Postek C168 User manual

i
FCC Notice
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment may generate, use and/or radiate radio frequency energy. If not
installed and used in full accordance with this instruction manual, interference to
radio communications may occur. This equipment complies with the limits for a
Class A Information Technology Equipment pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules,
which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference when
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area may also cause interference. In such case the user will be required, at his own
expense, to correct the interference using whatever means necessary.
Trademarks
ARM is a registered trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
POSTEK is a registered trademark of Postek Electronics Co., Ltd.
PS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Copyright
© 2006-2009 by Postek Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Under the
copyright laws, this manual cannot be reproduced in any form without the prior
written permission of Postek. No patent liability is assumed, with respect to the use
of the information contained herein.
C168 Label Printer User’s Manual
2nd edition Dec. 2009

ii
Disclaimer
This manual has been validated and reviewed for accuracy. The instructions and
descriptions it contains are accurate for the Postek C168 Label Printer at the time of
this manual’s printing. However, succeeding printers and manuals are subject to
change without notice. Postek assumes no liability for damages incurred directly or
indirectly from errors, omissions or discrepancies between the printer and this
manual.
Although this manual describes and details many issues, which could possibly occur,
the manufacturer cannot warrant against unpredictable conditions during the printing
process. For problems such as the printer not working, lost or unclear print content,
etc., the manufacturer and resellers are responsible for correcting these issues
(according to Postek Printer Warranty Clauses). In no event shall the manufacturer or
the resellers involved be liable for any damages whatsoever (including without
limitation; damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of
business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising from the use of, the results of
use or inability to use this product, even if the manufacturer has been advised of the
possibility of such damages.

iii
Important Safety Instructions
◆Only qualified and trained service technicians should attempt to repair the printer.
◆Do not place the printer on or near a heat source.
◆Be sure that the output of the power adapter is 24VDC and your power source
matches the rating listed on the power adapter. Be certain your power source is
grounded.
◆To avoid getting an electric shock, do not use a worn or damaged power cord. If
the power cord becomes damaged or frayed, replace it immediately.
◆Do not insert anything into the ventilation slots or openings on the printer.
◆The printer and power adapter should never be operated in a location where either
one can get wet. Personal injury may result.
◆The printhead becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the
printhead and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the printhead.
◆To get increased printhead longevity and higher quality printouts, always use
approved labels, tags and thermal transfer ribbons. Approved supplies can be
ordered from your dealer.
◆Static electricity that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other
surfaces can damage or destroy the printhead or electronic components in this
device. DO NOT touch the printhead or the electronic components with bare
hands.
◆Place the printer on a flat, firm, solid surface.
Possible Corrective Action
◆ Never jam or block the air vents, or operate in a high temperature environment.
◆ Turn off the power when not in use for extended periods.
◆ Follow all recommendations and setup instructions included in this manual.

iv
Contents
Preface....................................................................................... 1
Important Notice, Read Me First!.......................................... 2
Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................... 3
Specifications................................................................................... 3
Specifications for Printer.......................................................... 3
Specifications for Power Adapter............................................. 4
Unpacking and Inspection................................................................ 4
Chapter 2 Getting Started....................................................... 7
Setting up ......................................................................................... 7
Main Parts and Features................................................................... 8
Connecting the Printer ................................................................... 11
Power Connection .................................................................. 11
Interface Connection .............................................................. 11
Loading the Ribbon........................................................................ 13
Loading the Media ......................................................................... 20
Adjusting the Position of Media Sensor......................................... 25
Operation Basics ............................................................................ 28
Power Switch ......................................................................... 28
The Front Panel...................................................................... 29
Advanced Functions............................................................... 30
DIP Switch at the Back Panel ................................................ 32
Windows Driver and PosLabel Software ....................................... 34
Chapter 3 Maintenance ......................................................... 35
Cleaning the Printhead ................................................................... 35
Cleaning the Platen Roller ............................................................. 36
Cleaning the Printer Interior........................................................... 36

v
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting ................................................... 37
Error Indications ............................................................................ 37
Miscellaneous ................................................................................ 38
Others............................................................................................. 39
Appendix A: Interface Specifications................................... 40
Appendix B: ASCII Table ..................................................... 43

1
Preface
Welcome to POSTEK’s C168 label printer.
This manual explains how to set up and begin using your C168 printer. It
also provides detailed information on configuring your printer, basic
operations, care and troubleshooting.
Please read this manual carefully before using the C168 printer.

2
Important Notice, Read Me First!
Thermal printhead can be easily damaged due to its precision
construction. A printhead damaged by misuse is not covered under the
terms of the warranty. To ensure longevity of the printhead, please note
the following:
1. DO NOT scrape or use tools that might damage the printhead
surface.
2. To protect from corroding the printhead, DO NOT touch the
printhead with bare hands.
1．DO NOT use thermal paper or thermal transfer ribbon, which
contains Na, K or Cl.
2．Keep printhead from any form of liquid or dampness.
3．Use a Cotton Swab dipped in anhydrous isopropyl alcohol to
clean the printhead only.
4．Always use high-quality consumables:
(1) When the printhead module is closed, pressure is placed
directly onto the printhead; dirt such as paper scraps, sand,
dust and glue can scrape or damage the printhead.
(2) The TPH is also easily damaged by Static Electricity, which
may be generated by poor quality ribbons.
Always inspect consumables for quality before purchasing.

3
Chapter 1 Introduction
Specifications
Specifications for Printer
Model C168/200s C168/300s
Printing method Direct thermal & Thermal transfer
Printing resolution 203 dpi (8 dots/mm) 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm)
Max printing speed 4 ips /s (101.6 mm) 3 ips (76.2 mm/s)
Max printing width 4.09″(104 mm) 4.25″(108 mm)
Max printing length 157″(4000 mm) 79″(2000 mm)
Memory 2 MB FLASH ROM, 8 MB SDRAM
Media Roll-feed, die-cut, continuous, fan-fold, tags, tickets in plain
paper or thermal paper
Width：110 mm max., 25 mm min.
Supply roll: OD 4″(102 mm) max., ID 1″(25.4 mm) min.
Thickness: 0.003″～0.007″(0.08～0.18 mm), including liner
Ribbon Wax, Wax/Resin, Resin
Ribbon roll: OD 3″(76.2 mm) max., ID 1″(25.4 mm) core
Max width: 110 mm; Max length: 360 M
Fonts Five built-in ASCII fonts; Optional multiple language fonts
Bar Code Types 1D Barcode : Code 39, Code 93, Code 128/subset A,B,C,
Codabar, Interleave 2 of 5, UPC A/E 2 and 5 add-on,
EAN-13/8/128, UCC-128, etc.
2D Barcode : MaxiCode, PDF417, Data matrix, etc.
Media sensor Reflective (Adjustable)
Interfaces RS-232 serial, USB
Power rating* 24 VDC, 2.0 A
Weight 2.8 kgs

4
Dimensions W 236 x D 291 x H 199 mm
Operation environment Temperature: 32°F ~ +104°F (0°C ~ 40°C)
Relative humidity: 5% - 85% non condensing
Storage environment Temperature: -40°F ~ +140°F (-40°C ~ 60°C)
Relative humidity: 5% - 85% non condensing
Optional items Cutter kit, Peeler kit, Internal 100/10 M Ethernet Interface card
* Power for the C168 barcode label printer is provided via an external power
adaptor.
Specifications for Power Adapter
Input AC 100~240 V, 47~63 Hz
Output DC 24 V, 2.0 A
Environment 0°C ~ 40°C
Unpacking and Inspection
Inspect the shipping carton(s) for possible shipping damage, if
damage is discovered, notify the shipping company to report the
nature and extent of the damage.
Please check the items according to the Packing List. If there are any
items missing, notify your authorized reseller.

5
Packing List（Figure 1）:
1.Printer 1pcs
2. Power Adapter 1 pcs
3. Ribbon Spindle 2 pcs
4. Media Spindle 1 pcs
5.CoreAdapter 2pcs
6. Media Roll Guide 2 pcs
7.Ribbon 1pcs
8. Sample Media 1 pcs
9.CDRom 1pcs
10. Quick Start Guide 1 pcs

6
Figure 1 Printer and accessories
Ribbon Spindle
Printe
r
Power Ada
p
te
r
Media S
p
indle
Core Ada
p
te
r
Media Roll Guide
Ribbon
Sample Media
CD-RomUser’s Manual

7
Chapter 2 Getting Started
Setting up
Before setting up the printer you should consider the following:
1. Make sure there is adequate space around the printer for loading
consumables and proper ventilation.
2. Make sure the printer is close to the host so the interface cable is
easily accessible at either end.

8
Main Parts and Features
Figure 2
1. READY Indicator 2. MEDIA Indicator 3. RIBBON Indicator
4. PAUSE Button 5. FEED Button 6. CANCEL Button
7. Media Exit 8. Cover Handle 9. Top Cover
3
1
2
4
5
6
8
7
9

9
Figure 3
1. Printhead Module 2. Printhead Bracket 3. Printhead
4. Media Sensor 5. Platen Roller 6. TPH Release Lever
7. Media Guide 8. Ribbon Loading Knob 9. Ribbon Supply Spindle
10. Media Compartment 11.Guide Wheel
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9
10
11

10
Figure 4
1. RS232 Serial Port 2. DIP Switches 3. USB Port
4. Ethernet Port 5. DC IN Port 6. Power Switch
7. Centronics Port
Note: The above figure illustrates all possible interface ports on a C168
printer, but some ports may not be available for your printer.
Please check your requirements when purchasing the printer.
1 2 3 45
7
6

11
Connecting the Printer
Power Connection
Caution:(1) Use of the wrong adapter could damage your printer.
Postek assumes no liability for any damage in such case.
The rating for the printer is 24VDC.
(2) Do not use the printer near liquids or corrosive chemicals.
1. Make sure the printer is switched OFF.
2. Connect the power cord to the Power Adapter.
3. Connect the Power Adapter’s DC output plug to the DC IN port on the
back of the printer.
4. Plug the power cord into a live wall outlet.
Interface Connection
CAUTION: Make sure the printer is switched OFF before connecting
the interface cable.
The interface between the printer and the host will use either a serial or
USB (or parallel) cable. Contact your reseller for Ethernet connection
options.
1. The printer identifies the communication port automatically.
2. The default values of printer port can be obtained from the self-test
report. (See Chapter 2 Operation Basics – Advanced Functions - Self
Test)
3. Cable configurations for serial (RS-232C) and parallel

12
(Centronics) interfaces are shown in Appendix A of this guide.
4. Please take the following measures to reduce cable noise.
（1）Reduce the length of the interface cable (keep the cable length
under 1.83 meters / 6 feet) if required.
（2）Keep the communication cable separate from power cords.

13
Loading the Ribbon
Caution: (1) Make sure the ink side of your ribbon faces outwards.
Always make sure the ink side of the ribbon faces the
media and NOT the printhead.
(2) The maximum width of the ribbon is 110mm. When
using a ribbon roll with a width less than 110m,
please place the ribbon roll in the middle of the
Ribbon Spindle corresponding to the symmetry
symbol (→|←).
(3) This section is not applicable to direct thermal printing.
1. Lift the top cover (Figure 5-1).
2. Push the TPH release lever to release the Printhead Module.
3. Lift the Printhead Module to expose the ribbon supply spindle (Figure
5-2).
4. Unwrap the ribbon roll pack and separate the ribbon roll and the core
(Figure 5-3).
5. Slide the roll of Ribbon onto one of the Ribbon Spindles and the core
onto the other spindle (Figure5-3).
6. Load the Ribbon Spindle into the printer and route the ribbon through
the Printhead Module as shown in Figure 5-4.
7. Wrap the end of the ribbon around the core (Figure5-5).
8. Load the core into the Ribbon rewinder (Figure5-6).
9. Turn the guide wheel on the left of the core to take up the loose ribbon
and tighten the ribbon.
10. Close the Printhead Module and press down until it locks into place.

14
Figure 5-1