Star Micronics LC-1021 User manual

USER’S MANUAL
LC-1021
HA10H 80825080
DOT MATRIX PRINTER

CE
Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity
EC Council Directive 89/336/EEC of 3 May 1989
This product, has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the International Standards EN 50081-1/01.92
and EN 50082-1/01.92, following the provisions of the Electro Magnetic Compatibility Directive of the European
Communities as of May 1989.
EC Council Directive 73/23/EEC and 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993
This product, has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the International Standards EN 60950, follow-
ing the provisions of the Low Voltage Directive of the European Communities as of July 1993.
The above statement applies only to printers marketed in EU.
Ambient Noise Statement
Machine Noise Information Ordinance 3. GSGV, January 18, 1991: The sound pressure level at the operator position
is equal or less than 70 dB(A) according to ISO 7779.
The above statement applies only to printers marketed in EU.
Trademark acknowledgments
IS-8H192, LC-10, LC-90, LC-100, LC-1021, NX-1000, NX-1010, NX-1040, PT-10HA, SF-10HA, SPC-8K :
Star Micronics Co. Ltd.
EX-800, FX-850 : Seiko Epson Corporation
IBM PC, IBM Proprinter, IBM Proprinter 2 , IBM Proprinter 3
International Business Machines Corporation.
MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows : Microsoft Corporation
Notice
• All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this manual in any form whatsoever, without STAR’s express
permission, is strictly forbidden.
• The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.
• All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this manual at the time of printing. How-
ever, should any errors be found, STAR would greatly appreciate being informed of them.
• The above notwithstanding, STAR can assume no responsibility for any errors in this manual.
 Copyright 1998 Star Micronics Co., Ltd.

About this manual
This manual describes how to set up, use, and care for the Star LC-1021 printer.
The following is a list of what you can expect to find in each chapter.
Chapter 1 Choosing a place for your printer, unpacking and setup,
ribbon cassette installation, loading paper, connecting to
your computer
Chapter 2 How to use the control panel
Chapter 3 How to use the printer’s Electronic DIP Switch (EDS)
Mode to set up the printer to match the needs of your
system and software
Chapter 4 How to set up for printing with MS-DOS
Chapter 5 Selecting the best type of paper, adjusting for paper
thickness, manual sheet feeding, clearing paper jams
Chapter 6 Optional accessories that are available for your printer
Appendix A How to deal with printing problems
Appendix B Specifications
Appendix C Interface information
Appendix D Character sets
Appendix E Printer control codes
Appendix F Glossary
Appendix G Control panel operation guide

Contents
Chapter 1: Printer Setup ... 1
Choosing a place for the printer ... 1
Unpacking the printer ... 2
General guide ... 3
Opening the front cover ... 4
Removing the protective materials ... 4
Installing the platen knob ... 6
Installing the ribbon cassette ... 6
Removing the ribbon cassette ... 8
Installing the paper guide ... 9
Standing up the paper guide ... 10
Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off ... 11
Loading fanfold paper ... 12
Printing on fanfold paper ... 16
Parking fanfold paper ... 17
Unparking fanfold paper ... 17
Using the tear-off function ... 18
Connecting to your computer ... 18
Chapter 2: Control Panel Operations ... 20
Switching between on-line and off-line ... 20
Selecting a font ... 21
Entering the Font Lock Mode ... 21
Setting the character pitch ... 22
Entering the Pitch Lock Mode ... 22
Line feed ... 23
Paper eject (cut-sheet paper) ... 23
Form feed (fanfold paper) ... 23
Parking fanfold paper ... 23
Micro feed ... 23
Setting the top of form position ... 24
Tear-off function (fanfold paper) ... 24
Selecting the Quiet Print Mode ... 24
Changing the auto load position ... 25
Saving a macro ... 26
Clearing the printer’s buffer ... 26
Initializing the printer ... 27
Entering the Multi-part Mode ... 27

Chapter 3: Using the EDS Mode ... 28
About EDS Mode settings ... 28
Entering the EDS Mode ... 28
Selecting a bank ... 29
Selecting a switch ... 29
Changing a switch setting ... 29
Printing the current switch settings ... 30
Checking the settings of switches in a bank ... 30
Exiting the EDS Mode ... 30
EDS Mode Settings ... 31
Chapter 4: Using the Printer with MS-DOS ... 40
Setting up for printing with MS-DOS ... 40
Chapter 5: Paper Handling ... 41
Selecting paper types ... 41
Adjusting for paper thickness ... 42
Automatic fanfold feeding ... 43
Manual sheet feeding ... 43
Clearing paper jams ... 44
Chapter 6: Optional Accessories ... 45
Automatic Sheet Feeder (SF-10HA) ... 45
Pull Tractor Unit (PT-10HA) ... 46
Serial Interface Unit (IS-8H192) ... 46
Serial-to-Parallel Converter (SPC-8K) ... 48
Appendix A: Troubleshooting ... 49
Appendix B: Specifications ... 60
Appendix C: Interface Pin Outs ... 62
Appendix D: Character Sets ... 63

Appendix E: Printer Control Codes ... 73
Appendix F: Glossary ... 78
Appendix G: Control Panel Operation Guide ... 79

1
Chapter 1: Printer Setup
This chapter contains important information on setting up your printer. Be sure
to read this chapter carefully before using the printer for the first time. In this
chapter you will learn about:
❏
Choosing a place for the printer
❏
Unpacking and setting up the printer
❏
Installing the platen knob
❏
Installing the ribbon cassette
❏
Loading paper
❏
Connecting to your computer
Choosing a place for the printer
Before actually unpacking the printer, you should take a few minutes to think
about where you plan to use it. Remember the following points when doing this.
✓
Choose a firm, level surface where the printer will not be exposed to
vibration.
✓
The power outlet you plan to connect to for power should be nearby and
unobstructed.
✓
Make sure that the printer is close enough to your computer for you to
connect the two with your printer cable.
✓
Allow six inches (15 centimeters) of free space on either side of the printer.
If you are going to use fanfold paper, make sure that there is adequate space
for paper behind the printer.
✓
Make sure that the printer is not exposed to direct sunlight.
✓
Make sure that the printer is well away from heaters.
✓
Make sure that the surrounding area is clean, dry, and free of dust.
✓
Make sure that the printer is connected to a reliable power outlet. It should
not be on the same electric circuit as copiers, refrigerators, or other
appliances that cause power spikes.
✓
Use a power outlet that matches the power rating noted on the label affixed
to the bottom of your printer.
✓
Make sure that the room where you are using the printer is not too humid.

2 Printer Setup
Unpacking the printer
Check to make sure that the carton contains each of the items shown in the
following illustration.
If anything is missing, contact the store where you bought the printer and ask
them to supply the missing part. Note that it is a good idea to keep the original
box and all the packing materials just in case you need to pack the printer up
again and send it somewhere at a later date.
A serial-to-parallel interface converter (SPC-8K), a serial interface unit (IS-
8H192), a pull tractor (PT-10HA), and an Automatic Sheet Feeder (SF-10HA)
are also available as options. Consult your dealer for details.
Important!
There are several versions of this printer designed for different voltages. It is
not possible to change the voltage of a printer. If the voltage shown on the label
on the bottom of your printer does not match the voltage for your area, contact
your dealer immediately.
Ribbon cassette
Platen knob
3.5"Floppy disk
Paper guide
Printer
User’s manual

General guide 3
General guide
The following illustrations show the major components of your printer.
Paper guide
Front cover
Interface connector
Control panel
Mute cover
Power switch
Platen knob
Release lever

4 Printer Setup
Opening the front cover
❏
Lift up on the front cover and swing it open until it stops.
❏
To close the front cover, simply lower it back into place.
Caution!
The tear assist edge is rather sharp. Take care to avoid injuring your hands.
Note:
You can completely remove the front cover from the printer or you can stand it
up.You should normally leave the front cover closed, because it protects
against objects getting into the printer, and it cuts down on printer noise.
Removing the protective materials
Two small pieces of packing material are inserted into the printer to protect
components during shipping. Be sure to remove them before using the printer.
❏
Open the rear cover by pushing it back so that the cover swings back and
down.
Tear assist edge

Removing the protective materials 5
❏
Remove the two white pieces of packing from inside the printer as shown in
the illustration.
A piece of cardboard is inserted into the printer to protect components during
shipping. Be sure to remove it before using the printer.
❏
Open the front cover.
❏
Remove the cardboard from the inside of the front cover as shown in the
illustration.
In addition, remove the cardboard from the back of the paper guide.
❏
Remove the tape.
❏
Remove the cardboard from the paper guide as shown in the illustration.

6 Printer Setup
Installing the platen knob
The platen knob is packed into a recess in the packaging material.
❏ Install the knob on the shaft located inside the large hole on the left side of
the printer. Make sure that the two splines of the platen shaft inside the
printer fit into the slots inside the knob’s spindle. Press the knob carefully
but firmly into place as far as it will go.
Installing the ribbon cassette
❏
Make sure the printer is unplugged from its power outlet.
Caution!
Never move the print head while the printer is turned on. Doing so can damage
the printer. If you have just finished printing, let the print head cool for a few
minutes before you touch it.
❏
Remove the front cover of the printer.
❏
Remove the ribbon cassette from its package.

Installing the ribbon cassette 7
❏
Rotate the knob on the ribbon cassette clockwise to take up any slack in the
ribbon.
❏
By hand, move the cartridge holder to the left side where there is a cut-out
in the top guide to allow easy installation and removal of the ribbon
cassette.
❏ Carefully place the cassette onto the cartridge holder making sure that the
spindle of the holder fits into the socket on the bottom of the cassette. Also
make sure that the side tabs fit into the grooves on the sides of the cartridge
holder.
Tension knob
Ribbon cassette
Cut-out

8 Printer Setup
❏
While guiding the ribbon between the print head and print head shield,
press down gently but firmly on the cartridge until the side tabs snap
securely into place.
❏
Rotate the knob on the cassette again to take up any slack.
❏
Close the front cover of the printer.
Important!
Printing that is poor quality or too light is almost always due to a ribbon that is
simply worn out or “used up.” If you experience problems with print quality,
check the condition of the ribbon. If the black part looks gray and well-worn,
replace the ribbon with a new one.
Removing the ribbon cassette
Use the following procedure to remove the ribbon cassette from the printer
when you want to replace it with a new one.
❏
Make sure that the printer is unplugged from its power outlet.
Caution!
Never move the print head while the printer is turned on. Doing so can damage
the printer. If you have just finished printing, let the print head cool for a few
minutes before you touch it.
Print head shield
Ribbon
Print head

Installing the paper guide 9
❏
Open the front cover of the printer.
❏
By hand, move the cartridge holder to the left side where there is a cutout in
the top guide to allow easy installation and removal of the ribbon cassette.
❏
Using your thumb and forefinger to squeeze the two tabs on the ribbon
cassette towards the center, carefully remove the cassette from the holder.
❏ Use the procedure under “Installing the ribbon cassette” on page 6 to install
a new cassette.
Installing the paper guide
❏
Insert the two tabs on the rear cover of the printer into the holes in the
bottom of the paper guide.
❏
To remove the paper guide from the printer, simply pull the tabs out of the
holes.

10 Printer Setup
Standing up the paper guide
❏
You can move the paper guide so that it is at angles of 50 or 70 as shown in
the illustrations below. The correct angle depends on the type of the paper
you are using.
The following table shows the correct angle to use for each type.
Paper Type Paper Guide Angle
Fanfold 50 degrees
Cut-sheet 70 degrees
Paper guide Paper guide
50°
70°
50-degree angle (Fanfold paper)
70-degree angle (Cut-sheet paper)

Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off 11
Connecting to a power outlet and turning power on and off
❏Plug the power cord of the printer into a standard power outlet whose
voltage matches the power rating noted on the label affixed to the bottom of
your printer.
Caution!
If the voltage marked on the bottom of your printer does not match the voltage
from the outlet you are using, do not plug in the power cord. Contact your
dealer for assistance.
❏Set the switch on the left of the printer to 1 (ON) to turn power on, and to 0
(OFF) to turn power off.
Caution!
Whenever you turn off the power, wait for at least five seconds before turning it
back on. Otherwise you may damage the printer. We also recommend that you
unplug the printer from the power outlet whenever you do not plan to use it for
long periods. Because of this, you should locate the printer so that the power
outlet it is plugged into is nearby and easy to access.
At this point you may want to perform a test of the printer to make sure it is
working properly. See “Testing the printer” on page 49 for details on how to
perform tests.

12 Printer Setup
Loading fanfold paper
This section tells you how to load fanfold paper. Note that you can also use cut-
sheet paper. For details on using other types of paper, see “Paper Handling” on
page 41 of this manual.
❏Remove the paper guide from the printer.
❏Make sure printer power is turned off.
❏Set the release lever to the fanfold position.
❏Grasping the two back corners of the printer with the palms of your hands,
press back on the two raised areas on the top of the rear cover until it opens.
Cut-sheet
Fanfold

Loading fanfold paper 13
❏Swing the rear cover back and down until it stops.
Note:
You can also completely remove the rear cover by simply pulling it away from
the back of the printer after you open it.
Caution!
The metal edge of the cover is rather sharp. Take care to avoid injuring your
hands when handling it.
❏Pass the fanfold paper through the space between the printer case and the
rear cover.
❏Unlock the two tractor covers by pulling their gray levers up, and slide
them so they are aligned approximately with the holes on the sides of the
paper. Also move the center paper support so that it is approximately
halfway between the two tractors.
❏Open the covers of both tractors and insert the paper so the tractor pins fit.
Metal edge

14 Printer Setup
❏Close the tractor covers.At this point you can make final adjustments to the
paper position by releasing the gray levers and moving the tractors. The
paper should lie flat with no buckling or bulging (tractors too close) or no
stretching or elongation of the holes (tractors too far apart). After making
these adjustments, be sure that you re-lock the tractors by pushing the gray
levers back into their original positions.
❏Before printing, make sure that the leading edge of the fanfold paper
extends about 0.8 inch (two centimeters) past the front the paper chute, as
shown in the illustration below.
❏Close the rear cover and press down gently on it until it locks into place
with a click.
Caution!
Since printing with an open rear cover may cause paper feeding problems, be
sure to close the rear cover before printing.
0.8”(2cm)