Ultra electronics Magicard ALTO User manual

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ALTO / OPERA / TEMPO – TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Table 1 Printer Prints but with Image Quality Problems.
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Misregistration of Colours
(Ghosting on Photographs
etc)
Card is slipping due to:
1. Dirty rollers.
2. Cards not running true and free
along platen.
1. Clean all rollers.
2. Contact Magicard Tech Support for
advice on platen issues.
Small Areas of Wrong Colour
(Areas where 1 or more
colour layers have been
missed from the image).
1. Dust and Debris on
2. surface of card. (White ovals)
3. Contaminated with oily deposits
(Darker blotches)
4. Card surface uneven (White
patches)
5. Slight cutting of dye film (Jagged
scratches) Printhead density too
high (Jagged scratches)
1. Ensure cards are free from debris.
2. Replace Cards with clean ones and
do not handle print surface.
3. Replace cards.
4. Adjust printhead density
5. Determine which end of card is
cutting, adjust image start or end
position.
Vertical lines on card (always
in the same place) 1. Card striking something during the print process.
2. Card striking the mag head
during the print process.
3. Card not running smoothly along
the platen runway.
1. Check print path is clear
2. Adjust the height of the mag encoder
head.
3. Contact Magicard Tech Support for
advice on clearing the platen.
Vertical lines on card
(position of lines varies) 1. Incorrect tension on belt between
the step motor and the print
roller.
2. Print motor uneven in operation.
3. PCB or Printhead faulty.
1. Adjust motor position.
2. Replace motor.
3. Contact Magicard Tech Support.
White line down one or both
ends of card. 1. Incorrect driver setting.
2. Image size incorrect.
3. Image start and end positions
incorrect.
1. Ensure the driver is not set to white
border.
2. Ensure image size 87.5mm x 54mm
with margins at 0.
3. Adjust using Magicard Support Tools
or Driver.
Background colour changes
at edges of dark or white
objects.
1. Printhead compensation is
incorrect. Usually a fault on the
controller PCB.
1. Replace the controller PCB then
printhead if necessary.
White line along length of all
cards (always in the same
place).
1. Printhead has damaged heating
elements 1. Replace the printhead.
Image colours are very pale
and black text is ok 1. RFID tag is faulty.
2. RFID PCB is faulty 1. Fit a Dyefilm with a correct RFID tag. 2. Contact Magicard Tech Support
Table 2 Dye Film Problems
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Printer does not recognise
dye film type.
(Print colours may be very
pale but with good black text)
1. Dye film incorrectly loaded
2. RFID tag on the Dyefilm cassette
is not readable or is locked (Used
up).
3. RFID PCB defective.
1. Reload the dye film
2. Query the printer using the Support
Tool & contact Magicard Technical
Support.
3. Contact Magicard Technical Support
Printer cannot position the
dye film. (Prints colours from
the wrong panels).
1. Dye film incorrectly loaded.
2. Dye film sensor defective.
3. Dye film drive defective.
1. Reload the dye film
2. 3 and 4 Contact Magicard
Technical Support

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4. PCB defective.
Dye film cutting during the
print operation 1. Ribbon sticking to card
2. Printhead shield traps film.
3. Image printing over the ends of
the card.
1. Lower the printhead density, Ensure
cards are not used already.
2. Adjust the printhead shield
3. Adjust either the image start if
cutting at beginning of film panel, or
the image end if cutting at rear of
film panel.
Image is printed outside the
colour panels. (Puts a
coloured band across one
end of card).
1. Take up spool wound too loosely.
2. Tacho not reading correctly.
3. PCB defective
1. Remove loose film.
2. and 3 Contact Magicard Technical
Support.
Areas of Dye film peeling off
card. Dark mosaic like image. 1. Card has been used and has overcoat layer on it.
2. Defective dye film
1. Use only brand new cards not ones
which failed to print fully.
2. Replace Dye Film
Out of Dyefilm Error 1. Out of Dyefilm.
2. Dyefilm incorrectly fitted.
3. Dyefilm not moving.
1. Replace Dye Film.
2. Refit IAW the Quickstart guide.
3. Check film spools are free to turn,
remove side panel and check drive
belt and gear are correctly
assembled.
On start up / reset, dye film
continuously winds 1. Early firmware problem.
2. Failure of PCB 1. Upgrade to latest firmware. 2. Replace PCB.
Prints not correct after
switching between YMCK and
black film
1. Failure to re-set driver settings
2. RFID tag not recognised.
3. Dye film sensor or tacho faulty.
1. Correct the driver settings
2. Replace dye film
3. Test and replace as necessary
Table 3 Card Feed Problems
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Cards fall out of rear of
printer. 1. Idler rollers not lowering on to card.
2. Encoder return spring not fitted to a
Mag printer.
3. Card sensor faulty
1. Check return springs on cam followers.
2. Fit the rear return spring.
3. Replace sensor
Cards failing to travel
correctly along the platen
Error message
Card not found.
1. Dirty rollers
2. Card cleaning roller incorrectly fitted
(Tempo Only)
3. Idler rollers not lowering on to card.
4. Card feed sensor defective
1. Clean the rollers
2. Ensure roller assembly correctly
assembled and fitted.
3. Check return springs on cam followers.
4. Contact Magicard Technical
Support
Table 4 Magnetic Encoding Problems
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Magnetic Encoding results
inconsistent 1. Card slipping when moving over the recording head.
2. Magnetic encoding head out of
Adjustment
1. Ensure rollers are clean and idler roller
is gripping the cards.
2. Contact Magicard Technical Support.
Cards do not encode
(all tracks) 1. Card incorrectly oriented when fed
into printer.
2. Driver selections are incorrect for
encoding.
3. Encoding return spring not fitted to
rear of printer.
4. Incorrect or defective cards.
1. Position card with the stripe underneath
and to the right when inserting into
printer.
2. Check the Printer driver settings are
correct.
3. Fit the return spring moulding.
4. Ensure the correct cards (Hi-Co or Lo-
Co) are being used.

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5. Magnetic encoding head is out of
adjustment or faulty. 5. Contact Magicard Technical Support
Cards do not encode
(single tracks) 1. Incorrect cards fitted HI-Co / Lo-Co
2. Magnetic encoder head out of
Adjustment or faulty.
1. Ensure the correct cards (Hi-Co or Lo-
Co) are in use.
2. Contact Magicard Technical Support.
Table 5 Driver Related Problems
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Slow Information download
from computer to printer 1. Computer polling access control system in background
2. Corrupted Driver or spooler
1. Operate from a dedicated PC
2. Update with latest driver.
No information download
between PC and Printer but
printer can print internal test
cards
1. Driver settings incorrect,
2. Incorrect USB port selected in driver.
3. USB driver reverted to USB printing
support.
4. Driver corrupted
1. Using MST check communication
between PC and printer, if OK check
the driver settings.
2. Ensure an NUSBOx port is selected in
Printer Properties.
3. Update USB driver to Magicard USB
printer in Device Manager.
4. Update with latest printer driver.
Prints stuck in spooler 1. Printer communication blocked.
2. Damaged file is at front of print
queue.
1. Check status monitor has a green tick.
(A red X means the printer has an error).
2. Delete the damaged print if necessary
reset the USB.
Printer data corrupted in
Magicard Support Tools 1. Firmware has been corrupted. 1. Reload firmware using MST, set commands in print driver call Technical
Support for data.
Status monitor has a yellow
warning circle over it. Support Tools is running. Close the Support Tools application.