Polaroid P3000 User manual

P3000 Printer Guide
566372-001 Rev A
January 2006

Information resources for the P3000 ID Card Printer
Installation To install one printer to a PC using a USB cable, see the
Installation Map, shipped at the top of the printer carton.
For detailed installation information or for special
situations (such as network installation), see e-Guide/
InfoCent.chm on the driver CD-ROM.
Message Help If you see a message, click Help on the message box.
Help topics are short and to the point.
Printer Guide This Printer Guide contains operating information for the
printer and driver.
Info Central For in-depth information about using the printer, install
Info Central on a Windows PC, then click the icon on the
desktop. (Insert the PCID Driver CD-ROM and choose
User Information to install Info Central.)
FAQs
The Support and Service area at www.polaroid-id.com provides a FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
area where you can search for information about a problem you experience.
Dealer
For help with questions not addressed by other P3000 ID Card Printer information, contact the Reseller
you purchased your product from for technical support. If your reseller is not available or cannot assist
you, please contact Polaroid Commercial ID Systems at 1-866-484-0611. Please make sure you have
the serial number of the printer available at the time of your call.
Customer
Care
Contact Polaroid Commercial ID Systems at 1-866-484-0611. Please make sure your have the serial
number of the printer available at the time of your call.

539251-401 Rev A Page iii
Contents
About the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Loading cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Loading print ribbon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Check the PC connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Power on the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Status light. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Opening Printing Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Open the Printer Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Cleaning the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Printer supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Getting the most out of your printer . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Site requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Legal Notices (FCC) . . . . . . . . . . . Inside back cover

Page 1
About the printer
The outside of the printer
Printer Cover.
Latch: Lift the latch to open the printer cover.
Input hopper: Lift the cover to load blank cards.
Output hopper: Remove completed cards.
Ready button: Push to pause or unpause the printer.
The status light helps you understand printer operation.
See ”Status light” on page11 for details.

Page 2
Ports are located on the left side of the printer.
Manual Advance Knob: Use to release a card in
the printer or to turn rollers.
Power Receptacle: Plug in the power supply to
power on the printer.
Cable Guides: Hold the data cable securely.
Optional Smart Card USB Port: See “Features
and options” on page 4.
Optional Smart Card Serial Port: See “Features
and options” on page 4.
USB Data Port: Connect the data cable to the
printer. All printers use this port.

Page 3
The inside of the printer
Cover Arm: Holds the cover and printhead cartridge in place.
Printhead Cartridge: Applies the image to the card.
Print Ribbon Cartridge (shown with color print ribbon).
Printer Label: Includes the serial number and model information
(located on the left side of the printer and not visible in this drawing).
Cleaning roller (not visible in this drawing): Removes dust and debris
from cards.
Tip: Lift the latch to open the printer and see inside.
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Page 4
Features and options
Features and options are identified on the printer label.
• Printers with “U” printing can print one color (monochrome). Printers
with “C” printing can print in full color or monochrome (with specific
ribbons).
• All P3000 ID Card printers use a USB connection.
• A magnetic stripe module can be a three-track (IAT) module. The
optional magnetic stripe module is visible inside the printer.
• An optional smart card module can be one of the following:
— Combination smart card reader (SC347 on the label): SCM
331 DI (dual interface) reader. Visible inside the printer.
Includes a USB port.
— Contact station (SC400 on the label). Visible inside the
printer. Includes a serial port.

Page 5
Loading cards
1Open the input hopper cover.
2Remove cards from the original package.
Tips: Handling cards
•Cards can stick together: Slide or fan cards to
separate the edges.
•Do not touch the surface of cards before printing them.
(Oils on hands will reduce printing quality.)
•Handle cards by the edges or wear gloves.
•Orient all cards the same way.

Page 6
3Place the cards in the input hopper.
The diagram shows the typical locations for the
magnetic stripe and smart card chip.
4Push the input hopper cover closed until it
latches.
See Info Central for current information about cards to use in the printer.

Page 7
Loading print ribbon
1Open the printer cover.
2Remove the ribbon cartridge.
3Remove both used ribbon spools from the
cartridge (if present).
Tips: Handling print ribbon
•Keep unused ribbon in the original package.
•Don’t place ribbon on a dusty or dirty surface–
dirt could damage the printhead.
4Run a cleaning card and replace the cleaning
sleeve at the same time that you load a new print
ribbon. See ”Cleaning the printer” on page 17 for
the steps to follow.
— Load the new roll of print ribbon on the
cartridge. Put the full spool of ribbon on the
supply spindle of the ribbon cartridge. Push
until the spool clicks onto the spindle.
— Put the empty take-up spool on the spindle
with the solid black gear. Push until the spool
clicks onto the spindle.
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