USERÕs Guide Tattoo User’s Guide part number: KU10E Rev.
Copyright Information Evolis Card Printer © September 2007. All rights reserved. Copyright Notice Users must respect the copyright laws applicable in their country. This manual must not be photocopied, translated, reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part for any reason and by the means that might be, albeit electronic or mechanical, without the express, written authorisation of the company Evolis Card Printer. All information contained herein may be subject to modification without prior notice.
Thanks for choosing an Evolis Card Printer to personalize your badges Using the latest printing technologies, Evolis Tattoo offers its users both performance and quality. Evolis Tattoo combines user-oriented design, compact size and ease of use. It is fully adapted to small runs and fields such as identification, loyalty and leisure. The ‘Evolis Genuine Product’ line of consumables linked to the printer was specifically developed and optimized to guarantee the best quality of printing.
Contents 1 Install the Evolis printer Technology and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 Initial approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 Install your printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Check the items shipped Connect the printer to the main power supply Printer Control panel . . . . . . . . .
Contents 4 Servicing and Maintenance Ordinary maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Clean the card feed module Service the cleaning rollers Clean the print head Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Replace the cleaning rollers Replace the print head Update the Firmware Update the print driver Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 Install the Evolis printer The aim of this first part is to assist you, step-by-step, in discovering your new printer and putting it to work for you. By taking the time to review these few pages, you will get more detailed knowledge about your printer and its capabilities, while optimizing the time needed to install and start using the product.
Initial approach A B C D E F G H I J K L Cover lever Card Feeder Detachable output hopper Control Panel Thermal print head Ribbon Push button Cleaning roller Magnetic encoding head (option) Power supply connector USB computer connector (std) DB-9 connector(s) (option) M Identification label Enables the printer cover to be opened and closed. Receives the cards for printing. Collects the printed and/or encoded cards. Shows the printer activity. Enables the cards to be printed in 300 dpi.
Install your printer The Evolis printer must be set up in a dry, well-ventilated location protected against dust and air currents. In addition, make sure you install your printer on a sturdy flat surface that can support its weight of around 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs). Finally, it is essential to allow free access to the connectors and to the power plug. Check the items shipped The Evolis printer is shipped with a set of accessories that we invite you to examine.
Pre-installation activation Before installing the printer, please perform the following operations: Connect the printer to the main power supply Turn off the printer by pulling the plug out of the socket, which must always be accessible. This product must be connected to an electrical installation that is correctly protected and grounded.
Printer control panel A control panel is available in front of the printer. Four lights are associated with symbols indicating the printer activity. These lights indicate the following: Turned on Data reception (Pushbutton) End of ribbon No card in the feeder or feeder not present Cleaning Cover signal open Refer to chapter 3 of this manual for further information on interpreting the messages of the control panel. Stand by The printer automatically goes into stand-by after 10 minutes of inactivity.
Install the ribbons Tattoo uses two types of ribbons: ■ ■ Color ribbon also called multi-panel ribbon Monochrome ribbons available in different colors: black, red, green, blue, white, gold, silver The Evolis original ribbons are specially designed to guarantee optimum operation of your equipment without any risk of damage. The use of ribbons from any other source than Evolis could seriously damage the print head, consequently entailing the immediate interruption of the factory warranty.
Install the cards Types of cards Tattoo supports PVC cards varying in thickness between 0.25 mm (10 mil) and 0.76 mm (30 mil). For optimum quality, these cards must comply with CR Standard 80. 10 mil cards must be used only for monochrome printings There are several feeding and ejection modes available. The driver must be set up accordingly to your needs and choice (cf Chapter 2) Installation in the feeder The cards are installed in the feeder as follows: 2.
Remove the personalized cards The printer is delivered with a detachable output hopper with a capacity of 15 cards in 0.76 mm (30 mil) format. This is intended to receive the printed cards, and must be installed as follows.
2 Setting of parameters Defining the parameters of the printer and of its driver is a highly important step and requires very special attention. As a matter of fact, improper settings are factors that have a negative impact on the quality of personalization. It is therefore essential to proceed in stages, changing the parameters only when you are completely sure. Evolis gives you at all times the ability to return to the ‘factory’ settings if the adjustments made do not give the expected results.
Step 1: Accept the limited warranty conditions Step 2: Make sure the USB cable is disconnected Step 3: Destination location 15
Step 4: USB cable connection Step 5: Printer Detection Click 'next' and/or 'continue' if the following windows appear.
Step 6: End of the process When the installation process is over, print a test card to make sure your printer operates suitably. You are now ready to use your printer.
Properties of the driver Before using your printer, you must determine your personalized parameters: ■ Type of ribbon for printing the cards ■ Default parameter settings You will find more detailed information on Evolis ribbons in the ‘Evolis Genuine Product’ Consumables List section. In general, it is recommended to retain the default parameters determined by the print driver.
‘Tools’ tab • Setting parameters and testing of the magnetic encoding options • Testing and diagnostic tools On-line help A help file guides you in using each of the parameters of the print driver in terms of the different print modes and criteria selected. To familiarize yourself with these different parameters, we recommend that you consult this help feature before making any changes. Print a test card (Tools tab) We recommend that you print a Test Card at the time of the first use, and that you save it.
Card printing configuration in an office automation application A large number of Windows applications permit the printing of a document (for example, the tools of the Microsoft office suite: MS-Word, MS-Access, MS-Excel, MS-Power Point). To help you familiarize yourself with formatting a card and setting the parameters for its formatting and printing, we offer the following example: Using Microsoft® Word After first setting up the Evolis default printer: Start the MS-Word application.
3 Error messages and diagnostics While the Evolis Tattoo was designed to work independently, keeping your involvement to a minimum, it may nevertheless be useful to become familiar with the main alert messages. Notification of messages Description of the printer control panel The control panel includes 1 button and a 4-LED-type diode.
Interpretation of messages Consult the following states of the control panel to determine the activity of your Evolis printer or the nature of the problem: State of the lights Interpretation Solution or explanation PRINTER READY The printer is ready to receive data. PROCESSING The printer receives data from one or several of its interfaces. END OF RIBBON ■ There is no ribbon in the printer. ■ The ribbon has finished. ■ The ribbon has been badly installed in the printer. ■ The ribbon is cut.
State of the lights Interpretation Solution or explanation PRINTER CLEANING ALERT (AFTER 500 INSERTIONS) ■ The printer must immediately be PRINTER COVER OPEN ■ The printer cover is open. MECHANICAL PROBLEM cleaned. Go to chapter 4 “Servicing and Maintenance”. Close the cover of the printer. The activity in course restarts. ■ There is a card jammed in the printing station. ■ A mechanical part in the printer is faulty. Press the push button for one second.
Diagnostics assistance In this chapter, you will find all the information required to perform certain simple procedures that you may be asked to do by your Evolis dealer to provide you with the most effective assistance. Print a test card Printing a test card gives certain technical information about your printer and confirms its correct working. We advise you to print it when the printer is put into service and to keep it at hand. 1. Make sure there are a ribbon and a card in the printer. 2.
4 Servicing and Maintenance In this chapter, we suggest that you identify the ordinary service operations for your Evolis printer that will enable you to ensure a very high quality of personalization of your plastic cards. Keep your Warranty in effect ! The factory warranty is subject to strict compliance with ordinary maintenance instructions, and specifically to compliance with the equipment cleaning cycle intervals.
To service the printer card feed system, obtain a pre-saturated cleaning card specially designed for the printer. A cleaning kit including samples of these cards is shipped with your Evolis printer. Repeated running of the card in the printer cleans the card feed rollers, the cleaning rollers, the print head and the magnetic head (if your device has one). Proceed as follows: 1. Remove the card feeder as indicated. 2. Remove the cards that are in the feeder. 4.
Following a cleaning cycle, wait 2 minutes until all the cleaner is completely evaporated before using the printer. Take advantage of this interruption to clean the print head (see below). Recommendations Maintenance of the card feed module ensures a high quality of printing. Evolis recommends that you perform servicing on each ribbon change. Without waiting for the signal of the light of the printer, proceed as described above.
3. Clean the roller with a cleaning cloth from your cleaning kit. Eliminate all dust by rubbing the cloth lightly over the entire surface of the roller. 4. When it is dry, replace the roller into the printer, making sure it is properly positioned. 5. Put the ribbon back in its place, lower and close the cover. 6. Remove the feeder as indicated. 7. Clean the roller with the cleaning cloth & put the feeder back into place until il clicks. 8. The printer is again available for use.
Proceed as follows: 1. Open the cover and locate the printhead. 2. Take a cotton swab and press the middle of the tube until a click is heard. The cotton becomes saturated with alcohol. 3. Carefully rub the cotton swab from right to left along the print head for a few seconds. 4. Close the cover. The printer is again ready for operation. After a cleaning cycle, wait 2 minutes until all the cleaning fluid evaporates before using the printer.
Maintenance The Evolis printers are designed to offer the user quality of personalization, ease of use and equipment longevity. However, depending on the type and volume of personalized cards as well as the operating environment, certain elements are able to be exchanged by the user. Moreover, it is common in the computer world to do regular upgrades of the software components: the firmware and the print drivers.
Replace the print head The print head is a sensitive component of your equipment. It determines the print quality, and its regular maintenance as well as the absence of dust in the immediate environment guarantee its longevity. However, it can happen that this head needs to be replaced. Evolis has designed a unique device that allows the user to proceed to this exchange without using any tools by simply following the instructions very carefully.
Step 2 - Installing the new print head 1. Note the code indicated on the white ticket affixed to the print head. You will be asked for this code in Step 3. 3. Connect the cable into its seat, making sure it is in the correct direction. Do not force the mechanism, as this part is relatively sensitive. 2. Pick up the new print head and turn it toward you, with the white connector visible. 4. Turn the head so that the notice is visible: the connector is no longer visible. 5.
Step 4 - Cleaning the printer On the LED control panel, the cleaning light comes on as follows: Cleaning is absolutely required after a print head change. No printing should be started before this operation has been completed. Refer to the Clean Card Feed Module chapter to perform this operation. Also service the cleaning roller and replace cards and ribbons. Once the cleaning is done, your Evolis printer is again ready to personalize your cards.
Update the print driver The updating of the print driver is required in order to solve malfunction problems or to benefit of new options. Prior to any update, contact your Evolis dealer who can advise you as to whether or not it is appropriate to carry out this operation. In order to download an update from the www.evolis.com/en/supservices/access.asp site, you must first have registered your product with Evolis (see chapter Register your product in order to benefit from updates). 1.
Troubleshooting In this chapter, you will find out how to resolve certain problems that can arise while you are working. Never use a metal tool or object to work on your equipment: you run the risk of hurting yourself or damaging all or part of the equipment. Free a card jammed in the printing unit When a card is jammed in the printing unit, the LEDS from the control panel are as shown: Work is interrupted.
Upgrade the print quality The following information will help you solve potential print quality problems that can arise when using your printer. If, despite this information, you cannot solve the problem, contact your Evolis dealer. Nothing prints 1. Check your equipment’s power supply Make sure that: ■ The power cord is correctly connected to the printer and to a working outlet. ■ The printer is powered. The button must be illuminated. ■ The power supply used is the one shipped with the printer. 2.
The print quality is not sufficient The type of card used may be inappropriate ■ Make sure the type of cards used corresponds to the required specifications. See the “Characteristics” chapter in this manual for more information. The texture of the card is rough or not perfectly flat ■ Try to print using another type of card. Partial or incorrect printing 1. Check the parameters defined for the printing ■ Make sure no element of your formatting is outside the print margins.
Assistance In order to assist you on a day-to-day basis, Evolis has structured its customer service around a network of specialized partners. Moreover, to let you get answers to your questions 24/7, the Internet site www.evolis.com includes a number of elements linked to the day-to-day operation of your Tattoo. Network of Evolis partners For any unresolved technical problem, contact an Evolis dealer. If you do not know of an Evolis dealer, go onto the www.evolis.com site and send us your request.
5 Characteristics This chapter covers technical specifications and certifications for the Evolis printer Declaration of Conformity Concerning Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility Manufacturer’s Name: Manufacturer’s Address: Material Designation: Year of Manufacture: Evolis Card Printer 14, avenue de la Fontaine Z.I.
Printer specifications General Specifications ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Color or monochrome printing module 300 dpi print head (11.8 dots/mm) USB connection 16 MB RAM Detachable feeder with a capacity of 100 cards (0.76 mm or 30 mil) Detachable Output hopper with a capacity of 15 cards (0.
Card types Card format Card thickness Card feeder capacity Card output hopper capacity Printer size Printer weight Connections Electrical Environmental All PVC, Composite PVC cards, PET, ABS1 & Varnished1 cards ISO CR-80 - ISO 7810 (53.98 mm x 85.60 mm - 3.375" x 2.125") From 0.25 mm (10 mil)3 to 0.76 mm (30 mil) 100 cards (0.76 mm-30 mil), 300 cards (0,25mm-10 mil) 15 cards (0.76 mm-30 mil), 45 cards (0,25mm-10 mil) Height 166 mm (6.53") Lenght 290 mm (11.42") / 368 mm (14.
List of “Evolis Genuine Product” consumables Part Number Description Multi Panels Color Ribbon R3411 5-Panel Color Ribbon (YMCKO) - Up to 100 cards / roll Monochrome Ribbons R2211 Black Monochrome Ribbon - Up to 600 cards / ribbon R2212 Blue Monochrome Ribbon - Up to 600 cards / ribbon R2213 Red Monochrome Ribbon - Up to 600 cards / ribbon R2214 Green Monochrome Ribbon - Up to 600 cards / ribbon R2215 White Monochrome Ribbon - Up to 500 cards / ribbon R2216 Gold Monochrome Ribbon - Up to 500 cards / ribbo
Magnetic encoding Tattoo printer with a magnetic stripe card encoder is called Tattoo Mag. The operating mode of a Tattoo Mag printer is identical to that of a Tattoo Basic printer. The magnetic encoder encodes tracks ISO 1, 2, 3 and custom in a single passage and then checks the data.
“Magnetic Encoding” dialog box Track settings allows us to choose the ISO standard required for each track. See the table in this Chapter for the information concerning the ISO 7811 standards. Coercivity parameterises the magnetic encoder in high (HICO) or low (LOCO) coercivity. A magnetic track encoded in high coercivity is more resistant to exterior disturbances than a magnetic track encoded in low coercivity.
