Datacard® SD/CD™ Series Card Printer User’s Guide June 2012 Part No.
Notice Please do not attempt to operate or repair this equipment without adequate training. Any use, operation, or repair you perform that is not in accordance with the information contained in this documentation is at your own risk. Proprietary Notice All drawings and information herein are the property of DataCard Corporation. All unauthorized use and reproduction is prohibited.
Revision Log Datacard® SD/CD™ Series Card Printer User’s Guide Revision Date A June, 2012 Description of Changes First release of this document.
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Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ____________________________________________________________ About this Manual______________________________________________________________ Intended Audience ____________________________________________________________ Technical Support ______________________________________________________________ 1 1 1 1 Chapter 2: About the Printer ________________________________________________________ About the SD and CD Series Card Printers________________________________________ P
Messages on the Printer LCD _______________________________________________ 30 Messages from the XPS Card Printer Driver on the PC ________________________ 30 Messages From Printer Manager____________________________________________ 31 Other Messages ___________________________________________________________ 31 Respond to Messages _________________________________________________________ 32 100: Request not supported ________________________________________________ 32 101: Job could not complete __________
Card Handling_________________________________________________________ 49 Card Storage __________________________________________________________ 49 Supplies ______________________________________________________________________ 50 Print Ribbon _______________________________________________________________ 50 Color Print Ribbon______________________________________________________ 50 Full-Panel Color Print Ribbon ____________________________________________ 50 Short-Panel Color Print Ribbon _______________
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Chapter 1: Introduction About this Manual This manual provides user information for the SD and CD Series Card Printers. The manual includes: • An overview of printer components and options, and a description of the system label. • How to use the printer, including how to power the printer on and off, how to use the front panel and LCD menus, card processing basics, how to print a test card, and how to load and replace supplies. • How to perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.
2 Introduction
Chapter 2: About the Printer About the SD and CD Series Card Printers The card printer applies images, text, and encoded data to plastic cards. It can print full‐color and monochrome images, depending on the type of print ribbon installed. A busy issuance site might issue up to 10,000 cards a month. During these busy times, the site might use more than one printer to keep up with demand. The printer issues cards either one at a time or in batches — up to 100 cards at a time.
Printer Components Printhead: Transfers images to cards using the print ribbon. Printer information label: Shows location, date of manufacture, and options installed. Manual advance knob: Use the knob to move a card in the track. Security lock: Insert the security plate before attaching the lock.
Printer With Input Hopper SD/CD Series Card Printers User’s Guide 5
Printer With Duplex Option Inside a Printer With a Duplex Option 6 About the Printer
System Label The printer configuration label on the side of the cover arm shows the components installed. It provides information that is useful when requesting service. The label shows: • Printer name, which also appears on the model label. • Configuration, which includes options in the printer. • Date and country of assembly. • The MAC address to use when the printer is connected via an Ethernet network. Some components might be installed by the dealer or sales group.
8 About the Printer
Chapter 3: Using the System This section provides information on how a card travels through the printer, the printer as part of a card production system, printer controls, printing a test card, loading and replacing supplies, and cleaning the printer. How the Card Travels The card is verified and sent to print from the PC. The hopper pick mechanism picks a card and moves the card into the printer component for processing.
2. Capture devices, such as: • A digital camera connected to the PC to take photos for ID badges and other cards. • A signature capture pad or fingerprint reader. 3. The printer with supplies and a facility power source. 4. A data connection between the printer and PC, which can be a USB connection or a network connection. (Do not use both with one printer.
LCD Panel The LCD panel shows the printer’s menus and displays printer messages or conditions. Refer to “Respond to Messages” on page 32 for more information. Menus The menu system has three major branches: • Use the Maintenance menu to run a cleaning card or a test card. • Use the Status menu to see settings and data about the printer. • Use the Configuration menu to change settings. HINTS & TIPS • The menu system can be accessed when Ready displays on Line 1 of the LCD panel.
• To show whether the printer is ready, busy printing, or not available: Off Printer is off. Green Printer is ready. Blinking green Printer is busy. Amber The printer is not ready. The POWER button was pressed to turn the printer off. Blinking Amber The printer has an error. Down Arrow, Up Arrow, and Enter Key Use the arrow keys to move through the printer menu system, and the E NTER key to make a selection. Ribbon Light The ribbon light glows green when the print ribbon is low.
Card Light The card light indicates the status of cards in the printer. Off Cards are okay. Green Ribbon is low - less than 10% remains. Blinking Green Insert cleaning card. Rapid Blinking Green Insert card for printing. Blinking Amber and Green The printer is equipped with an optional card present sensor and no card is detected. Blinking Amber The printer problem applies to cards.
Retrieve the Printer IP Address The printer can display the network IP address it uses when connected to the network. It also displays the Subnet Mask, Gateway Address, and MAC Address. Begin with the printer power connected, and the printer connected to the network. 1. Press the POWER button (if needed) to power on the printer. 2. Access the Network Status menu in the LCD menu: A. Press the USER button to suspend the printer. B. Press the E NTER key to enter the menu system. C.
8. Press the down arrow key to scroll to Exit on line 2. 9. Press E NTER repeatedly until Ready displays on line one and the USER button glows green. Print a Test Card The printer includes a test card that runs without using a driver or other source of card data. Use it to verify that the printer is working. 1. Begin with the printer “Ready”. The USER button shows steady green. 2. Press the USER button to display “Suspended” on Line 1 of the LCD panel. 3. Press the ENTER button to enter the menu system.
Load and Replace Supplies To prepare the printer to print cards you load blank card stock into the input hopper (optional), and load print ribbon and a cleaning sleeve into the print cartridge. Loading Cards Do one of the following: • If you are using a manual feed printer, skip this step and keep a supply of blank cards close to the printer. • For printers with an input hopper, continue with these steps: 1. Open the input hopper. 2. Fan cards before placing them into the input hopper. 3.
Loading the Print Ribbon Load the print ribbon when you install the printer and when the ribbon runs out. 1. Open the printer’s top cover. 2. Remove the print ribbon cartridge. 3. Load a full roll of print ribbon onto the spindle closest to the cartridge handle. 4. Place the empty spool on the spindle with the black gear. 5. Wind the empty spool counter‐ clockwise one full turn. 6. Close the printer’s top cover.
Loading the Cleaning Sleeve Load a new cleaning sleeve with each new roll of print ribbon. The printer ships with the cleaning roller spindle installed on the print ribbon cartridge. 1. Remove the cleaning roller spindle from the ribbon cartridge and slide the continuous cleaning sleeve onto the spindle (a). 2. Snap the spindle with sleeve installed onto the ribbon cartridge (b). 3. Remove the protective wrapper from the cleaning sleeve (c).
Chapter 4: System Maintenance Clean the Printer The printer performs best when it is cleaned on a regular basis. Follow the cleaning guidelines for your site to keep the printer in good working condition, cleaning the printer when: • The printer displays a message for which cleaning is a solution. • There is debris on completed cards. • There is a new roll of print ribbon installed.
Clean the Printhead Clean the printhead when: • The printhead is replaced. • There are unprinted lines on the finished card. This usually indicates dirt or contamination on the printhead. • The printhead is accidentally touched. Oils from hands may affect print quality. 1. Power off the printer. 2. Open the printer cover and remove the print ribbon cartridge. 3. Open the cleaning pen. 4.
7. Print a sample card to verify the quality of printing. Refer to “Print a Test Card” on page 15 for more information. HINTS & TIPS • Avoid touching the printhead edge with your fingers. • Avoid touching the printing edge of the printhead cartridge with any sharp objects that can permanently damage the printhead. • Use only the cleaning pen to clean the printhead. Other materials can stick to the printhead and cause damage. • Use the cleaning pen up to 8 times, and then replace it.
Run a Cleaning Card Run a printer cleaning card to clean debris from the inside of the printer. The cleaning card can remove most contaminants from the printer. 1. Prepare the printer. A. Power on the printer. B. Open the printer cover and remove the print ribbon cartridge. C. Close the cover. The ribbon light blinks rapidly. D. If necessary, open the input hopper and remove unprinted cards. The card light blinks rapidly if the printer has the Card Present option. 2. Access the LCD menu. A.
B. Place the cleaning card in the input hopper or in the manual feed. C. Press the USER button to resume or click Retry (or Resume the card) in the Message box to start the cleaning cycle. The printer moves the card through the printer several times and ejects it in the output stacker. 4. Remove the used cleaning card. Wait a few minutes for the rollers to dry. 5. Prepare the printer for use. A. Replace the cards in the input hopper. B.
24 System Maintenance
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting Card Appearance Card appearance problems can be caused by many different factors. Click the link below that best describes the card appearance issue seen on the printed card. • Something did not print on page 25 • Printing includes unexpected data on page 26 • The printing is too light on page 27 Something did not print Problem Solution Nothing is printed on the card. The Print Ribbon is loaded incorrectly. Remove the print ribbon and install it correctly.
Printing includes unexpected data Problem Probable Cause Solution Text intended for the magnetic stripe printed on the card. The text to encode was longer than one line. Reduce the font size to keep all text on one line. For more information, refer to the SD/CD™ Series Card Printer Installation and Administrator’s Guide. Several blank cards are ejected before the full card prints.
Problem Probable Cause Solution The printed card has small unprinted areas. Unprinted cards have scratches. Handle cards carefully. Refer to “Card Quality Guidelines” in the SD/CD™ Series Card Printer Installation and Administrator’s Guide. The printed card has small unprinted areas. Cards have embedded particles, an uneven surface, or the card edge has burrs. Use cards that meet the requirements for the printer.
Magnetic Stripe To begin troubleshooting a magnetic stripe problem, first print a magnetic stripe sample card from the driver. Refer to “Printing a Driver Sample Card” in the XPS Card Printer Driver Guide. The printer uses the coercivity set using the LCD panel or Printer Manager, and uses the data format set using the Printer Manager. 28 Problem Solution Cards are not loaded correctly. Load cards with the magnetic stripe down and toward the right side of the printer.
Card Jam The card did not reach the position for the next action, such as printing or ejecting the card. 1. Open the printer and remove the ribbon cartridge. 2. Turn the knob to move the card. 3. Remove the card. 4. Replace the ribbon cartridge and close the printer. 5. Press the USER button on the printer or click Retry in the Message box. HINTS & TIPS Check the ribbon to make sure that it is not torn. Refer to “110: Print ribbon out or missing” on page 36 to fix the ribbon if needed.
Messages and Conditions When the printer cannot process the card sent, it issues a condition. The LCD panel on the front panel shows these conditions. If your system uses the XPS Card Printer Driver, the printer driver also displays the condition as a message on the PC. In a shared printer environment, messages may be slightly different from the messages and conditions described in this section. You view: • Messages on the Printer LCD on page 30.
• If there is more than one card printer installed on the PC, messages are displayed one at a time. The title bar of each message shows the printer name. • If there is more than one card printer installed on the PC and each has issued errors, the printer driver displays the messages received even if you cleared the error at the printer. • The driver can issue messages that are not displayed on the printer LCD panel.
Respond to Messages You can respond to printer messages using the printer front panel buttons or, if your system uses the XPS Card Printer Driver, by selecting buttons in the Message box displayed in Windows. Names of Message box buttons on the PC are worded slightly differently depending on the installed operating system. 100: Request not supported The print request or other action failed. To print the card: 1. Change the data to match the system’s features and settings. 2.
102: Card not in position The card did not reach the position for the next action, such as printing or ejecting the card. 1. Open the printer and remove the ribbon cartridge. A. Check the ribbon to make sure that it is not torn. Refer to “110: Print ribbon out or missing” on page 36 to fix the ribbon if needed. B. Remove any debris from the print area. 2. Turn the knob to move the card. 3. Remove the card. 4. Replace the ribbon cartridge and close the printer. 5.
105: Magstripe data error The printer encoded data on the card but could not verify all of the written data. To print the card again: 1. Insert a magnetic stripe card that matches the printer settings, positioning the card with the magnetic stripe down and to the right side of the printer 2. Press the USER button on the printer or click Retry in the Message box. HINTS & TIPS • The card might have been turned the wrong way. • The card might not have a magnetic stripe.
107: Magstripe read data error The printer could not read the magnetic stripe data on the card. To read the card successfully: 1. Press the USER button on the printer or click OK in the Message box to clear the error. 2. Insert a magnetic stripe card with data, positioning the card with the magnetic stripe down and to the right side of the printer. 3. Send the new card to the printer. HINTS & TIPS • The data might use a different format than the current printer setting.
109: Print ribbon problem The print ribbon is not moving properly. To fix the ribbon: 1. Open the printer and remove the ribbon cartridge. 2. Cut and tape the damaged ribbon to the take‐up spindle, and move the repaired area one full turn. 3. Remove any debris from the print area. 4. If the card is in the printer, turn the knob to move the card so the printer can eject it. 5. Replace the ribbon cartridge and close the printer. 6. Press the USER button on the printer or click Retry in the Message box.
111: Card not picked The printer did not pick a card. To load cards in printers with an input hopper: 1. Open the input hopper. 2. Insert cards in the input hopper. To prevent cards from sticking together, slide or fan cards to separate the edges before loading the input hopper. Refer to “Card Handling” in the SD/CD™ Series Card Printer Installation and Administrator’s Guide. • Orient all cards the same way. • Do not touch the card surface to be printed. • Handle cards by their edges. • Wear gloves.
112: Card hopper empty The printer does not detect cards in the input hopper. 1. Open the input hopper. 2. Insert cards in the input hopper. To prevent cards from sticking together, slide or fan cards to separate the edges before loading the input hopper. Refer to “Card Handling” in the SD/CD™ Series Card Printer Installation and Administrator’s Guide. • Orient all cards in the same direction. • Do not touch the card surface to be printed. • Handle cards by their edges. • Wear gloves. 3.
114: Cover opened during job The printer cover must be closed to print. 1. Close the cover. 2. Push down on the corners of the cover to latch it. 3. Press the USER button on the printer or click Retry in the Message box. 4. Discard any incomplete cards. HINTS & TIPS Make sure that the ribbon cartridge is installed with the handle even with the edges of the printer. 115: Wait for print temperature The printer is not at the correct temperature to print the card. 1.
B. Request service. • If no, the printer does not have a magnetic stripe option. To print the card without magnetic stripe encoding: A. Press the USER button on the printer or click OK (or Cancel the card) in the Message box. B. Remove magnetic stripe data from the card. C. Send the card again. HINTS & TIPS To remove magnetic stripe data, you or your system administrator may need to: • Clear a checkbox in the card production application.
118: Print ribbon type problem The printer cannot use the ribbon installed. Press the USER button on the printer or click OK (or Cancel the card) in the Message box. When the printer recognizes that a supported ribbon is installed, all enhanced product features are enabled and successful card printing can begin. HINTS & TIPS • Use ribbon designed for this printer brand and model. • Check the website for newer firmware that supports new ribbon types.
• If this message occurs often, ask your system administrator to set the button sensitivity to a lower value. 121: Print ribbon not identified The ribbon data is damaged. 1. If needed, install a supported ribbon. 2. Press the USER button on the printer or click Retry in the Message box. When the printer recognizes that a supported ribbon is installed, all enhanced product features are enabled and successful card printing can begin. HINTS & TIPS • Ask your dealer or authorized reseller for a replacement.
• Do not touch the card surface to be printed. • Handle cards by their edges. • Wear gloves. 2. Press the USER button to resume or click Retry (or Resume the card) in the Message box. 124: Insert same card side 2 up The card must be re‐inserted with the back of the card (side 2) facing up. To insert the same card with side 2 up: 1. Turn the card over, end to end. Make sure to turn over the card to the back side (side 2) for this job.
152: Insert new card side 2 up The new card must be inserted with the back of the card (side 2) facing up. To insert a new card with side 2 up: 1. Insert the card with side 2 up in the manual feed slot of the printer. Make sure to turn over the card to the back side (side 2) for this job. Refer to “Card Handling” in the SD/CD™ Series Card Printer Installation and Administrator’s Guide. • Do not touch the card surface to be printed. • Handle cards by their edges. • Wear gloves. 2.
170: Insert new card side 1 up The card requires you to insert a new card into the printer with the front of the card (side 1) facing up. To insert a new card with side 1 up: 1. Insert the card with side 1 up in the manual feed slot of the printer. Make sure to use the correct type of new card for this job. Refer to “Card Handling” in the SD/CD™ Series Card Printer Installation and Administrator’s Guide. • Do not touch the card surface to be printed. • Handle cards by their edges. • Wear gloves. 2.
172: Insert cleaning card This message displays when you run a cleaning card. For details, refer to “Run a Cleaning Card” on page 22. To insert the cleaning card: 1. Prepare the printer. 2. Insert a cleaning card in the manual feed slot of the printer. 3. Press the USER button to resume or click Retry (or Resume the card) in the Message box. 4. Continue running the cleaning card. 5. Dispose of the cleaning card after use. It is made for a single use only.
Chapter 6: Supplies and Parts This section includes card specifications and information on card handling and storage, and describes the supplies and replacement parts used with the printer. Cards For best results, use high‐quality cards that meet the specifications and recommendations described in this section. Card Size Use ISO ID‐1 size cards, also called CR80 cards. Such cards have the following dimensions: • 3.37 inches long by 2.125 inches wide (85.60mm long x 53.98mm wide). • 0.010 to 0.
Pre-Punched Cards The cards can have a punched area within 1 inch (25mm) of the left edge, as the cards are loaded in the printer. If the card has a magnetic stripe, the card must not be punched anywhere in the stripe. New Cards for Color Printing The printer is designed to print on new card stock. If you print on cards twice, be careful to avoid getting dirt, fingerprints, or other contaminants on cards before the second printing.
Card Handling These guidelines apply to unprinted cards. • Any debris or particles on an unprinted card’s surface can reduce print quality and damage the printhead. • Grease or oils, such as oils from your fingers, also reduce print quality. Keep cards completely clean. Do not touch the print surface of a card with your fingers or hands. • Do not use a rubber band to bind blank cards together. • If you drop a card on the floor, do not insert it into the printer.
Supplies Print Ribbon Print ribbon kits are available from your dealer. Kits include a print ribbon, a cleaning card, and a replaceable cleaning sleeve. For best results, run a cleaning card and replace the cleaning sleeve with each new print ribbon. Color Print Ribbon Color print ribbon is available in either full‐panel or short‐panel options. Both full‐ panel and short‐panel print ribbons use the following color panels: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan/blue), K (black), and T (topcoat).
Print Ribbon Storage Guidelines • Store print ribbon in the original package until you load it in the printer and keep the original packaging closed. • The print ribbon maintains its quality for about one year. For optimum card quality, purchase and store quantities that can be used within one year. • The print ribbon and card stock might require secure storage and tracking. Follow your policy for storing and tracking the supplies used to make cards.
Power Supply, Cables, and Cords Power Supply The power supply is rated at 100‐240 VAC, 50‐60Hz and uses up to 3 amps. It is self‐adjusting within the rated input voltage. Data Cables and Power Cord The printer uses a data cable and a power cord. Data Cable The data cable connects the printer to the network or PC sending cards. The data cable can be: • a USB cable. • a network cable. Use only one data cable with a printer. If you need to connect more than one PC to a printer, use a network connection.
• Australian power cord • United Kingdom power cord • Danish power cord • Indian power cord • Israeli power cord • Italian power cord • Swiss power cord • Chinese power cord • Japanese power cord SD/CD Series Card Printers User’s Guide 53
Replacement Parts The following printer replacement parts are available. Printhead Cartridge The printer has a replaceable printhead cartridge. The printhead is subject to wear or damage and has a direct impact on print quality. Do not touch the printing edge of the printhead in the printhead cartridge. Clean the printhead following the steps in “Clean the Printhead” on page 27. Print Ribbon Cartridge The ribbon cartridge holds the print ribbon and the replaceable cleaning sleeve in the printer.
Chapter 7: Legal and Compliance Please note and heed the WARNING and CAUTION labels that have been placed on the equipment for your safety. Please do not attempt to operate or repair this equipment without adequate training.
This printer conforms to Class A of EN 55022 and to EN 301 489‐5. Operation of this equipment in a residential environment may possibly cause interference. In the event of interference, the user, at their own expense, will be required to take whatever measures are necessary to correct the problem.
Safety All Datacard brand products are built to strict safety and reliability specifications in accordance with UL60950 and Canadian requirements, and the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC. Therefore, safety issues pertaining to operation and repair of Datacard brand equipment are primarily environmental and human interface.
Acknowledgments Polaroid and Polaroid & Pixel are trademarks of PLR IP Holdings, LLC, used under license. All other trademarks are the property of the respective owner who has not sponsored, endorsed or approved this product. PLR IP Holdings, LLC does not manufacture this product or provide any Manufacturer's Warranty or support.Datacard is a registered trademark of DataCard Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage. Disclaimer Names and logos on sample cards are fictitious. Any similarity to actual names, trademarks, or trade names is coincidental. Proprietary Notice All drawings and information herein are the property of DataCard Corporation.
60 Legal and Compliance
