SATO TC408 User manual

TC Series
User's Manual
TC408
TC408X

2
TC Series - User’s Manual
SATO CORPORATION
http://www.satoworldwide.com

3
TC Series - User’s Manual
Table of Contents
1. Introduction........................................................................6
Proprietary Statement ............................................................6
Product Improvements ...........................................................6
Liability Disclaimer..................................................................6
Document Icons ......................................................................7
2. Getting Started....................................................................8
Unpacking Printer ...................................................................8
Package Contents ...............................................................9
Printer Overview...................................................................10
Front View:.......................................................................10
Rear View:........................................................................11
Interior View I ..................................................................12
Interior View II .................................................................13
Connecting Power Cord ........................................................14
Loading Media ......................................................................15
Preparing Media...............................................................15
Placing Media Roll............................................................15
Sensor type ......................................................................19
Loading Ribbon .....................................................................22
Preparing Ribbon .............................................................22
Placing Ribbon Rolls .........................................................23
3. Printer Operations............................................................. 29
LED Indicators .......................................................................29
Buttons..................................................................................30
Media Calibration .................................................................31
Printing a Configuration Report............................................32
DIP Switch ........................................................................35
Resetting to Factory Default Settings ...................................36

4
TC Series - User’s Manual
4. Communications................................................................37
Interfaces and Requirements................................................37
USB Interface Requirements ............................................37
Serial (RS-232) Interface Requirements ...........................38
Parallel Interface Requirements.......................................38
Serial and Parallel Cabling Requirements.........................38
Communicating with Printer.................................................39
Installing a Plug and Play printer driver (for USB only) ....39
Installing a Printer Driver (for other interfaces except USB)
.....................................................................................46
5. Troubleshooting.................................................................53
LED Diagnosis........................................................................53
Printer Status ........................................................................56
Transmission Problems .........................................................57
Recovery................................................................................57
Printer Maintenance.............................................................58
Cleaning Print Head...............................................................59
Cleaning Roller ......................................................................61
Cleaning Media Compartment..............................................61
6. Product Specification .........................................................62
General Specification ............................................................62
Fonts, Barcodes, and Graphics Specification ........................64
Printer Programming Language SDPL ..............................64
Printer Programming Language SEPL...............................65
Printer Programming Language SZPL ...............................66
Interface Specification ..........................................................68
USB Interface....................................................................68
Serial Interface .................................................................69
Parallel (Centronics) Interface..........................................70
Auto Polling ......................................................................70

5
TC Series - User’s Manual
7. Index................................................................................. 73
Rotary Cutter and Guillotine Cutter Installation...................73
Rotary Cutter and Guillotine Cutter Settings........................76
Rotary Cutter with Paper Jam...............................................79
Guillotine Cutter with Paper Jam..........................................80

6
TC Series - User’s Manual
1. Introduction
Proprietary Statement
This manual contains proprietary information of SATO CORPORATION. It is intended solely
for the information and use of parties operating and maintaining the equipment described
herein. Such proprietary information may not be used, reproduced, or disclosed to any
other parties for any other purpose without the expressed written permission of SATO
CORPORATION.
Product Improvements
Continuous improvement of products is a policy of SATO CORPORATION. All specifications
and signs are subject to change without notice.
Liability Disclaimer
SATO CORPORATION takes steps to assure that the company’s published engineering
specifications and manuals are correct; however, errors do occur. SATO CORPORATION
reserves the right to correct any such errors and disclaims any resulting liability. In no event
shall SATO CORPORATION or anyone else involved in the creation, production, or delivery of
the accompanying product (including hardware and software) 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 out of the use of
or the results of use of or inability to use such product, even if SATO CORPORATION has
been advised of the possibility of such damages.
CAUTION:
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

7
TC Series - User’s Manual
Document Icons
The following icons indicate useful and important information as described:
Note: gives additional and important information. A note
also provides information that may only be applicable to
some situations.
Caution: Advises of possible failure to take or avoid a
specific action under certain circumstances.
Caution - Electricity: Warns of a potential electric shock
situation or static electricity to prevent.
Caution - Hot: Warns of a situation where excessive heat
could cause a burn to avoid.
Caution - Sharp: Warns of a situation where fingers may be
hurt by sharp edges of cutter blade.

8
TC Series - User’s Manual
2. Getting Started
Thank you for choosing TC Series printer, which is ideally designed to easily
bring more efficiency for your business. This manual will help you get to
know your new printer and provide sufficient information needed.
Unpacking Printer
After receiving your printer, please unpack and check first before use:
1. Inspect the outside of both the box and the printer to see if there
is any damage caused by transportation.
2. Open package of the printer, then open top cover of printer, and
then check inside to see if all assemblies are in order.
3. Check whether you have received the following accessories
together with the printer.
Note: If shipping damage has been discovered, or any item is
missing, please directly contact the local dealer whom you’ve
bought this printer from.

9
TC Series - User’s Manual
Package Contents
Quick Installation Guide
CD (Documentation & Software)
Power Cord
Printer
USB cable
Ribbon Core Adaptors
1” ID Core for Ribbon
Power Cord
Ribbon Core Adaptors
1” ID Core for Ribbon
Printer
USB Cable
Quick Installation Guide
CD

10
TC Series - User’s Manual
Printer Overview
Front View:
Printer’s front panel includes:
3 LED indicators (READY, MEDIA and RIBBON)
3 buttons (FEED, PAUSE and CANCEL)
Front Cover
Top Access Door
Front Panel

11
TC Series - User’s Manual
Rear View:
Power Switch
Parallel Port
USB Port
AC Power connector
RS232 Serial Port

12
TC Series - User’s Manual
Interior View I
Head Latch
Media Supply Hanger
Media Supply Guide
Ribbon
Pick-up
Holder
DIP Switch

13
TC Series - User’s Manual
Interior View II
Platen Roller
Reflective Sensor
Print Head
Ribbon
Supply
Holder
Head open
Switch
Media Shaft
Media Guide
Transmissive Sensor
Tear Bar / Front Cover

14
TC Series - User’s Manual
Connecting Power Cord
Caution:
Do not operate in an area where the printer might get wet.
Refer to the steps below:
1. First turn Power switch to the “O” position. Make sure to turn off
printer’s power first, every time before connecting or disconnecting
Power cord from printer.
2. Connect AC power cord to AC Power connector of printer.
3. Plug the other end of the power cord into an appropriately grounded
Power outlet.
Power outlet
AC Power cord
AC Power
connector
Power switch

15
TC Series - User’s Manual
Loading Media
Preparing Media
Note: The inside wound or outside wound media rolls can be
loaded into the printer in the same way. In case media roll may
become dirty or dusty during shipment, handling, or storage,
firstly remove the outside length of media, which helps to avoid
dragging adhesive or dirty media between the print head and
platen roller.
Placing Media Roll
1. Open Top access door of the printer.
Top access door

16
TC Series - User’s Manual
2. Find the Central point of Media supply hanger first, represented by
scale “0”. Centrally place media roll to align with central point of
Media supply hanger, and then check the scale numbers located right
upon both edges of media roll.
Then, find the Knob under Media supply guide at left, turn clockwise to
loosen it, and move to the scale number found in previous step by
media’s left edge.
Media supply hanger
0: Central point
Knob
Turn clockwise to loosen.
Turn anticlockwise to tighten it.

17
TC Series - User’s Manual
3. Flip down the Media supply guide at right.
Place and push the media roll to central point of the Media supply
hanger. Check the scale number on Media Supply Hanger and make
sure the roll is centrally aligned. Turn the Knob under Media supply
guide at left anti-clockwise to tighten it and fix media roll’s position.
Flip up the Media supply guide at right and slide in until it touches the
edge of media roll.
Media supply guide

18
TC Series - User’s Manual
4. Push the Head latch to open the printer module.
Pull a short length of media till it reaches the Platen roll of printer.
Locate the media under Media shaft.
PUSH
Head latch
Platen
roller
Media shaft

19
TC Series - User’s Manual
5. Press the lock of Media guide at right to adjust media guides’ positions
to fit media’s both edges. Make sure gap or black-mark of media can
pass over to be detected by Media sensor.
Note: Select the appropriate sensor type which is applicable to the
media in use. Refer to “DIP Switch” section to know more details
about setting methods.
Sensor type
Media type
sample
Reflective
(movable)
Multi-column labels or labels with
gaps: make sure to locate sensor
under media within range to detect
correctly.
Labels with black-marks:
if black-mark is narrower than media
width, adjust sensor’s positions to
locate directly under black-marks.
Transmissive
(centrally
fixed)
Labels with holes at central positions,
e.g. tags.
Media
guide
Reflective sensor
Transmissive sensor

20
TC Series - User’s Manual
6. Close the printer module and then press firmly at the both sides to
properly latch until you hear a click.
Note: For thermal transfer printing mode, ribbon is required to
be installed. Refer the steps in section: “Loading Ribbon”
Press the FEED button to feed labels out of the printer.
FEED button