AstroJet 3600P? 3800P User manual

AstroJetTM
3600P/3800P
PRINTER
OPERATOR MANUAL
Astro Machine Corp.
630 Lively Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.astromachine.com

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
THIS EQUIPMENT PRESENTS NO PROBLEM WHEN USED PROPERLY. HOWEVER,
CERTAIN SAFETY RULES SHOULD BE OBSERVED WHEN OPERATING THE
ASTROJET 3600P/3800P PRINTER.
BEFORE USING THE PRINTER, YOU SHOULD READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
AND FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES, SAFETY WARNINGS, AND
INSTRUCTIONS:
Keep hands, hair, and clothing clear of rollers and other moving parts.
Avoid touching moving parts or materials while the machine is in use. Before clearing a jam, be sure
machine mechanisms come to a stop.
Always turn off the machine before making adjustments, cleaning the machine, or performing any
maintenance covered in this manual.
Use the power cord supplied with the machine and plug it into a properly grounded, easily accessible wall
outlet located near the machine. Failure to properly ground the machine can result in severe personal injury
and/or fire.
The power cord and wall plug is the primary means of disconnecting the machine from the power supply.
DO NOT use an adapter plug on the line cord or wall outlet.
DO NOT remove the ground pin from the line cord.
DO NOT route the power cord over sharp edges or trap it between furniture.
Avoid using wall outlets that are controlled by wall switches, or shared with other equipment.
Make sure there is no strain on the power cord caused by jamming between equipment, walls or furniture.
DO NOT remove covers. Covers enclose hazardous parts that should only be accessed by a qualified
service representative. Report any cover damage to your service representative.
This machine requires periodic maintenance. Contact your authorized service representative for required
service schedules.
To prevent overheating, do not cover the vent openings.
Use this equipment only for its intended purpose.
In addition, follow any specific occupational safety and health standards for your workplace or area.
This manual is intended solely for the use and information of Astro Machine Corp., its designated agents,
customers, and their employees. The information in this guide was obtained from several different
sources that are deemed reliable by all industry standards. To the best of our knowledge, that information
is accurate in all respects. However, neither Astro Machine Corp. nor any of its agents or employees shall
be responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein.
AstroJetTM is a registered trademark of Astro Machine Corp.
Hewlett-Packard is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Corporation.
Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT and XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher

TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
Table of Contents
Section 1 –Getting Acquainted
1
AstroJet 3600P/3800P
Control Panel
Optional Feeder Controls
1
2
3
Section 2 –Installing the Printer
5
Choosing a Location
Connecting the Printer and Optional Feeder
Installing the Optional Feeder
Installing the Inkjet Cartridges
Adjusting the Printer to the Media
Optional Feeder Setup
Installing the Printer Driver
5
5
6
7
8
8
10
Section 3 –Operating the AstroJet 3600P/3800P
11
Printer Operation
Printer Driver Properties
Printing from Microsoft Word
11
13
17
Section 4 –Maintenance
19
The Inkjet Cartridge
Jams in the Printer
Replacing the Sheet Separators
Cleaning
19
21
21
22
Section 5 –Troubleshooting
23
HP Inkjet Print Cartridges
The Printer
23
24
Appendices
25
Appendix A –Specifications
Appendix B –Supplies and Optional Hardware
25
26
Index
27

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ii
Notes

SECTION 1
GETTING ACQUAINTED
1
Section 1 –Getting Acquainted
AstroJet 3600P/3800P
The AstroJet 3600 and AstroJet 3800 are high-speed printing and addressing systems that can
print addresses, bar code, return addresses, bitmapped graphics, and special messages using
TrueType scaleable fonts simultaneously on mail pieces. The 3600 has six Printheads and the
3800 has eight Printheads.
1
MEDIA SIDE GUIDES –Guides the media to the Printheads.
2
MEDIA GUIDES –Holds down media to help guide it to the Printheads.
3
VACUUM TRANSPORT –The Vacuum Transport Belt helps transport the media to the Printheads.
4
MAIN POWER SWITCH AND RECEPTACLE –Printer receives power here. Also contains the Main
Power Switch and the Fuse Assembly.
5
USB PORT –Used to connect the Printer to some types of computers.
6
PRINTER/FEEDER INTERFACE CONNECTOR –Connects the Printer to the optional Feeder so
that they can function as a system.
7
PARALLEL PORT –Centronics Printer Port connects the Printer to the computer.
8
MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER –Protects the Motor in the case of a jam.
9
VACUUM TRANSPORT ON/OFF SWITCH –Controls the power to the Vacuum Transport Vacuum.
10
DOCKING STATION –Stores Ink Cartridges when not in use.
11
PRINTHEAD COVER –Protects the Printheads.

SECTION 1
GETTING ACQUAINTED
2
(AstroJet 3600P shown)
Control Panel
1.
MEDIA THICKNESS –Knob on the right side of the Control Panel is used to
adjust the height of the Printheads to compensate for different media thickness.
2.
ON LINE key –Indicator lights when data is sent to the AstroJet 3600P/3800P
and printing is ready to begin. Also turns the Printer off line to access the Menu
Mode.
3.
FAULT Indicator –Lights when there is a problem with the printing process.
4.
-key –In Menu Mode, use to scroll to the previous selection.
5.
+key –In Menu Mode, use to scroll to the next selection.
6.
ENTER key –Starts and stops printing.
7.
MENU key –Puts the Printer in the Menu Mode to access several operator
functions.
8.
OPERATOR DISPLAY –Indicates the Printer’s status including menus and
error messages.
9.
RESET key –Resets the Printer to its wait state.
10.
TEST PRINT key –Puts the Printer in the Test Mode and sends a sample copy
to check the Printer’s output.
NOTE: A complete description of the functions and operation of the Printer Keys can be
found in Section 3 –Operating the AstroJet 3600P/3800P.

SECTION 1
GETTING ACQUAINTED
3
OPTIONAL FF14 FRICTION FEEDER CONTROL PANEL
Control Panel
1
SPEED –Used to vary the speed of the Feeder in either the MANUAL or AUTO
Mode to provide separation between the pieces.
2
CONTINUOUS –Pressing this switch with the Feed Select Switch in the
MANUAL position allows the Feeder tofeed continuously.
3
SINGLE –Pressing this switch with the Feed Select Switch in MANUAL Mode
allows the Feeder to feed a single piece of media.
4
BATCH COUNTER –Resettable to keep track of the pieces run on each job.
5
AUTO/MANUAL –With the Feed Select Switch in MANUAL, the operator can
feed one or continuous pieces of media by pressing the FEED switches. When in
AUTO, the Interface controls the Feeder through an external device.
Front Panel
1
POWER RECEPTACLE –Plug power cord here. Make sure that power cord is only
plugged into a properly grounded receptacle.
2
ON/OFF SWITCH –Controls power to the Feeder.
3
FUSE HOLDER –Fuse protects the electronics and motor in the Feeder.
4
INTERFACE CONNECTOR –Used to control the FF14 Feeder. (See Interfacing for
more information.)

SECTION 1
GETTING ACQUAINTED
4
Notes

SECTION 2
INSTALLING THE PRINTER
5
Section 2 –Installing the AstroJet 3600P/3800P
To install the AstroJet 3600P/3800P Printer the following must be done:
Choose a location for the AstroJet 3600P/3800P Printer and optional Feeder
Place the Feeder and connect it to the Printer
Plug in the Printer and Feeder, then connect the Printer to the computer
Install the Inkjet Cartridges
Set up the feed on the Feeder
Install the AstroJet 3600P/3800P software on the computer
Create a job to be printed (refer to Section 3 –Operating the AstroJet 3600P/3800P)
Choose a Location
Place the Printer with the Feeder on a sturdy worktable or cabinet at least 12 inches from any walls. Allow
enough room to place the Feeder on the same work surface. Protect the AstroJet 3600P/3800P from excessive
heat, dust, and moisture –avoid placing it in direct sunlight.
Place the Printer on the Support Stand if supplied. (The Stand is supplied only when the optional FF14 Friction
Feeder is used.)
Connecting the AstroJet 3600P/3800P and Optional Feeder
Plugging in the Printer
Make sure that the Printer's Main Power Switch is in the
OFF position.
1. Connect one end of the power cord to the rear of
the Printer in the corresponding receptacle.
2. Plug the other end into a 115-220 Volt AC, 50/60
Hz. grounded outlet.
CAUTION
Do not use an adapter plug or extension
cord to connect the printer to the wall outlet.
Do not use outlets controlled by wall
switches.
Do not use an outlet that shares the same
circuit with large electrical machines or
appliances.
Connecting to the Computer
Parallel Port: Plug the Parallel Printer Cable from
your computer into the rear of the Printer and latch the
two locking clips.
USB Port: You may also connect the Printer through
a USB connection if you are using Windows ME,
2000 or XP. NOTE: The Cable supplied with the
AstroJet 3600P/3800P should be used to connect
it to the computer.
USB Port Parallel Port

SECTION 2
INSTALLING THE PRINTER
6
Installing the Optional FF14 Friction Feeder
Assembling the Feeder
After unpacking the Feeder, install the two Side Guides as
shown using the four screws supplied (two on each side).
Place the Feeder on a flat level surface. The Feeder can be
permanently mounted by removing the four rubber feet,
aligning the Feeder on the Support Stand, then reinstalling
the feet to hold the Feeder in place.
Plugging in the Feeder
Make sure that the Main Power Switches on the Printer and the Feeder are in the OFF position.
1. Connect one end of the power cord to the rear of the Feeder in
the corresponding receptacle.
2. Plug the other end into a 115-220 Volt AC, 50/60 Hz.
grounded outlet.
CAUTION
Do not use an adapter plug or extension cord to
connect the printer to the wall outlet.
Do not use outlets controlled by wall switches.
Do not use an outlet that shares the same circuit with
large electrical machines or appliances.
Connecting the Optional Feeder to the Printer
The Printer/Feeder Communication
Cable must be attached to the Printer and
the Feeder for the two machines to work
together. Remove the Jumper Plug from
the Printer (if installed) and attach the
Printer/Feeder Communication Cable
between the two machines as shown in
the photo at the right.
Completing Assembly of the System
Remove the packing blocks from the Printheads and install the Side Guides on the Feeder if not already done.
Printer Connection
Feeder Connection

SECTION 2
INSTALLING THE PRINTER
7
Install the Inkjet Cartridges
Standard Cartridge Installation
The AstroJet 3600P can be configured with six Inkjet Cartridges and the AstroJet 3800P can be configured with
eight Inkjet Cartridges. Install standard Cartridges as follows:
1. Remove the Inkjet Cartridge from its packaging, taking care not to touch
the copper contacts, the metal plate, or the gold printhead. Remove the
protective tape from the Printhead.
2. The Cartridges are held in place by a Latch Lever mounted on the Inkjet
Cartridge Holder. Release the Lever by raising it vertically.
3. With the Cartridge’s Printhead pointing down, slide the Cartridge into the
Holder and push down and toward the contacts in the Holder.
4. Make sure the Cartridge is seated in the Holder then close the Latch Lever
to secure the Cartridge in the Holder. Do not force the Lever into place.
(See diagram.)
5. Repeat the above for the remaining Cartridges.
NOTE: For optimum image quality during the run, refer to "Cleaning
the Printhead" on page 39.
The ink in the cartridge may be harmful if
swallowed. Keep new and used cartridges
out of reach of children. Discard empty
cartridges immediately.

SECTION 2
INSTALLING THE PRINTER
8
Adjusting the Printer to the Media
Place one piece of media on the center of the
conveyor portion of the Feeder and adjust the Side
Guides [1] to the media. Use one or two Center
Straps [2] to help hold the media down. The Center
Belt has a vacuum-assist feature that can be turned
ON with the Vacuum Transport Switch located
above the Motor Circuit Breaker as required. It is
useful in feeding smaller size stock.
NOTE: The two narrow Belts can be moved
by turning the Printer ON and sliding the
Belt Guide Adjusters located under the
Conveyor Table in the appropriate direction
until they are under the media.
Optional Feeder Setup and Operation
1. Release the Separator Locking Lever and raise the
Separators to their up position as shown.

SECTION 2
INSTALLING THE PRINTER
9
2. Place the media under the Separators and release
them so that they rest on the media. Then lock the
Separators in position using the Separator
Locking Lever.
3. Adjust the Side Guides to within 1/32" of the
media. Then adjust the Rear Guide so that the
media is raised approximately ½" (For heavy,
thick media this may not be required.)
4. Adjust the Exit Roller pressure by pushing in on
the Pressure Control Lock Button [A] and raising
or lowering the Adjusting Lever [B]. For plain
paper or envelopes the lever should be in the
down position, for thicker material the lever
should be adjusted so that the media is fed
without any bounce in the Exit Roller Assembly.
5. Turn on the Feeder and feed one piece with the
Speed Control set to low speed (1 or 2). Stop the
Feeder with the piece halfway through the exit.
Then adjust the Feed Sensor so that it is pointed
directly at the piece as it exits the Feeder. The
Sensor prevents double feeding in case of a jam or
stoppage.

SECTION 2
INSTALLING THE PRINTER
10
6. Turn the Feeder Power Switch ON. Set the AUTO/MANUAL Switch to AUTO and press the
CONTINUOUS Feed Button for continuous feeding.
7. Turn the AstroJet 3600/3800 ON, then turn the Media Thickness Knob to set the initial Printhead height:
NOTE: These are initial settings. It may be
necessary to adjust the MEDIA
THICKNESS Control to optimize the
print quality.
8. To test-feed media after set up, turn the Feeder
and Printer ON. Place the AUTO/MANUAL
Selector Switch on the Feeder to the AUTO
position. Press the ON-LINE key on the Printer,
and then press the ENTER key, to test-feed media.
Installing the Printer Driver
A dedicated Printer Driver is included with the Printer. It must be installed on your computer before you install the
AstroPrint Software. Install the Driver for the Printer using the steps below.
1. If you have any applications running on your computer
close them and restart the computer before beginning the
Driver installation.
2. Install the CD in the CD drive and click on START. Then
click on RUN, then type the following; D:\Setup.exe
(where D is the CD drive) then click OK.
3. The “Add Printer Wizard (n.nn)” window will open, then
click Next>.
4. Type in your Name and Company and click Next>.
5. Select the Printer Port LPT1 or
USB. Then click Next>. The
“Add Printer Wizard” will appear.
Select your printer from the list,
then click Next>
NOTE: The difference between
the L-R and R-L Printers is the
direction the media travels in.
L-R means Left to Right when
standing at the Printer’s
Control Panel.
6. The next screen allows you to
“Name Your Printer”. Unless you
have another printer of the same
name on your system or network
ignore this step and click Next>.
7. Click Finish to complete the
installation.
Media Thickness
Dial Setting
.004" to 1/32"
0 to 2
1/32" to 1/16"
2 to 3
1/16" to 1/8"
3 to 5
1/8" to ¼"
5 to 7
¼"to 3/8"
7 to 10

SECTION 3
OPERATING THE AstroJet 3600P/3800P P
11
Section 3 –Operating the AstroJet 3600P/3800P
Once the Printer Driver is installed on your computer, you are ready to start printing. This section is divided into
three parts. The first describes the function of the Printer Control Panel. The second section describes the Driver
Properties and the various options available when you run a job. The third section describes how to Set Up a Job to
Print from Microsoft Word.
The Printer Driver that you installed on your computer in Section 2 should be set as the default driver. It will then be
accessible through your applications such as Microsoft Word. Other types of applications and database management
software will work in a similar manner using the AstroJet 3600P/3800P Driver.
This Section further assumes that you have connected the AstroJet 3600P/3800P to your computer.
Printer Operation
When you first turn the Printer ON, the ON LINE key light will blink. The Printer’s Display will show the message;
“Printer Off line / Enter for Paper Feed”. The TEST key light will be OFF. In this mode, pressing the ENTER key
starts the paper feeding, but no printing will take place.
To print you must put the Printer On-Line. When you do, the Display will change to the following message;
“Printer On line / Waiting for Data”. In this mode, when you send a job, the Printer will be ready to print when the
ENTER key is pressed.
The following is a description of the operation of the Printer’s various menu options that let you customize the
operation of the Printer to suit. The Printer Control-Panel Keys can be used to access various functions that help the
operator control the Printer. These functions and their operation are as follows:
TEST key
Pressing the TEST key momentarily places the Printer in the Test Print Mode. The word “Working” appears in the
lower half of the Display. After a short period of time the Display changes to “Enter to feed”. Pressing the ENTER
key will start the printing process and print the Test Print. To stop the feeding, press ENTER again.
NOTE: If you have chosen to have the Printer start automatically (see the Menu key below) the Printer will
start printing the Test Print once it is loaded without your having to press the ENTER key. In this case,
pressing the ENTER key will stop the paper feed.
To exit the Test Print Mode, press the TEST key again and the Printer will return to its ready state.
Pressing and holding the TEST key will cause the Printer to enter the “Service Menu”, where various functions of
the Printer can be tested. To exit the “Service Menu”, simply press the TEST key a second time. The “Service
Menu” is primarily used by service to diagnose problems should they occur. You can use the “+”or “-”key to scroll
through the menu. Pressing the ENTER key will test the function.
To check the level of the Ink Cartridges when you enter the Service Menu press the “-”key and the amount of ink
remaining will appear as a percentage in the lower half of the Display window.
MENU key
The MENU key is used to access the special features built into the Printer and to customize the operation of the
Printer. The basic features are accessed by momentarily pressing the MENU key. Use the “+” or “-”keys to access
the features. The features available under this mode of operation are as follows:
NOTE: If the ON LINE key is ON, you cannot enter the Menu Mode. You must first take the machine off line
by pressing the ON LINE key.
Media Thickness Setup –The first item to appear in the Display is the “Media Thickness Setup”, if the Printer
is equipped with an Automatic Media Thickness Control. You can use this feature to pre-set the Printhead
height for various media thicknesses.

SECTION 3
OPERATING THE AstroJet 3600P/3800P P
12
Press Enter to Purge –The purging function is useful to clear the Printhead Nozzles when the machine has
been sitting idle for a time. To activate the Purge, press the ENTER key to feed one piece of media. To purge
the Printheads additional times, press the ENTER key for each additional purge.
NOTE: The Printer will only purge one piece each time you press the ENTER key. For additional
purges, press the ENTER key again for each subsequent purge.
Clear Batch Counter –Pressing the ENTER key will clear the number in the upper right hand corner of the
Display. Resetting the counter is usually performed at the start of each job. Turning the Printer OFF will not
reset this counter.
Purge First Piece –Turning the feature ON will cause the Printer to send one purge pattern on the first piece.
After the purge is completed, the next piece will be have the first record of your database. Once this is turned
ON it will remain ON even if the Printer is turned OFF.
Address Recovery –In event of a jam in the Printer, you can recover up to 10 pieces by pressing the MENU
key, then stepping to the “Address Recovery”. Then press the ENTER key. The message “Enter: Recover 1
Piece” will appear. Use the “+” key to select the number of pieces to reprint (1-10) then press ENTER again to
start the printing process. When the pieces are printed, press the ON LINE key and then the ENTER key to
resume printing the job.
Print Enhancement –Pressing the “+” or “-”key will bring this message up in the Display. The Print
Enhancement feature is used when printing to ensure that the Printhead Nozzles stay open and prevent the loss
of the descender on letters such as “y” or “q” and accent marks that do not appear in every address. Pressing
the ENTER key will turn this function ON or OFF. The function will remain as changed until the operator
changes it again. Turning the Printer ON and OFF will not affect the setting.
NOTE: The Print Enhancement feature will time out after 100 seconds if no media is going through the
Printer. Once media is being printed it will restart.
Automatic Feed –Turning the feature ON will cause the Printer to start feeding once the job is sent. If the ON
LINE key is ON the Printer will start feeding and printing automatically. If you prefer to press the ENTER
key to start the printing process, then turn this feature OFF. Turning the machine ON or OFF will not affect
your selection.
Pause Type: –This feature allows the Printer to respond to a “break mark”set in the database used in a given
job. The “break mark”marks the end of a series within the database. For example, addresses with the same
postal code or after a set number of entries. There are two “Pause Type:”selections:
Feed Stop –This setting is for standalone desktop units not used in line with other mailing equipment. The
Printer will stop feeding media for a set amount of time after it “sees”a “break mark”. Allows time for the
operator to pack or separate that set of printed pieces before the next set starts. Use the “+” or “-” key to
access this feature. Press ENTER to turn this function ON or OFF.
Conveyor Speed Up –This feature is for use when the Printer is used in line with other mailing equipment
(conveyors, tabbers, etc.) When this feature is activated, the Printer responds to the “break mark”by
sending a signal to the conveyor to speed up momentarily. This creates an obvious gap between the end of
one set of pieces and the beginning of the next. Use the “+” or “-” key to access this feature. Press ENTER
to turn this function ON or OFF.
Installing New Printheads –The Printer is capable of telling you when a Printhead is running low on ink. To
use this feature, press the MENU key momentarily. Then use the “+” or “-” key to highlight “Enter when head
(n) is filled”. Press the ENTER key and install a new Cartridge. Repeat for each Cartridge you install. When
the ENTER key is pressed the Display will change to “Head (n) has a new cartridge”. To check the level of
ink in the Cartridges, Press and hold the TEST PRINT key until the “Service Menu” appears. Use the “+” or
“-” key to scroll to the “Service Menu: Ink Levels, 100%100%100%”. This will show how much ink remains
in the Cartridge.
NOTE: This feature only works if the Cartridges remain in the original Head where they were installed. If you
swap the Cartridges from one Head to another, the levels will not be accurate.

SECTION 3
OPERATING THE AstroJet 3600P/3800P P
13
There is a second set of menus available in the Display. To activate them, press and hold the MENU key until the
“Setup Menu” appears. You can step through these items with the “+” or “-” key.
Total Count –The total count displayed is the total number of prints that have passed through the Printer. It is
non-resettable.
BIOS Version –Press the “+” key to display the version of the BIOS.
Bulk Ink –This feature is not used on the AstroJet desktop Printers. No provisions are made to install the
larger Cartridges.
+ / - key
Used to step through the options in various Menu Modes.
ON LINE key
If the ON LINE key is ON, the display shows the following message, “Printer On line / Waiting for Data” and the
light is ON. This means that the Printer is ready to print the job when it is sent. To have the Printer start printing
immediately when the job is sent you must also have the Automatic Feed feature turned ON. If the ON LINE key is
OFF the Display will return the following message, “Printer Off line / ENTER for Paper Feed”. In this condition the
machine can feed paper. This is useful for setting up the Feeder.
NOTE: If the Printer is off line and you send a job, the display shows “Printer Off line / Data Ready to Print”.
To print, you must first press the ON LINE key to put the Printer on line. If you sent data and the Printer is
set up not to start feeding automatically and the ON LINE key is lit, the display will show “Printer On line /
ENTER to Start Feed”.
ENTER key
Used to start the Printer printing when it is on line and the Automatic Feed is turned OFF. Additionally, when the
Printer is placed in any of the Menu Modes, the ENTER key is used to choose the options available.
RESET key
Used to clear the Printer Memory and return it to the wait state. This key only functions if the Printer is off line.
Purge While Printing
To do the purge in the middle of a job, follow these steps:
Press ON LINE to pause the current job.
Press MENU, then step to “Press Enter to Purge”.
Press ENTER to start the purge. Press ENTER again to stop purge.
Press ON LINE, then ENTER to get back to normal printing.
NOTE: If a paper jam occurs during the purge: after the purge you should use “Address Recovery”to
get back to normal printing. Otherwise you will lose records.
Printer Driver Properties
The Printer Driver describes to the Printer how to print your job. It controls the operation of the Printer and allows
you to send fixed and variable text and graphics to the Printer. Within your data management software is a “Print”
function. In that “Print” function is a Properties Button. Through Properties you can control the output of the Printer.
The following describes the Properties Windows for the AstroJet 3600P/3800P and how to use them to customize
your Printer's output.
To start printing, click on File, then Print. The Print window opens. If
you wish to print the job, click OK. If you wish to use the Special
Features built into the AstroJet 3600P/3800P Drivers, click on the
Properties Button to open the Properties Window in Windows 98, NT,
or ME.

SECTION 3
OPERATING THE AstroJet 3600P/3800P P
14
If you are using Windows 2000 or XP the window at right will open. Clicking on
Advanced will open the “Options”window. In the following illustrations, the
windows for Windows 98, NT, and ME will be on the left. The windows for
Windows 2000 and XP will be on the right.
When the Properties window opens you are
presented with several tabs in Windows 98.
The following are standard Windows Printer
Driver functions and should be left at their
defaults: Graphics, Fonts, and Device
Options. The Features and Print Heads
tabs are used to setup, change, and adjust the
Printer.
Features Tab
The Features Tab/ Advanced
Options, depending on the
operating system, is used to
change the speed and resolution of
the Printer, to add a delay to the
feed to provide separation
between the pieces, and to print
and overlay with the job. The first
feature is the Print Quality,
which has two settings, one for the
resolution of the print quality and
the second for the appropriate
speed. Changing the resolution to
a higher number (e.g. 200 DPI to
600 DPI) will increase the quality
of the image. When the resolution
is changed, the Belt speed (IPS) is automatically changed to the optimum speed for the resolution selected. You can,
however change the speeds to a lower speed as follows:
Resolution
Speeds available
150 DPI
Low, Medium, Medium High,
and High
200 DPI
Low, Medium, and Medium
High
300 DPI
Low, and Medium
600 DPI
Low

SECTION 3
OPERATING THE AstroJet 3600P/3800P P
15
The Feed Delay can be used to put more space between the pieces as they are being printed. This will give the first
piece printed more time to dry before the next piece is printed. The adjustment range is in 0.1-second increments.
This feature works at all speeds.
The Overlay feature is used to save time printing when you are combining a database with fixed information or
graphics. The default is “No overlay”.
To use the Overlay feature: First create a layout in an application such as Microsoft Word. Place all of the fixed
information and graphics on this layout. Open the layout and go to Print in the File menu. Click on Features and
then click on Overlay. Select “Contains overlay” from the box, and then click on Apply and OK.
Next, click OK on the “Print” window. The Overlay will download and the Printer will start running.
Now open the job that contains the variable data and using File then Print from the dropdown menu open the
“Print” window for the application. Click on Properties then on the Features tab. Then click on the dropdown
menu under “Overlay”and click on Previous job contains overlay. Click Apply, then OK. When the Print window
reappears, click OK to send the job to the Printer. To start printing, press the ENTER key on the Printer.
If you wish to print a second job using the same Overlay, simply open that job and send it to the Printer. If the next
job does not contain an Overlay, then click on Properties in the “Print” window, select Overlay, then No overlay.
Click Apply, then OK.
To print the next job with a different Overlay, repeat the process for the first Overlay.
NOTE: Turning the Printer OFF, then ON will clear the Overlay and the job.
Print Heads Tab
The purpose of the Print Heads Tab is to permit slight (0.001-inch) adjustment to the position of the Printheads to
each other. The adjustment is used to precisely align the three Printheads when printing graphics or type that extends
beyond the width of one Printhead. Each head can be moved +/- 0.048-inch in 0.001-inch increments.
If you want to move the Printhead toward the lead edge of your layout, then it should be moved in the “-” direction.
To move the Head away from the lead edge, move it in the “+” direction.

SECTION 3
OPERATING THE AstroJet 3600P/3800P P
16
When the Printer is turned OFF, any changes made this way will return to their original settings.
Inverse Printing
The Paper Tab contains one element that is used to reverse or invert the printing on the AstroJet 3600P/3800P.
In normal operation, the printing is read from the operator side of the Printer. It is sometimes necessary to turn the
printing direction 180 degrees from the normal direction. This occurs when, due to the layout or the method of
binding, the media must be fed in the reverse direction.
Clicking on the Paper Tab, then on the Paper Source will permit you to reverse the printing direction 180 degrees.
The rest of the settings on this tab should be left as they are. Paper size is always “Max Print Area” and Orentation is
always “Portrait”. Do not change them.