MicroBoards Technology PrintFactory PF-3 User manual

Quick Reference Guide
for Windows 7, Vista, or XP
PleasevisitourTechnicalSupportwebsiteatwww.microboards.com/support
Rev 10.03.11
Printernotresponding 1. Inkcartridgeinstalled correctly?
2. TurnonpowertoPrinter(frontandrearpanels).
Hardwarenotinstallingon
PC 1. Turnonpowerto PF-3 Print Factory (back panel) 2. ReseatUSBconnection
3. InstallationCDindrive?
Installation Troubleshooting Guide:
For a more in-depth look at the
installation process, please refer to
theInstallationsection ofthe User’s
Manual.
Be sure your computer meets the
MinimumSystemRequirementsasstated
in the User’s Manual and that you have
read these instructions and the Manual
priortocontactingMicroboardsTechnical
Support with installation or configuration
questions!
PF-3 Print Factory Installation:
Youshould not attempt to installthePF-3PrintFactoryunlessyouareloggedonto
yourPCwithadministrative rights.
Thehardwareandmuchofthesoftwareinstallationwilloccurwithoutintervention.
1. Unpack the PF-3 Print Factory and place it in the selected workspace. This
spaceshouldhaveenough vertical space to allow for easy loading of mediainto
theinputhopperandhaveenoughroomtotheback of the PF-3 Print Factory to
allowtheunloading of rejected discs.
2. Insert the PF-3 Print Factory Installation disk into the CD/DVD ROM drive on
yourcomputer. Theinstaller should open automatically.
Select Microboards PF-3 Print Factory from the list, then click the Install
Microboards PF-3 Print Factory buttonthat appears.
PF-3 Print Factory Installation
A. If the installer does not automatically open, click the Start button and
selectRunfrom the Startmenu. Clickthe Browse button and go to the CD/
DVD drive, highlight MBInstall.exe, click the Open button, then click OK.
B. Prerequisite Windows components may need to be installed before the
PF-3 Print Factory can be installed. If any prerequisites are not present,
they will be installed at this point. You will not be able to install your PF-3
PrintFactorywithoutinstallingthe prerequisite components. Youmayneed
torebootthe PC after any prerequisites are installed. ThePF-3PrintFactory
installerwilllaunchautomatically after rebooting.
3. Youwillfirst be guidedthroughthe hardwaresetup. Pleasefollow all directions
on each window before clicking the Next button.
During the Installation process, you may see windows appear that refer to
the drivers not being verified by the operating system. Should any of these
windowsappear,click the option to install the driver software.
If you do not install the driver software, your hardware
willnotrun successfully!
4. Afterthephysicalhardware setup is complete, you will be instructed to connect
the PF-3 Print Factory to the computer. Once this occurs, Windows will find
yournewhardwareandrunthroughthedriverinstallation process.
Youmay see an indication that a hardware device was not completely installed.
This is not unusual; the hardware installation will complete after the PC is
rebooted. Continuethroughthe Installertothe last window.
5. Rebooting your PC is required before attempting to run your PF-3 Print
Factory! Click the Finish button to do so.
Do NOT connect your PF-3 Print Factory to your
computer until you are prompted to do so by the PF-3
PrintFactory Installer
INK CARTRIDGES CAN BE USED!
As is true with all printers, the quality of ink cartridge and the quality of the ink
within the cartridge will affect your output. To ensure quality results, the PF-3
Print Factory will not operate with any other ink cartridges in place.
The use of refilled ink cartridges will void your warranty!
ONLY V102C and V101B
In order to guarantee quality results from the PF-3 Print Factory,
The Microboards Printer Toolbox Installation
TheMicroboardsToolboxis installedsilently during the PF-3installation. This
applicationisusedforgeneralmaintenancefunctions.
After the installation completes, theToolbox will start up. You will see an icon
appear in the tool tray in the lower right corner of your Windows desktop. To
access the Toolbox, double-click the icon circled below.
TheToolboxwill also automatically startup after
rebootingthePC.
For more information on configuration options, please see the PF-3
Print Factory Configuration Quick Reference Guide on the other side
of this page, or refer to the appropriate sections of the User’s Manual.

Quick Reference Guide
for Windows 7, Vista, or XP
PleasevisitourTechnical Support website at www.microboards.com/support
Print Image Diameter Settings
The Microboards PF-3 Print Factory includes the ability to mask the print image
diameters to ensure that your media is not being printed outside of the printable
surface. WhileSureThing Disc Labeling softwarecreatescirculartemplates 120mm
in diameter, other applications may not limit the design to the correct size.
ThedefaultInnerDiametersettingis360(36mm). Ifyouareusingaprinttemplate
with an inner hub of less than 36mm, you must change the Inner Diameter setting
to match that of the template for the image to print correctly.
To change the Diameter settings, please follow these steps:
1. Access the Printing Preferences for the Microboards PF3. How this is done
will depend on the Operating System and the currently selected Start Menu
layout.
Windows 7: Select Devices and Printers from the Start button.
Windows Vista: Select the Control Panel from the Start button. Once the
Control Panel opens, select Printer from the Hardware and Sound section.
Windows XP, Start Menu layout: Select Printers and Faxes from the
Windows Start button.
Windows XP, Classic Start Menu layout: Youwill need to go to theSettings
selection, then to the Printers and Faxes from the Start button.
2. Click the Diameter Settings tab.
3. TheOuter Diameter setting willdefinewherethemaskingclipstheouteredge
of the print image. In the example shown below, the image will print to the
default diameter of 118mm (the Parameter Unit is set to 0.1mm).
The Inner Diameter setting will define how far towards the center of the disc
the image will print. This setting will need to be changed when printing to hub-
printablemedia.
4. Click the Apply button to save the changes.
PF-3 Print Factory Configuration
INK CARTRIDGES CAN BE USED!
As is true with all printers, the quality of ink cartridge and the quality of the ink
within the cartridge will affect your output. To ensure quality results, the PF-3
Print Factory will not operate with any other ink cartridges in place.
The use of refilled ink cartridges will void your warranty!
ONLY V102C and V101B
In order to guarantee quality results from the PF-3 Print Factory,
Print Image Alignment
Your PF-3 Print Factory has been factory aligned to .1mm precision. Fine tuning
mayberequireddependingonthemediabrandandprintablesurfacetypeyouare
usingtoprovide full surface coverage.
1. Access the Printing Preferences for the Microboards PF3. How this is done
will depend on the Operating System and the currently selected Start Menu
layout.
Windows 7: Select Devices and Printers from the Start button.
Windows Vista: Select the Control Panel from the Start button. Once the
Control Panel opens, select Printer from the Hardware and Sound section.
Windows XP, Classic Start Menu layout: Youwill need to go to theSettings
selection, then to the Printers and Faxes from the Start button.
Windows XP, Start Menu layout: Select Printers and Faxes from the
Windows Start button.
NOTE: THE ALIGNMENT VALUES MUST BE ENTERED THROUGH THE
PRINTINGPREFERENCES FORTHESETTINGS TOBE USED FROMWITHIN
ANYAPPLICATION!!!
2. Right click on the icon for the Microboards PF3 and select Printing
Preferences…
3. On the Print Quality tab, select Photo for the Print Mode and Best or Max
DPI for the Print Quality.
Photo Best or Max DPI should always be selected when aligning the printer,in
order to insure the greatest accuracy during the alignment process. Other
settings may not result in the best alignment.
4. SelecttheAlignment tab. The .1mm Resolution
setting must be selected before setting alignment
values (see below). Set the Top and Left Side
alignment values to those required for image
alignment.
These settings will change the size of the top and
leftmargins, respectively. Decreasingthevalueswill
move the image up or to the left, increasing will
adjust down or to the right.
5. ClicktheApply buttontosave the changes, found on the bottom of the Printing
Preferenceswindow.
6. Verify the alignment by printing a full disc image on the media. Repeat these
stepsiffurtheralignmentadjustmentsarerequired.
For further details on the alignment process, please refer to the
section on Alignment in the PF-3 Print Factory User’s Manual.
Printer Toolbox
The Printer Toolbox contains
several utility functions for the
PF-3 Print Factory. The toolbox
will open automatically after
installationof the PF-3, andeach
timethePC boots up. It can also
berun bydouble-clickingthe PF3
Toolbox icon in the tool tray.
The functions of the Toolbox
include:
•PrintheadCleaningUtilities
•PenCalibration
•AutomaticMarginCalibration
•Test Print
•Belt Exerciser
•LowInkwarnings
Formoreinformation on theToolbox, please refer to the User’sManual.
Be sure your computer meets the Minimum System Requirements as stated
in the User’s Manual and that you have read these instructions and the
Manual prior to contacting Microboards Technical Support with installation
or configuration questions!