Wasp WPL205 User manual

WPL205
DIRECT THERMAL BAR CODE PRINTER
USER’S MANUAL
© 2007 Wasp Technologies

Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION..................................................................................................................1
COMPLIANCES .....................................................................................................................................1
2. Getting Started .......................................................................................................................2
2.1 Unpacking and Inspection ...................................................................................... 2
2.2 Equipment Checklist............................................................................................... 2
2.3 Printer Parts............................................................................................................ 3
2.3.1 Front View ....................................................................................................... 3
2.3.2 Rear View........................................................................................................ 3
3.1 Setting Up the Printer ............................................................................................. 4
3.2 Loading Label Stock............................................................................................... 5
3.3 Peel-Off Installation Assembly (Option) ................................................................. 6
3.4 Loading Label for Peel-off Mode (Option) .............................................................. 9
3.5 External Label Roll Mount Installation (Option).................................................... 10
4. Power on Utilities................................................................................................................. 11
4.1 Gap/Black Mark Sensor Calibration ..................................................................... 11
4.2 Gap/Black Mark Calibration, Self-test, Dump Mode............................................. 12
4.3 Printer Initialization ............................................................................................... 15
4.4 Black Mark Sensor Calibration ............................................................................. 16
4.5 Gap Sensor Calibration ........................................................................................ 16
4.6 Skip AUTO.BAS ................................................................................................... 16
5. Maintenance..........................................................................................................................17
5.1 Cleaning................................................................................................................ 17
6. Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................18
6.1 LED Status ........................................................................................................... 18
6.2 Print Quality .......................................................................................................... 19
7. Specifications....................................................................................................................... 20
7.1 Printer Specifications............................................................................................ 20
7.2 Label Stock Specifications.................................................................................... 21
7.3 Others................................................................................................................... 21
8. LED and Button Operation................................................................................................ 22
8.1 LED....................................................................................................................... 22
8.2 Button Operation .................................................................................................. 22

1
Copyright Declaration
Information in this subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Wasp Barcode Technologies. No part of this manual may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form by any means, for any purpose other than the purchas100er’s
personal use, without the expressed written permission of Wasp Barcode Technologies.
The TrueType font engine is developed from the “FreeType Project" by David Turner, Robert
Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg; and all other products referred on this document are the trade
mark or the registered trade mark of each belonged companies.
Compliances
CE Class B:
EN55022: 1998+A1: 2000+A2: 2003
EN55024: 1998+A1: 2001+A2: 2003 IEC 61000-4 Series
EN61000-3-2: 2006 & EN61000-3-3: 1995+A1: 2001
FCC Part 15, Class B
UL, CUL
C-Tick:
CFR 47, Part 15/CISPR 22 3rd Edition: 1997, Class B
ANSI C63.4: 2003
Canadian ICES-003
TÜV-GS: EN60950: 2000
Wichtige Sicherheits-Hinweise
1. Bitte lesen Sie Diese Hinweis sorgfältig durch
2. Heben Sie diese Anleitung fűr den späteren Gebrauch auf.
3. Vor jedem Reinigen ist das Gerät vom Stromentz zu trennen. Verwenden Sie Keine
Flűssig-oder Aerosolreiniger. Am besten eignet sich ein angefeuchtetes Tuch zur
Reinigung.
4. Die Netzanschlußsteckdose soll nahe dem Gerät angebraucht und leicht zugänglich
sein.
5. Das Gerät ist vor Feuchtigkeit zu schűtzen.
6. Bei der Aufstellung des Gerätes ist auf sicheren Stand zu achten. Ein Kippen oder
Fallen könnte Beschädigungen hervorrufen.
7. Beáchten Sie beim Anschluß an das stromnetz die Anschlußwerte.
8. Dieses das Gerät kann bis zu einer Außentemperatur von maximal 40℃betieben
werden.

2
1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the WASP WPL205 Direct Thermal Bar Code Printer. This printer
provides both thermal transfer and direct thermal printing at user-selectable speeds of: 2.0, 3.0,
4.0 or 5.0 inches per second. It accepts roll feed, die-cut, and fan-fold labels for thermal
transfer and direct thermal printing. All common bar codes formats are available. Fonts and
bar codes can be printed in 4 directions, 8 alphanumeric bitmap fonts and a build-in true type
font capability. You can easily print your labels with this printer.
2. Getting Started
2.1 Unpacking and Inspection
This printer has been specially packaged to withstand damage during shipping. Please
carefully inspect the packaging and printer upon receiving the bar code printer. Please retain
the packaging materials in case you need to reship the printer.
2.2 Equipment Checklist
 One printer unit
 One Windows labeling software/driver CD disk
 One sample label roll
 One label spindle (1 inch diameter core)
 Two label spindle fixed tabs
 Two 1.5” core adapter
 One Centronics interface cable
 One auto switching power supply.
 One power cord.
 One quick start guide
Options
 Peel off module
 External label roll mount.
 Label spindle (3-inch diameter core).
 Programmable keyboard (KU-007 series)
 Stand-alone LCD keyboard (KP-200)
 Automatic cutter module
 External Ethernet print server
 External 802.11b/g wireless print server

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2.3 Printer Parts
2.3.1 Front View
2.3.2 Rear View
1
2 3 4 5
6
1. USB Interface
2. Centronics Interface
3. RS-232C DB-9 Interface
4. Power Jack
5. Power Switch
6. Rear Label Guide
Top Cover
Open Lever
LED Indicator
Feed Button
Top Cover Clear Window
Backing Paper Opening
Label Opening
Front Panel

4
3 Setup
3.1 Setting Up the Printer
1. Place the printer on a flat, secure surface.
2. Make sure the power switch is off.
3. Connect the printer to the computer with the Centronics or USB cable.
4 Plug the DC power cord into the power jack at the rear of the printer, and then plug the
AC power cord into a properly grounded receptacle.
Power Cord
Power Switch
Power Supply
Plug
USB
RS-232C
Centronics
Power Jack

5
3.2 Loading Label Stock
1. Insert a 1” label spindle into a paper roll (If your paper core is 1 inch, remove the 1.5 inch
core adapter from the fixing tab).
2. Open the printer’s top cover by releasing the yellow top cover open levers located on
both sides of the printer and lifting the top cover.
3. Place a roll of paper into internal paper roll mount.
4. Feed the paper, printing side face up, through the label guides and place the label over
the platen.
5. Adjust the black center-biased label guides in or out by turning adjustment knob so they
are slightly touch the edges of the label backing.
Label Roll
1” Label Spindle
Label Roll Mount
Platen
1.5” Core Adapte
r
Adjustment Knob
Fixing Tab
Label Guide
Printing Side Face up

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6. Close the printer top cover slowly and make sure the cover locks levers securely.
Note: Failure to securely close and lock the cover will result in poor print quality.
3.3 Peel-Off Installation Assembly (Option)
1. Open the top cover.
2. Unscrew the 6 screws in the lower inner cover.
Screws Screws

7
3. Turn the printer upside down.
4. Unscrew the 2 screws in the lower inner cover.
5. Remove the screw at memory card cover.
6. Hold the lower cover and lift up the top cover opening levers to separate the lower inner
cover from the lower cover.
Remove the
screw
Remove the
screw
Screw

8
7. Thread the harness red connector through the cable hole at the front side of the lower
inner cover. Plug the red peel-off module harness connector at location JP17 on the main
board. Place the lower inner cover on the lower cover. Install the peel-off module to the
lower inner cover slot.
8. Gently push peel-off panel to lock to the lower inner cover.
9. Reassemble parts in reverse procedures after installing the module.
Lower inner
cover
Lower cover
Peel-off module
assembly Install one side first
and install another
side

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3.4 Loading Label for Peel-off Mode (Option)
1. Open the peel-off module by pulling it out.
2. Thread the label, printing side facing up, through the label guides and place it on top of the
platen.
3. Thread the label through the liner opening, which is beneath the roller.
4. Adjust the black center-biased label guides by turning adjustment knob to fit the edge of
the label backing.
5. Push the peel-off panel back to the printer.
6. Close the top cover.
Peel-off Panel
Peel-off Roller
Roller
Adjustment Knob
Peel-off panel

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3.5 External Label Roll Mount Installation (Option)
1. Attach an external label roll mount on the bottom of the printer.
2. Install a roll of label on the external label roll mount.
3. Feed the label to the external label feed opening through the rear label guide.
4. Open the printer top cover by pulling the top cover open levers.
5. Thread the label, printing side face up, through the label guide and place it on top the
platen.
6. Adjust the label guides by turning adjustment knob to fit the edge of the label backing.
7. Close the printer top cover.
External Label
Roll Mount
Label
External Label
Feed Opening
Rear Label Guide

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4. Power on Utilities
There are six power-on utilities to set up and test printer hardware. These utilities are activated
by pressing FEED button and by turning on the printer power simultaneously.
The utilities are listed as below:
1. Gap/Black Mark sensor calibration
2. Gap/black mark sensor calibration, Self-test and Dump mode
3. Printer initialization
4. Black mark sensor calibration
5. Gap sensor calibration
6. Skip AUTO.BAS
4.1 Gap/Black Mark Sensor Calibration
Gap/black mark sensor sensitivity should be calibrated at the following conditions:
1. A brand new printer
2. Change label stock.
3. Printer initialization.
Please follow the steps below to calibrate the gap/black sensor：
1.Turn off the power switch.
2. Press and hold the Feed button while turning the power back on.
3 Release the button when LED becomes red and blinking. (Any red will do during the 5
blinks).
 It will calibrate the gap/black mark sensor sensitivity.
 The LED color will be changed as following order：
Amber red (5 blinks) amber (5 blinks) green (5 blinks) green/amber (5
blinks) red/amber (5 blinks) solid green
 It calibrates the sensor and measures the label length.
Note:
Please select gap or black mark sensor using the GAP or BLINE command prior to
calibrating the sensor.
For more information about GAP and BLINE command, please refer to WPL
programming manual.

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4.2 Gap/Black Mark Calibration, Self-test, Dump Mode
While calibrating the gap/black mark sensor, the printer will measure the label length, print the
internal configuration (self-test) and then enter the dump mode.
Follow the steps as below.
1.Turn off the power switch.
2. Press and hold the Feed button while turning the power back on.
3. Release the button when LED becomes amber and blinking. (Any amber will do during the
5 blinks).
 The LED color will be changed as follows:
Amber red (5 blinks) amber (5 blinks) green (5 blinks) green/amber (5
blinks) red/amber (5 blinks) solid green
Note:
Please select gap or black mark sensor using the GAP or BLINE command prior to
calibrating the sensor.
For more information about GAP and BLINE command, please refer to WPL
programming manual.

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Self-test
The printer will print the printer configuration after gap/black mark sensor calibration. The
self-test printout can be used to check if there is any dot damage on the heater element,
printer configurations and available memory space.
Self-test printout
Note:
1. The physical flash memory for RoHS compliant version is 2MB Flash and 2MB
DRAM.
2. System occupies 960 KB in Flash memory so total flash memory space for user
downloading is 1088 KB
3. System occupies 1792 KB in DRAM so total DRAM memory space for user
downloading is 256 KB
Print head check pattern
Firmware version
Firmware checksum
Printed mileage (meter)
Serial port configuration
Country code
Print speed (inch/sec)
Print darkness
Label size (inch)
Gap distance (inch)
Gap/black mark sensor sensitivity
Numbers of download files
Total & available memory space

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Dump mode
The printer will enter dump mode after printing printer configuration. In the dump mode, all
characters will be printed in 2 columns as shown below. The left side characters are received
from your system and right side data are the corresponding hexadecimal value of the
characters. It allows users or engineers to verify and debug the program.
Dump mode printout
Note：
Turn off and on the power switch to reset the printer for normal printing.
ASCII Data

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4.3 Printer Initialization
Printer initialization is used to clear DRAM and restore printer settings (with the exception of
ribbon sensitivity) to defaults.
Printer initialization is activated by the following procedures.
1. Turn off the power switch.
2. Press and hold the Feed button while turning the power back on.
3. Release the button when LED turns green after 5 amber blinks. (Any green will do during
the 5 blinks).
 The LED color will be changed as following:
Amber red (5 blinks) amber (5 blinks) green (5 blinks) green/amber (5
blinks) red/amber (5 blinks) solid green
Printer configuration will be restored to defaults as outlined below after initialization.
Parameter Default setting
Speed WPL205, 127 mm/sec (5 ips)
Density 7
Label Width 4.25” (108.0 mm)
Label Height 2.5” (63.4 mm)
Media Sensor Type Gap sensor
Gap Setting 0.12” (3.0 mm)
Print Direction 0
Reference Point 0,0 (upper left corner)
Offset 0
Tear Mode On
Peel off Mode Off
Cutter Mode Off
Serial Port Settings 9600 bps, none parity,
8 data bits, 1 stop bit
Code Page 850
Country Code 001
Clear Flash Memory No
Note：
Always do gap/black mark sensor calibration after printer initialization.

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4.4 Black Mark Sensor Calibration
Set black mark sensor as media sensor and calibrate the black mark sensor.
Follow the steps below.
1. Turn off the power switch.
2. Press and hold the Feed button while turning the power back on.
3. Release the button when LED turns green/amber after 5 green blinks. (Any green/amber
will do during the 5 blinks).
 The LED color will be changed as following:
Amber red (5 blinks) amber (5 blinks) green (5 blinks) green/amber (5
blinks) red/amber (5 blinks) solid green
4.5 Gap Sensor Calibration
Set gap sensor as media sensor and calibrate the gap sensor.
Follow the steps below.
1. Turn off the power switch.
2. Press and hold the Feed button while turning the power back on.
3. Release the button when LED turns red/amber after 5 green/amber blinks. (Any red/amber
will do during the 5 blinks).
 The LED color will be changed as following:
Amber red (5 blinks) amber (5 blinks) green (5 blinks) green/amber (5
blinks) red/amber (5 blinks) solid green
4.6 Skip AUTO.BAS
WPL programming language allows you to download an auto execution file to flash memory.
The printer will run the AUTO.BAS program immediately after you turn it on. The AUTO.BAS
program can be interrupted without running the program by the power-on utility.
Follow the steps below:
1. Turn off printer power.
2. Press and hold the Feed button while turning the power back on.
3. Release the FEED button when LED becomes solid green.
 The LED color will be changed as following:
Amber red (5 blinks) amber (5 blinks) green (5 blinks) green/amber (5
blinks) red/amber (5 blinks) solid green
4. Printer will be interrupted to run the AUTO.BAS program.

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5. Maintenance
5.1 Cleaning
Use one or more of the following supplies:
 Cotton swab
 Lint-free cloth
 Vacuum
 100% ethanol
The cleaning process is described below:
Printer Part Method
Printer Head 1. Always turn off the printer before cleaning the print head.
2. Allow the printhead to cool for a minimum of one minute.
3. Use a cotton swab and 100% ethanol to clean the print head
surface.
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.
Exterior Wipe it with water-dampened cloth.
Interior Brush or air blow.
Note:
 Do not touch printer head by hand. If you touch it, please use ethanol to clean it.
 Please use industrial alcohol. Regular alcohol may damage the printer head.
 You may have to clean the supply sensors more often if you frequently receive supply
error messages.

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6. Troubleshooting
This section lists the common problems that you may encounter when operating the printer.
6.1 LED Status
LED Status / Color Printer Status Solution Number
Off off 1
Solid Green on 2
Flash Green Paused 3
Flash Red Stopped 4
1. No power.
 Turn on the power switch.
 Check if the green LED is lit on power supply. If it is not lit on, power supply is
broken.
 Check both power connection from the power cord to the power supply and from
the power supply to the printer power jack.
2. The printer is on and ready to use.
 No action necessary.
3. The printer is paused.
 Press the feed button to resume printing.
4. The printer is out of labels or the printer setting is not correct
Out of labels
 Load a roll of label and follow the instructions in “Loading the Paper”,
then press the feed button to resume printing.
Printer setting is not correct
 Initialize the printer by following the instructions in “Power on Utility”.