between the upper and lower Media Sensors. 10. Close the Printhead. 11. Press the MODE key to print a Media and Sensor Profile and save the new values. (See Figure 7.4.) 12. Perform the Media Calibration procedure in chapter 4. Figure 7.
Troubleshooting This section contains troubleshooting charts used to localize and repair the printer when faults occur. The procedures called out in the ACTION column may be performed by the operator or by a service technician when indicated. o o t ni g Brady’s Technical Support Telephone Number is: (800) 643-8766. SYMPTOM All lights never light. DIAGNOSIS No AC Power applied to the Printer. Faulty AC Power Fuse. Printer locks up when running Power On Self Test.
Tr o u b l e s h o o t i n g SYMPTOM M-Series U ser s G uid e DIAGNOSIS Printer stops. PAUSE light Media incorrectly and PAPER/RIBBON light loaded or not loaded. both ON. Misadjusted Media Sensor. Media not Calibrated. Printer stops. PAUSE light ON and PAPER/ RIBBON light FLASHING. Printer stops. PAUSE light ON and PRINTHEAD light FLASHING. Printer stops. PAUSE light and PRINTHEAD light both ON. Ribbon incorrectly loaded or not loaded. Malfunctioning Ribbon Sensor. Printhead is not fully closed.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e SYMPTOM Light vertical lines approximately 0.005" wide running through all labels. Light printing or no printing on the left or right side of the label. Short printed lines at 45° to label edge on left or right side of label. Fine gray lines on blank labels at angles. Truncated print, no print, or FEED button operates incorrectly while using noncontinuous media. Long tracks of missing print on several labels. In Peel-Off Mode, skewed or stuck labels.
Tr o u b l e s h o o t i n g SYMPTOM Wrinkled ribbon. Continued wrinkled ribbon. Misregistration and misprint of 1 to 3 labels. Changes in parameter settings did not take effect. M-Series U ser s G uid e DIAGNOSIS ACTION Ribbon fed through machine incorrectly. Incorrect Darkness setting. Incorrect printhead position or pressure. Media not feeding properly; it is walking from side to side. Continuing symptoms. Strip plate needs adjusting. Media was pulled when motor was not moving.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e SYMPTOM ZPL II was sent to printer, but not recognized. The DATA light remains OFF. Tr o u b l e s h o o t i n g DIAGNOSIS Communications parameters or DIP Switches are set incorrectly. Prefix and delimiter characters set in printer configuration do not match the ones sent in the ZPL II Label Formats. 260M printer does not operate in the mode specified in ZPL II or by calibration Printer does not feed media with black marks correctly.
Tr o u b l e s h o o t i n g 8-6 M-Series U ser s G uid e
Options Peel-Off Option Your Brady M-Series Printer may be equipped with a Peel-Off Option. In the Peel-Off Mode, only the label backing rewinds onto the Rewind Spindle. The Peel/Tear Bar separates the label from the backing and the Label Available Sensor activates the PAUSE mode to allow the operator to remove a printed label before subsequent labels print. Rewind Option Your M-Series Printer may be equipped with a Media Rewind Option. This option supports both the Rewind and Peel-Off modes of operation.
O ptions M-Series U ser s G uid e The following Bitmap Smooth Fonts (supplied in bold style only) are presently available: CG Triumvirate Bold, CG Triumvirate Bold Condensed, Futura Bold, Univers ® Bold, CG Times Bold and CG Palacio Bold (Type sizes of 6pt, 8pt, 10pt, 12pt, 14pt, 18pt, 24pt, 30pt, 36pt are available.) Examples of these Optional Fonts can be found in Appendix D.
Appendix A - 240 VAC Power Cord 240 VAC Power Cord Depending on how the Brady printer was ordered, a power cord may or may not be included when the printer is optioned for 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz. operation. If a power cord is not supplied, you will need to obtain one with the following specifications. 1. The overall length must be less than 3.8 meters. 2. It must be rated for at least 5 amps, 250V 3. The CHASSIS GROUND (EARTH) MUST BE CONNECTED to assure safety and reduce electromagnetic interference.
A p p e n d i x A - 2 4 0 VA C Po w e r C a b l e A-2 M-Series U ser s G uide
Appendix B - ASCII Code Chart HEX CHAR 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F NUL SOH STX ETX EOT ENQ ACK BEL BS HT LF VT FF CR SO SI DLE DC1 DC2 DC3 DC4 NAK SYN ETB CAN EM SUB ESC FS GS RS US HEX CHAR 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 3A 3B 3C 3D 3E 3F space ! “ # $ % & ’ ( ) * + , .
Ap p e nd ix B - AS C II C od e C ha r t B-2 M-Series U ser s G uide
Appendix C - Adjusting Bar Code Darkness Adjusting Darkness For In-Spec Bar Codes All direct thermal and thermal transfer materials do not use the same Darkness setting. The best way to check for the proper Darkness is to use a bar code verifier that actually measures bars/spaces and will calculate the PCS ratio. Without the assistance of a verifier, your eyes and/or the scanner to be used in the system may be used for picking the optimum Darkness setting.
Appendix C - Darkness A djustments M-Series U ser s G uide Too Dark - Dark labels are fairly obvious. The normal bar code bars increase in size, and the openings in small alphanumeric characters may fill in with ink. It may be readable but not “ in-spec” . Rotated bar code bars and spaces will run together. Slightly Dark - Slightly dark labels are not as obvious. The normal bar code will be “ in-spec” . Small character alphanumerics will be bold and could be slightly filled in.
M - S er i e s U se r s G ui d e Ap p end ix C - Darkness A djustments C xi d n e p p A Figure C.
Appendix C - Darkness A djustments C-4 M-Series U ser s G uide
Appendix D - Optional Printer Fonts Your printer can be optioned with character fonts in addition to those which are standard in the unit. The following pages illustrate the Optional Fonts in each of the available styles. From time to time, additions may be made to the list of available fonts. Contact Brady USA, Inc. or your sales representative for further information. Only one additional font can be installed in the printer at a time. This installation should be performed by a service technician.
A p p e n d i x D - O p t i o n a l Pr i n t e r F o n t s CG CG CG CG M-Series U ser s G uide Triumvirate - Normal 0123456789.,?!AaBbCc Triumvirate - Bold 0123456789.,?!AaBbCcDd Triumvirate - Italic 0123456789.,?!AaBbCcDdEe Triumvirate - Bold Italic 0123456789.,?!AaBb CG Times - Normal 0123456789.,?!AaBbCcDdEeFfGg CG Times - Bold 0123456789.,?!AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHh CG Times - Italic 0123456789.,?!AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIi CG Times - Bold Italic 0123456789.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e A p p e n d i x D - O p t i o n a l Pr i n t e r F o n t s D xi d n e p p A Figure D.
A p p e n d i x D - O p t i o n a l Pr i n t e r F o n t s D-4 M-Series U ser s G uide
How to Reach Us Appendix E - Support Services Which number do you need? Technical Support: For questions relating to the mechanical operation of Brady equipment you already own, contact the Brady Technical Solution Center. Brady, USA Phone: 1-800-643-8766 Fax: 414-358-6767 E-mail: bradyts@execpc.com Technical Support Sometime during the life of your Brady equipment you may find yourself in need of technical assistance.
Ap p e nd ix E - S up po rt Se rv ices M-Series U ser s G uide Technical Support Service via Telephone Before you call - Misunderstanding instructions or omitting a step are the most common sources of error. Please consult the manual and use the table of contents and appendixes for help. Be prepared - Only with ALL of the information requested can we give you accurate and fast assistance.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e Appendix E - S upport Services W.H. BRADY CO. Customer Service Form This form should be completed in full before requesting techncial assistance. Complete this form before requesting technical assistance.
Ap p e nd ix E - S up po rt Se rv ices M-Series U ser s G uide Product Service and Support Programs At Brady, our service and support goal is to keep your printer performing optimally. Our service department provides a broad range of service options and are your expert sources for your support and maintenance needs. If you find yourself in need of technical assistance or repair services, our Technical Solutions Center stands ready with answers to any questions you may have.
Appendix F - Permasleeve Printing First-time operators should refer to chapters 1 and 2 for more in-depth information on printer and sensor positions. Instructions for One-Sided Permasleeve Printing Sensor Location Position the upper media sensor (Phillips head screw) directly over the 0.230 inch x 0.082 inch rectangular registration holes stamped in the Permasleeve carrier. The lower media sensor should remain at its factory-set position, 0.6 inches from the printer fire wall.
A p p e n d i x F - Pe r m a s l e e v e P r i n t i n g M-Series U ser s G uide Loading Permasleeve Load Permasleeve and Brady 4300A or 4300 ribbon as instructed in chapter 2. The Permasleeve roll should be loaded on the spindle such that: • One-sided Permasleeve: Printable area of sleeves is faceup. • Two-sided Permasleeve: Permasleeve side not constricted by two strips of adhesive tape is face-up for first-side printing.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e A p p e n d i x F - Pe r m a s l e e v e P r i n t i n g Printer Calibration Once the media and ribbon are loaded and the media sensor is in place, the printer must be calibrated. For the M-Series printer, this is accomplished by pressing the MODE Key until the CALIBRATE light is on and then pressing the FEED Key. Note: Every time a different type or size of media is run (labels or Permasleeve), this Calibration procedure must be repeated.
A p p e n d i x F - Pe r m a s l e e v e P r i n t i n g M-Series U ser s G uide Printing Once the material is loaded and the printer is calibrated, a sample sleeve should then be printed to accurately center the printing on the sleeve. Once you have centered the image on the sleeve, the origin does not need to be readjusted again even when changing sides in two-sided printing. If initially the print is not centered on the sleeve, adjust your label format.
M - S er ie s U se r s Guid e A p p e n d i x F - Pe r m a s l e e v e P r i n t i n g Side 1 Sleeve 1 Sleeve 2 Sleeve 3 Sleeve 4 Sleeve 5 001 002 003 004 005 Side 2 (Side 2 will automatically invert the printing order knowing that sleeve 5 will be the first sleeve printed) Sleeve 5 Sleeve 4 Sleeve 3 Sleeve 2 Sleeve 1 005 004 003 002 001 This will ensure that what is printed on Side 1 of the sleeve is the exact same information as what is printed on Side 2. 4.
A p p e n d i x F - Pe r m a s l e e v e P r i n t i n g F-6 M-Series U ser s G uide
INDEX 100/120 VAC Operation, 2-3 220/240 VAC Operation, 2-3 Asynchronous Modems, 1-1 240 VAC Power Cord, A-1 Host Systems, 1-1 6-Dot/mm Printhead, 9-2 A e d nI Connection Recommendations and Cautions, 1-4 D Additional System Requirements, 1-3 Adjustments x Communications Capabilities Damage Report, 2-1 Bar Code Darkness, C-1 Data Bits (Setting), 4-2 Lower Transmissive Media Data Signal Levels, 5-5 Sensor, 7-6 DCE Devices, 5-4 Media and Ribbon Sensor DTE Devices, 5-4 Sensitivity, 7-7 DT
Index O I Input and Output Signals (Standards Used) EIA RS-232 and CCITT V.
Index Protocol Converter (When Required), 1- U 2 R Unpacking, 2-1 x e Removing Used Ribbon, 2-11 d Repacking the Printer nI Caution Statements, 1-5 Reporting Damage, 2-1 Requirements Media and Ribbon, 1-3 Reshipping, 2-1 Ribbon Lengths, 1-3 Widths, 1-3 Ribbon Loading, 2-4 Roll Media Peel-Off Mode, 2-9 Rewind Mode, 2-9 RS-232 Internal Connections, 5-4 RS-232C Pinouts, 5-2 S Self Tests FEED Key and PAUSE Key, 4-4 Serial Communication Port, 5-4 Serial Data Port , 5-2 Shielded Cable (Use of), 1-4 Sig
Index Index - 4
W. H. BRADY CO. AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION PRODUCTS W. H. Brady Co. Automatic Identification Products 6555 West Good Hope Road P.O. Box 2131 Milwaukee, WI 53201-2131 Phone: (800) 537-8791 FAX: (800) 292-2289 W. H. Brady Co.
