Intermec 3400 User manual

3400, 3440, and 3600
Bar Code Label Printer
P/N 065145-001
User’s Manual

Intermec Technologies 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: 1-800-687-7043
Canadian media supplies ordering information: 1-800-267-6936
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.
1998 by Intermec Technologies Corporation
All Rights Reserved
The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, JANUS, IRL, TRAKKER, Antares, Adara, Duratherm,
EZBuilder, Precision Print, PrintSet, Virtual Wedge, and CrossBar are trademarks of Intermec
Technologies Corporation.
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 () 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.
The software contained in the 3400, 3440, and 3600 Printers and the accompanying materials are
copyrighted. Unauthorized copying of the software, including software that has been modified,
merged, or included with other software, or the written materials is expressly forbidden without the
prior written consent of Intermec. All right, title, and interest in all copies of this software are and
shall at all times remain the sole and exclusive property of Intermec. Customers may be held legally
responsible for any copyright infringement that is caused or encouraged by their failure to abide by
these terms.

Contents
iii
Contents
Before You Begin vii
Warranty Information vii
Safety Summary vii
Warnings and Cautions viii
About This Manual ix
Other Intermec Manuals xi
Getting Started
Using This Manual 1-3
Getting to Know Your Printer 1-3
Preparing the Printer for Installation 1-5
Plugging In the Printer 1-5
Opening the Printer 1-6
Loading Media for Fanfold Printing 1-7
Printing the Hardware Configuration Test Label 1-9
What the Hardware Configuration Test Label Tells You 1-10
If a Hardware Configuration Test Label Does Not Print 1-10
Connecting the Printer to Your System 1-10
Connecting Your Printer to a PC 1-11
Connecting the Printer to a PC Serial Port 1-11
Connecting the Printer to a PC Parallel Port 1-12
Connecting Your Printer to a Network 1-12
Connecting the Printer to an AS/400 1-14
Connecting the Printer to a Mainframe 1-14
Cabling in Noisy Electrical Environments 1-14
Configuring the Serial Port for Communications 1-15
Verifying Printer Communications With Your System 1-18
Operating the Printer
Learning How to Operate the Printer 2-3
Understanding the Front Panel 2-3
Understanding the Front Panel LEDs 2-4
Using the Feed/Pause Button 2-5
1
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Loading Media Into the Printer 2-6
Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing 2-6
Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing 2-8
Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon 2-10
Setting the Media Sensitivity Number 2-12
Setting the MSN for Intermec Media and Ribbon 2-13
Setting the MSN for Other Media and Ribbon 2-14
Communicating With the Printer 2-18
Using the PrintSet Software 2-18
Using Third-Party Software 2-18
Using Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Commands 2-18
Printing a Test Label 2-19
Maintaining the Printer
Inspecting the Printer 3-3
Tools for Cleaning the Printer 3-3
Maintenance Schedule 3-4
Cleaning the Printhead 3-6
Cleaning the Printer Covers 3-7
Cleaning the Drive Roller and Tear Bar 3-8
Cleaning the Media Guides and Media Path 3-9
Cleaning the Label Sensors 3-10
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Checklist 4-3
Printer Operation Problems 4-3
Print Quality Problems 4-5
Communication Problems and Preventing Data Loss 4-7
Optimizing Printer Performance
Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality 5-3
Correcting Uneven Print Quality 5-3
3
4
5

Contents
v
Adjusting the Print Darkness 5-5
Adjusting the Label Mark Sensor 5-6
Using the Printer Memory Efficiently 5-8
How Is the Printer RAM Used? 5-8
Making the Most of Your RAM 5-9
Increasing Throughput 5-10
What Is an Image Band? 5-10
How Does the Image Bands Command Work? 5-10
Optimizing Print Speed and Image Band Setting 5-11
Optimizing Image Bands for Batch Printing 5-11
Using Test and Service Mode
Using Test and Service Mode Procedures 6-3
Printing Test Labels 6-5
Using Data Line Print 6-5
Performing Selective Transfer 6-6
Resetting the Memory on Your Printer 6-7
Setting Configuration Commands in Test and Service Mode 6-8
Setting the Number of Dot Increments 6-9
Adjusting the Label Rest Point 6-11
Setting Emulation Mode 6-13
Using Forms Adjust 6-14
X Forms Adjust 6-15
Y Forms Adjust 6-16
Specifications
Printer Specifications A-3
3400 Specifications A-4
3440 Specifications A-6
3600 Specifications A-8
Printer Options A-10
Memory Expansion and Fonts A-10
Communication Interface A-10
Finishers A-11
Bar Code Symbologies Supported A-13
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Character Sets
International Character Sets B-3
Advanced Character Table B-3
Emulation Mode Character Table B-4
IBM Translation Character Table B-4
Code Page 850 Character Table B-5
Extended Character Sets B-6
Communications Reference
Communication Protocols C-3
Intermec Standard Protocol C-3
XON/XOFF Protocol (Software and Hardware Flow Control) C-4
XON/XOFF, No Status Protocol C-5
Polling Mode D C-5
Multi-Drop Protocol C-5
User-Defined Protocol C-6
Host Requirements C-7
Communications Boundaries C-7
Communications Interfaces C-7
RS-232 Serial Interface C-7
RS-422 Serial Interface C-8
RS-485 Serial Interface C-8
Printer Serial Port C-11
Full ASCII Table
Glossary
Index
B
C
D
G
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Before You Begin
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Before You Begin
This section introduces you to standard warranty provisions, safety
precautions, warnings and cautions, document formatting conventions, and
sources of additional product information. A documentation roadmap is also
provided to guide you in finding the appropriate information.
Warranty Information
To receive a copy of the standard warranty provision for this product, contact
your local Intermec sales organization. In the U.S. call 1-800-755-5505, and in
Canada call 1-800-688-7043. Otherwise, refer to the Worldwide Sales & Service
list that was shipped with this manual for the address and telephone number of
your Intermec sales organization.
Safety Summary
Your safety is extremely important. Read and follow all warnings and cautions
in this book before handling and operating Intermec equipment. You can be
seriously injured, and equipment and data can be damaged if you do not follow
the safety warnings and cautions.
Do not repair or adjust alone Do not repair or adjust energized equipment alone
under any circumstances. Someone capable of providing first aid must always
be present for your safety.
First aid Always obtain first aid or medical attention immediately after an
injury. Never neglect an injury, no matter how slight it seems.
Resuscitation Begin resuscitation immediately if someone is injured and stops
breathing. Any delay could result in death. To work on or near high voltage,
you should be familiar with approved industrial first aid methods.
Energized equipment Never work on energized equipment unless authorized
by a responsible authority. Energized electrical equipment is dangerous.
Electrical shock from energized equipment can cause death. If you must
perform authorized emergency work on energized equipment, be sure that you
comply strictly with approved safety regulations.

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Warnings and Cautions
The warnings and cautions in this manual use the following format.
Warning
A warning warns you of an operating procedure, practice, condition, or
statement that must be strictly observed to avoid death or serious injury to
the persons working on the equipment.
Avertissement
Un avertissement vous alerte d’une procédure de fonctionnement, d’une
méthode, d’un état ou d’un rapport qui doit être strictement respecté pour
éviter l’occurrence de mort ou de blessures graves aux personnes manupulant
l’équipement.
Caution
A caution alerts you to an operating procedure, practice, condition, or
statement that must be strictly observed to prevent equipment damage or
destruction, or corruption, or loss of data.
Conseil
Une précaution vous avertit d’une procédure de fonctionnement, d’une
méthode, d’un état ou d’un rapport qui doit être strictement respecté pour
empêcher l’endommagement ou la destruction de l’équipement, ou l’altération
ou la perte de données.

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Before You Begin
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About This Manual
Analysts and programmers should use this manual to learn how to operate,
program, and connect the 3400, 3440, or 3600 printer to a network or system.
The first part of this manual tells you how to install, operate, maintain, and
troubleshoot your printer. The last part of the manual covers advanced features
of the 3400, 3440, and 3600 printers. A basic understanding of DOS,
programming, and data communications is necessary.
What You Will Find in This Manual
This table summarizes the information in each chapter of this manual:
For Information On Refer To
Installing the printer Chapter 1, “Getting Started.” Tells you how to plug in the
printer, load fanfold media, configure the serial port, and
print a configuration test label.
Operating the printer Chapter 2, “Operating the Printer.” Explains the printer front
panel, tells you how to load roll media, load ribbon, test for
communications, and download fonts.
Routine maintenance Chapter 3, “Maintaining the Printer.” Shows how to maintain
the printer.
Troubleshooting Chapter 4, “Troubleshooting.” Instructs how to clear error
messages and troubleshoot programming or configuration
problems.
Improving printer
performance Chapter 5, “Optimizing Printer Performance.” Tells you how to fine-tune the printer to increase processing time.
Test and Service
features Chapter 6, “Using Test and Service Mode.” Provides information on using Test and Service mode to print test
labels, perform Test and Service mode procedures, and
configure DIP switch settings.
Specifications Appendix A.
Character sets Appendix B.
Communications Appendix C.
Full ASCII chart Appendix D.

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Terms and Conventions
Listed below are special terms and conventions used throughout the manual.
Refer to the glossary for a complete list of terms found in this manual.
Terms
“Printer” refers to a 3400, 3440, or 3600 bar code label printer.
“Media” is the label stock on which the printer prints labels.
“Host” refers to a personal computer or other computer that communicates
with the printer.
A “symbol” or “bar code symbol” consists of alphanumeric characters encoded
in a bar code format.
Conventions
The following conventions are used throughout this manual for operating
procedures and descriptions of the printer.
• Feed/Pause refers to the Feed/Pause button on the printer front panel.
• Downloaded commands appear in the order that you enter them into the
printer with the following conventions:
Convention Description
< > Angle brackets < > enclose mnemonic representations of ASCII control
characters. For example, <ETX> represents the ASCII “End of Text”
control character.
data Italic text represents variable data, which you must replace with a real
value. For example, nsignifies a variable for which you must designate a
constant value.
[data] Italic text within brackets represents optional data.
Ctrl Bold text represents a key on your keypad. For example, Tab represents
the Tab key and Mrepresents the letter M key.
Ctrl-ZWhen two keys are joined with a dash, press them simultaneously. For
example, if you see the command Ctrl-C, press the two keys at the same
time.
E3;F3 Type all characters that appear in the Courier font by pressing an
individual key on the keypad.