Rockwell Automation Fast Track User manual

QUICK START GUIDE
BULLETIN 1492
Fast Track™ Printer

Table of Contents
1. Products in the FAST TRACK™ Printer Kit3
2. Product Safety Labels4
3. Construction of FAST TRACK™ Printer5
4. FAST TRACK™ Printer Operating Panel and LED Indicators6
5. Software Installation
A. Installation of the FAST TRACK™ Printer Driver8
B. Installation of the Status Monitor10
C. FAST TRACK™ Printer Driver Settings10
D. Installation of the AB Print Software12
6. FAST TRACK™ Printer Ink Cartridges13
7. Print Alignment Setup15
8. Calibrating Individual Marker Cards18
9. Maintenance19
10. Troubleshooting20
11. Warranty22
For further information, useful tips, or the latest drivers, log on to:
http://www.ab.com/industrialcontrols/products
For additional information, contact us via e-mail or telephone
•[email protected]
•1-440-646-5800 options: 2,4,2

1. Products in the FAST TRACK™ Printer Kit (1492-
PRTKIT110V or 1492-PRTKIT220V)
Shipment A
•FAST TRACK™ Printer
•Cleaning cartridge (1492-PRTCLEAN) (color ink cartridge; for cleaning
printhead)
•Input rail
•Output rail
•Parallel printer cable
•Power cord
•Quick Start Guide
•CD ROM for AB-Print software, printer driver, status monitor and manuals
•CD ROM for training video
•2 Marker Cards
Note: Please retain original packaging until the printer has been set up and ran.
Shipment B
•Black ink cartridge (1492 - PRTINKCART)
Note: Specially formulated black Allen-Bradley ink is required. Other ink, such as black
Epson ink, will not work with the marker cards. Allen-Bradley black ink must be
stored below 39°F (4°C) to ensure good ink quality. Store refrigerated. Black ink
cartridges should not be used if the expiration date has passed.

2. Product Safety Labels
Warning - Mind your hands
Do not reach inside

3. Construction of FAST TRACK™ Printer
Ink Access Door
Parallel
Connection
USB
Connection
Power
Supply
Input rail
Operating panel
Output rail
Input Rail
Output Rail

Input rail / output rail
Insert the respective rails into the printer to allow the end hooks to fit onto the
printer pins. Press down to ensure rail seats completely on printer pins.
Note: It is critical that the rails are properly seated.
Ink Access Door
Open the Ink Access Door and remove the shipping brace.
USB / parallel connection
A printer cable is included. Connect the FAST TRACK™ Printer to your comput-
er using either the parallel printer cable or by means of a USB cable.
Power cord
Connect the power cord to the FAST TRACK™ Printer and an outlet.
Operating panel
The entire system is activated or deactivated and settings made via the operating
panel. The heating unit turns on upon activation.
4. FAST TRACK™ Printer Operating panel and LED
indicators
C
aut
i
on:
Observe recommended minimum
distance!
Install the printer on a freely
accessible, sturdy, level surface.
On/Off Button
Maintenance Button
Ink Cartridge Button
Reset Toggle
Temperature Setting Toggle

For detailed information on the operating panel and LED indicators, refer to the
operating manual.
Temperature Setting Toggle
To reuse marker cards during setup or while calibrating individual marker cards,
set the temperature to zero (0) percent. Do this by pressing the “Temperature Set-
ting” toggle repeatedly until all indicator lights are off. The markings may then be
wiped off with a cloth and water.
Note: the proper heat settings must be set for each respective marker setting.
Use the Temperature Setting Toggle to make the correct setting. (Refer to
www.ab.com. In the left navigation pane select A-Z Product Directory; click on
Terminal Blocks, IEC; in the left navigation pane select marking Systems & Ac-
cessories; select Fast Track Marking System; Marker Settings)

5. Software Installation
A. Installation of the FAST TRACK™ Printer Driver
1. Place the CD in the CD-ROM drive, and a window opens automatically.
2. In the window that opens, click the button for your preferred language.
3. Click on the Printer Driver button.

4. In the window that opens, click the button for your operating system.
5. The software installation window will open, click Next to start the installation.
6. Follow the instructions on the monitor.

B. Installation of the Status Monitor
The Status Monitor will inform you about the status of the printer, any failures that
might occur (e.g. paper jam), and the current level of all ink cartridges. The screen
will appear automatically with every started print job. You can activate and deac-
tivate the Status Monitor using the Utility menu. The Status Monitor must be in-
stalled separately.
Installation under Windows NT*
* Please do not install the status monitor if you wish to connect the FAST
TRACK™ Printer to a network.
1. In the window please click the Status Monitor button.
2. The software installation window will open; click Next to start the installation.
3. Follow the instructions on the monitor.
C. FAST TRACK™ Printer Driver Settings
1. Click Start > Settings > Printer to open the printer driver.
Windows 95 users:
File>Properties>Printer Preferences
Windows 98 users:
File>Properties>Printer settings
Windows 2000 users: File>Printer settings
Windows NT users: File>Document name

2. Select the Epson Stylus C62 printer driver
•Click Printer > Printing Preferences. Then, adjust the settings as follows:
•Select “Best Photo” as the Quality Type. Select “Plain Paper” as the Paper Options Type.
•Click the “Advanced” button, then click continue.
•Select “Black Ink Only” and ‘Edge Smoothly” as Print Options.
•Click OK to confirm your selections.
•Click OK again to close the printer driver.
Contin
u
Advanced
Best Photo
Plain Paper
- Black Ink Only
- Edge Smoothing

D. Installation of the AB Print Software
If you already have AB Print installed on your computer, re-install if the provided
software is an updated revision.
1. Place the CD containing the drivers into the CD-ROM drive.
2. In the window that opens, click the button with your preferred language and select AB
Print.
3. The installation starts; follow the instructions on the monitor.
4. Close all the windows once the installation is completed
Cartridge
Carrier
Ink Ac-
cess
Door

6. FAST TRACK™ Printer Ink cartridges
Ink cartridges are sealed units. Under normal circumstances, ink will not leak out
of an ink cartridge. If you get ink on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap
and water. If you get ink in your eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water.
Installing ink cartridges
Note: Specially formulated black Allen-Bradley ink is required. Other ink, such as black
Epson ink, will not work with the marker cards. Allen-Bradley black ink must be
stored below 39°F (4°C) to ensure good ink quality. Store refrigerated. Black ink
cartridges should not be used if the expiration date has passed.
1492-PRTCLEAN
1492-PRTINKCART

1. Open the Ink Access Door.
2. Press the “Ink Cartridge” Button to move the cartridge carrier to the middle position.
Never move the cartridge carrier manually.
3. Press back the cartridge carrier clamp of the ink cartridge to be replaced and lift the
clamp upwards.
4. Remove the ink cartridge label with the inscription Entfernen / Remove.
Note: Do not touch the green chips on the ink cartridge.
5. Insert the ink cartridge into the cartridge carrier (position with the label showing face-up
and the chip facing towards the input rail).
Note: Do not place the ink cartridge under the two hooks of the clamp, as they may
break after the clamp is closed.
6. Carefully press the clamp downwards until it snaps into place.
7. Press the “Ink Cartridge” Button to move the cartridge carrier to the home position.
8. Close the Ink Access Door.
The ink supply system becomes activated; this process can take approximately 1
to 2 minutes. The print head moves to its home position (far right-hand side), and
the operation indicator LED lights up continuously.
Never turn the printer off when the operation indicator LED is flashing.

7. Print Alignment Setup
Allen-Bradley marker cards are made from polyamide. Polyamide reacts to fluc-
tuations in the climate conditions (temperature and air humidity), which can result
in changes of up to 1% in the dimensions of the marker cards. Necessary adjust-
ments can be made in the AB-Print configuration editor.
•On the PC: Launch ABPrint: Click > Start > Programs > AB-Print
•On the Marker Card Selection window, select a marker card type (e.g:1492-
M5X5) and click OK.
•The graphic displays the Input Screen of the AB Print Software.
•Type an upper case X into each box of the first and last columns and along
one row of each column.
•On the FAST TRACK™ Printer set the temperature to zero percent (0%). (Press
the Temperature Setting toggle repeatedly until all indicator lights are off.
You can re-use the Marker Card once you have checked the dimensions, by
wiping the markings with a cloth and water.)
•Place the respective marker card on the input rail with the full rung facing
towards the printer. Insert the marker card until it stops.
•On the PC, click File > Print. Under “Print Area”, chose “Current Marker Card”.
Click OK.
The following marker card images offer several examples of possible print results
of the FAST TRACK™ Printer.
Compare your marker card with the following images. The system needs to be ad-
justed if the typeface printed on the marker card is misaligned.
To change the values of the Printer Settings, click File > Print > Settings.
Take note of the existing settings (the initial values are meant to be a guide). Make
the necessary changes to the settings and click “Save.” Insert a clean marker card
into the printer and repeat the printing steps.

Determine the deviations and alter the values of the margin accordingly.
Margin Look at the bottom X in the first column to
set the margin.
Left Margin
If the X is too low in the box, increase the
left margin.
If the X is too high in the box, decrease the
left margin.
Top Margin
If the X is too far left in the box, increase
the top margin.
If the X is too far right in the box, decrease
the top margin.

Scale
Look at the Xs in the first column to
set the width scale. Compare the
positions of the bottom X with the
top X.
Width
Scale
If the top X is positioned higher in
its box than the bottom X, decrease
the width scale.
If the top X is positioned lower in its
box than the bottom X, increase the
width scale.
Scale
Compare the bottom X of the first
column to the bottom X of the last
column.
Length
Scale
If the X in the last column is
positioned too far left in
comparison to the first, increase the
length scale.
If the X in the column is positioned
too far right in comparison to the
first X, decrease the length scale.

8. Calibrating Individual Marker Cards
On the PC, launch AB print: Click > Start > Programs > AB-Print. The Marker
Card Section window should appear. Select the marker card type you desire to
print. Click OK. Type X’s in the first and last columns and along one row of each
column.
On the printer, set the temperature to zero percent (0%) and print the marker card.
If the X’s on the card need to be adjusted, change setups for this individual marker
card type:
•Save your document, click Options, and click Edit Marker Card Configurations.
•Choose the marker card type. Take note of the existing dimension 4 setting
and make appropriate changes to dimension 4. Note: The “Reset to Default”
button will reset all cards to default!
•Click on “Save,” click “Close.”
•Select file, open and click on the file you just saved.
•Choose file, print and verify the proper adjustments were made.

9. Maintenance
Cleaning the FAST TRACK™ Printer Head
Note: Head cleaning should be done on a weekly basis even if printer has not been in
use.
1. On the PC click Start->Settings->Printers. Choose “Epson Stylus C62 Series.”
Click Printer-Printer Preferences. Click on the Maintenance Tab. Click on the
icon next to: “Head Cleaning”
2. The printer head will move back & forth. This process will take about 30 seconds.
3. Verify the cleaning was effective by printing a marker card.
• Place marker card on the input rail- make sure the closed rung is nearest to
the printer
• Verify temperature is set to 0% on printer, click Print.
• Once the marker has exited the printer, examine the quality of the print on
the marker card If the print is not acceptable, put the printer through another
head cleaning process.
4. If after cleaning more than two times the print is still not acceptable, clean the printer
head lightly with a cotton swab soaked in a solution of 50% water and 50% isopropyl
alcohol. Then repeat steps 1-3.
5.

10. Troubleshooting
Printing is light or not visible.
If print heads move back and forth (verify by leaving cover open), but no text is
printed:
• Verify Arial font is used
• Check the driver settings. Refer to FAST TRACK™ Printer Driver
Settings, “C. FAST TRACK™ Printer Driver Settings” on
page 10page 10.
• Clean the print heads. Refer to Maintenance, page 19.
• Ink cartridges:
• On black ink cartridge, check expiration date. If expired, replace
with new black ink cartridge.
• Black ink must be stored in a refrigerator. If the cartridge was
not stored properly before using, replace with new cartridge.
• Check ink cartridge levels using the status monitor. If black ink
or cleaning cartridge (color ink) is empty, replace with new
cartridge(s).
Printer feeds card through without trying to print.
• Print a card with the cover open. If printer cartridge carrier moves
back and forth, see above section, “Printing is light or not visible.”
• Place another card on the rail, press the maintenance button.
• Other print jobs may exist in the computer or printer.
• Go to Start->Settings/Printers and double click on the Epson
Stylus C62.
• Delete any existing print jobs.
• Restart computer and shut down the printer for at least 1
minute.
Printer will not pull card in (see also “No Communications to
Printer,” page 21)
• Perform a head cleaning from the computer to verify communications
(refer to “Maintenance,” page 19). If printer does not clean heads,
see “No Communications to Printer,” page 21.
• If Marker Card Carrier is not being used:
• Verify input rail is properly situated.