Intermec 3240 User manual

3240 Bar Code Label Printer
P/N 063015-003
User’s Manual
Norand Mobile Systems Division

Intermec Corporation
6001 36th Avenue West
P.O. Box 4280
Everett, WA 98203-9280
U.S. technical and service support: 1-800-755-5505
U.S. media supplies ordering information: 1-800-227-9947
Canadian technical and service support: 1-800-688-7043
Canadian media supplies ordering information: 1-800-268-6936
Outside U.S. and Canada: Contact your local Intermec service supplier.
The information contained herein is proprietary and is provided solely for the purpose of allowing
customers to operate and/or service Intermec manufactured equipment and is not to be released,
reproduced, or used for any other purpose without written permission of Intermec.
Information and specifications in this manual are subject to change without notice.
1997 by Intermec Corporation
All Rights Reserved
The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, JANUS, IRL, TRAKKER, Antares, Duratherm, Precision
Print, PrintSet, Virtual Wedge, and CrossBar are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
Intermec Corporation.
Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.
Kimdura is a registered trademark of Kimberly Clark.
Kapton is a registered trademark of Dupont.
Speedo, Dutch, and Swiss are registered trademarks of Bitstream Inc.
The name Centronics is wholly owned by GENICOM Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Throughout this manual, trademarked names may be used. Rather than put a trademark (or ®)
symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state that we are using the names only in an
editorial fashion, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement.

Manual Change Record
This page records the changes to this manual, which was originally released as version 001.
Version Date Description of Change
002 10/96 These two addenda were added:
• Self-strip addendum Part No. 064196-001
• Top of form addendum Part No. 064522-001
Other minor corrections and changes were made throughout the
manual.
003 11/97 Removed Chapters 5 and 6, which pertained to IPL commands. This
information is now contained in the IPL Programming Reference Manual.

Contents
v
Contents
Before You Begin xi
Warranty Information xi
Safety Summary xi
Warnings and Cautions xii
About This Manual xiii
Getting Started
Unpacking the 3240 Printer 1-3
Checking the Order for Completeness 1-4
Reporting Damage or Defects 1-4
Getting to Know Your 3240 Printer 1-5
Preparing the Printer for Installation 1-7
Plugging In the Printer 1-7
Opening the Printer 1-8
Loading a Roll of Media 1-9
Printing the Hardware Configuration Test Label 1-12
What the Hardware Configuration Test Label Tells You 1-13
If the Hardware Configuration Test Label Does Not Print 1-13
Connecting the Printer to Your System 1-13
Connecting the 3240 to a PC 1-14
Connecting the Printer to a PC Serial Port 1-14
Connecting the Printer to a PC Parallel Port 1-15
Connecting the 3240 to a Network 1-15
Connecting the 3240 to an AS/400 1-16
Connecting the 3240 to a Mainframe 1-16
Configuring the Serial Port 1-17
Verifying Printer Communications With Your System 1-19
Operating the Printer
Learning How to Operate the Printer 2-3
Understanding the Front Panel 2-3
Using the Front Panel LEDs 2-4
Using the Front Panel LEDs for Troubleshooting 2-4
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3240 Bar Code Label Printer Users Manual
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Using the Feed/Pause Button 2-5
Loading Media Into the Printer 2-6
Loading Media for Fanfold Printing 2-6
Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing 2-8
Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon 2-11
Setting the Media Sensitivity Number 2-13
Setting the Media Sensitivity Number for Intermec Media and Ribbon 2-14
Setting the Media Sensitivity Number for Other Media and Ribbon 2-15
Communicating With the Printer 2-17
Using the PrintSet Software 2-17
Using Third-Party Software 2-17
Using the Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Commands 2-17
Printing a Test Label 2-18
Using a Different Platform Than a PC 2-19
Maintaining the Printer
Inspecting the Printer 3-3
Cleaning the Printer 3-3
Maintenance Schedule 3-4
Cleaning the Printhead 3-6
Cleaning the Printer Covers 3-7
Cleaning the Rollers and the Tear Bar 3-8
Cleaning the Media Guides and Media Path 3-10
Cleaning the Label Sensors 3-12
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Checklist 4-3
Printer Operation Problems 4-3
Print Quality Problems 4-5
Communications Problems 4-7
Preventing Data Loss 4-8
Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality 4-9
3
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Contents
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Selecting the Correct Media 4-9
Setting the Print Speed 4-10
Selecting the Correct Media Sensitivity Number 4-10
Selecting the Correct Bar Code Orientation 4-10
Adjusting the Print Darkness 4-11
Adjusting the Printer for Self-Strip Printing 4-12
Using Precision Print Technology to Print High Registration Labels 4-13
Correcting the Lateral Position of the Label Image 4-13
Accurately Detecting the Start of a Label 4-15
Correcting Uneven Print Quality 4-17
Fine-Tuning the Top of Form Position 4-19
Performing Advanced Procedures
Using the Printer Memory Efficiently 5-3
How Is the 3240 RAM Used? 5-3
Making the Most of Your RAM 5-4
Maximizing Throughput 5-5
What Is an Image Band? 5-5
How the Image Bands Command Works 5-6
Optimizing Print Speed and Image Band Setting 5-6
Reimaging Modified Fields 5-7
Optimizing Image Bands for Batch Printing 5-7
Using Test and Service Mode 5-8
Printing Test Labels 5-10
Using Data Line Print 5-10
Performing Selective Transfer 5-11
Using Memory Reset 5-12
Changing Configuration Commands in Test and Service Mode 5-13
Setting the Number of Dot Increments 5-14
Adjusting the Label Rest Point 5-15
Setting Emulation Mode 5-17
Replacing an 86XX, 4100, or 3400 Printer With a 3240 Printer 5-19
Differences Between 86XX Printers and 86XX Emulation 5-19
No BEL Status Response 5-19
Prints Erroneous Labels 5-20
Limited User-Defined Protocol 5-20
Added Auto-Transmit 3 and SI Configuration Commands 5-22
Increased Storage Capacity 5-22
Features Not Implemented 5-22
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3240 Bar Code Label Printer Users Manual
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Differences Between the 3240 Printer and the 4100 Printer 5-23
DIP Switches 5-23
Communications 5-23
Entering Test and Service Mode 5-23
No Cutter 5-23
Front Panel 5-24
RAM Differences 5-24
Differences Between the 3400 Printer and the 3240 Printer 5-24
Printhead Size 5-24
Fonts 5-25
DPI Emulation Modes 5-25
Printer Reference
3240 Printer Specifications A-3
Factory Default Settings A-6
Communications Protocol Characters A-7
Configuration Parameters Upload A-8
Printer Functional Boundaries A-9
Printer Options A-11
Bar Code Symbologies A-13
International Character Sets A-16
Extended Character Sets A-19
DIP Switch Settings A-24
Full ASCII Chart A-25
Cabling and Communications
Communications Reference B-3
Interface Cables and Connectors B-11
Connecting the Printer to a Network or Modem B-15
A
B

Contents
ix
Glossary
Index
G
I