DuraLabel 4000 ® User’s Guide Graphic Products, Inc. 1-800-788-5572 www.DuraLabel.com www.GraphicProducts.com E-mail: info@GraphicProducts.
Graphic Products, Inc. PO Box 4030, Beaverton, OR 97076-4030 web site: www.GraphicProducts.com | email: info@GraphicProducts.
INTRODUCTION Welcome... and congratulations on the purchase of your new DuraLabel® 4000 Thermal Transfer Printer! This guide is provided to get you printing as quickly as possible. In this guide, you'll find information on setting up your printer, configuring your software and creating custom labels. We understand not every topic relating to the printer can be addressed in this document, so at Graphic Products we stand ready to help.
WARRANTY The DuraLabel 4000 by Graphic Products is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for a period of two years from the date of purchase, with the following exception: The DuraLabel 4000 print head is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Within this period, Graphic Products, Inc. will, at its sole discretion, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use.
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a CLASS A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
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GETTING STARTED Minimum System Requirements Operating System– Windows: 2000 SP4, XP SP2, Vista and 7 Memory– 128 MB RAM Additional Requirements– IT administrative privileges Supplies The ribbon and various print media for the DuraLabel 4000 have been optimized for compatibility and print quality. Only authorized supplies from Graphic Products will print correctly in the DuraLabel 4000.
LOAD PRINTER Printer Inside Parts 1. Label Supply Spindle (outlined) 1a. Supply Shaft 1b. Label Stop Plates (2) 1c. Label Mount Slots (2) 1c 1a 1 2 1b 3 4 5 2. LED Light 3. Ribbon Observing Window 4. Ribbon Rewind Wheel 5. Print Carriage (outlined) 6. Locking Levers 6 7 7. Printer Cover 8. Thermal Print Head 9. Print Line Adjustment Gear 10. Label Guides 8 9 10 12. Label Sensor 13.
SUPPLIES IMPORTANT! Always turn OFF the power first! Always wait at least 5 seconds before turning the power back ON. The ribbon and various printer media for the DuraLabel 4000 are optimized for compatibility and print quality. Only authorized supplies from Graphic Products will print correctly in the DuraLabel 4000. Load Label Supply IMPORTANT! Always turn OFF the power first! 1. Open the printer cover by pressing the cover open buttons located on each side of the printer cover.
4. Press the locking levers inward, and lift up the print carriage. Press locking levers inward Print carriage in up position 4. Feed the end of the label supply under the print carriage and through the manual cutter module, leaving an inch or two of label supply visible outside of the printer. Label supply threaded through printer 5. Align the label guides to the edges of the label supply by sliding both label guides toward the label supply at the same time. Label guides adjusted to label supply 6.
Printer Ribbon Parts 1. Printer Cover 2. Ribbon Rewind Core 3. Ribbon Observing Window 4. Ribbon Rewind Wheel 5. Ribbon Rewind Holders (A & B) 6. Locking Levers 2 1 3 4 A B 5 6 7. Print Carriage (outlined) 8. Locking Levers 7 8 9. Ribbon Wheels (3) 10. Ribbon 11.
Load Ribbon IMPORTANT! Always turn OFF the power first before loading supplies! Always wait at least 5 seconds before turning ON the power. 1. With the printer cover open, install one end of the ribbon rewind core onto ribbon rewind holder (B), located inside right. Install the other end of the ribbon rewind core onto ribbon rewind holder (A), located inside left.
4. Extend the ribbon back over the “top” of the print carriage and, using a small piece of tape, adhere the ribbon onto the ribbon rewind core. Ribbon supply taped to rewind core 5. Rotate the center ribbon rewind wheel clockwise; toward the back of the printer to make the ribbon tight and smooth. Ribbon tightened 6. Close the print carriage (A) until it gently snaps into place. A Print carriage in up position Print carriage down in locked position 7. Close the printer cover (B).
IMPORTANT! You must have administrative rights in order to install the driver. NOTE: Find out your Windows version by right-clicking on the My Computer icon (located on your desktop). Select the Properties option. Your Windows version is located under the System heading. Make sure you have installed the latest updates from Microsoft, including service packs.
A window may appear showing the progress of searching for the files. If a hardware installation window appears, click Continue Anyway. A screen may appear showing the progress of copying the files. Click Finish to Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard.
Manual Install Instructions IMPORTANT! If you are upgrading from an existing DuraLabel installation, see the inside cover of the QuickStart Guide. Insert the DuraLabel 4000 installation CD into your CD-ROM. Connect the power supply from the DuraLabel 4000 to an electrical outlet. Connect the USB cable from the DuraLabel 4000 to your PC. Power ON the DuraLabel 4000. To begin, click Manual Driver Install at the bottom right corner of your DuraLabel 4000 setup screen.
Select either Local or Network for your printer driver. If you select Local, make sure the "Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer" is checked. Check Use the following port, and select USB001 (Virtual printer port for USB) and click Next. (This step may automatically be skipped.) Select Graphic Products DuraLabel 4000 and click Have Disk....
Click Browse on the Install From Disk window. Select C:\DL4000 and click OK. Select Keep existing driver (recommended) and click Next. Keep existing printer name as Graphic Products DuraLabel 4000 and select Yes if you wish for it to be set as your default printer, then click Next.
Select No to “Do you want to print a test page”, then click Next. A window will appear regarding Completing the DuraLabel 4000 Driver Setup. Make sure your settings are correct, click Back to change settings or click Finish if settings are correct. A screen may appear showing the file progress. Click Finish to complete the printer driver installation.
DRIVER SETTINGS Configure Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 Printer Driver IMPORTANT! Perform the driver configuration before opening the document you wish to print. Access the DuraLabel 4000 Printer Properties by clicking the Start >> Settings >> Printers. This will bring up the Printers folder. Right-click on the DuraLabel 4000, and select Printing Preferences from the dropdown menu. This will bring up the DuraLabel 4000 Printing Preferences. Click on the Page Setup tab.
Continuous Vinyl Printing Instructions To set the cutter, select the Stock tab. Set the Media Settings “Type” to Continuous. In order for the automatic cutter to cut after each label, under Media Handling “Post-Print Action,” select Cut, and next to “Occurrence” select After Every Page (these settings may be adjusted later to your specifications in the Printer Properties as you are printing your labels). Select OK on the bottom of the Printing Preferences window.
Black Mark Label Instructions Black Mark Label Calibration In order to print labels with black marks, the label stock needs to be calibrated. To do so, with the printer power OFF, hold the FEED/STATUS button down while turning ON the printer. The feed/ status button will blink green twice, switch to solid red, then begin to blink red. Release the feed/status button when it begins to blink red. Supply will feed out while the printer calibrates to the black mark.
Adjust Print Speed Print Speed is adjustable from 1.0" to 3.0"/sec. Choose the print speed from the Option tab by clicking on the arrow to the right of the “Print Speed” box. Adjust Darkness Darkness is adjusted from 0 to 19 in increments of 1. From the Option tab, change the darkness by clicking on and dragging the slider on the “Darkness” bar. In the “Graphics Format” settings, change Dithering to None. When finished with your settings, click OK.
LABEL CREATION Before We Begin... This documentation describes how to make standard labels. If you are printing RTK labels, please see the RTK software documentation. The RTK documentation was installed on your computer at the same time the RTK software was installed. The examples in this tutorial were tested with Microsoft Word 2000. Some variations may occur with different versions of Word, or with different word processors, but the basic principles will be the same.
Use Templates We have provided a variety of templates on the DuraLabel 4000 to help you print labels in no time. To get to these templates, you should install from the start-up screen on your Installation CD. This should only take a minute or two. Click on Install Templates and Symbols on the start-up screen, then follow the instructions. The templates will install to the desktop on your computer.
Change Automatic Cutter Settings You can change the automatic cutter settings without going back into the printer driver. Go to File >> Print, then click on the Properties button next to DuraLabel 4000. Choose the Stock tab. A new dialog will open which allows you to change the cutter options. If you do not want to cut between labels select None under Media Handling next to “Post-Print Action”. If you want to cut between labels, select Cut and next to “Occurrence” select After Every Page.
Change Page Setup Click on the File menu, then the Page Setup selection. Now click the Margins tab. Set all of your margins and edges to 0. This will allow you to print on the entire area of your tape. Set the orientation to desired layout. Depending on your operating system, the orientation may be on another “tab”. Select the Paper Size tab. Set your paper size to the size of the label you wish to create.
Orientation Create the label with the width and height of the label. If the width of the label is the width of the tape installed in the printer, then set the orientation to Portrait. If the height of the label is the width of the tape installed in the printer, set the orientation to Landscape. x = width of Tape Supply loaded in the DuraLabel 4000 Click OK to apply your changes.
LABEL DESIGN Text Working with text for label design is only slightly different from working with text in a normal document. In a document, text can be treated as a whole: formatting, layout and design can be universal. With a label, each section of text is easier to format if handled separately and allows for complete customizing. Titles will have to be moved and adjusted, portions of text will have to be moved around independently and with more detail than in a normal document.
Format the text inside the box to any size and style, then position the box for the desired layout. Initially, the text box will have a border around it. To get rid of the border, double-click the text box. When you do this, the Format Text Box dialog will appear. Click the Colors & Lines tab. Click the Color drop-down menu under Line and select No Line. Click OK, and the border will be removed.
Graphics Drawing Tools Many word processors have built-in drawing tools. You can use these tools to enhance the look of your labels. Designs can be as complex as you desire, but colors should be kept to black and white. Black and white will give you the best contrast, and the best printing output. Actual print color depends on the ribbon and vinyl loaded in the DuraLabel 4000 and is unaffected by the colors shown on your computer screen.
You can insert other objects, graphics and clip art from the same pull-down menu. When working with images it is important to remember the type of printer you are using. Images should be formatted so that your printing output matches the capabilities of the printer. The DuraLabel 4000 is designed for label creation, and has a monochromatic output (meaning it can only print one color at a time.) With Word it is easy to make your images print in monochrome.
Symbols Symbols can be used on labels and signage to get your point across visually. When safety is a concern, it is important to have a language that is universal, and symbols accomplish just that. For your convenience, we've included more than 650 ready-to-use symbols, divided by category, on your DuraLabel 4000 CD. Just choose a symbol, insert it into your document, then print a visually appealing and informative label or sign.
The symbols folder is located inside the DL4000 Templates and Symbols folder. Just choose the symbol you want from the categorized folders and insert into your document. Once your symbol is inserted into your text document, you can resize and move it to your desired layout. Helpful Hint: When trying to determine the size of your label or the size of the symbol you place on it, take into consideration the distance from which the sign or label will be viewed.
Barcodes The barcode program we have included easily displays and prints barcodes from your Windows based word processing program. Install the dBest Barcode Package from the CD. When the CD startup screen appears upon inserting the CD in the CD drive, simply click on Install dBest Barcode Package and follow the on-screen instructions.
If you do not see the dBest Barcodes Toolbar, you need to run the toolbar as a macro. Refer to the following: 1. Go to the top menu bar in MS Word. Select Tools >> Macro >>Macros. 2. A window will appear with a list Macros in: All Active Templates & Documents. 3. Select Barcode Toolbar and click Run. NOTE: To force the toolbar to display every time you start Word, go to Start >>> Search >>> For Files and Folders and type in BCFONT. Click OK. Once the file is found, right click it and choose “copy”.
Sequencing How to do Number Sequencing using Word and Excel. Sequencing is most commonly used to increment a numeric value to be used in labels for wire wrapping. You can use of an Excel spreadsheet template as well as a Word template (included on your installation CD): 1. Open an existing template from the DuraLabel CD or start a new Word document. 2. Because Excel uses pixel measurement instead of inches, you will want to set this to match in Word.
Now that you have the desired label size, its time to add the text to it. Keeping Word open, browse to the provided Excel template Number Sequence.xls This is a predefined template with the formula already in place to increment a numeric value by one. 1. Open the existing Excel template Number Sequence.xls 2. First, format the cells to match the size of label you have. Click on the upper left corner of the spreadsheet to highlight the entire document. See Fig. 1. Fig. 2 Fig. 3 3.
Fig. 4 4. Now that you have the correct size matching your label, change the value in the first cell (column A, row 1) and enter any static text you want. Leave it blank for none. In the next cell (column B, row 1) enter the number you would like to increment. See Fig. 4. The next cell (column C, row 1) enter the value you would like to increment by Default is 1. After setting this, you should see the increment in each cell below cell 1. In this example, the cells have been adjusted in increments of 10.
Once you’re satisfied with the amount of increments and cell span, its time to copy this into your Word template. Go back to the Word document that you previously created. !!Remember!! The page layout of the Word template must match the cell size you specified in your Excel template. Select the entire Column you just created by clicking on the top header of the cell. In this case, the “A”. Go to Edit >>> Copy, to copy the entire column.
Import from Excel How to transfer Excel spreadsheet information into a Word label NOTE: These instructions are for users of Windows 2000. If you are using Windows XP, please follow the directions on page 35. A. Merging One Column from a Spreadsheet to a Label: 1. Make sure the Excel file you are going to merge has been saved. 2. Open up the Word Document with the label template. 3. Alter the font in Word to the size of your choosing. 4. Open up the Excel file you intend to merge into the Word label.
5. Click on column header A, right-click the mouse and select Copy. 6. Toggle Alt-Tab over to the Word document and find the Edit button on the Windows Tool Bar (top left of screen) and then click and select Paste Special. 7. Next, select Unformatted Text and click OK. 8. The Excel column should now be in the Word label. You are now ready to print your labels. B. Merging Multiple Columns from a Spreadsheet to a Label: 1. Open the saved Excel document you plan to merge into Word. 2.
3. On the toolbar on top of Word, click on Insert, then click Text box. 4. Use the cross hair cursor. Click in the field of the document, a text box will appear. 5. Resize the text box to your preference. (See below) 6. When the text cursor is blinking in the text box, click on the Insert menu and select Field. 7. The box on the left should remain with the blue highlighting of the word “All”. 8. On the right column, move the cursor so the blue highlight is over MergeField.
9. In the long horizontal box below, “MERGEFIELD” will appear. 10. Put a space after “MERGEFIELD” then type in the column heading from your Excel document that you will want to merge into the label (i.e., “Input”) 11. It will then look like this: “MERGEFIELD Input”. (See below) 12. Click OK and the box will vanish. 13. At this point, you should have the word “Input” (for example) in your text box. 14.
20. On the next box you see, “ENTIRE WORKBOOK” will be blue highlighted. Click OK. 21. You will then see a pop up box with a question mark. Click OK. 22. On your Word document, click on Tools, then Mail merge. 23. Click on Create, then Form Letters, then click Active Window. See below 24. Click on Get Data, then click on Open Data Source. 25. At the bottom, you will see Files of Type. 26. Click on the drop-down menu of All Files at the bottom. 27.
PRINTER SETTINGS FEED Key After pressing the FEED key, the printer will feed the media (according to media type) to the specified stop position. When printing with continuous vinyl, pressing the FEED key will feed the vinyl out to a certain length. When printing with die-cut labels, the printer will feed one label each time the FEED key is pressed. If the label is not sent out in a correct position, please proceed with Auto Sensing (see below).
CLEANING & GENERAL MAINTENANCE Cleaning the Print Head, Adjusting the Print Head, Cleaning the Cutter Modules and Cleaning the Platen Roller IMPORTANT! Always turn the printer OFF before cleaning, performing maintenance, or loading supplies. Always wait at least 5 seconds before turning ON the power. Basic cleaning of the print head, cutter and platen roller will prolong the life of the printer and allow crisp, clear labels and signs with every print.
Clean Manual Cutter Module 1. Turn the printer power OFF. 2. Remove the screws on both sides of the manual cutter module. 3. Unplug the sensor connector and remove the cutter module. 4. Open a cleaning swab, and place the swab between your index finger and your thumb. Squeeze the swab until it snaps. Alcohol will be distributed to the cotton side of the swab. While pressing down on the cutter, run a cleaning swab back and forth several times across the upper blade on of the back side of the cutter.
Clean Electronic Guillotine Cutter Module 1. Turn the printer power OFF. 2. Unscrew the cover screws on both sides of the module and remove the plastic cover. 3. Run a cleaning swab back and forth several times across the upper and lower blades of the cutter.
Clean Platen Roller Clean Platen Roller (DL4000 with a manual cutter module) 1. Turn the printer power OFF. 2. Remove the screws (2) from both sides of the manual cutter module. 3. Open the printer cover by pressing the cover open buttons located on each side of the printer cover, and then press the locking levers inward to lift up the print mechanism. 4. Unplug the sensor connector, and remove the cutter module. 5. Open a cleaning swab, and place the swab between your index finger and your thumb.
Clean Platen Roller (DL4000 with an electronic guillotine cutter module) 1. Turn the printer power OFF. 2. Open the printer cover by pressing the cover open buttons located on each side of the printer cover, and then press the locking levers inward to lift up the print mechanism. 3. Press the cutter tabs on each side of the electronic guillotine cutter module inward, and let the module drop down 90 degrees to further expose the platen roller. 4.
TROUBLESHOOTING When an error occurs during the printing process, different LED light messages are displayed. Users can diagnose the printer error according to the LED light message. The following table shows LED light messages, their associated printer errors and solutions to each error. Frequency Quickly blinking Slowly blinking Color Red light Orange light LED Light Error Solution Unable to detect the media Please perform the Auto Sensing again.
LED Light Error Memory Error Print Head Error Solution Memory is full; printer will print out “Memory full”. Delete unnecessary data in the memory. Can’t find the file; printer will print out “Filename cannot be found”. Use “~X4” command to print out all the files, and then check whether the file exists and if the file name is correct. File name is duplicated; printer will print out “Filename is repeated”. Change the file name, and download again.
Problem Recommended Solution When printing, only part of the contents were printed. •Check if label or ribbon is stuck on the thermal print head. •Check if application software has errors. •Check if start position setting has errors. •Check if ribbon has wrinkles. •Check if ribbon supply shaft is creating friction with the platen roller. If the platen roller needs to be replaced, please contact Graphic Products for more information. •Check if power supply is correct.
SPECIFICATIONS Printer ▪ Type: Thermal Transfer / Direct Thermal ▪ Print Speed: 2 in. per second ▪ Resolution: 203 dpi ▪ Max. Print Width: 4.25 in. ▪ Max. Print Length: 68 in. Indicators & Buttons ▪ Indicators: POWER (Green = Standby Mode; Orange = Error; Red = Auto Sensing Mode) ▪ Buttons: POWER, FEED, COVER OPEN, MANUAL CUTTING Communication Interface ▪ Communications: USB 2.
1-800-788-5572 P.O. Box 4030 Beaverton, OR 97076 ©2010 Graphic Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved www.DuraLabel.com v. 1.
