AMT Datasouth 4500 Series manual Setting the Print Parameters, Print Speed and Darkness

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Media Settings

Setting the Print Parameters

The Print Parameters control the print speed, darkness, image position, and presentation distance during printing. These features are programmed via the Operator Panel.

Print Speed and Darkness

The Print Speed and Darkness parameters control the quality of a printed label. The CodeWriter 4500 Series printers will print effectively with many different types of ribbons and label stocks when these parameters are programmed correctly.

Balancing Speed and Darkness

Thermal Media products possess unique characteristics representing a blend of print speed performance, print durability, print quality, and economy. The media selected for your printer will tend to address the requirements of the printing application using the most economical means possible.

The Thermal Media vendor will provide general guidelines for the media’s operating range for Print Speed and Darkness. Ribbons will be defined in terms of Print Speed, which may vary based on the material used in the target label. Direct Thermal labels will be rated in terms of sensitivity to heat and how long the image will be retained on the label.

Table 5 provides initial values to use when attempting to determine an appropriate setting for your media. The table assumes the operator knows the ribbon’s composition or the label’s sensitivity to heat. After printing a label using the initial value, the operator should adjust the settings as follows:

ƒLabel printed with excellent quality – If additional speed is required for the application, the operator may raise the speed 10% to see if the quality is retained. If the current speed is acceptable, then the operator should lower the darkness setting by 10%. Lowering the energy applied will tend to extend thermal printhead life.

ƒLabel printed with poor quality – If the darkness setting is below 100%, the operator may raise the setting an additional 10%. If the darkness setting is at 100%, the operator should lower the speed 10% until a label with acceptable quality has printed.

ƒRibbon Wrinkling causes poor quality – With the printer Off-Line, the

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operator should press the FEED key a few times to see if the ribbon wrinkles will disappear. If the wrinkles do not disappear, after verifying correct ribbon installation, see the information on Ribbon Wrinkling in the Troubleshooting Guide.

ƒRibbon melts and breaks – Lower the darkness setting 20% or more until obtaining a good quality label.

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Contents CodeWriter 4500 Series Operator’s Manual Page Warnung Warnung Adventercia Datasouth CodeWriter 4500 Disclaimer of Warranties Extended MaintenanceHardware Warranty SoftwareDatasouth Table of Contents Contents Table of Figures Introduction CodeWriter 4500 Series ModelsOperator Panel Document Exit Tear Bar CodeWriter 4505 Front/Side View External Media Feed SlotCodeWriter 4500 Series Features Features Media CompatibilityGuide to the Operator’s Manual This Page Intentionally Blank Unpacking and Power Up Equipment ChecklistQuick Start Guide Applying Power to the Printer Media Loading Loading and Feeding Label RollLoading and Feeding the Ribbon Ribbon Take-Up Ribbon Supply Roll Ribbon Guide BarOperator Panel Media Settings CodeWriter 4500 Series Operator PanelSet Label Parameters Without saving. Press the saving the changes Set Print Parameters Printer Model Print Speed 4505 100% 4505+ 4510 50%Feature/Settings Label Printing Test LabelsPrint Test Label Connecting the Printer Quick Start CDRunning the Quick Start CD Data Communications Connecting to a Personal ComputerConnecting the Cable CablePort Settings Value Bits per second Configuring the Personal ComputerSettings Control Panel Mode COMx9600,n,8,1Mode COMx9600,n,8,1 where x = the COM port number Sending Data to the PrinterType File.pal COMx Serial Port Specifications Cable ExamplesSeries Printer DCE Modem DB25 Connector Flow Control Hardware Flow ControlXon/Xoff Flow Control DSRSetting the Flow Control Method Operator Panel Settings for Data CommunicationsSetting the Baud Rate Setting RTS PolaritySetting the Data Bits Setting the DTR PolaritySetting the Parity Setting the Stop BitsThis Page Intentionally Blank Media Settings Setting the Document DimensionsDie-Cut Labels Black Bar Labels Notch or Hole Label Programming the Label Dimensions Enter to save new defaults. PressPressing the settings Setting the Printing Method Programming the Print MethodSetting the Print Parameters Print Speed and DarknessSetting Print Speed and Darkness Speed DarknessAdjusting Print Position Presentation Distance Forward DistanceBar Code Quality Bar Code OrientationPicket Fence Horizontal Bar Code Ladder Vertical Bar Code Bar Code Print Settings This Page Intentionally Blank Operator Panel Reference Display and Panel KeysOff-line Menu Reference Printing Speed as a Accessing this parameterParameter Values Description Print Speed % 80% 100% Percentage of the printer’sLabel Parameters Config Firmware Part No Firmware part number Settings LabelSystem Params Revision are displayedPrint Parameters Default Parameter ValuesConfiguration System ParametersOff-Line Menu Map Maintenance Removing the Ribbon Take-up RollPrinthead Cleaning Paper Path CleaningHeater Line Location Troubleshooting Guide Response to Display MessagesRemove Ribbon Print or CANCEL? Media Feed Fault Print or CANCEL? Halt Sides or Top of Label Content is Missing Print Quality IssuesFirst Part of Label Content is Missing Ribbon Wrinkling Causing Poor PrintMissing Dots in Label Data Communications Issues PC Reports Write Fault Error Writing to Device COMxHost System Does Not Report Errors, But Nothing Prints Hex Dump Mode Controlling Hex Dump ModeAdjusting Sensor Sensitivity Adjusting the Gap Sensor SensitivityPrinter is Displaying Media Feed Fault Message Adjusting the Black Bar Sensor Sensitivity Press the Pause key. This takes you to the off-line menu Adjusting the Ribbon Sensor Sensitivity Printer Displays Ribbon Out Message in Thermal Transfer Mode Key until the Enter to Select Diagnostics is displayed Verifying the Sensor OperationThis Page Intentionally Blank Applications Overview Printer Application Language PALLabel Genesis PAL Fonts and Bar Codes FontsBar Codes Bar CodeEAN-13 EAN13 Codabar Postnet Maxicode MSI Plessy PAL Quick Start Establishing the Development EnvironmentHas been typed so far Function Keystroke Hex ValuePAL will display the line as it Undo Ctrl/ULabel Tutorial Label OutputPAL Command Sequence Hello WorldPAL Coordinate System Printing a Line Applications Overview PAL Command Sequence Label Output World!Hello Hello WorldLabel Output World Printing a Bar CodeApplications Guide Environmental SpecificationsPower Input and Output PhysicalPrinting MediaSerial Communications ProcessingAuto-Baud Firmware Update Download Mode Advanced FeaturesHigh Speed Firmware Update Download Mode Flash Memory ManagementPAL Application Bootstrap Bypass Release Identification Message PauseEnter to save new defaults . Press Setting Contrast and PreheatKey until Enter to Select Expert Settings is displayed Print Darkness ControlAdvanced Features
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