TSC TDM-20 User manual

i
SERVICE
MANUAL
TDM-20
Direct Thermal Portable Printer

ii
Contents
1. FUNDAMENTAL OF THE SYSTEM................................1
1.1 Overview..........................................................................................................1
2. ELECTRONICS ..............................................6
2.1 Summary of Board Connectors ......................................................................6
3. MECHANISM ................................................9
3.1 Replacing the Printer Top Cover (with Keys Control Board).........................9
3.2 Replacing the Linerless Platen Roller (Option)............................................10
3.3 Replacing the Platen Roller ..........................................................................11
3.4Replacing the Keys Control Board ...............................................................12
3.5 Replacing the Main Board Assembly............................................................13
3.6 Replacing the Print Mechanism....................................................................14
4. TROUBLESHOOTING ........................................15
4.1 Common Problems........................................................................................15
5. Maintenance ...............................................16
Revise History................................................17

1
1. FUNDAMENTAL OF THE SYSTEM
1.1 Overview
Front View
1. Power on/off button
2. Feed/stop button
3. LED indicators
4. Media cover
5. Media view window
6. Media cover release button
5
3
2
1
6
4

2
Interior View
1. Tear edge
2. Print head
3. Platen roller
4. Black mark sensor
3
2
4
1

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

4
LED Indication and Keys
1. Power on/off button
2. Feed/Pause button
3. Printer status LED indicator
4. Battery charge level LED indicators
5. Wireless status LED indicator
Keys
Function
1. Press and hold for 2-3 seconds to turn on the printer.
2. Press and hold for 2-3 seconds to turn off the printer.
1. Ready status: Feed one label
2. Printing status: Pause the print job
1
2
4
5
3

5
LED
Status
Indication
Printer status LED
indicator
Off
Printer is ready
Green (blinking)
Printer is paused
Green (blinking every two
seconds)
Sleep mode/ entered the
sleep mode after stop
working over 2 minutes
(The interval can be
changed by revising the
command, refer to
TSPL/TSPL2
programming manual on
TSC website).
Red (solid)
Media cover is open
Red (blinking)
Printer error
Amber (blinking)
Battery is charging.
Battery status LED
indicator
Green (blinking)
Battery is charging.
Green (solid)
Battery is charged.
Wireless/Bluetooth
status LED
indicator
Bluetooth/
Wi-Fi
Blue (blinking)
Bluetooth/ Wi-Fi device is
communicating.
Blue (solid)
Bluetooth/ Wi-Fi device is
ready.

6
2. ELECTRONICS
2.1 Summary of Board Connectors
Main board top
Connector
Description
1
12V DC IN
2
Micro USB Connector
3
LED Key Board Connector
4
Download F/W Connector

7
Pin
Description
1
3.3V
2
MCI0_DA0
3
MCI0_DA1
4
MCI0_DA2
5
MCI0_DA3
6
MCI0_CK
7
MCI0_CDA
8
No Connection
9
GND
5
TPH Connector
6
WiFi Module Connector
Pin
Description
1
RESET
2
3.3V
3
RTS
4
MISO
5
CTS
6
MOSI
7
CLK
8
Interrupt
9
WB GPIO
10
GND
7
Cradle Connector
Pin
Description
1
12V
2
Charge Status
3
ISET
4
GND
8
RTC Battery
Pin
Description
1
VDDBU
2
GND

8
Main board bottom
Connector
Description
1
Battery connector
Pin
Description
1
Negative (-)
2
NTC
3
Positive (+)

9
3. MECHANISM
3.1 Replacing the Printer Top Cover (with Keys Control Board)
1. Remove four screws from the back of the printer as indicated.
2. Remove the cable on cable connector and take out the printer top cover (with keys
control board).
3. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Screws
Cable connector
Printer Top Cover
(with Keys Control Board)

10
3.2 Replacing the Linerless Platen Roller (Option)
1. Open the media cover by pressing the media cover release button.
2. Pull up and remove the linerless platen roller through the slots as indicated.
3. Remove/Replace the linerless platen roller.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Slots
Linerless Platen Roller

11
3.3 Replacing the Platen Roller
1. Open the media cover by pressing the media cover release button.
2. Pull up and remove the platen roller through the slots as indicated.
3. Remove/Replace the platen roller.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Slots
Platen Roller

12
3.4 Replacing the Keys Control Board
1. Refer to section 3.1 to remove the printer top cover (with keys control board).
2. Remove five screws on the keys control board as indicated.
3. Remove/Replace the keys control board.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Keys Control Board
Screws

13
3.5 Replacing the Main Board Assembly
1. Refer to section 3.1 to remove the printer top cover (with keys control board).
2. Remove one screw and disconnect the cable on the main board assembly as
indicated.
3. Remove/Replace the main board assembly.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Cable
Screw
Main board assembly

14
3.6 Replacing the Print Mechanism
1. Refer to section 3.1 to remove the Printer Top Cover (with Keys Control Board).
2. Remove the cable connector on interior mechanism and two screws on the
Print mechanism as indicated.
3. Remove/Replace the print mechanism.
4. Reassemble the parts in the reverse procedures.
Screws
Print Mechanism
Cable connector

15
4. TROUBLESHOOTING
4.1 Common Problems
The following guide lists the most common problems that may be encountered when
operating this bar code printer. If the printer still does not function after all suggested
solutions have been invoked, please contact the Customer Service Department of
your purchased reseller or distributor for assistance.
Problem
Possible Cause
Recovery Procedure
Power indicator does not
illuminate
* The battery is not properly
installed.
* The battery metal contacts
pins are with dirt.
* The battery is dead.
* Clean the battery metal contacts.
* Reinstall the battery.
* Switch the printer on.
* Charge the battery.
The printer status from DiagTool
shows “Head Open”.
* The media cover is open.
* Please close the media cover.
The printer status from DiagTool
shows “Out of Paper”.
* Running out of media roll.
* The media is installed
incorrectly.
* Black mark sensor is not
calibrated.
* Supply a new media roll.
* Please refer to the section 3.4 on User’s
manual to reinstall the media roll.
* Calibrate the black mark sensor.
The printer status from DiagTool
shows “Paper Jam”.
* Black mark sensor is not
properly calibrated.
* Make sure media size is
set properly.
* Media may be stuck inside
the printer mechanism.
* Calibrate the black mark sensor.
* Set media size correctly.
* Clean the printer mechanism.
Memory full
( FLASH / DRAM )
* The space of
FLASH/DRAM is full.
* Delete unused files in the FLASH/DRAM.
* Run printer self-test and check the
available memory space for DRAM or
FLASH.
* Check the available memory space
for DRAM or FLASH via DiagTool.
Poor Print Quality
* Media cover is not fully
latched.
* Dust or adhesive
accumulation on the print
head.
* Print density is not set
properly.
* Print head element is
damaged.
* Make sure the right/ left side of media
cover is fully latched.
* Clean the print head.
* Clean the platen roller.
* Adjust the print density and print speed.
* Run printer self-test and check the print
head test pattern if there is dot missing in
the pattern.
* Change proper media roll.
Missing printing on the left or
right side of label
* Wrong label size setup.
* Set the correct label size.
Gray line on the blank label
* The print head is dirty.
* The platen roller is dirty.
* Clean the print head.
* Clean the platen roller.
Irregular printing
* The printer is in Hex Dump
mode.
* Turn off and on the printer to exit the
dump mode.

16
5. Maintenance
This session presents the clean tools and methods to maintain your printer.
1. Please use one of following material to clean the printer.
Cotton swab
Lint-free cloth
Vacuum / Blower brush
100% ethanol
2. The cleaning process is described as following,
Printer Part
Method
Interval
Print Head
1. Always turn off the printer before
cleaning the print head.
2. Allow the print head to cool for a
minimum of one minute.
3. Use a cotton swab and 100%
ethanol to clean the print head
surface.
Clean the print head when changing a
new label roll
Platen Roller
1. Turn the power off.
2. Rotate the platen roller and wipe it
thoroughly with 100% ethanol and
a cotton swab, or lint-free cloth.
Clean the platen roller when changing a
new label roll
Tear Bar/Peel Bar
Use the lint-free cloth with 100%
ethanol to wipe it.
As needed
Sensor
Compressed air or vacuum
Monthly
Exterior
Wipe it with water-dampened cloth
As needed
Interior
Brush or vacuum
As needed
Note:
Do not touch printer head by hand. If you touch it careless, please use ethanol to clean it.
Please use 100% Ethenol. DO NOT use medical alcohol, which may damage the printer head.
Regularly clean the print head and supply sensors once change a new ribbon to keep printer
performance and extend printer life.

17
Revise History
Date
Content
Editor
2019/9/27
Add Ch.3.2 Replacing the Linerless Platen Roller (Option)
Kate

18
Corporate Headquarters Li Ze Plant
9F., No.95, Minquan Rd., XindianDist., No.35, Sec. 2, Ligong 1st Rd., Wujie Township,
New Taipei City 23141, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Yilan County 26841, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
TEL: [phone] TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Web site: www.tscprinters.com
E-mail: [e-mail]
[e-mail]
TSC Auto ID TechnologyCo., Ltd.