Star Micronics LC-500 User manual

USER’S MANUAL
LC-500
DOT MATRIX PRINTER
CFA10EC 80826160

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, following 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.
Trademark acknowledgments
LC-500: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
ESC/POS: Seiko Epson Corporation
Notice
•All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this manual in any form whatsoever, without
STAR’s express permission is 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 going to press. However, should any errors be detected, STAR would greatly appreciate
being informed of them.
•Theabovenotwithstanding,STARcanassumenoresponsibilityforanyerrorsinthismanual.
©Copyright 2003 Star Micronics Co., LTD.

ENGLISH
Contents
1. Printer Setup .............................................. 1
Choosing a place for the printer ....................................................... 1
Unpacking the printer ....................................................................... 2
Printer Components .......................................................................... 3
Installing the paper guide ................................................................. 4
Opening the printer cover ................................................................. 4
Removing the printer cover .............................................................. 5
Connecting the Power Cord and turning the power ON and OFF.... 6
Installing the ribbon cassette ............................................................ 7
Removing the ribbon cassette ......................................................... 10
Connecting to your computer using the parallel cable ................... 10
Ferrite Core Installation ...................................................................11
2. Paper Handling ........................................ 13
Selecting paper types ...................................................................... 13
Cut-sheet paper ............................................................................... 13
Fanfold paper .................................................................................. 13
Loading cut-sheet paper.................................................................. 14
Printing on cut-sheet paper ............................................................. 17
Loading fanfold paper .................................................................... 18
Printing on fanfold paper ................................................................ 22
Parking fanfold paper ..................................................................... 23
Unparking fanfold paper................................................................. 23
3. Control Panel Operations ....................... 24
Switching between on-line and off-line.......................................... 25

Control panel functions in on-line mode ........................................ 25
Control panel functions in off-line mode ....................................... 27
4. Using the EDS Mode................................ 30
About EDS Mode settings .............................................................. 30
Entering the EDS Mode.................................................................. 30
Selecting a EDS number ................................................................. 31
Selecting a bank .............................................................................. 31
Selecting a switch ........................................................................... 31
Changing a switch setting ............................................................... 31
Printing the current EDS settings ................................................... 31
Exiting the EDS Modes .................................................................. 31
5. Control Codes List................................... 42
< ESC/P-K mode> .......................................................................... 42
6. Troubleshooting ....................................... 45
Short test ......................................................................................... 45
Long test ......................................................................................... 46
Hexadecimal dump ......................................................................... 46
Adjusting the dot alignment ........................................................... 47
Troubleshooting guide .................................................................... 48
AppendixA. Specifications ............................... 53
AppendixB. Character Sets ............................. 56
Appendix C. Control Panel Operation Guide.... 67

–1 –
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.
Choosing a place for the printer
Before unpacking the printer from the box, plan the installation location
of your printer. Consider the following points.
✓Choose a firm, level surface where the printer will not be exposed to
vibr ation.
✓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 and in
the back of 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 –
ENGLISH
Unpacking the printer
Check that the package contains the following items.
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User,s manual
Ribbon cassette
Printer
Paper guide
Ferrite Core
Fastener
If any item 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 packing materials in case you need to transport the
printer at a later date.
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 back of your printer does not match
the voltage for your area, contact your dealer immediately.

–3 –
Printer Components
The following illustrations show the major components of your printer.
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Printer cover
Control panel
Adjustment lever
Platen knob
Paper guide
Power switch
Power cord
Parallel interface
connector

–4 –
ENGLISH
Installing the paper guide
1. Hold the paper guide at a slight angle and slide the two slots on either
side of the paper guide into the tabs provided on the printer case.
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2. Press the paper guide firmly against the tabs until it clicks, and then
lower the table to a horizontal position.
Opening the printer cover
Pull on the left and right corners of the printer cover to and swing it down
until it is fully open.
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Printer cover

–5 –
Removing the printer cover
Swing the printer cover so that it is at an angle as shown in the figure
below and lift the cover to remove it. To replace the printer cover, lower
the two slots on either side of the cover onto the tabs provided on the
printer case.
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1
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3

–6 –
ENGLISH
Connecting the Power Cord and turning the power ON and OFF
1. Check that the power switch on the front panel of the printer is in the
OFF position (O).
ON
OFF
2. Plug the power cord to a power outlet whose voltage matches the
power rating noted on the label affixed to the bottom of your printer.
Caution!
1. If the voltage marked on the rear 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.
2. We 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.
3. To turn the power on, press the power switch to the ON position (|);
to turn the power off, press the power switch to the OFF position (O).

–7 –
Installing the ribbon cassette
1. Turn the power on. The carriage moves to the left most position. You
will hear beeps when the carriage reaches this position.
Carriage
Caution!
Do not move the carriage by hand 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.
2. Turn the power off.

–8 –
ENGLISH
3. Set the adjustment lever to the highest position.
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Adjustment lever
4. Open the printer cover.
5. Remove the ribbon cassette from the package and rotate the knob on
the cassette counterclockwise to take up any slack in the ribbon.
Knob

–9 –
6. While holding the printer cassette at an angle, insert the two round
tabs on either side of the ribbon cassette into the two slots inside the
printer. Then, press the lower half of the cassette inward to a vertical
position until it snaps securely into place.
Knob
7. Rotate the knob on the cassette counterclockwise so that the ribbon
slides under the head.
8. Settheadjustment lever toposition 1. Position1 is forthinpaper. You
may need to set the adjustment lever to another position, if you are
using a thick paper.
9. Close the printer cover.
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.

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ENGLISH
Removing the ribbon cassette
When replacing the ribbon cassette, use the following procedure to
remove the old ribbon cassette from the printer.
1. Open the printer cover.
2. Turn the power on. The carriage moves to the left most position. You
will hear beeps when the carriage reaches this position.
Caution!
Do not move the carriage by hand 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.
3. Turn the power off.
4. Pull the lower half of the cassette outward so that the ribbon slides out
from under the printer head. Then, lift up the cassette to remove it
from the printer.
Connecting to your computer using the parallel cable
You printer comes equipped with a parallel port.
Since the printer does not come with cables, you must purchase an
appropriate cable that matches your computer. Below is an illustration of
a typical parallel cable.
Important!
The following instructions apply to the Centronics parallel cable that
is suitable for use with an IBM-compatible personal computer. Note
that they do not apply to all types of computers and cables. If you are
unsure about what type of cable you should use, consult your dealer.
For an IBM-compatible personal computer:
•Use a standard 36-pin Centronics parallel cable.
•The parallel cable should be no longer than six feet (two meters).
Longer cables can result in poor transfer of information.

–11 –
Ferrite Core Installation
1. Strap the fastener into the parallel interface cable as shown in the
illustration below.
2. Cut off the surplus part of the fastener.
12 to 15 cm
Ferrite Core
Fastener
Cable
3. With a regular screwdriver, unlatch and open the ferrite core.
4. Attach the ferrite core onto the cable as shown in the illustration
below.
Ferrite Core

–12 –
ENGLISH
Important!
Make sure that the printer is unplugged from the AC outlet and that
the computer is turned off before connecting the parallel cable.
1. Connect one end of the parallel cable to the parallel port of your
computer. The parallel port is usually labeled “Printer,”“Parallel,”
“PRN,”“LPT1,”or something similar.
2. Connect the other end of the parallel cable into the socket on the back
of the printer and secure it in place with the clips.
Note:
If your computer is located to the right of the printer, run the cable
under the computer through the groove at the bottom of the printer.
This will prevent the cable from interfering with the fanfold paper.
You can also run the power cord under the printer.

–13 –
2. Paper Handling
This chapter describes the different types of paper you can print on and
how to setup the printer for each type.
Selecting paper types
Use the following information when selecting paper.
Cut-sheet paper
Width: 125 to 257 mm / 4.9 to 10.12 inches
Length: 85 to 364 mm / 3.3 to 14.33 inches
Paper Sizes: A6: 105 x 148 mm (Landscape)
B6: 128.5 x 182 mm (Portrait, Landscape)
A5: 148 x 210 mm (Portrait, Landscape)
B5: 182 x 257 mm (Portrait, Landscape)
A4: 210 x 297mm (Portrait)
B4: 257 x 364mm (Portrait))
Executive: 7.25 x 10.5 inches (Portrait)
Letter: 8.5 x 11 inches (Portrait)
Legal: 8.5 x 14 inches (Portrait)
Thickness
1-ply only: 0.05 to 0.18 mm
Multi-ply: 0.05 to 0.35 mm
Weight
1-ply only: 52 to 156 g/m2/ 14 to 42 lbs / 45 to 135kg
Multi-ply: 40 to 52 g/m2/ 11 to 14 lbs / 34 to 45kg
Fanfold paper
Width: 139.7 to 254 mm / 5.5 to 10 inches
Length: Min. 5.5 inches
Thickness
1-ply only: 0.07 to 0.11 mm
Multi-ply: Max. 0.35 mm
Weight
1-ply only: 52 to 82 g/m2/ 14 to 22 lbs / 45 to 70kg
Multi-ply: 40 to 52 g/m2/ 11 to 14 lbs / 34 to 45kg

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ENGLISH
Loading cut-sheet paper
Thissection describes theprocedureforloadingcut-sheetpaper.Youcan
also use fanfold paper. For details on using fanfold paper, see “Loading
fanfold paper”on page 18. If the fanfold paper is currently loaded, first
park the fanfold paper using the procedures described in “Parking
fanfold paper”on page 23.
1. Set the release lever to the cut-sheet position.
2. Set the adjustment lever to the value that matches the thickness of the
paper you are using. The setting for normal paper is 1. Set the lever to a
larger value for thicker paper, or to a smaller value for thinner paper.
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Adjustment lever
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–15 –
The following table provides a general guide for setting the adjustment
lever. Experiment with different settings until you find the one that gives
you the print quality you want.
Important!
Continuous use of the wrong adjustment lever setting can drastically
reduce the print head life. Position “–” is used only when the print
quality is too light. Setting the lever to position “–” when you are
using thin paper may damage the print head.
3. Adjustthepaperedgetothedesiredposition.The▼markoftheguide
indicates where the left margin of the printing will be.
Paper edge
Recommended
Position
Single-sheet 30 g/m20.05 mm 1
64 g/m20.08 mm 1
90 g/m20.12 mm 1 to 2
156 g/m20.19 mm 2
Multi-part 2-ply 40 to 52 g/m20.13 mm 2
3-ply 40 to 52 g/m20.20 mm 3
4-ply 40 to 52 g/m20.26 mm 5
5-ply 40 to 52 g/m20.32 mm 6
Paper Type Weight Per Sheet Thickness

–16 –
ENGLISH
4. Insert the paper from the front of the printer as far as it will go, sliding
the left side of the paper against the paper edge. Insert the paper facing
up, with the top towards the printer.
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Adjustment lever
Peper guide
Paper
Control panel
The paper will automatically be fed into the printer.
5. Start the printing operation from your software application.
After the printing is complete, the paper is ejected from the same position
as you inserted the paper.