AMT Datasouth Fastmark 600 Series User manual

Fastmark 600 Series with
PALTM Print and Program Language
Barcode Label Printer
User’s Guide
Part No. 110463 A

AMT Datasouth Corp.
Corporate Headquarters
4765 Calle Quetzal
Camarillo, CA 93012
[phone] PH
[phone] FX
CharlotteOperation
4216 Stuart Andrew Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28217
[phone] PH
[phone] FX
AMT Datasouth International
Unit B, Pinnacle 15
Gowerton Rd, Brackmills
Northampton, NN4 7BW
England
[phone] PH
[phone] FX
www.amtdatasouth.com

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
AND OTHER NOTICES
nThis label printer complies with the requirements in Part 15 of FCC rules for a Class 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.
nPlace the printer on a flat, firm and solid surface.
nDo not place the printer near a heat source or near water.
nRefer to the specification label on the bottom of this printer and ensure that your power
source exactly meets these requirements.
nDo not open the printer during operation to avoid electrical shock.
nDo not attempt to disassemble this printer if it malfunctions.
nAll 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.
nThe material in this document is provided for general information and is subject to change
without notice.

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 4
TRADEMARK CREDITS
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
PAL is a registered trademark of AMT Datasouth Corporation
COPYRIGHT NOTICES
© 2004 AMT Datasouth Corp. All rights reserved.
© 2003 Adobe Systems Incorporated
© 1996-2003 The FreeType Project. All rights reserved.
© 1993 Symbol Technologies, Inc.
© 1990 United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT
This computer software, including display screens and all related materials, are confidential and
the exclusive property of AMT Datasouth Corp. They are available for limited use, but only
pursuant to a written license agreement distributed with this computer software. This computer
software, including display screens and all related materials, shall not be copied, reproduced,
published or distributed, in whole or in part, in any medium, by any means, for any purpose
without the express written consent of AMT Datasouth Corp.
© COPYRIGHT AMT Datasouth Corp. 2004 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 5
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.
Important Indicate that the associated material needs to be done to
ensure proper printer operation.
The use of the term's rightand 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 2004 by AMT Datasouth Corporation
First Edition: July 2004

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 6
Table of Contents
TABLE OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................8
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................9
MODEL OVERVIEW.....................................................................................................10
Models .......................................................................................................................... 10
Model Features............................................................................................................. 11
PALTM PRINT AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW...........................................................12
Traditional Printing....................................................................................................... 12
Legacy Data Stream Interpretation............................................................................... 13
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION................................................................................14
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION ...............................................................15
Finding a Location for the Printer................................................................................ 15
Printer Parts and Features..............................................................................................16
Connecting the Power Cord.......................................................................................... 17
Connecting the Printer to Your Host............................................................................ 18
Loading the Ribbon...................................................................................................... 19
Loading Media.............................................................................................................. 24
Loading Media into the Peeler........................................................................................28
Loading Media into the Cutter Option..........................................................................31
Calibrating Media Sensors........................................................................................... 32
Printing the Configuration Label.................................................................................. 33
KEYPAD OPERATION..................................................................................................34
LED Description........................................................................................................... 34
Power up key functions................................................................................................ 35
Special Power Up Key Function.....................................................................................35
ON LINE Key Operation.............................................................................................. 35
Feature Management Mode.......................................................................................... 36
Setup Feature and Value List....................................................................................... 38
PALTM PRINT LANGUAGE INTRODUCTION.........................................................41
Smooth Scalable Fonts................................................................................................. 42
Supported Bar Codes.................................................................................................... 42
PALTM Print and Program Label Tutorial.................................................................... 44
PALTM Print and Program Coordinate System............................................................. 46
INTRODUCTION TO PALTM ADVANCED TOPICS................................................51
Advanced Overview..................................................................................................... 51
PALTM Print and Program Language Features............................................................. 52
Sample Demo Files....................................................................................................... 53
Example of a Procedure defined in PALTM................................................................. 54
Example of calling a Procedure from a host application.............................................. 54
Demo Label showing use of Print Utility Procedures.................................................. 55
Example of How to Define Label Formats................................................................... 56
Example of calling Label Format from Host Application............................................ 57

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 7
WINDOWS PRINTER DRIVER ...................................................................................58
Windows 2000 Driver Installation............................................................................... 58
Windows XP Driver Installation.................................................................................. 62
Windows NT/9x Driver Installation............................................................................. 66
Using the Windows Driver To Produce PALTM Print Command Examples................ 70
TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE.........................................................71
Printer Detected Errors................................................................................................. 71
Other User Detected Errors.......................................................................................... 73
Peel and Present Sensing.............................................................................................. 77
Preventive Maintenance ............................................................................................... 78
Appendix A: GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS..............................................................81
Appendix B: INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS..........................................................82
Serial Interface.............................................................................................................. 82
Parallel (Centronics) Interface...................................................................................... 83
Auto Interface Select.................................................................................................... 83
Appendix C: ASCII TABLE...........................................................................................84
Appendix D: SELF TEST PRINT SAMPLE.................................................................85
Appendix E: HIDDEN SETUP FEATURES.................................................................86
Hidden Setup Feature and Value List........................................................................... 86
Appendix F: UPDATING PRINTER FIRMWARE.....................................................87
Boot Mode Feature and Value List.............................................................................. 89

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 8
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1 – Model and Serial Number Location........................................................................10
Figure 2 – Traditional Printing...............................................................................................12
Figure 3 – Legacy Data stream Interpretation..........................................................................13
Figure 4 – Shipped with Printer .............................................................................................14
Figure 5 – External Switches, Indicators and Connections .......................................................16
Figure 6 – Internal Features...................................................................................................16
Figure 7 – Power Connection.................................................................................................17
Figure 8 – Communication Cable...........................................................................................18
Figure 9 – Top Media Cover Latches.....................................................................................19
Figure 10 – Print Head Latches .............................................................................................19
Figure 11 – Ribbon Holder Notches and Ribbon Core Slots....................................................20
Figure 12 – Supply Ribbon Installation...................................................................................21
Figure 13 – Ribbon Take-Up Installation................................................................................22
Figure 14 – Ribbon Installation..............................................................................................22
Figure 15 – Print head Module Closed....................................................................................23
Figure 16 – Top Media Cover Latches...................................................................................24
Figure 17 – Media Roll Installation........................................................................................24
Figure 18 – Print Head Latches .............................................................................................25
Figure 19 – Media Sensor and Guides....................................................................................25
Figure 20 – Loading Media over Platen Roller........................................................................26
Figure 21 – Positioning Media Guides and Sensor ..................................................................26
Figure 22 – Print head Module Closed....................................................................................27
Figure 23 – Label Removal for Peeler Option.........................................................................28
Figure 24 – Straight Edge and Peeler Latch............................................................................28
Figure 25 – Feeding into the Peeler Mechanism......................................................................29
Figure 26 – Backing Exit Position..........................................................................................29
Figure 27 – Peeler Option......................................................................................................30
Figure 28 – Inserting Labels in the Cutter Option....................................................................31
Figure 29 – Cutting Labels ....................................................................................................31
Figure 30 – Calibration of the Media ......................................................................................32
Figure 31 – Configuration Print Sample .................................................................................33
Figure 32 – Fastmark 600 Series Front Panel..........................................................................34
Figure 33 – FeatureMan Program..........................................................................................36
Figure 34 – Changing Features..............................................................................................37
Figure 35 – Changing Feature Values ....................................................................................37
Figure 36 – Print Head Location ............................................................................................78
Figure 37 – Platen Roller and Media Sensor ...........................................................................79

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 9
INTRODUCTION
The Fastmark 602 and Fastmark 603 are high-performance, low-cost Direct Thermal/Thermal
Transfer labeling printers featuring the PALTM Print and Program language.
PALTM Print and Program language is an interpretive page description language that allows
printers to move beyond the role of normal printers. In addition to supporting traditional text, bar
code, and graphics print sequences common to other printers, PALTM Print and Program language
also serves as a general purpose programming language. This combination of sequence based
printing commands and programming ability allows printers to provide unique solutions such as:
§Intelligently read and interpret legacy data streams without host system programming
changes. Add or replace printers without changing the data streams. For example, this
tremendous flexibility permits changing from dot matrix text or embosser card printing to
high quality thermal printing with bar codes without changing the original data from the
host.
§Store label formats and databases in the printer.
§Store PALTM programs in the printer to create powerful stand-alone applications that
don't require a host or PC connection.
§Create and store PALTM programs in the printer, which allow it to operate even if the host
system goes down.
§Read data from an optional keyboard, scanner, scale, etc. and combine this data with
fixed formats to create powerful labeling solutions.
§Perform math calculations and perform logical decisions within the printer.
PALTM Print and Program presents many exciting possibilities for rethinking the printer’s role
within any industry setting.
The User’s Manual will help you understand basic operations of the printer such as set-up,
installation, configuration and maintenance. For detailed information on the PALTM Print and
Program language, please refer to the PALTM Print and Program Reference Manual. Before
reading the manual you should first identify your printer model. The printer model name is
located on the bottom of the printer on its product label.

Fastmark 600 Series User's Guide 10
MODEL OVERVIEW
Models
The PALTM Print and Program versions of the Fastmark FM600 series are currently comprised of
2 models:
FM602 (200DPI)
FM603 (300 DPI)
These models are similar in many ways. The FM602 has a print head resolution of 200 DPI
versus 300 DPI on the FM603. Throughout this manual instructions and illustrations applying to
a particular model will be labeled accordingly otherwise the instructions apply to all models.
Note: The model number is printed on the compliance label attached to the bottom of the
printer. After unpacking please record the model number below for reference.
MODEL No:
SERIAL No:
Figure 1– Model and Serial Number Location
Model No:
And
Serial No: