User’s Manual P520 Part Number.980312-001 © Zebra Technologies Corporation Rev.
FOREWORD This manual contains installation and operation information for the Eltron P520 Series card printers manufactured by Zebra Technologies Corporation. RETURN MATERIALS AUTHORIZATION Before returning any equipment to Zebra Technologies Corporation for in-warranty or out-of-warranty repair, contact Repair Administration for a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number. Repack the equipment in the original packing material and mark the RMA number clearly on the outside.
WARRANTY INFORMATION WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! To establish your warranty period and provide access to technical support, send us your warranty registration card today! Zebra warrants the mechanism, control electronics and power supply, under normal use and service, to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of purchase by the end user.
INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing the Eltron P520 Plastic Card Printer. Eltron’s P series card printers offer a low cost, high quality solution to those requiring computer-controlled printing and encoding of credit card style plastic cards, Card applications include personalized identification, access control, visitor, membership, badges and tags. This manual guides you to efficient start up and operation of your new Card Printer.
ICONS Throughout this manual, different icons highlight important information, as follows: Important general information. Mechanical hazard, such as one associated with moving parts, capable of resulting in equipment damage or personal injury. Electrical hazard, such as an exposed voltage point, capable of causing electrical shock and personal injury. An area where electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause component damage. Use a grounding wrist band.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 GETTING STARTED ••••••••• 1•1 Unpacking your • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1•2 Indicators and control • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1•3 Printer installation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • OPERATION ••••••••••••• 2•1 2•2 2•3 2•4 Printer Features • • • • • • • • • • • Loading Printing Ribbons • • • • Loading Lamination Patch • • • • Loading cards • • • • • • • • • • • • A- Card Feeder • • • • • • • • • • • • B- Card Cleaning Ca
APPENDIX A • • • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A- Media Loading orientation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • B- Magnetic Encoder Cleaning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • APPENDIX B • • • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A- Media Loading orientation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • B- Smart Card Contact Station Interface • • • • • • • • • APPENDIX C • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ribbons
1 GETTING STARTED 1 • 1 Unpacking your card printer Your P520 printer ships in a carton and protective anti-static bag. Keep all packaging material in case you need to move or re-ship the printer. While unpacking, inspect the carton to ensure that no damage occured during shipping. Please ensure that you have a clean and nearly dust free environment for proper operation and storage of the printer.
In addition to user documentation, make sure the following items are included with your P520 printer: CLEANING KIT POWER CABLE PRINTER DRIVER DISK (floppy or/and CD) CARD HOPPER CLEANING CARTRIDGE CENTRONICS CABLE If any items are missing, please contact your dealer. To reorder, please refer to Appendix C of this manual.
1 • 2 Indicators and Control Your P520 printer has an LCD Display, two LED’s and two Panel Buttons.
1 • 3 Printer Installation The following will guide you through the installation of your P520 printer. CAUTION: Limit AC power supplied to the P520 Printer to 110 - 230 V AC, 60 - 50 Hz for an associated 1,40A - 0,80A. Limit excess current draw to 16 amps or less, using an associated circuit breaker or other such device. Never operate the printer in a location where operator, computer, or printer can get wet. Personal injury could result.
2 OPERATION 2 • 1 Printer Features The following shows the features found on your P520 Printer: Standard Features: Optional Features: 1 • Print Head Unlock Lever 2 • Print Head 3 • Card Thickness Control Lever 4 • Card Feeder 5 • LCD Display and two panel Buttons 6 • Card Cleaning Cartridge 7 • Laminator 8 • Laminator Unlock Lever 9 • Card Output Hopper 10 • Rejected Card Box 11 • Cleaning Roller A • Smart Card Contact Station B • Magnetic Encoder Station OPERATION 5
2 • 2 Loading Printing Ribbons The P520 Printer requires approved ribbons (see Appendix C). The Resin Thermal Transfer and Dye Sublimation ribbons and Lamination are specifically designed for your P520 Printer. For optimum performance and printer life (Print Head), always use approved ribbons. DO NOT TOUCH the print head or the electronic components on the print head carriage.
1 3 • Load ribbon onto the supply spindle “1” (under print head carriage) and empty core ( with tape attached) onto the take-up spindle “2”. Make sure the ribbon comes off the top of the supply spindle and feeds to the top of the take-up spindle. 2 4 • Push down on the Print Head Lock Lever until an audible “click” signals the locked-down position. 5 • Close Cover Please note that the ribbon automatically synchronises whenever the print head lock down occurs.
2 • 3 Loading Lamination Patch The P520 Printer requires approved patches (see Appendix C). Clear patches, hologram patches or Overlay varnishes are specifically designed for your P520 Printer. For optimum performance and printer life (Laminator), always use approved patches. 1 • Remove patch from packaging. 2 • With printer power ON and printer Ready status, open cover. 3 • Press down on the Laminator Unlock Lever to open the laminator bracket. The laminator bracket will pop open.
2 • 4 Loading Cards To help you load, print, and collect cards, the P520 has the following items: A - CARD FEEDER This items is used for loading cards. 1 • Open Card Feeder Cover by putting your fingers on both sides and rotating the cover in a clockwise direction to the open position. 2 • Install cards into Feeder* as shown. 3 • Close Card Feeder Cover. DO NOT bend cards or touch print surfaces as this can reduce print quality. The surface of the cards must remain clean and dust free.
B - INSTALL CARD CLEANING CARTRIDGE This items is used to clean the cards entering the printer. It must installed before using the printer. 1 • Remove Card Cleaning Cartridge from plastic bag and peel off protective wrapper from adhesive cleaning roller. 2 • Open printer cover and remove the yellow reminder tape from the location for the Cleaning Cartridge. 3 • Make sure the arrow on top of the assembly is facing towards the rear of the printer. Hook assembly into slot on printer and rotate down.
C - CARD THICKNESS CONTROL LEVER This items is operated by the user to prevent more than one card feeding into the printer at the same time and causing a jam. Open cover, and adjust lever to the correct position for the card thickness you are using. Repeat for different card thickness. (Factory setting is for 30 mil (0,762 mm) card thickness). See diagram below: Card thickness: A - 60mil (1.524mm) to 50mil (1.27mm) B - 40mil (1.016mm) C - 30mil (0.762mm) D - 20mil (0.508mm) E* - Less than 20mil (0.
2 • 5 Rejected Card Box The P520 Printer is equipped with a Rejected card Box. When an encoding can not be completed, the card is ejected into the Rejected Card Box. The P520 Printer counts the number of cards which go into the Reject Card Box. After 20 cards the printer stops, the Amber LED Flashes and a LCD Message is displayed indicating the need to empty the reject box.
3 • Swing the Rejected Card Box Door and press the top. An audible “click” signals the locked position. 4 • Press the Clear Button on the front panel to re-start the current printer job and to clear the rejected cards counter.
2 • 6 Feeding one card at a time A Manual Feed Slot is avalable on the side of the Card Feeder cover for feeding single cards. Cleaning Cards are fed manually through this slot. The Feeder must be empty for manual card feeding to work properly. For one-at-a-time printing, feed cards through slot on side of Feeder. Do not feed more than one card at a time.
2 • 7 Printing a Test Card With ribbon and cards loaded, your P520 printer is ready to print. To check the operation of the printer and the laminator you should print a test card. 1 • When the printer displays READY, press the “Next” button (left) on your Control Panel to MENU PRINTER, then the “Select”button (right) to PRINTER INFO. 2 • Press twice the “Next” button to SELF TEST MENU and then “Select” to TEST PATTERN. 3 • A test card will print after a few seconds. LCD display will show printing status.
2 • 8 Printer Menu Information The printer is equipped with an LCD Display and two key buttons which gives access to printer menus. When the printer status shows READY, press the Menu button to enter the Menu Mode Menu Button “NEXT”(left) Clear Button “SELECT”(right) When you are in Menu Mode the top line display shows menu information and the second line of display clarifies the function of the two “NEXT” and “SELECT” key buttons relative to the current menu item.
READY N Menu Printer N: NEXT S: SELECT N S Menu Lamination (See Page N°19) Printer info S Printer Model number N Printer Firmware Version Number of Impressions S Clean Print Head To Clean the Thermal Print Head and card transport system S N Clean Mag.
Menu Tree: Printing station (continuation) N: NEXT S: SELECT Printer Defaults S Ribbon Type To show the type of ribbon installed. It may not match the ribbon physically installed until the installed ribbon has been selected through the driver. N N Offset X: aa-Y:bb To show the X print location offset value in pixels (aa) To show the Y print location offset value in pixels (bb) N Mag.
Menu Tree: Lamination station N: NEXT S: SELECT READY N N N Menu Printer S Printer info see page N°17 Menu Lamination S Temp: 170°C (U) Shows current setting for laminator temperature S Laminator Info N N Speed: 08.84 (D) Speed setting N Patch Clear 0.6 Ribbon setting N Firmware: V1.00 N S Selt test menu Go to main Menu LAM CYCLE Causes a single cycle of the lamination operation i.e produces a single sided lamination on a blank (unprinted) card.
3 PRINTING A SAMPLE CARD Printing with the P520 Printer requires the Windows Printer Driver, your card design/issuing software or printer command level programming through the printer interface. The P520 Card Printer can be used with any Windows 95/98 or Windows NT 4.0 software application program, using the drivers provided with the printer. This section contains information on the printing of a dual-sided card in color (using the 6-Panel color ribbon YMCKOK) and the Windows Printer Driver.
3 • 1 To install the P520 Printer Driver in windows 95/98, use the following steps: IMPORTANT NOTE: Ensure that your PC printer port is set to standard mode and also ensure that you have deleted any previous versions ot this printer driver. If you have any doubts please contact your IT department. This installation uses floppy drive “A” or from CD Rom as the installation drive with the printer used as stand alone. ❐ Start your computer and then Windows.
3 • 2 To install the P520 Printer Driver in windows 2000/NT4.0: Ensure that you have administrative privileges to perform this installation or contact your IT department. Set printer as Not Shared for stand alone use. Use the steps provided for windows 95/98 installation with the exception of step 6. Where you must type in “A:\nt40” for NT4.0, “A:\winNT4”for Windows 2000 if using the floppy disc, or “D:\nt40” , “D:\winNT4” if using the CD, instead and click OK.
3 • 4 Printing a sample card: Follow the steps to print your first card ❐ Go to the Microsoft Word Software. ❐ If the printer was not selected as the default printer, go to the file menu and Select Printer and choose Eltron P520 Card Printer in the printer names list. Then Close the print dialog box. ❐ Come back to file menu and choose Page Setup. ❐ Select Paper Size tab and in Paper Size choose Card. Then select the orientation: “landscape”.
4 CLEANING PROTECT YOUR FACTORY WARRANTY! The recommended maintenance procedures must be performed to maintain your factory warranty. Other than the recommanded cleaning procedures described in this manual, allow only Zebra authorised technicians to service the P520 Printer. NEVER loosen, tighten, adjust, or bend, etc. a part or cable inside the printer. NEVER use a high pressure air compressor to remove particles in the printer.
4 • 1 Cleaning System Your P520 Printer includes a simple cleaning system using the Pre-Satured Cleaning Cards provided. The regular use of these cards will clean and maintain important parts of your printer that cannot be reached: including the Print Head, the Lamination station and Transport Rollers. CLEAN PRINTER WHEN TO CLEAN When the LCD screen reports messages. HOW TO CLEAN 1 • Leave power on. Open Cover and release Print Head Bracket to remove ribbon. Close Print Head Bracket Close Cover.
4 • 2 Cleaning the Print Head A cleaning using the cleaning system with cards usually suffices. However, a separate Print head cleaning using swabs can remove more stubborn deposits when print anomalies persist. To avoid deposits, only use foam-tipped swabs. 1 • Switch power Off, open cover, raise Print Head and remove the Ribbon. 2 • Clean Print Head by moving alcohol-moistened swab tip side-to-side across Print Head elements. Only use moderate force. Make sure the elements are dry before switching on.
4 • 3 Cleaning the Laminator Rollers A cleaning using the Cleaning System with cards usually suffices, moreover your printer is equipped with two cleaning rollers situated before the card enter the Laminator. The upper roller has a coating that collects any loose particles on the surface of cards. However, a separate Laminator Station cleaning can remove more stubborn deposits. To avoid deposits, only use foam-tipped swabs. Never touch the rollers with fingers.
4 • 4 Card Cleaning Cartridge Your P520 Printer also has a Card Cleaning Cartridge. This item cleans the cards entering the printer. To ensure print quality, the cleaning roller requires periodic replacements. CLEAN PRINTER WHEN TO MAINTAIN When LCD screen reports message. Run a printer cleaning first. (see 4.1 Cleaning System for more instructions). HOW TO MAINTAIN 1 • Open Cover and locate Cleaning Cartridge 2 • Gently remove Cleaning Cartridge by rotating up and away from printer.
3 • Remove Cleaning Roller from Cartridge and discard. 4 • Install new Cleaning Roller into Cartridge*. To avoid contamination, always hold the Cleaning Roller assembly by the ends. 5 • Carefully peel off wrapper from new Cleaning Roller while in Cartridge. 6 • Replace Cartridge into printer. Make sure the arrow on top of the assembly is facing towards the rear of the printer. Hook assembly into slot on printer and rotate down. Ensure the assembly locks in place.
5 TROUBLESHOOTING This section offers solutions to potential problems you may experience with your P520 printer. The table below lists the screen messages that will be displayed on the printer’s LCD, both during normal operation and to alert operator of any error conditions. There is also some additional information dealing with quality issues concerning printing onto cards.
SCREEN MESSAGE PRINTING BLACK MEANING A monochrome panel is being printed PRINTING VARNISH The overlay is printing PRINT HOLOGRAM A hologram overlay is printing CLEAN PRINTER The printer is prompting operator maintenance CLEAN MAG HEAD The printer is prompting operator CLEANING REMOVE RIBBON OUT OF RIBBON ACTION The printer is performing an internal cleaning routine The ribbon has not been removed while the cleaning operation is in progress Carry out the cleaning procedure as detailed in sectio
SCREEN MESSAGE READING ERROR MEANING Data cannot be read from the card’s magnetic stripe REJECT BOX FULL The reject box is full MAGNETIC ERROR The printer cannot detect a magnetic stripe on the card ACTION Check that the cards are loaded with the magnetic stripe in the correct orientation. Check whether high or low coercivity cards have been specified. Check that the data conforms to ISO specifications.See Appendix A of this manual for further information.
B • About the Laminator Station SCREEN MESSAGE MEANING ACTION INITIALISING The printer is performing an internal test before use Wait for the ready message READY COVER OPEN ROTATION ERROR LAMINATING OUT OF RIBBON MECHANICAL ERR TEMPERATURE ERR WARMING UP Ready for use The cover is open The printer has an error moving the card in the flip The printer is processing a lamination The printer ribbon has run out the printer has an error moving the card internally Close cover Remove card Wait for the lami
5 • 2 Print Quality Issues This section will help you resolve print quality problems. The print quality is dependent on several factors. The two most important factors that will increase your print quality are cleanliness and card stock. To diagnose and fix print quality problems, follow the troubleshooting procedure below: • Small spots appear on the printed card with a non-printed area or a different color. Possible Cause A • Contamination on the card surface.
• Printing shows very pale or inconsistent results. Possible Cause A • Ribbon have been stored improperly or is damaged. B • Cards may not meet specifications. C • Contrast and/or Intensity may be set to values which are too high. D • Dust or embedded contamination on elements of the Print Head. >> Solution A1 • Change ribbon and print again. B1 • Use a different supply of cards. C1 • Adjust Contrast and/or Intensity values in software.
• No printing on the card. Possible Cause A • Ribbon may not be installed in the printer. B • Cards may not meet specifications. C • Cable on Print Head may be disconnected. D • Print Head elements may be scratched or burnt. >> Solution A1 • Check for ribbon in the printer. B1 • Use a different supply of cards. C1 • Power off the printer and check the Print Head cable connections. D1 • Call Service for Print Head replacement information.
6 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS General Color Printing Bar Code • High speed printing & laminating YMCK & 1.0 mil lamination 110 cards per hour YMCK & 0.6 mil lamination 120 cards per hour YMCK-K & 1.0 mil lamination 95 cards per hour YMCK-K & 0.6 mil lamination 105 cards per hour • Small footprint • Windows Drivers for 95/98/2000 and NT 4.0 • One year printer warranty • One year print head warranty` • Color dye sublimation or monochrome thermal transfer printing • 300 dpi (11.
CARD DIMENSIONS ISO STANDARD DIMENSIONS FOR PLAIN CARD ISO STANDARD DIMENSIONS FOR MAGNETIC STRIPE CARD CHIP POSITION FOR SMART CARD 40 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Ribbons • Monochrome: 1500 cards/roll • Monochrome colors: back, red, blue, green, yellow, silver, gold, white. • K-resin + O: 800 cards/roll • K-dye + O: 800 cards/roll • YMC: 300 cards/roll • YMCK: 250 cards/roll • YMCK-K: 200 cards/roll • YMCKO: 350 cards/roll • YMCKOK: 250 cards/roll Patches • Clear Patch 1 or 0.6 mil • Clear Patch for mag. stripe 1 or 0.6 mil • Clear Patch for smart card 1 or 0.6 mil • Hologram Pcard Patch 1 or 0.
CENTRONIC CABLE INTERFACE The above drawing shows the required connections to use the printer centronic interface. Printer Pin Lign Name 1 -STROBE 2 DO 3 D1 4 D2 5 D3 6 D4 7 D5 8 D6 9 D7 10 -ACK 11 -BUSY 12 PE 13 SLCT 14 -AUTO FEED 32 -ERROR 31 -INIT 36 SLCT IN 19-30-33 GND Note: The printer pins number 15, 16, 18, 30, 34, 35 are not connected.
A APPENDIX Magnetic Card Stripe Encoder This section contains information on the additional operations of the P520 Printers with Magnetic Card Stripe Encoder. (See Chapter 2 for location.) INTRODUCTION Operation and maintenance requirements for the P520 Printer with the optional magnetic card stripe encoder. (See Chapter 2 for location.) The magnetic encoder can be set for either high or low coercivity.
A • MEDIA LOADING ORIENTATION The magnetic encoder is a factory installed item with the read/write head positioned below the card path, available with HICO encoding or LOCO encoding. When loading cards into the Card Cartridge, please ensure that the magnetic stripe is facing down and closest to the rear. Also available are Printer models with the Magnetic Read/Write head positioned above the card path, with HICO encoding or LOCO encoding.
B • MAGNETIC ENCODER CLEANING There exists two different processes to clean the Magnetic stripe Encoder. The first process consists of a standard cleaning of the printer. This cleans the most important parts of the printer; including the print Head, Transport Roller and Magnetic Stripe Encoder (refer to chapter 4 “Cleaning” for more instructions.) The second process consist of a cleaning of the Magnetic Encoder using the Menu Button from the LCD Display.
B APPENDIX Smart Card Contact Station This section contains information on the additional operations of the P520 Printers with Smart Card Contact Stations. (See Chapter 2 for location.) INTRODUCTION Your P520 may be equipped with an optional Smart Card contact station. Smart Cards can store fingerprints, voice recognition patterns, medical records and other such data.
A • MEDIA LOADING ORIENTATION Position the cards with the Smart Card Chip at the top of the card and towards the printer. B • SMART CARD CONTACT STATION INTERFACE When a command to the parallel printer interface sends a card to the Smart Card Contact Station, the printer connects the Smart Card Contact Station to the female DB-9 connector on the rear of the printer.
C APPENDIX Accessories & Supplies Please contact your Eltron authorised dealer to place an order for accessories and supplies. Use only Zebra-approved card, ribbon and patches media. Using non-approved card or ribbon media can void your warranty. Refer to the Accessories section for more information about Card and Ribbon Media available from Zebra Technologies Corp.
RIBBONS FOR PRINTING AND LAMINATION: PRINTING STATION compatibility LAMINATOR STATION Part Number Description 800015-101 to 109 800015-140 800015-145 800015-148 800015-150 800015-160 800015-170 800015-180 800015-301 to 309 800015-340 800015-345 800015-348 800015-350 800015-360 Monochrome Ribbon YMCKO YMCK YMCKOK Kdye-0 KO YMC YMCKK Monochrome Ribbon YMCKO YMCK YMCKOK Kdye-0 KO Patch 1 mil Patch 0.
CARDS FOR PRINTING AND LAMINATION: Part Number Description 104523-111 104523-112 104523-113 104524-101 104524-102 104524-103 premier premier premier premier premier premier grade PVC grade PVC LoCo grade PVC HiCo plus grade composite plus grade composite LoCo plus grade composite HiCo Card/pack thickness 100 100 100 100 100 100 30mil 30mil 30mil 30mil 30mil 30mil Card/pack thickness 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 10mil 10mil 30mil 30mil 30mil 30mil 30mil 30mil CARDS FOR PRINTING ONLY: Part Num
ACCESSORIES Accessories available for P520 printers appear below. Always refer to the part number when placing an order.
World Wide Sales and Support: Zebra Technologies Corporation Eltron Card Printer Products 1001 Flynn Road Camarillo, CA 93021-8706.USA Phone: + 1(805) 579 1800 Fax.: + 1 (805) 579 1808 Toll Free in US: (800) 452-4056 e-mail: cards@eltron.com Zebra Technologies Corporation Eltron card Printer Products, (Europe, Middle East, Africa) The Valley Centre, Gordon Road, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP13 6EQ, England Phone: + 44 (0) 870 241 1527 Fax.: + 44 (0) 870 241 0765 e-mail: eurosales@eltron.
