TSC Alpha-3R User manual

i
SERVICE
MANUAL
Alpha-3R
Direct Thermal Portable Printer

ii
Contents
1. FUNDAMENTAL OF THE SYSTEM ................................ 2
1.1 Overview ........................................................................................................... 2
2. ELECTRONICS............................................... 3
2.1 Summary of Board Connectors....................................................................... 3
3. MECHANISM ................................................ 7
3.1 Replacing the Platen Roller (Including media cover)..................................... 7
3.2 Replacing the Keys Control Board.................................................................. 9
3.3 Replacing the Bluetooth Module (Option)..................................................... 10
3.4 Replacing the Media Holder Assembly ......................................................... 11
3.5 Replacing the Main Board Assembly ............................................................ 13
3.6 Replacing the Print Head Assembly.............................................................. 14
3.7 Replacing the Stepping Motor....................................................................... 15
3.8 Replacing the black mark sensor assembly................................................. 16
3.9 Replacing the WiFi Module (Option).............................................................. 17
4. TROUBLESHOOTING......................................... 18
4.1 Common Problems......................................................................................... 18
5. Maintenance ............................................... 20
Revise History ................................................ 21

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1. FUNDAMENTAL OF THE SYSTEM
1.1 Overview
Front View
1. LED indicator
2. Feed button
3. Power on/off button
4. Media cover release button
5. Media holder adjustment knob
6. Media cover
1
2
3
4
5
6

3
Interior View
1. Tear edge
2. Print head
3. Media holder
4. Platen
5. Black mark sensor
2
1
4
3
5

2
Rear View
1. Li-ion battery
2. Battery open clasp
3. USB interface
4. Power jack
5. Interface cover
3
2
4
1
5

3
2. ELECTRONICS
2.1Summary of Board Connectors
Main board top
Connector
Description
1
LED & KEY board
2
WiFi or Bluetooth module connector
1
3
2
4
5
6
7
8
9

4
Pin
Description
1
3.3V
2
BT/WiFi Reset
3
BT RXD
4
BT RTS
5
BT TXD
6
BT CTS
7
WiFi wake up
8
WiFi TCP
9
BT/WiFi Switch
10
GND
3
Stepping motor
Pin
Description
1
OUT1
2
OUT2
3
OUT1
4
OUT2
4
Download F/W connector
Pin
Description
1
3.3V
2
GND
3
RESET
4
BMS
5
NPCS0
6
MOSI
7
MISO
8
SPCK
5
Head open sensor
Pin
Description
1
HEAD
2
GND
6
USB & RS 232 connector
7
12V DC IN
8
TPH connector

5
9
Paper sensor
Pin
Description
1
3.3V
2
BM_E
3
BM_R
4
3.3V

6
Main board bottom
Connector
Description
1
Battery connector
1

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3. MECHANISM
3.1 Replacing the Platen Roller (Including media cover)
1. Remove two screws from the back of the printer and two screws from the front of
the printer.
2. Take the printer top cover off.

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3. Use a tool to remove the shaft. Remove/Replace the media cover. (including the
platen roller ass’y)
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.

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3.2 Replacing the Keys Control Board
1. Refer to section 3.1 to remove the printer top cover.
2. Remove two screws on the keys control board.
3. Loosen the connector lock then disconnect the flat cable from the keys control board.
Remove/Replace the keys control board.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.

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3.3 Replacing the Bluetooth Module (Option)
1. Refer to section 3.2 to remove the keys control board.
2. Remove two screws on the Bluetooth control board.
3. Disconnect the connector on the board.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.

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3.4 Replacing the Media Holder Assembly
1. Remove two screws and media holder adjustment knob.
2. Take the interior mechanism from the printer bottom cover.
3. Plug the media holder adjustment knob to rotate the media holder to the closest position
and remove a screw on the other side.
.

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4. Take the media holder assembly from the mechanism.
5. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.

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3.5 Replacing the Main Board Assembly
1. Refer to section 3.2 to section 3.4 to remove key control board, Bluetooth control board
(option), and the media holder assembly.
2. Remove two screws from the back of interior mechanism and disconnect all the
connectors on the main board assembly.
3. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.

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3.6 Replacing the Print Head Assembly
1. Refer to section 3.2 to section 3.5 to remove key control board, Bluetooth control board
(option), the media holder assembly, and main board assembly.
2. Use the long-nose pliers to remove two spring torsions on each side.
3. Take the gear holder and the gear, and push the print head holder on the each side to
remove the print head assembly.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Gear holder
Gear

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3.7 Replacing the Stepping Motor
1. Refer to section 3.4 and section 3.5 to remove media holder assembly and main board
assembly.
2. Remove the gear holder and two gears.
3. Remove two screws.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Gear holder
Gears

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3.8 Replacing the black mark sensor assembly
1. Refer to section 3.2 to section 3.5 to remove key control board, Bluetooth control board
(option), the media holder assembly, and main board assembly.
2. Remove a screw and replace the black mark sensor.
3. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Black mark sensor
assembly

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3.9 Replacing the WiFi Module (Option)
1. Refer to section 3.2 to remove the keys control board.
2. Remove two screws on the board.
3. Refer to section 3.5 to remove the main board assembly.
4. Replace the WiFi control board.
5. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.