User Manual
Table Of Contents
- About
- Introduction
- Printer Features
- Inside the ZD421 Dual Capacity Ribbon Roll Printer
- Inside the ZD621 Dual Capacity Ribbon Roll Printer
- Inside the ZD421 Direct Thermal Printers
- Inside the ZD621 Direct Thermal Printers
- Inside the ZD421 Ribbon Cartridge Printer
- Label Dispenser Option (field installable) - All Models
- Cutter Option (field installable) - All Models
- Linerless Media Tear-Off Option (Direct Thermal Models Only)
- Linerless Cutter Option (Direct Thermal Models Only)
- Identifying Platen Drive Rollers Types
- Printer Power Supply Options
- ZD621 Direct Thermal Locking Printer Features
- Zebra Print Touch
- Controls and Indicators
- Install Hardware Options
- Field Installable printer Accessories and Options
- Printer Connectivity Modules
- Media Handling Options
- Removing the Standard Bezel
- Installing the Label Dispenser
- Installing the Standard Media Cutter
- Installing the Linerless Media Cutter
- Installing the Linerless Media ‘Tear-Off’ Bezel
- Media Roll Core Size Adapters
- Print Resolution Upgrade Kits
- Installing the Attached Power Supply Base Options
- Installing the Attached Battery Base Options
- Installing the Battery into the Attached Power Base
- Color Touch Display and Controls
- Color Touch Display Printer Controls
- Home Screen
- System Menu
- System > Language
- System > Program Language > Diagnostic Mode
- System > Program Language > Virtual Device
- System > Program Language > ZBI
- System > Settings > Display Time Format
- System > Settings > Password Level
- System > Settings > Set Password
- System > Settings > Power Up Action
- System > Settings > Head Close Action
- System > Settings > Screen Calibration
- System > Settings > Restore Defaults
- System > Settings > Print: System Settings
- System > Energy Saving > Energy Star
- Connection Menu
- Connection > Networks > Reset Network
- Connection > Networks > Primary Network
- Connection > Networks > IP Port
- Connection > Networks > IP Alternate Port
- Connection > Networks > Print: Network Info
- Connection > Networks > Visibility Agent
- Connection > Wired > Wired IP Protocol
- Connection > Wired > Wired IP Address
- Connection > Wired > Wired Gateway
- Connection > Wired > Wired Mac Address
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN IP Protocol
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN IP Address
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN Subnet
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN Gateway
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN Mac Address
- Connection > WLAN > ESSID
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN Security
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN Band
- Connection > WLAN > WLAN Country Code
- Connection > Bluetooth > Bluetooth
- Connection > Bluetooth > Bluetooth Discovery
- Connection > Bluetooth > Friendly Name
- Connection > Bluetooth > Minimum Security Mode
- Connection > Bluetooth > Specification Version
- Connection > Bluetooth > MAC Address
- Connection > Bluetooth > Bluetooth Auth. PIN
- Connection > Bluetooth > Bluetooth Bonding
- Print Menu
- Print > Print Quality > Darkness
- Print > Print Quality > Print Speed
- Print > Print Quality > Print Type
- Print > Print Quality > Label Type
- Print > Print Quality > Label Length
- Print > Print Quality > Label Width (Dots)
- Print > Label Position > Collection Method
- Print > Label Position > Tear Line Offset
- Print > Label Position > Horizontal Label Offset
- Print > Label Position > Vertical Label Offset
- Print > Sensors > Manual Calibration
- Print > Sensors > Label Sensor
- Print > Sensors > Sensor Type
- Print > Sensors > Print: Sensor Profile
- Print > Print Station
- Print > Applicator > Applicator Port Mode
- Print > Applicator > Start Print Mode
- Print > Applicator > Error on Pause
- Print > Applicator > Applicator Reprint
- RFID Menu
- Storage Menu
- Setup
- Printer Setup Overview
- Select a Location for the Printer
- Install Printer Options and Connectivity Modules
- Attaching Power
- Getting Ready to Print
- Loading Roll Media
- Loading Thermal Transfer Roll Ribbon
- Loading the ZD421 Ribbon Cartridge
- Run a SmartCal Media Calibration
- Test Printing with the Configuration Report
- Detecting a Media Out Condition
- Detecting a Ribbon Out Condition
- Connecting your Printer to a Computer
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Classic Wireless Connectivity Option
- Setup for Windows® OS
- Print Operations
- Thermal Printing
- Select a Print Mode or Collection Method
- Adjusting the Print Quality
- Adjusting the Print Width
- Printing on Fan-Fold Media
- Printing with Externally Mounted Roll Media
- Using the Label Dispenser Option
- Using the Linerless Options
- Sending Files to the Printer
- Ribbon Cartridge Programming Commands
- Printing with the Attached Battery Base and Battery Option
- Printer Fonts
- EPL Line Mode - Direct Thermal Printers only
- ZD621 and ZD421 Locking Printer Option
- Zebra® ZKDU — Printer Accessory
- ZBI 2.0™ — Zebra Basic Interpreter
- Setting the Power Failure Recovery Mode Jumper
- USB Host Port and Link-OS Usage Examples
- USB Host
- USB Host and Printer Usage Examples
- Items Required for the USB Host Exercises
- Files for Completing the Exercises
- Exercise 1: Copy Files to a USB Flash Drive and Perform USB Mirror
- Exercise 2: Print a Label Format from a USB Flash Drive
- Exercise 3: Copy Files to/from a USB Flash Drive
- Exercise 4: Enter Data for a Stored File with a USB Keyboard and Print a Label
- Using the USB Hosts Port and the NFC Capabilities
- Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Tools
- Printer Diagnostics
- Power-On Self Test
- SmartCal Media Calibration
- Configuration Report (CANCEL Self Test)
- Printer Network (and Bluetooth) Configuration Report
- Print Quality Report (FEED self test)
- Reset Printer Factory Defaults (PAUSE + FEED Self Test)
- Reset Network Factory Defaults (PAUSE + CANCEL Self Test)
- Reset Button
- Communication Diagnostics Test
- Sensor Profile
- Advanced Mode
- Factory Test Modes
- Printer Diagnostics
- Interface Wiring
- Dimensions
- Media
- ZPL Configuration
Introduction
17
Zebra Label Printing Solution
The printer is just one of three parts of a printing solution. To print; you need a printer (ZD621 or ZD421),
compatible media (thermal transfer ribbon cartridge or rolls, and thermal transfer media; or just direct
thermal media), and software (driver, applications or programming) to tell the printer what to do and print.
The printer can print without being connected to other devices or systems.
The media may be labels, tags, tickets, receipt paper, fan-fold stacks, tamper proof labels, etc.
Zebra assists you with label design and print with the free label and form design software:
ZebraDesigner ™ for Windows PC operating systems.
Zebra provides a complete suite of free Link-OS software applications and drivers to configure printer
settings, print labels and receipts, get printer status, import graphics and fonts, send programming
commands, update firmware, and download files.
The Zebra web site or your reseller will be able to help you identify media for your desired use case.
Modes of Printing
You can operate this printer in many different modes and media configurations:
• Direct thermal printing: uses heat sensitive media to print.
• Thermal transfer printing: uses thermal transfer ribbon cartridge or ribbon rolls, where heat and
pressure transfers ink from the ribbon to media.
• Standard Tear-Off mode: allows you to tear off each label/receipt or batch print a strip of labels and
tear them off after it is printed.
• Label Dispense Mode: if an optional dispenser is installed, the backing material can be peeled away
from the label as it is printed. After this label is removed, the next one is printed.
• Media Cutting: if an optional media cutter is installed, the printer can cut the label liner between
labels, receipt paper or tag stock.
• Linerless media printing with Cut or Tear-Off label options: allows for easy pick and place label
applications.
• Stand-alone: the printer can print without being directly connected to a computer.
• A printer with the color touch display option can use menus to access and print a label
format/form.
• A Link-OS App connecting via Bluetooth (Wireless option).
• An auto running label format/form (programming based).
• A data input device connected to the printer’s USB Host port or serial port. This mode
accommodates data input devices, such as scanners, weigh scales, a Zebra Keyboard Display
Unit (ZKDU), etc.
• Shared network printing: printers configured with Ethernet (LAN) and Wi-Fi interface options include
an internal print server.