SECTION 1.PRINTER OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The SATO CL Series “e” Thermal Transfer Printers are complete, high-performance
on-site labeling systems. All printer parameters are user programmable using the
front panel controls and the DIP switches. All popular bar codes and 14
human-readable fonts, including a vector font, are resident in memory providing
literally thousands of type styles and sizes.
The Operator’s Manual will help you understand the basic operations of the printer
such as setup, installation, configuration, cleaning and maintenance.
The major differences in the CL408e and the CL412e printers is the resolution of the
head. The CL408e with its 203 dpi head provides an economical labeling solution for
most applications. It can print labels up to four inches wide. If a wider label is
needed, the CL608e can print labels up to six inches wide at the same resolution. The
CL412e provides a higher print resolution, 305 dpi, to give laser-quality printing. It is
useful when higher resolution is needed for detailed graphic images. The six inch
wide companion printer to the CL412e is the CL612e.
All of the CL Series “e” printers use the same command codes. The only differences
are the allowable values representing the print positions on the label. These values
are specified in “dots” and will vary depending upon the resolution of the printer and
the amount of memory available for imaging the label. The allowable range for each
printer is specified in a table for those command codes.
This commonalty makes it very easy to convert labels from one CL printer to another
without having to create an entirely different command stream. There are some
caveats that must be observed though to compensate for the different resolution print
heads. The effect of the different printer resolutions are best illustrated by taking a
label designed for a 203 dpi printer and sending the command stream to the its 305
dpi counterpart. The label printed will be an exact two-thirds scale, including the
fonts, bar code dimensions and line lengths/widths. The only exception is the PostNet
bar code which has only one legal size and the printer resolution is automatically
compensated for by the printer. Conversely, a label designed for a 305 dpi printer and
sent to its 203 dpi cousin will be one-third larger. It probably will be “truncated” if
the label size is larger than the maximum allowable for the printer.
The following general information is presented in this section:
•General Printer Specifications
•Optional Accessories
SATO CL Series “e” Printers PN 9001074 Rev. B Page1-1