Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality | IBM EasyCoder 3400e

EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual

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Loading Media Into the Printer 2-6

Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing 2-6 Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing 2-8

Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon 2-10

Setting the Media Sensitivity Number 2-12

Setting the MSN for Intermec Media and Ribbon 2-13 Setting the MSN for Other Media and Ribbon 2-14

Communicating With the Printer 2-16 Using the PrintSet Software 2-16 Using Third-Party Software 2-16

Using Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Commands 2-16 Printing a Test Label 2-17

Maintaining the Printer

Inspecting the Printer 3-3

Tools for Cleaning the Printer 3-3

Maintenance Schedule 3-4 Cleaning the Printhead 3-6 Cleaning the Printer Covers 3-7

Cleaning the Drive Roller and Tear Bar 3-8 Cleaning the Media Guides and Media Path 3-9 Cleaning the Label Sensors 3-10

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Checklist 4-3

Printer Operation Problems 4-3

Print Quality Problems 4-5

Communication Problems and Preventing Data Loss 4-7

5	Optimizing Printer Performance
	Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality 5-3

Correcting Uneven Print Quality 5-3

Adjusting the Print Darkness 5-5

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IBM EasyCoder 3400e Inspecting the Printer Tools for Cleaning the Printer, Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality

Contents

EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer Page Contents Inspecting the Printer Tools for Cleaning the Printer Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality Using Test and Service Mode Procedures Printer Specifications A-3 Bar Code Symbologies Supported A-8 Extended Character Sets B-6Communication Protocols C-3 Printer Serial Port C-11 Full Ascii Table D-3 Full Ascii Control Characters Table D-5 ViiPage Safety Summary Warranty InformationBefore You Begin EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Avertissement What You Will Find in This Manual About This ManualFor Information On Refer To Terms and Conventions TermsConventions Convention Description Other Intermec Manuals XiiiPage Getting Started Page Getting to Know Your Printer Back View LED Plugging In the Printer Preparing the Printer for InstallationTo plug in the printer Opening the Printer To open the printer Loading Media for Fanfold Printing To load media for fanfold printing Head lift lever To print the hardware configuration test label Printing the Hardware Configuration Test LabelHardware Configuration Test Label What the Hardware Configuration Test Label Tells You Connecting the Printer to Your SystemIf a Hardware Configuration Test Label Does Not Print Connecting Your Printer to a PC Connecting the Printer to a PC Serial PortUse Intermec Cable Part Number To connect your printer to a PC serial port Connecting the Printer to a PC Parallel Port Connecting Your Printer to a NetworkTo connect your printer to a PC parallel port Connecting the Printer to an AS/400 Connecting Your Printer to a Network Connecting the Printer to a Mainframe Cabling in Noisy Electrical Environments Configuring the Serial Port for Communications To configure the printer serial portDIP Switch Setting Descriptions Parameter Description Bottom Bank Switch Number Verifying Printer Communications With Your System To verify communications with your system At the DOS prompt, type this command and press Enter Operating the Printer Page Learning How to Operate the Printer Understanding the Front Panel Understanding the Front Panel LEDs LED Using the Feed/Pause Button Printer Mode You Want To What to Do Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing Loading Media Into the PrinterTo load the media Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing To load self-strip media Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon To load thermal transfer ribbon Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon Setting the Media Sensitivity Number To print a software configuration label Setting the MSN for Intermec Media and RibbonSensitivity Media or Ribbon Number Description 3400e Printer Direct Thermal Media Sensitivity Settings Setting the MSN for Other Media and RibbonApproximate Sensitivity Maximum Numbers Setting Direct Thermal Media Print Speed Using the PrintSet Software Using Third-Party SoftwareUsing Intermec Printer Language IPL Commands Communicating With the Printer Printing a Test Label To print the test labelPage Maintaining the Printer Page Tools for Cleaning the Printer Inspecting the Printer Maintenance Schedule Printer Component Maintenance Period Locating the Printer Parts You Need to Maintain Cleaning the Printhead To clean the printhead Cleaning the Printer Covers Cleaning the Printhead Cleaning the Drive Roller and Tear Bar To clean the drive roller and tear bar Cleaning the Media Guides and Media Path To clean the media guides and media path Cleaning the Label Sensors To clean the label sensors Cleaning the Label Sensors Page Troubleshooting Page Troubleshooting Checklist Printer Operation ProblemsTroubleshooting Symptom Possible Causes Solution Troubleshooting Printer Operation Problems Print Quality ProblemsSymptom Possible Causes Solution Symptom Possible Causes Communication Problems and Preventing Data Loss Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems To check for communication problems Optimizing Printer Performance Page Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality Correcting Uneven Print Quality To adjust the bias adjust screw Adjusting the Print Darkness To adjust the print darkness Adjusting the Label Mark Sensor To adjust the label mark sensor Platen roller How Is the Printer Storage Memory Used? Using the Printer Memory EfficientlyMaking the Most of Your Memory How the Image Bands Command Works What Is an Image Band?Increasing Throughput Optimizing Print Speed and Image Band Setting To optimize the number of image bands for your print speed Using Test and Service Mode Page To enter Test and Service mode Using Test and Service Mode ProceduresTo exit Test and Service mode Test and Service DIP Switch Settings Tests Using Data Line Print To enter Data Line Print modePrinting Test Labels To print a test label Resetting the Memory on Your Printer Setting Configuration Commands in Test and Service ModeTo use memory reset Setting the Number of Dot Increments Configuration DIP Switch Settings Bottom Bank Adjusting the Label Rest Point To set the number of dot increments To adjust the label rest point Top Bank To set the printer to Emulation mode using DIP switches Setting Emulation ModeSetting Description Using Forms Adjust Format Forms Adjust To set the X forms adjust To set the Y forms adjust Specifications Page Printer Specifications Specifications Printhead 200 dpi Printhead 400 dpiRibbon Printing Speed Media Number Description Minimum Maximum Communication Interface Printer OptionsFinishers Specifications Signal Pin Return Direction Description Bar Code Symbologies Supported Hibc 2D Stacked Symbologies 2D Symbologies2D Matrix Symbologies EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Character Sets Page International Character Sets Advanced Character Table Emulation Mode Character Table IBM Translation Character Table Code Page 850 Character Table Extended Character Sets 10 x 14 Standard Monospace fonts 6 point to 36 point OCR a Characters in Font C24 Page Communications Reference Page Intermec Standard Protocol Communication ProtocolsPrinter Status Character XON/XOFF Protocol Software and Hardware Flow Control Polling Mode D XON/XOFF, No Status ProtocolMulti-Drop Protocol User-Defined Protocol Character Protocol Affected Communications Interfaces Host RequirementsCommunications Boundaries RS-232 Serial Interface RS-485 Serial Interface RS-422 Serial InterfaceInterface Pin No Name Operation RS-232 Null Modem Cable for PC/XT Part Number RS-232 Null Modem Cable for PC/AT Part Number RS-422 Intermec Pin Assignments PIN Plug D-SUB Metal Backshell Printer Serial Port Page Full Ascii Table Page Full Ascii Table Full Ascii TableBinary0 Hex1 Dec2 C393 Binary0 Hex1 Dec2 C393 Full Ascii Control Characters Table Control Character DefinitionPage Glossary Page Configuration Data Line Print modeGlossary G Backing Emulation mode Direct thermalFeed/Pause Field Glossary G Graphic Human-readable Image bandsImaging Ips EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Margin MediaMnemonic code Multi-Drop protocol Polling Mode D protocol Glossary G Point sizePrint speed Printhead Symbology EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual ScanSelective transfer Self-strip User-Defined Characters UDC User-Defined Fonts UDFVariable data field XON/XOFF protocolPage Index Page Numbers Index EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual LED RAM XON/XOFF