Intermec PF8D User manual

PF8d | PF8t
Desktop Printer
User’s Guide

ii PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
Intermec Technologies Corporation
Worldwide Headquarters
6001 36th Ave.W.
Everett, WA 98203
U.S.A.
www.intermec.com
The information contained herein is provided solely for the purpose of allowing customers to
operate and service Intermec-manufactured equipment and is not to be released, reproduced, or
used for any other purpose without written permission of Intermec Technologies Corporation.
Information and specifications contained in this document are subject to change without prior
noticed and do not represent a commitment on the part of Intermec Technologies Corporation.
© 2007-2009 by Intermec Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved.
The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, Norand, ArciTech, Beverage Routebook, CrossBar,
dcBrowser, Duratherm, EasyADC, EasyCoder, EasySet, Fingerprint, i-gistics, INCA (under license),
Intellitag, Intellitag Gen2, JANUS, LabelShop, MobileLAN, Picolink, Ready-to-Work, RoutePower,
Sabre, ScanPlus, ShopScan, Smart Mobile Computing, SmartSystems, TE 2000, Trakker Antares,
and Vista Powered are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Intermec Technologies
Corporation.
There are U.S. and foreign patents as well as U.S. and foreign patents pending.
Wi-Fi is a registered certification mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
in the United States and/or other countries.
Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc., U.S.A.

PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide iii
Document Change Record
This page records changes to this document. The document was
originally released as version 001.
Version Date Description of Change
005 11/2009 Added Ethernet port updates and upgrading
firmware information.
004 3/2009 Corrected information regarding media
specifications. Reformatted the manual to our new
template.
003 06/2008 Corrected printing speeds for various printhead
densities. Added procedure for adjusting Black
Mark/Label Stop sensor. Minor format corrections.
002 08/2007 Removed listing of accessories. Revised information
about installing and using a CompactFlash card.
Minor format corrections.

iv PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide

Contents
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide v
Contents
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Global Services and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Warranty Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Web Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Telephone Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Service Location Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Who Should Read This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Patent Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii
1 Using the PF8 Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introducing the PF8 Printers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What’s New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Features of the PF8 Printers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Front Controls and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Media Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Other Features and Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Understanding the LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Loading Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Loading Tear-off Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Loading Self-Strip Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Loading Cut-Off Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Loading an Media from an External Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon (PF8t Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Turning On the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Performing a Testprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Creating and Printing Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2 Connecting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Connecting the Printer to Your PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Connecting the Printer Through the USB Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Contents
vi PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
Connecting the Printer Through the Serial Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting the Printer Through the Parallel Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Connecting the Printer to Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Configuring the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Configuring the Printer Using the Printer’s Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Configuring the Printer Using PrintSet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Configuring the Printer Using EasyLan Control Center Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Configuring the Printer Using ESim Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Upgrading the Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Upgrading the Ethernet Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
3 Troubleshooting and Maintaining the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Installing the CompactFlash Card (PF8t Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Cleaning the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Cleaning the Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Cleaning the Printhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Adjusting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Adjusting the Thermal Printhead Pressure (PF8t only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Adjusting the Printhead Alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Adjusting the Label Taken Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Adjusting the Label Gap Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Adjusting the Label Stop/Black Mark Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
A Printer Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
PF8d Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
PF8t Printer Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
PF8 Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
RS-232 Serial Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
USB Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Parallel Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Internal Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Contents
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide vii
Media Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Direct Thermal Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Thermal Transfer Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Transfer Ribbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Accessories for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
B Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Default Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Printer Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Contents
viii PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide

Before You Begin
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide ix
Before You Begin
This section provides you with safety information, technical support
information, and sources for additional product information.
Safety Information
Your safety is extremely important. Read and follow all warnings and
cautions in this document 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.
This section explains how to identify and understand warnings,
cautions, and notes that are in this document. You may also see icons
that tell you when to follow ESD procedures.
A warning alerts 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.
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.
This icon appears at the beginning of any procedure in this
manual that could cause you to touch components (such as
printed circuit boards) that are susceptible to damage from
electrostatic discharge (ESD). When you see this icon, you must
follow standard ESD guidelines to avoid damaging the
equipment you are servicing.
Note: Notes either provide extra information about a topic or contain
special instructions for handling a particular condition or set of
circumstances.

Before You Begin
x PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
Global Services and Support
Warranty Information
To understand the warranty for your Intermec product, visit the
Intermec web site at www.intermec.com and click Support >
Returns and Repairs > Warranty.
Disclaimer of warranties: The sample code included in this document
is presented for reference only. The code does not necessarily
represent complete, tested programs. The code is provided “as is with
all faults.” All warranties are expressly disclaimed, including the
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose.
Web Support
Visit the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com to download our
current manuals (in PDF). To order printed versions of the Intermec
manuals, contact your local Intermec representative or distributor.
Visit the Intermec technical knowledge base (Knowledge Central) at
www.intermec.com and click Support > Knowledge Central to
review technical information or to request technical support for your
Intermec product.
Telephone Support
In the U.S.A. and Canada, call 1-800-755-5505.
Outside the U.S.A. and Canada, contact your local Intermec
representative. To search for your local representative, from the
Intermec web site, click About Us > Contact Us.
Service Location Support
For the most current listing of service locations, go to
www.intermec.com and click Support >Returns and Repairs >
Repair Locations.
For technical support in South Korea, use the after service locations
listed below:

Before You Begin
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide xi
AWOO Systems
102-1304 SK Ventium
522 Dangjung-dong
Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do Korea, South 435-776
Contact: Mr. Sinbum Kang
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
IN Information System PTD LTD
6th Floor
Daegu Venture Center Bldg 95
Shinchun 3 Dong
Donggu, Daegu City, Korea
E-mail: [email protected] or [e-mail]
Who Should Read This Manual
This user’s guide is for the person who is responsible for installing,
configuring, and maintaining the PF8d and PF8t printers.This user’s
guide provides you with information about the features of the PF8d
and PF8t printers, and how to install, configure, operate, maintain,
and troubleshoot them.
Related Documents
This table contains a list of related Intermec documents.
The Intermec web site at www.intermec.com contains our
documents (as PDF files) that you can download for free.
To download documents
1Visit the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
2Click Support > Manuals.
3Use the Product Category field, the Product Family field, and
the Product field to help you locate the product whose
documentation you want to download.
Document Title
ESim for the PC4, PF8, PD41, and PD42 Printer Programmer’s Reference
Manual

Before You Begin
xii PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
Patent Information
Product is covered by one or more of the following patents:
5,581,293; 5,613,790; 5,927,876; 6,088,049; 6,345,920
There may be other U.S. and foreign patents pending.

1
1
Using the PF8 Printers
Use this chapter to familiarize yourself with the PF8 printers. In
this chapter you will find these sections:
•Introducing the PF8 Printers
•Features of the PF8 Printers
•Understanding the LED Indicators
•Loading Media
•Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon (PF8t Only)
•Turning On the Printer
•Performing a Testprint
•Creating and Printing Labels

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
2 PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
Introducing the PF8 Printers
The PF8 desktop printers are lightweight, reliable, and easy-to-use.
Both printers are designed to print a low volume of labels, less than
1000 labels, per day. There are two models of the PF8 printer:
•The PF8d is a 203 dpi direct thermal printer.
•The PF8t is a direct thermal or thermal transfer printer that is
available in 203 and 300 dpi models.
Both PF8 printers come with parallel, serial RS-232, and USB ports.
You can install a cutter or label stripper module accessory on both
models of the PF8. You can also install a CompactFlash card adapter
on the PF8t.
What’s New
The PF8 printers support these new features:
•A new Ethernet port. For more information, see “Connecting the
Printer to Your Network” on page 40.
•Printer configuration using either PrintSet. For more information
see “Configuring the Printer” on page 41.
The discharge of electrostatic energy accumulated on the
human body, clothing, or other surfaces can damage or destroy
the printhead or electronic components used in these printers.
Avoid touching the electrical connectors while unpacking or
setting up your printer.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, this manual uses the term PF8 to refer
to both the PF8d and PF8t printers.

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide 3
Features of the PF8 Printers
This section describes the front controls and indicators, components
of the media compartment, and connections located on the back of
the PF8 printers.
Front Controls and Indicators
The PF8 printers are controlled by a Power switch, a Feed button, and
a multi-color status LED.
PF8d and PF8t Front Controls and Indicators
The Power switch is located on the side of the PF8d and on the back
of the PF8t. Use the table below to understand Feed button.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, the graphics in this document refer to
both the PF8t and PF8d.
PF8t
Serial
port
Power
switch
USB
port Ethernet
port
Power
socket
Parallel
port
Fan-fold
label slot
PF8d
USB
port
Power
socket
Fan-fold
label slot
Serial
port
Ethernet
port
Parallel
port
Understanding the Feed Button
Action Results
Tapping the feed button A quick press-and-release causes the media
to advance a short distance out of the
printer.

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
4 PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
There are also cover open buttons located on each side of the printer
which you press to access the media compartment.
Media Compartment
The PF8t is a thermal transfer or direct thermal capable printer. The
media compartment accommodates the media supply and the
transfer ribbon supply. In direct thermal printers like the PF8d, the
top cover and the print mechanism are combined into a single unit.
mp
PF8d Media Compartment
Holding the Feed button
down
Holding the button down when the power
is turned on causes the printer to enter
Media Sensing mode. The printer
configuration page prints when you release
the button.
Understanding the Feed Button (continued)
Action Results
Label guide
(2 places)
Print
mechanism
Black mark
sensor
Platen
roller
Platen
cover
Spindle
Label roll
holder
Platen
cover

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide 5
PF8t Media Compartment
Other Features and Connections
The rear and underside of the printers contain USB, serial, and
parallel connections and additional features. The Ethernet port is
optional and is only available on specific models of the PF8d and
PF8t.
Cover open
button
Print
mechanism
Locking
mechanism
(2 places)
Label roll
core
Rewind shaft and empty
ribbon take up core
Label guide
(2 places)
Platen
roller
Black mark
sensor
Ribbon rewind
wheel Print line
adjustment
gear
Note: On PF8d printers with an Ethernet port, the parallel port is not
available.

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
6 PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
PF8d and PF8t Rear View Connections and Controls
The bottom of the PF8d also has hanger holes that allow you to wall-
mount the printer.
PF8d Wall-Mount Holes
PF8t
Serial
port
Power
switch
USB
port Ethernet
port
Power
socket
Parallel
port
Fan-fold
label slot
PF8d
USB
port
Power
socket
Fan-fold
label slot
Serial
port
Ethernet
port
Parallel
port
Bottom case
cover
Wall-mount
holes

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide 7
Understanding the LED Indicators
When power to the printer is switched on, the status LED turns green,
indicating that the printer is ready to accept print commands.
If the printer runs out of media or ribbon during printing, the LED
turns red.
Other status indicators are shown in the table below. For more
information on the various printer modes, see the ESim for the PC4,
PF8, PD41, and PD42 Printer Programmer’s Reference Manual.
Loading Media
Both models of the PF8 printers can print on direct thermal media.
The PF8t can also print on thermal transfer media such as self-
adhesive labels, non-adhesive tags, or continuous stock. Printing on
thermal transfer media also requires a thermal transfer ribbon.
There are three ways to handle media on the PF8 printers:
•Tear-off (straight-through) media is fed out the front of the
printers and is torn off by pulling it upwards against the edge of
the top cover.
•Self-strip media requires an optional self-strip module that installs
on the front of the PF8.
LED Status Indicators
LED Meaning
Green (blinking) Auto-Sensing mode
Green (blinking) Downloading font, form, or graphic
Green (solid) Dump mode
Green (solid) Ready mode
Green (solid) Print mode
Orange (solid) Boot mode
Red (blinking) Media jam, overheated printhead or stepper motor
Red (blinking) Downloading firmware
Red (solid) Error mode

Chapter 1 — Using the PF8 Printers
8 PF8d and PF8t Desktop Printer User’s Guide
•Cut-off media requires an optional paper cutter fitted on the front
of the printer. The cutter is not designed to cut through adhesive;
adhesive sticks to the cutting shears and prevents the cutter from
operating. Self-strip media are self-adhesive labels that are
automatically separated from the label backing after printing.
Self-strip media cannot be used with the cutter option.
Loading Tear-off Media
1Press the cover open buttons on both sides of the case to open the
top cover. Lift the cover upwards and backwards.