AMT Datasouth Fastmark 400 Series User manual

Fastmark 400 Series
Barcode Label Printer
User’s Guide
Part No. 110021 A

User's Guide 1
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
AND OTHER NOTICES
This label printer complies with the requirements in Part 15 of FCC rules for a Class B or A
computing device. Operation of this equipment in a residential area may cause unacceptable
interface to radio and TV reception, requiring the operator to take whatever steps are necessary to
correct the interference.
Place the printer on a flat, firm and solid surface.
Do not place the printer near a heat source or near water.
Refer to the specification label on the bottom of this printer and ensure that your power source
exactly meets these requirements.
Do not open the printer during operation to avoid electrical shock.
Do not attempt to disassemble this printer if it malfunctions.
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or issued to third parties in
any form without the permission of AMT Datasouth.
The material in this document is provided for general information and is subject to change
without notice.
TRADEMARK CREDITS
PCL is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company
Windows, MS-Word and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
PC is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Corporation
CodeSoft is a registered trademark of Techniques Avancees
BarTender is a registered trademark of Seagull Scientific Systems, Inc
LabelView is a registered trademark of Techniques Avancees
LabelMatrix is a registered trademark of StrandWare, Inc

User's Guide 2
CONVENTIONS
Some of the procedures in this guide contain special notices that highlight important information:
Note Indicate information that you should know to help your printer
run properly and efficiently.
Caution Indicate guidelines that, if not followed, can cause damage to
equipment.
Warning Indicate a situation where there may be a danger to you.
The use of the term's right and left assume that you are looking at the front of
the printer.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Please contact your local dealer first for technical support. Your dealer is knowledgeable about driver
installation, application software and general printer operation. If you still need factory technical
support after contacting your dealer, you may mail any problems through the E-mail account,
“www.amtdatasouth.com”. You can also get the most updated driver or application from the web site
“http://www.amtdatasouth.com”.
© Copyright 2001 by AMT Datasouth Corporation
First Edition: April 2001

User's Guide 3
Table of Contents
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................... 6
Unpacking and Inspection.......................................................................................... 8
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION .......................................................... 9
Finding a Location for the Printer............................................................................ 9
Connecting the Power Cord ................................................................................... 10
Connecting the Printer to Your Host...................................................................... 11
Loading the Ribbon................................................................................................ 12
Loading Media ....................................................................................................... 15
Loading Media when Peel and Present Option is Installed ................................... 18
Loading Media When Cutter is Equipped.............................................................. 19
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS............................................................................. 20
Switch, Indicators and Connections....................................................................... 20
Label Sensor Calibration Procedure ...................................................................... 21
Printer's Internal Self Test Procedure and Configuration Report .......................... 22
Resetting the Printer to Factory Default Settings .................................................. 25
Entering into HEX Print mode............................................................................... 25
COMMAND QUICK REFERENCE ...................................................................... 26
Command Set for the PPLA................................................................................... 26
Command Set for the PPLB................................................................................... 33
PRINTER DRIVER.................................................................................................. 36
Driver Installation .................................................................................................. 36
How to Use the Driver ........................................................................................... 38
TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE.................................................. 43
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................... 43
Recovery ................................................................................................................ 45
Preventive Maintenance......................................................................................... 46
Appendix A: Printer Specifications......................................................................... 49
Fonts, Bar Codes and Graphics.............................................................................. 50
Optional Accessories.............................................................................................. 51
Appendix B: INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS ................................................... 52
Introduction............................................................................................................ 52
Serial ...................................................................................................................... 52
Parallel (Centronics) .............................................................................................. 54
Auto Polling ........................................................................................................... 54
Appendix C: ASCII TABLE .................................................................................... 55
Appendix D: FONTS AND BAR CODES FOR THE PPLA Emulation............. 56

User's Guide 4
Internal Fonts ......................................................................................................... 56
Courier Font Set ..................................................................................................... 61
Internal Bar Codes ................................................................................................. 65
Appendix E: FONTS AND BAR CODES FOR PPLB Emulation ...................... 69
Internal Fonts ......................................................................................................... 69
Symbol Set ............................................................................................................. 70
Internal Bar Codes ................................................................................................. 73

User's Guide 5
Table of Figures
Figure 1 - Fastmark 400 series................................................................................................................. 7
Figure 2 - Included Materials .................................................................................................................. 8
Figure 3 - Switches, Indicators and Connections .................................................................................... 9
Figure 4 - Power Connection................................................................................................................. 10
Figure 5 - Printer to Host....................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 6 - Printhead Latches.................................................................................................................. 12
Figure 7 - Ribbon Core Notch Location ................................................................................................ 13
Figure 8 - Ribbon Loading .................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 9 - Open Printhead Module ........................................................................................................ 15
Figure 10 - Media Spindle and Retainer Disk ....................................................................................... 16
Figure 11 - Loading Media.................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 12 - Loading Media - Peal and Present ...................................................................................... 18
Figure 13 - Loading Media - Cutter....................................................................................................... 19
Figure 14 - Switches and Indicators ...................................................................................................... 20
Figure 15 - Self Test Sample - PPLA Emulation...................................................................................23
Figure 16 - Self Test Sample - PPLB Emulation...................................................................................24
Figure 17 - Printhead Location.............................................................................................................. 46
Figure 18 - Platen Roller ....................................................................................................................... 47
Figure 19 - Paper Compartment and Paper Sensor................................................................................ 48

User's Guide 6
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User's Guide 7
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This label printer is a high-performance, low-cost direct thermal/thermal transfer labeling system. Its
user-friendly design and affordable price set a new standard for the Desktop Label Printer in retail,
office, industrial, and many other applications.
The printer is designed with the most efficient memory management technology - True Speed and
prints at a speed of 2 to 3 inches per second. When bundled with its smart printer driver, the user can
easily print out bar codes, texts and graphics from any editing application (e.g. CodeSoft, BarTender)
under Windows 95/98/2000 and NT. All popular bar codes and fonts are resident in the printer
memory to handle versatile applications.
The solidly designed mechanism allows quick and easy media (paper) and ribbon loading. The
optional Peel and Present and Cutter provide the alternatives of fan-fold label and continuous paper
handling.
This printer is a compact, highly integrated, high performance and high resolution on-site labeling
system.
The User’s Guide will help you understand basic operations of the printer such as set-up, installation,
configuration and maintenance. Before reading the manual you should first identify your printer
model. To determine the model and serial number of your printer, look at the label located on the
bottom of the printer.
Figure 1 - Fastmark 400 series

User's Guide 8
UNPACKING and INSPECTION
This printer is packed in a heavyweight carton and custom recyclable foam for environmental
protection. Inspect the shipping carton and contact the carrier directly to report any suspected damage.
Consider the following when unpacking:
♦The container should stay right side up.
♦Lift the printer out of the box carefully.
♦Remove the accessory items.
♦Set the printer on a solid, flat surface.
♦Inspect the shipping container and printer for any damage that may have occurred during
shipping.
Verify that you have the following materials when unpacking:
a. Printer
b. User’s Guide
c. Media spindle (with retainer disk)
d. Power adapter (AC to AC)
e. Driver diskette for Windows 95/98/NT/2000
f. Label Design Software.
g. Sample Media
h. Sample Ribbon (Thermal Transfer printers only)
Figure 2 - Included Materials
Printer
Media Spindle
Power Adapter
User's Guide
Diskette & Software

User's Guide 9
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Figure 3 - Switches, Indicators and Connections
Finding a Location for the Printer
Before setting up the printer you should first consider the following:
♦Find a solid flat surface with adequate room for the printer. Make sure there is enough room
on the top side for the media and ribbon access.
♦The location should be near the host or terminal. Consider the distance between host and
printer for the communication cable (serial or parallel cable)
♦The power adapter should be connected to a properly grounded and isolated electrical outlet.
♦Away from direct sun, extreme temperatures, humidity dust and debris.
Power LED
Ready LED
Feed button
Serial Port
Power Jack
Parallel Port
On Switch

User's Guide 10
Connecting the Power Cord
1. Make sure that the source voltage matches that on the input voltage on the power adapter.
Caution: Incorrect voltage could cause damage to the printer and/or the power
adapter.
2. Make sure that the power switch is set to the Off, ”O”, position.
3. Connect the power supply plug to the power jack on the printer.
Note: When plugging into the power jack, make sure that you avoid the 36 pin
parallel connector.
4. Connect the other end of the power adapter to your AC source.
Figure 4 - Power Connection

User's Guide 11
Connecting the Printer to Your Host
1. You can connect the printer with any standard Centronics Parallel cable to the parallel port of
the host computer.
2. Alternatively you can connect the printer with a serial cable to the RS-232C port of your
computer or terminal. (For PC compatibles, the RS-232C port is COM1, COM2 or COM3.)
Figure 5 - Printer to Host
3. If you use the serial port with your own cable, refer to the Appendix A and check the pin
connection. Be sure that the speed (baud rate) and protocol are consistent between printer
and host.
Caution: Pin 9 on the serial port is directly connected to +5volts DC. It is
suggested that this pin is not connected in your cable, unless required.
The factory default parameters of serial port are:
Speed (baud rate) 9600
Data format 1 start bit,
8 data bits and
1 stop bit.
Parity None
Handshaking
(Flow control)
XON/XOFF as well as
RTS/CTS
Note: It is not necessary to set a switch or send a command for the parallel
and serial port selection. The printer automatically detects the active
port.
Print a SELF-TEST to review serial settings.

User's Guide 12
Loading the Ribbon
Thermal Transfer Media only
1. Lift the printer top cover and to the open position.
2. Slide the two printhead latches toward the back of the printer to unlock the printhead module.
Figure 6 - Printhead Latches
Printhead Latch
Printhead Latch
Top Cover in
O
p
en Position

User's Guide 13
3. Raise the printhead module to the vertical position.
4. Verify that the Supply Core and the Take-up Core have two slots on the left side of the ribbon
core when the ribbon is positioned to go into the printer. These notches will be inserted into
the notches on the Left Ribbon Holders.
Note: The notches are the drive mechanism for the ribbon. If the slots in the core are not
present or if they are in the wrong position, contact your ribbon supplier to obtain a
correct ribbon.
Figure 7 - Ribbon Core Notch Location
Notch

User's Guide 14
5. Unwrap the ribbon roll and place the supply roll into the supply holder of the printhead
module.
Insert the left end of the ribbon supply onto the supply holder spindle first, and then insert the
right end. Make sure that the Ribbon Core Slots match the notches on the Ribbon Drive
Mechanism.
6. Place the Take-up core into the take-up holder of the printhead module.
First insert the left end of the Take-up core into holder spindle, and then insert the other end.
Make sure that the Ribbon Core Slots match the notches on the Ribbon Drive Mechanism.
Figure 8 - Ribbon Loading
7. Manually rotate the Take-up core until the transfer (typically Black) portion of the ribbon,
from the Supply Holder starts onto the Take-up core.
8. Close and latch the Printhead module.
Note: The printer must be set to the Thermal Transfer mode to ensure the end of ribbon is
detected. This setting may be made using the Windows drivers, Utility Software, or sending
the appropriate printer commands via the host.
Ribbon
Supply Roll
Take-up Holder
Supply Holder

User's Guide 15
Loading Media
1. Lift the printer top cover to the open position.
2. Slide the two printhead latches toward the back and unlock the printhead module.
Figure 9 - Open Printhead Module
3. Raise the printhead module.
Printhead Latch
Printhead Latch

User's Guide 16
4. Insert the media spindle into core of the label media (the Retainer Disk should be on the
right).
Figure 10 - Media Spindle and Retainer Disk
5. Insert the spindle and media into the slots in the printer. The media should feed from the top
of the roll.
6. Slide the media to the far left and slide in the guide until it is snug with the media.
7. Move the Right Media guide to the far right of the printer. The Right and Left Media Guides
are located under the printhead module.
Note: The Right and Left Media Guides are 'U' shaped parts and are located at the bottom of
the paper path. Only the right media guide can be moved. The media should be
snugly positioned in the 'U' portion of the guides.
Figure 11 - Loading Media
Media guides
Media Spindle
Retainer Disk

User's Guide 17
8. Pull out 6 inches of media and thread the end of the media between the Right and Left Media
Guides.
9. Slide in the Right Media Guide until it is snug with the media.
Note: If the guides are positioned incorrectly, the media sensor may not sense
the form properly.
If too loose the media may slide out from under them, uncover the
paper out sensor and indicate a false paper out message.
If too tight so that the media may buckle and a paper jam could
occur.
10. Thread the media over the roller until approximately 2 inches of the media shows out of the
printer. (MAKE SURE THAT THE LABELS ARE FACING UP.)
11. Press the printhead module down firmly until it snaps into place.
12. Close the top cover.
13. Turn on the printer.
14. If you are using die-cut media, press the ”FEED” button to advance the first label into the
standby position.
Note: If the labels do not feed correctly, run the Label Sensor Calibration test (see the
section on Label Sensor Calibration).
Note: The first time media is loaded, the label sensor must be calibrated. After this initial
calibration, further calibration is not needed unless the media length, media changes
or irregular feeding occurs. See Label Sensor Calibration for instructions on how to
calibrate the Label sensor.

User's Guide 18
Loading Media when Peel and Present Option is Installed
1. Follow the same procedures in "Loading Media" up to closing of the Printhead Module.
2. Peel off 6 inches of labels from its backing.
3. Thread the label backing over the platen roller, over the Peel and Present Bar then back under
the Peel and Present Bar towards the platen.
4. Turn on the power to “1” position.
5. With the Printhead module still open, press “FEED” button. The printer will advance the
backing. Once the label backing comes out of the front of the printer, turn off the power to
“O” position.
6. Pull down the printhead module down and latch it closed.
7. Close the top cover.
8. Turn on the power to “1” position.
9. Press the Feed key to feed up to the first label in the printer.
Note: The printer must be configured for Peel and Present Mode. This setting may be made in
the windows driver, utility software, label design software or using printer commands
from the host.
Figure 12 - Loading Media - Peal and Present
Label
Backing

User's Guide 19
Loading Media When Cutter is Equipped
1. Follow the same procedure as “Loading Media”.
2. After you thread the media over the platen roller, thread the media through the horizontal gap
at the cutter module.
Note: The printer must be configured for Peel and Present Mode. This setting may be made
in the windows driver, utility software, label design software or using printer
commands from the host.
Figure 13 - Loading Media - Cutter
Caution: When removing a label from a printer with the Cutter option make
sure that the cutter is not rotating before removing the label or when
manually opening the printer.
Cutter