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Datamax Label Printer Operator's Manual

Ovation software label printer operator's manual
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Ovation 2
Operator's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Datamax Label Printer

  • Page 1 Ovation 2 Operator’s Manual...
  • Page 2 Firmware (Software) Agreement: The enclosed Firmware (Software) resident in the EPROM’s is owned by Licensor or its suppliers and is licensed for used only on a single printer in the user’s Trade or Business. The User agrees not to, and not to authorize or permit any other person or party to, duplicate or copy the EPROM’s or...

  • Page 3: Agency Compliance And Approvals

    Agency Compliance and Approvals: FCC:This device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.

  • Page 5: Important Safety Instructions

    Important Safety Instructions This printer has been carefully designed to give you many years of safe, reliable performance. As with all electrical equipment, there are a few basic precautions you should take to avoid hurting yourself or damaging the printer: Carefully read the installation and operating instructions provided with your printer.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Adjustments for Various Sizes of Ribbon or Media... 9 1.9.1 Ribbon Width Adjustment ... 9 1.9.2 Media Width Adjustment... 10 1.10 Power-up Configuration and Self-Test... 11 1.11 Setting the Printer to the Factory Defaults... 12 1.12 Switches and Indicators... 13 1.13 Available Options ... 14 Printing Labels Introduction ...
  • Page 8 Troubleshooting Introduction ... 34 Appendix A ASCII Control Code Chart ... 1 Appendix B Printer Specifications... 1 Appendix C Available Fonts and Bar Codes ... 1 Appendix D Error Codes... 1 Appendix E Warranty Information... 1...

  • Page 9: Getting Started

    Getting Started 1.0 Introduction The Ovation 2 hereafter referred to as ‘the printer’, is a high quality/low cost direct thermal and optional thermal-transfer label printer. The printer’s unique construction combines a durable plastic casing with a metal print mechanism to ensure reliability and consistent print registration.

  • Page 10: Unpacking And Inspection

    1.2 Additional Requirements The following items are necessary to generate labels with your printer. It may be a good idea to contact your local reseller for advice on which media and software is best suited for your needs.

  • Page 11: Connecting Power

    Connecting Power The printer is powered from an external power supply that connects to the printer as shown below. Power supplies are available in both 115 and 230 AC voltages. Ensure that the power supply shipped with your printer matches your electrical service.

  • Page 12: Interfacing To The Printer

    Interfacing to the Printer The printer can be connected to the host via a serial or parallel cable. Figure 1-3 Interfacing to the Printer Interface Cables An interface cable is necessary to connect the printer to the host. The interface between the printer and the host will be either a serial RS- 232C or parallel cable.

  • Page 13: Loading Media

    (serial or parallel) that transmits valid data. After a connection has been made, the printer must be turned off and then back on again to change the interface connection. Loading Media 1.

  • Page 14: Loading Media For Peel Configuration

    Loading Media for Peel Configuration 1. Open the cover. 2. Push the printhead latch toward the back of the printer and raise the printhead carrier assembly. 3. Place a roll of media (labels should be facing up) on the media hub and insert into the printer.

  • Page 15: Loading Ribbon (Thermal Transfer Option)

    Loading Ribbon (Thermal Transfer Option) 1. Open the cover. 2. Remove the two ribbon hubs. 3. Slide the ribbon and empty core onto the hubs making sure that the ribbon unwinds and rewinds. 4. Place the ribbon supply hub back into the thermal transfer assembly.
  • Page 16 Figure 1-8 Selecting the Print Type 6. Load the printer with media (see Section 1.6) and ribbon. When loading ribbon be sure to guide the ribbon through the printhead carrier assembly as shown below. Figure 1-9 Routing the Ribbon 7. Close the cover. Press and hold the feed button down while powering on the printer.

  • Page 17: Adjustments For Various Sizes Of Ribbon Or Media

    1. Turn ‘off’ the printer. 2. Hold the ribbon supply spindle and rotate the ribbon tension adjustment knob to meet your media/ribbon widths based on the table below.

  • Page 18: Media Width Adjustment

    ‘on’ the power switch until the media moves. The first label printed is the configuration label which provides information on the printer set-up. The second label printed is the test pattern and shows print quality, (see Section 1.10 for additional information).

  • Page 19: Power-Up Configuration And Self-Test

    1.10 Power-up Configuration and Self-Test With the printer off, load the die-cut media (the media must be at least 4 inches wide), and ribbon (if printing in thermal-transfer). Press and hold the feed button and turn the printer on, (the power LED should be ‘on’), continue holding the feed button until the media begins to...

  • Page 20: Setting The Printer To The Factory Defaults

    Figure 1-13 Printhead Test Label 1.11 Setting the Printer to the Factory Defaults With the printer off, press and hold the feed button while turning the printer on. Continue to hold the feed button for 60 seconds and then release. The printer will now be set to the 'Factory Defaults', which are shown in Table 1-1.

  • Page 21: Switches And Indicators

    1.12 Switches and Indicators Descriptions and locations of the Printer's switches and indicators are shown below. Figure 1-14 Switches and Indicator Locations Switch/Indicator ON/OFF switch Controls power to the Printer. FEED Button Printer in ready state - (LED ON) Press twice Printer feeds media to first print position of next label.

  • Page 22: Available Options

    1.13 Available Options Thermal Transfer Thermal transfer printing requires the use of a ribbon. The ink/wax from the ribbon transfers to the media by the printer to create an image. Thermal transfer printing provides exceptional clarity and scannability. External Cutter The external cutter provides ease of automatic cutting for tags and labels after a label is printed.
  • Page 23 This label-creation software package is available for IBM PC or compatibles. Wall Mount Assembly This space-saving device allows the printer to be mounted to a wall or other vertical surface using a specially-designed mounting plate. Time/Date This feature allows the printer to maintain the current time and date.
  • Page 24 Getting Started Ovation 2...

  • Page 25: Printing Labels

    In order to be ready for a command sequence, the printer must first receive a special character called an “attention getter” that informs the printer that it is about to receive a command and the type of command it will be. Immediate commands, system-level commands, and font- loading commands each have their own attention getter.
  • Page 26 When the printer receives an immediate command it will cease whatever it is doing and perform that command. Commands of all types must be in this sequence: 1. Attention Getter 2. Command Character 3. Parameters that must be entered by the user (if any).
  • Page 27 The system-level commands are used to create formats, load and store graphic information, and control the printer. Table 2-3 provides a brief description and format of each system-level command character. Char Description Set time and date Enable feedback characters Get printer time and date information...
  • Page 28 Char Description Set metric flag, enter metric mode Clear metric flag, return to inch mode Form edge offset (start of print position) Cycle cutter Enter character dump mode Controlled pause Clear all memory modules Clear module Select reflective sensor Slew (feed) speed Set up for one print buffer Printhead dot pattern test label Test RAM memory module...
  • Page 29 A STX L command switches the printer from the system level to the label-formatting mode. All command characters after STX L are interpreted as label formatting commands until the label-formatting mode is terminated with the command character E. All label - formatting commands are terminated with hex value 0D.
  • Page 30 Set count by amount Table 2-4 Label-Formatting Commands (concluded) There are two special commands used by the printer, the STX S (Recall Global Data) and the STX T (Print Date and Time) commands. Unlike the other label-format commands, which follow the STX L command, these special commands are entered directly into the data field.

  • Page 31: Programming Examples

    The commands used for bit mapped font loading are usually generated by font-creation software. However, the assign font ID number command must be sent to the printer before the font file. Font-loading commands are listed in Table 2-6. *c###D )s#W...
  • Page 32 The example shown below prints out a Code 3 of 9 bar code with a wide to narrow bar ratio of 3:1 and can be used to print any of the bar codes shown in Appendix B by altering the example's fields. Refer to Figures 2-2 and 2-3 for a brief explanation of the data fields.

  • Page 33: Configuration Command String

    Always 1 Always 0 * = factory defaults Example: <STX>KD @A@ Sets the printer to: 9600 baud; 8 bit word length/no parity. Sets the printer to: thermal transfer; no present sensor; standard character set; no cutter. Ovation 2 Printing Labels...
  • Page 34 Printing Labels Sets the printer to: gap (edge) media. Ovation 2...

  • Page 35: Memory Cartridges (Modules)

    Memory Cartridges (Modules) The printer has one memory cartridge slot that can be used to store: graphic images; smooth formed fonts; and label formats that can be recalled by host computers. The use of memory cartridges other than those specifically designed for the printer can cause damage to both the cartridge and the printer.

  • Page 36: Maintenance

    Maintenance Introduction This chapter covers the cleaning, adjusting, and some troubleshooting tips involved with your printer. In addition, the following table provides a recommended cleaning schedule for the various parts of your printer. Area Printhead Turn off the printer before cleaning the printhead.

  • Page 37: Cleaning The Printhead

    1. Turn ‘off’ the printer and open the cover. 2. Push the printhead latch back toward the back of the printer and raise the printhead carrier assembly. 3. Using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol, rub the cotton swab along the printhead.

  • Page 38: Fine Printhead Adjustment

    Fine Printhead Adjustment A fine printhead adjustment set screw is located on top of the printhead carrier assembly that can used for adjusting print quality. This adjustment is set at the factory and should not need further adjusting; however, with different types and thickness of media some adjustment may be necessary.

  • Page 39: Printhead Replacement (203 Dpi)

    Printhead Replacement (203 DPI) Removal: 1. Turn off the printer. 2. Unlatch the printhead carrier assembly. Loosen the printhead screw until it is free from the printhead. Carefully remove the printhead from the printhead carrier assembly. 3. Remove the printhead cables from the back of the printhead.

  • Page 40: Printhead Replacement (300 Dpi)

    Printhead Replacement (300 DPI) Removal: 1. Turn off the printer. 2. Unlatch the printhead carrier assembly, Loosen the printhead screw until it is free from the printhead. Carefully remove the printhead from the printhead carrier assembly. 3. Remove the printhead cables from the back of the printhead.
  • Page 41 Maintenance Ovation 2...

  • Page 42: Introduction

    The incorrect ribbon/paper combination is being used, check the ribbon type being used. The Printer does not print or prints several labels at once: The labels are incorrectly loaded, see the loading instructions on the inside cover of the printer, or Section 1.6.

  • Page 43: Unable To Print In Rotation

    The ribbon does not advance (The printer advances paper but ribbon does not advance). The ribbon is installed incorrectly. Make sure that the dull side (side with ink) is facing the paper. A bad ribbon/paper combination is resulting in an insufficient amount of friction between paper and ribbon.
  • Page 44 Printer fails to turn on A fuse may be blown, call for service. Faulty AC cord. A bad power switch may exist on the printer, call for service. A faulty AC wall outlet. Label advances 1-2 inches before a fault indication The ribbon is installed incorrectly.
  • Page 45 Troubleshooting Ovation 2...

  • Page 47: Ascii Control Code Chart

    Appendix A ASCII Control Code Chart Char Hex Char Ò & Ô < > Note: For the software handshake XON/XOFF commands: XON=(DC1) Ovation 2 Hex Char XOFF =(DC3) Char Dec Hex...
  • Page 48 Char Char Ç á ü í é ó â ú ä ñ à Ñ å ª ç ° ê ¿ ë ® è ï î ì ¡ Ä Å ¯ É æ Æ ² ô ³ ö ´ ò Á û...

  • Page 49: Printer Specifications

    Appendix B Printer Specifications Mechanical Width Depth Height Weight Operating Temperature Printer Specifications Print Type Print Speed Resolution Tear Bar DRAM Memory EPROM Memory Ovation 2 8.8" (22.35 cm) 10.1" (25.65 cm) 6.2" (15.75 cm) 7 lbs. (3.2 kg) 40 F to 100 F (4 C to 38 C) Direct Thermal 1, 1.5, and 2"...
  • Page 50 Baud Speed Handshaking Parity Stop Bits Data Bits Electrical External Power Supply Printer Specifications Roll-Fed, Die-Cut, Continuous, Fan-Fold 4.65" (118 mm) 4.1" (104 mm) 1" (25 mm) 12" (305 mm) with standard RAM .375" (.95 cm) .5" (1.27 cm) w/ Present Sensor .0025"...

  • Page 51: Available Bar Codes

    Code, EAN-13, EAN-8, EAN 128, POSTNET, MaxiCode, PDF417 Options Present Sensor FLASH Memory Cartridges External Cutter Thermal Transfer DRAM Memory, (Expandable to 1MB) Wall Mount External Battery Pack Time/Date External Media Supply Stand PC Batch Software Ovation 2 Printer Specifications...
  • Page 52 Printer Specifications Ovation 2...

  • Page 53: Available Fonts And Bar Codes

    Appendix C Available Fonts and Bar Codes All character fonts and bar codes available with the printer are described in this section. Each font and bar code has a name associated with it for use in programming. Human-readable fonts have numeric names while bar code fonts have alpha names.
  • Page 54 Table B-2 lists the font sizes. The numbers indicate the number of dots. FONT Font 0 Font 1 Font 2 Font 3 Font 4 Font 5 Font 6 Font 7 Font 8 Font 0 96-character alphanumeric, upper and lower case. Font 2 138-character alphanumeric, upper and lower case.
  • Page 55 Available Fonts and Bar Codes Font 4 62-character Font 5 62-character alphanumeric, uppercase. alphanumeric, uppercase. Font 6 62-character alphanumeric, uppercase. Ovation 2...
  • Page 56 Font 7 OCR-A, size I. Font 9 Internal Triumvirate font. Point sizes are selected by the number in the bar code height. Larger point sizes can be obtained by increasing the height and width multipliers (see the Programmer's Manual for more information).

  • Page 57: Bar Codes

    Bar Codes Font Length Cksum Varies Varies Varies M-103 Varies M-43 Varies Varies M-10 Up to M-10 M-10 Varies Varies 34 + Varies Varies Table B-3 Bar Code Characteristics Uppercase bar code identifiers (I.D's) have corresponding lowercase I.D's that when selected suppress printing of associated human- readable text.
  • Page 58 Bar Code A Code 3 of 9 Bar Code C UPC-E Bar Code E Code 128 Bar Code G EAN-8 Available Fonts and Bar Codes Bar Code B UPC-A Bar Code D Interleaved 2 of 5 Bar Code F EAN-13 Bar Code H Health Industry Bar Code (HBIC) Ovation 2...
  • Page 59 Bar Code I Codeabar Bar Code K Plessey Bar Code M 2 Digit UPC addendum Bar Code O Code 93 Ovation 2 Available Fonts and Bar Codes Bar Code J Interleaved 2 of 5 Bar Code L Interleaved 2 of 5 Bar Code N 5 Digit UPC Bar Code p Postnet w/modulo 10...
  • Page 60 Bar Code Q UCC/EAN Code Bar Code S UCC/EAN Code 128 Random Weight Bar Code u UPS MaxiCode Bar Code z PDF-417 Available Fonts and Bar Codes Bar Code R UCC/EAN Code Bar Code T Telepen Bar Code v FIM 128 KMART NON Ovation 2...

  • Page 61: Error Codes

    Lowercase "v" There is an input buffer overflow situation. Uppercase "R" This code is sent every time the printer is turned on. It signals that there was a hardware reset. Uppercase "T" This code signals that there was a software reset. A software reset results from sending the <SOH># command sequence to the printer or...
  • Page 62 Error Codes Ovation 2...

  • Page 63: Warranty Information

    Printer Datamax Corporation warrants to Purchaser that under normal use and service, the Ovation 2 Label Printer purchased hereunder shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year, (365 days), from the date of shipment by Datamax Corporation.

  • Page 64: Thermal Printhead

    This warranty is limited to a period of one year, (365 days), or 1,000,000 linear inches of use, whichever comes first, for the Ovation 2 Label Printer thermal printhead. This one year, (365 day), warranty is valid only if a Datamax-approved thermal or thermal...

  • Page 65: Limitation Of Liability

    General Warranty Provisions Datamax makes no warranty as to the design, capability, capacity or suitability of any of its hardware, supplies, or software. Software is licensed on an 'as is' basis without warranty. Except and to the extent expressly provided herein, and in lieu of all other warranties, there are no warranties, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
  • Page 66 Warranty Information Ovation 2...

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