Datacard® SD/CD™ Series Card Printers Installation and Administrator’s Guide April 2013 Part No. 527249-001 Rev.
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 SD/CD Card Printers Installation and Administrator’s Guide Revision Date Description of Changes A June 2012 B November 2012 Updates for XPS printer driver v. 4.0 C April 2013 Updates for XPS printer driver v. 4.1 First release of this document.
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Contents Chapter 1: Installation______________________________________________________________ 1 PC Requirements_______________________________________________________________ 1 Network Requirements _________________________________________________________ 2 USB Requirements ______________________________________________________________ 2 Site Requirements ______________________________________________________________ 3 Electrical Requirements ________________________________________________________ 4 Secur
Non-Printing Areas_________________________________________________________ 23 Standard Magnetic Stripe Non-Printing Area ____________________________ 24 Standard Smart Card Non-Printing Area _________________________________ 24 Custom Non-Printing Areas _____________________________________________ 24 Card Layout ______________________________________________________________ 25 Margins _______________________________________________________________ 25 Backgrounds ___________________________________________
Cards ________________________________________________________________________ 71 Card Size _________________________________________________________________ 71 Card Material _____________________________________________________________ 71 Pre-Punched Cards _______________________________________________________ 71 New Cards for Color Printing _______________________________________________ 72 Adhesive-Backed Cards ___________________________________________________ 72 Card Quality Guidelines ______________
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Chapter 1: Installation This chapter describes system requirements and provides setup instructions for the Datacard® SD/CD™ Series Card Printers. Your installation may have additional requirements for a card production environment. Talk to your system administrator to determine the optimum location for card production. For driver installation troubleshooting and card production troubleshooting information, refer to your printer’s Driver Guide and User’s Guide.
Network Requirements You can connect many network printers to one PC. The maximum number of printers depends on the capacity of the network to deliver data to the printer. To install a printer on a network, the following components are required: • An Ethernet network that uses the TCP/IP protocol and can run at 100 megabits per second, also called 100base‐T. Printers also support 10base‐T. • An Ethernet cable to connect the printer to the network. An Ethernet cable is not supplied with the printer.
Site Requirements Set up and use the printer in an environment that meets the following requirements. • Provide space for the printer and for clearance around the printer. The printer dimensions and clearance area are shown in the following table. Dimensions (inches/mm) Printer Model A B C D E F G SD260 10.00 254 8.80 224 4.00 102 6.85 174 4.00 102 15.37 390 4.00 102 10.00 254 8.80 224 4.00 102 6.85 174 4.00 102 21.21 539 4.00 102 10.00 254 8.80 224 4.00 102 6.85 174 4.
• Place the printer away from direct sunlight. • Do not place the printer near heating ducts, fans, or other air vents. • Do not use the printer for purposes other than the intended use. Electrical Requirements The ENERGY STAR®‐rated power supply detects the input voltage and works within the range stated. Printer Model CD800 SD360 Electrical Requirements 110-240V/50-60 Hz/3.0 Amp The printer is ENERGY STAR‐qualified only when used with the included power supply.
Set Up the Printer This section provides information about setting up the printer to print cards. Setup includes the following: • Prepare the Printer • Install Optional Equipment on page 10 • Use the Card Printer Driver on page 13 or Use OpenCard Data Format on page 13 Prepare the Printer To prepare the printer to print cards, remove any packing material, load blank card stock into the input hopper (optional), load print ribbon, and load a cleaning sleeve onto the print cartridge.
Load Cards Single Hopper 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, do the following: 1. Open the input hopper. 2. Load the cards into the input hopper. (Fan the cards before placing them in the hopper— optional.) • Insert magnetic stripe cards with the stripe down and toward the right side of the input hopper. • Insert smart cards with the smart card chip on top toward the back of the hopper. 3.
Optional Multi-Card Hopper 1. Unlock the printer and open the multi‐card hopper. 2. Load the cards into the hoppers. The input hoppers are labeled H1 through H6. You can load up to 100 cards into each hopper. (Fan the cards before placing them in the hoppers—optional.) • Insert magnetic stripe cards with the stripe down and toward the right side of the input hopper. • Insert smart cards with the smart card chip on top toward the back of the hopper. 3.
Load Print Ribbon Load the ribbon when you install the printer and when the ribbon runs out. 1. Unlock the printer and open the printer supplies access door on the optional multi‐card hopper. 2. Open the printer cover. 3. Remove the print ribbon cartridge. 4. Load a full roll of print ribbon onto the spindle closest to the cartridge handle. 5. Place the empty spool on the spindle with the black gear. 6. Wind the empty spool counterclockwise one full turn.
Load 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 spindle into the continuous cleaning sleeve (a). 2. Place the spindle with cleaning sleeve onto the ribbon cartridge (b). 3. Remove the protective wrapper from the cleaning sleeve (c).
Install Optional Equipment You can install additional equipment on the printer depending on your requirements. Install a Large Output Hopper The output hopper included with the printer holds about 25 cards. The printer also can be used with an optional large output hopper that holds up to 100 cards. The large output hopper kit includes two base sections and the large output hopper. The two base sections are the same; turn them back to back to use them.
Do the following to attach the printer to the bases, and to install the larger output hopper. 1. Position one base section with the open end facing the back of the printer. 2. Lift the printer over the base section. 3. Align the tabs in the base with the slots in the bottom of the printer. 4. Push up to insert the four tabs in the slots, and then push the base forward to lock it to the printer. 5. Position the other base section with the opening facing the front of the printer. 6.
Install the 200-Card Input Hopper The standard input hopper can hold about 100 cards. Some printers can be upgraded to use a 200‐card input hopper. The 200‐card input hopper kit includes the larger hopper with an attached cover. The standard hopper is easily removed and the 200‐card hopper can be installed without using tools. 1. Open the input hopper. 2. Press the release tab located on the back wall of the hopper while lifting the hopper up and off the printer. 3.
Install the Optional Cable Lock The cable lock is a user‐installed feature that does not require special tools to install. The package contains a Kensington® lock with keys, instructions, and a metal security plate. The security plate is installed in the printer and is designed to accommodate the T‐bar of the Kensington lock. 1. Prepare the printer by installing the metal security plate: A. Tip the printer on its right side. B.
14 Installation
Chapter 2: Elements of Card Design Card design is the name given to the combined features of the processed cards. This chapter provides helpful information about card design, including: • Basic Card Design on page 15 • Printing Design on page 16 • Magnetic Stripe Design on page 27 • Smart Card Design on page 30 • Settings for Card Design in Printer Manager on page 31 Basic Card Design Card design includes: • Optional color printing, if available.
Printing Design Color Printing Color print ribbon is available in full‐panel and short‐panel styles. Full-Panel Ribbon Full‐panel color printing uses a print ribbon with three color panels: Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). The ribbon also includes a K (black) panel and a T (topcoat) panel. The printer applies the YMC color panels to the card first, prints black components using the K panel, and then applies the T (topcoat) to protect the color image from damage.
Manage Color Color management is the process of making color on the PC monitor and printed card appear as similar as possible. For color management, the card printer uses the sRGB color standard (standard Red, Green, and Blue color space). Print Text in Color The printer can print text in any color. Small characters are likely to be more readable if they are formatted as black and printed with the black (K) panel. The printer supports 6‐point or larger text with a sans‐serif font.
• Next, evaluate the other color areas of the card, such as text or logo: • Check your card production application for settings that can help improve the printed color of text. • Use image editing applications (such as Adobe® Photoshop®) to change the color of a logo file for optimal printing. • Contact your service provider for assistance if the cards do not have the colors you want. Monochrome Printing Monochrome Printing with Full-Color Ribbon Full‐color print ribbon includes a black panel.
Print Text in Monochrome Printing text using a K panel can make text look crisp, because it uses only one panel for printing. Fine text is more readable when printed with more power. You set the power using the Printer Manager. Refer to “Printer Setting Menu” on page 38 for more information. The font used also affects legibility. The printer reliably prints 6‐point Arial font. Bold, sans‐serif fonts are more readable after printing than serif fonts, or fonts with thin strokes, as shown at right.
Bar Code Guidelines Bar codes print more successfully when you observe the following guidelines. Bar Code Placement • Maintain the required quiet zone around the actual bar code, as shown in the illustration. • Locate bar codes at least 0.25 inch (6.3mm) from other printing and from the edge of the card. • For best results, orient the card so the bars are parallel to the long edges of the card, as shown. This orientation most accurately prints readable bar codes.
Test Bar Codes Always test the readability of bar codes under production conditions. Factors to consider include: • If you print cards one at a time, print the samples using that method. If you print cards in batch (many cards sent to the printer at the same time), use a production‐sized batch and evaluate cards from the beginning, middle, and end of the batch. • Use exactly the same cardstock for testing that you use for production. The cardstock can affect the readability of bar codes.
Printing Bar Codes with the Card Printer Driver If you use the Card Printer Driver, you can use the driver’s Printing Preferences window to specify a setting to detect bar codes embedded in an image and print the image using the K (black) panel of a color print ribbon. When the preference is enabled, the printer detects the 1‐D, 2‐D, and Postal bar code types shown in the following table. Refer to the printer’s Driver Guide for information on specifying this setting.
Apply Topcoat Full‐color printing fades if it lacks topcoat protection. Topcoat protects the printed image on the card. It is applied as an even, consistent film. Make sure that all color printing is covered with topcoat (except for areas such as magnetic stripe, smart card chip, or signature panel). When a ribbon with a topcoat or “T” panel is installed, the printer can apply topcoat to the card using the printhead. Full‐color (YMCKT), KT, and KTT ribbons include topcoat panels.
Standard Magnetic Stripe Non-Printing Area The 3‐track magnetic stripe typically is on the back of the card, while the single‐ track magnetic stripe is usually on the front of the card. The green arrow shows the direction the card travels through the printer. Use the following dimensions to prevent printing in the magnetic stripe area. A B C 3-track 3.37 in 85.6mm 1.46 in 37.1mm 0.66 in 16.8mm 2-track 3.37 in 85.6mm 1.57 in 39.9mm 0.55 in 14mm Single-track (JIS) 3.37 in 85.6mm 1.60 in 40.
Card Layout The arrangement or layout of components determines how well your card design works for users. Follow these guidelines to position card design components for best results. Margins Any unprinted area at the edge of the card or around the perimeter of a card feature is called the margin. Margins at the Edge of a Card Some card printers can print edge to edge, which is the same as a margin of zero (0) or no margin. The card on the left shows a margin of white space at the outer edge of the card.
Backgrounds Use the following suggestions to help you select a background for a professional‐ looking card. For best results, make sure the background design does not emphasize the location of card features, such as embedded electronics. • Consider using a white background for the card to achieve consistent professional results. • Consider using smaller blocks of color, patterned areas, or gradients to highlight printed card features such as a name, photo, or logo.
Magnetic Stripe Design The printer contains a magnetic stripe module to process magnetic stripe data. There are two magnetic stripe configuration options: ISO and JIS. Use the Printer Configuration Label (described in the printer’s User’s Guide) to determine the type of module installed. Magnetic Stripe Data Formats The module format (ISO or JIS) defines the type and format of the information to encode. The standard ISO format (also known as IAT) is a three‐track option.
TTS (Thrift Third Standard) The maximum number of characters for TTS format is 104 characters. Numeric characters and the following special characters are allowed: :;<=> Single-Track Option (JIS) The default data format for a single‐track magnetic stripe module is the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) Type II format. The maximum number of characters for the JIS format is 69 characters.
Each time you start using Japanese‐language characters, or stop using them, it adds a hidden character. Each hidden character reduces the number of characters you can encode by one character. Magnetic Stripe Coercivity The printer may require additional settings to match the coercivity of the card. Once these values are set they remain the same for all cards processed using the same design. The defaults are set to standard ISO format and high coercivity.
Smart Card Design Smart card processing differs from other types of card personalization. The “smart card” step of personalization is controlled by an application that is separate from the rest of card personalization. Smart card setup usually is provided by a value‐added reseller or service provider. Request information about the smart card module installed and the type of cards to use from your service provider or value‐added reseller.
Single-Wire Smart Card In daily use, single‐wire smart card processing operates just like regular smart card processing. The difference in single‐wire smart card processing is in the use of a single‐wire connection with the printer rather than two. In particular, the single‐wire smart card processing allows a single USB or Ethernet connection to carry data for both smart card personalization and printing.
32 Elements of Card Design
Chapter 3: Printer Manager This section describes Printer Manager, the Datacard web service available to users, administrators, and Datacard service providers. Printer Manager Printer Manager is a web service that displays information about the printer. System administrators or service providers can use the Printer Manager to fine‐ tune card appearance, set advanced options, and troubleshoot printing problems. Access the Printer Manager using an Internet browser and the IP address of the printer.
• In the Address area of the browser, enter the following: https://printer IP address For example: https://123.1.23.123 where 123.1.23.123 is replaced by the printer IP address. Because you are using “https” (secure protocol) to access the Printer Manager, the browser issues a warning that there is a problem with the website’s security certificate. Continue to the Printer Manager website by accepting any warning prompts. 3. The Printer Manager screen displays. 4.
HINTS & TIPS • If the browser cannot connect to the printer, make sure that Ready displays on the LCD panel of the printer. • Some pages of the Printer Manager contain a hover‐text feature that displays help information when the cursor hovers over the setting in the description column. • If you change any settings in the Printer Manager, click Restore Default on the option pages to return to the default.
Print a Printer Manager Page Use your Internet browser Print option to print the information from any Printer Manager page to a paper printer. • Select File > Print from your Internet browser’s main menu. • If the printed page does not display all the information from the Printer Manager, select File > Print Preview in your Internet browser to scale the image to fit the paper.
Status Menu The Status menu contains information about the printer and its usage statistics. Users at all access levels can view or print Vital Product Data (VPD), Printer Status, Supplies information, Audit Data, and About Printer Manager information. Status Menu Option Function WebUser WebAdmin VPD Display the manufacturer and model of the card printer, a list of the installed options, serial numbers, and version numbers. Print this page for reference if you need to contact your service provider.
Printer Setting Menu Printer Setting Menu Option Function WebUser WebAdmin Communication Set or view the address mode type and enter IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address information. No Change Current Values ActivityLog Set values in the activity log to help isolate card production issues. No Change all Current Values Behavior Display printer operation and control methods.
Printer Setting Menu Option Function WebUser WebAdmin MagStripeGeneral Set magnetic stripe options including coercivity, custom magnetic stripe formats, and data formats. No Change coercivity, custom formats, and data formats MagStripeCustomTrack1 Set customized magnetic stripe values for track 1. No Change all Current Values MagStripeCustomTrack2 Set customized magnetic stripe values for track 2.
Communication The Communication settings change the Ethernet address method from DHCP to Static. If set to Static, the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address are entered manually to match the settings of the network. Description Default Value Current Value (unit) 1) EthAddressMethod DHCP DHCP 2) EthDnsAddress1 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 3) EthDnsAddress2 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 5) EthGatewayAddress 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 6) EthIpAddress 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 7) EthSubnetMask 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.
ActivityLog The Activity Log menu allows you to record technical information about the printer. WebAdmin or WebService access‐level users can change settings in the activity log to help troubleshoot and isolate a card production problem. Both internal and external log values and the external log server IP address are set here. Description Default Value Current Value (unit) 1) ExternalLog Disabled Disabled 2) ExternalLogServer 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.
Behavior 42 Description Default Value Current Value (unit) 1) ActivityLogExternal Enabled Enabled 2) ActivityLogInternal Enabled Enabled 3) CPX Enabled Enabled 4) DPCL Enabled Enabled 5) DPCL2 Enabled Enabled 6) DPCL2Secure Enabled Enabled 7) DPCLSecure Enabled Enabled 8) DPM Enabled Enabled 9) DPMSecure Enabled Enabled 10) FactoryRejectHopper Disabled Disabled 11) NetworkAccessControl Disabled Disabled 12) Plugin Enabled Enabled 13) RejectHopper Enabled
Update Current Values as needed, and then click Set Current to apply changes. • ActivityLogExternal ‐ Enable or disable the external activity log. Select Enabled to allow access. Select Disabled to block access. • ActivityLogInternal ‐ Enable or disable the internal activity log. Select Enabled to allow access. Select Disabled to block access. • CPX ‐ Enable or disable CPX. Select Enabled to allow access. Select Disabled to block access. • DPCL ‐ Allow DPCL commands through the unsecure port.
• DPM ‐ Allow DPM commands through the unsecure port. Select Enabled to allow access. Select Disabled to block access. • DPMSecure ‐ Allow DPM commands through the secure port. Select Enabled to allow access. Select Disabled to block access. • FactoryRejectHopper ‐ Enable or disable use of the factory reject hopper. Select Enabled to allow access (not available for duplex printers). Select Disabled to block access. • NetworkAccessControl ‐ Enable or disable network access control.
• RibbonInitialize ‐ Enable or disable initialization of the ribbon when the printer is powered on. Select Enabled to initialize the ribbon. Select Disabled to not initialize the ribbon. • SNMP ‐ Enable or disable SNMP. Select Enabled to allow access. Select Disabled to block access. • UseFactoryRejectHopper ‐ Enable or disable use of the factory reject hopper. Select Enabled to allow access (not available for duplex printers). Select Disabled to block access.
FrontPanel Description Default Value Current Value (unit) Allowable Range 1) BacklightBrightness 100 100 [0- 100] 2) KeySenseLevel 5 5 [0 - 10] 3) LcdConfigMenu Enabled Enabled 4) LedCardsPickedToCleaning 1500 1500 [0-1000000] 5) LedPrintheadCyclesToCleaning 2500 2500 [0-1000000] 6) LedRibbonLow 10 10 [0-1000000] 7) SpeakerEnabled Enabled Enabled Change the front panel settings as needed, and then click Set Current to apply the changes.
Print The Print selections provide a WebAdmin access‐level user with the ability to fine‐tune the print intensity, topcoat power, and K (black) power settings. Description Default Value Allowed Current Value (unit) Range 1) CardRegistration 0 0 2) ColorManagement sRGBColorSpace sRGBColorSpace 3) KPower 0 0 [-100 – 100] 4) KPower1200DPI 0 0 [-100 – 100] 5) KPower600DPI 0 0 [-100 – 100] 6) KPowerDuplex 0 0 [-100 – 100] 7) KWhiteShade 0 0 [-100 – 100] 8) LeadTrim 0.254 0.
Change settings as needed, and then click Set Current to apply changes. • Card Registration ‐ Set the starting location of the printed area. The values are in mm. Increase the value to move printing closer to the card’s leading edge. Decrease the value to move printing away from the card’s leading edge. • ColorManagement ‐ Select None from the dropdown list to disable color management in the printer and allow color management to be handled by the application.
• SettingsGroupPurpose ‐ State the purpose of the settings group. Group names are not changeable. Use this option to identify the reason for creating a settings group. • TPower ‐ Modify the intensity of the T (topcoat) ribbon panel. Increase the value to make printed topcoat thicker or more uniform. Decrease the value to prevent frequent ribbon breaks while printing the topcoat. • TPowerDuplex ‐ Modify the intensity of the back side T (topcoat) ribbon panel.
• YMCPowerNosRGB ‐ Modify the intensity when printing without the sRGB color mode. Increase the value to make the non‐sRGB color darker Decrease the value if using non‐sRGB color mode to prevent overly dark printing or ribbon wrinkles or tears. • YMCWhiteShade ‐ Modify the amount of power applied to the printhead to reduce ribbon friction without transferring material. Decrease the value if unprinted or white areas of the card have color applied to them and should not.
MagStripeGeneral Magnetic stripe settings are available for WebAdmin and WebService access‐level users to set up basic magnetic stripe options.
Change settings as needed, and then click Set Current to apply changes. • Attempts ‐ Specify the number of attempts (automatic retries) the printer makes to encode the magnetic stripe data. This value also is used for the number of times to attempt to read magnetic stripe data If you set this number to a lower value, it increases the throughput of the printer but can decrease the reliability of magnetic stripe encoding.
MagStripeCustomTrack 1 – 3 Custom magnetic stripe settings are available for WebAdmin and WebService access‐level users to define custom magnetic stripe options.
Change settings as needed, and then click Set Current to apply changes. 54 • CustomCharHigh ‐ Specify the numeric value of the highest ASCII character supported for input data on the track. • CustomCharLength ‐ Set the number of bits to represent one character of data on the track, also called bits per character. • CustomCharLow ‐ Specify the numeric value of the lowest ASCII character supported for input data on the track.
Using custom magnetic stripe data formats is a two‐step process. First, define the custom tracks using MagStripeCustomTrack1, MagStripeCustomTrack2, and/or MagStripeCustomTrack3. Second, apply the custom track using the settings on the MagStripeGeneral menu. 1. To use the defined custom track: A. Open the MagStripeGeneral menu. B. Select Custom for DataFormat1, DataFormat2, or DataFormat3 to use the custom track.
Update Password WebAdmin access‐level personnel can choose to password protect the Printer Manager and limit access to the advanced settings. Adding password protection is the preferred method of restricting access to the Printer Manager. Description Value Choose Username to Update WebAdmin Current Password New Password Confirm New Password 1. Select the access level assigned to the Username from the drop‐down list.
Set Job Queue State Enter or select values prior to shipping the printer or system to or from repair facilities. Field Value Description Current Password Enter the currently set password. Leave the field blank if no password was previously set. Next Password Enter a new password. A blank value means that no password is required or leaves the current password unchanged, depending on the settings. Confirm Next Password Retype the Next Password.
Troubleshooting Menu The Troubleshooting menu for the WebAdmin access level contains settings and tools that help you isolate card production issues. Use the Troubleshooting options to print test cards, view and print the activity log, reset the log, reset counters, and reset the printer.
Test Card The Test Card menu shows the items available to WebAdmin access‐level users. Print test cards to troubleshoot card production issues. Select the options to test from the following.
• Second Topcoat ‐ Print the test card with a second topcoat on the front or back. • Test Pattern to use for Color and/or Monochrome ‐ Select the type of test pattern to use on the front or back of the test card. TestPattern1 ‐ Use this test to evaluate the overall print quality of the card. The test prints a full‐color test card using the YMCK panels of the print ribbon. TestPattern2 ‐ Use this test to evaluate the overall print quality when using short‐panel print ribbon.
• ParkSmartCard ‐ Select this option to park the test card in the smart card bay. The test does not transmit any data, but is used only to test the movement of the card into, and out of, the bay. • SmartCardParkTime ‐ Enter the amount of time to hold the test card in the smart card bay, from 0 to 300 seconds. • Do not eject card ‐ Select this option to prevent the test card from being ejected from the printer. Activity Log The Activity Log displays information about printer activity.
Print Request Log The Print Request Log option allows a WebAdmin access‐level user to view and reset the Print Request Log. This option applies only to OpenCard factory‐activated printers. Select the Number of Logs (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or All) and click Run to view a log of the print requests sent to the printer. To reset the audit log, click Run in the Reset Log field. Reset Counters The Reset Counters option resets the card counter functions in the printer. Click Run to reset the counters.
Personalization Tools Menu The Personalization Tools menu allows WebAdmin access‐level users to import, export, and delete card formats, fonts, and images used with software personalization tools, such as OpenCard. Refer to the OpenCard Data Format Guide for additional information.
Maintenance Menu The Maintenance menu allows WebUser and WebAdmin access‐level users to run a cleaning card from the Printer Manager. Additionally, the Maintenance menu provides the WebAdmin level with the rights to upload updates to the printer. Maintenance Menu Option Function WebUser WebAdmin Cleaning Clean the printer and hoppers (for the optional multicard hopper) Run Card Run Card Updates Update the printer settings No Upload File Cleaning Cleans the printer using a cleaning card.
6. Click Run to start the cleaning process. Press the USER button on the printer LCD panel when message “172: Insert cleaning card” displays. The printer picks the cleaning card, moves it through the printer several times, and ejects it in the output stacker or card reject tray. If you are cleaning the hoppers, the cleaning cards are moved back and forth across the hopper rollers several times and then ejected back into the hoppers. 7. Remove the used cleaning card.
66 Printer Manager
Chapter 4: Supplies and Parts This section describes the supplies and parts for the printer.
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).
Monochrome Print Ribbon A monochrome ribbon prints the entire card in one color.
Ribbon Saver A roll of Datacard‐certified monochrome ribbon enables the Ribbon Saver feature in the printer. Ribbon Saver can increase the number of cards printed with each roll of ribbon. Print Ribbon Storage Guidelines 70 • Store print ribbon in the original package until you load it in the printer. Keep the original packaging closed until you are ready to use the ribbon. • The print ribbon maintains its quality for about one year.
Cards For best results, use high‐quality cards that meet the specifications and recommendations described in this section. Card Size Use ISO ID‐1 cards (CR80 cards). These cards have the following dimensions: • 3.37 inches long by 2.125 inches wide (85.60mm long x 53.98mm wide). • 0.010 to 0.030 inches thick (0.254 to 0.762mm thick). For encoding magnetic stripe, use cards: • 3.37 inches long by 2.125 inches wide (85.60mm long x 53.98mm wide). • 0.010 to 0.030 inches thick (0.508mm to 0.
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. Previous printing can interfere with printing and result in cards that do not have the appearance you want. Printing on cards that have been issued might introduce substances that interfere with card printing or damage the printer.
Card Handling These guidelines apply to unprinted cards. • Any debris or particles on the surface of an unprinted card 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.
Replacement Parts The following 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 your printer’s User’s Guide. Print Ribbon Cartridge The ribbon cartridge holds the print ribbon and the replaceable cleaning sleeve in the printer.
Cleaning Supplies The print ribbon kit includes a cleaning card and a replaceable cleaning sleeve. For best results, keep additional cleaning supplies on hand. The following additional cleaning supplies are available: • Packages of 5 Replaceable Cleaning Sleeves • Packages of 10 Printer Cleaning Cards • Packages of 5 Cleaning Swabs: Use a cleaning swab to clean the printhead and other internal parts of the printer and then discard the swab.
Cables and Power Cord The printer uses a data cable and a power cord. Data Cables 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. USB Cable Use a USB data cable, 6 feet (2 meters) long, to connect the printer to the PC. Be sure to use a cable rated for USB 2.0 data transmission.
Power Cord The power cord connects to facility power and the printer power supply. Be sure to use a cord that grounds to the facility power source.
78 Supplies and Parts
