Primera Pictura 310s User Manual

Color sign printer
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C C o o l l o o r r S S i i g g n n P P r r i i n n t t e e r r
User's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Primera Pictura 310s

  • Page 1 C C o o l l o o r r S S i i g g n n P P r r i i n n t t e e r r User’s Manual...
  • Page 2 THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The printer manufacturer shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
  • Page 3 For Users in the United States: 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 in a residential installation.
  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Section 1: Introduction A. How Your Color Sign Printer Works ...1 B. Special Features ...2 Section 2: Safety Precautions ...3 Section 3: Getting Started A. Choosing a Good Location ...8 B. About Moisture Condensation ...8 C. Unpacking and Inspection ...8 D.
  • Page 5 Section 10: Maintenance A. Supplies Required ...66 B. Cleaning the Printhead...67 C. Cleaning the PrinterÕs Case...68 D. Cleaning the Inside of the Printer ...68 E. Clearing a Print Media Jam...68 F. Clearing a Ribbon Jam ...69 G. Cleaning the Drive Roller...69 H.
  • Page 6: How Your Color Sign Printer Works

    By combining different colored dots from each ribbon panel in different combinations (this process is called ÒditheringÓ), the Color Sign Printer is able to print up to 16.7 million colors. Dye-Sublimation Dye-sublimation is similar to thermal transfer in that it still involves a paneled, multi-pass process beneath the same thermal printhead.
  • Page 7: Special Features

    The entire change-over process only takes about 15 to 20 seconds. And, best of all, operation is simple and straight forward. The Color Sign Printer will print from any IBM-PC ¨ or compatible running Windows 3.1x/Windows 95 or any Macintosh...
  • Page 8: Section 2: Safety Precautions

    Before operating the unit, please read the following safety precautions carefully. Warnings CAUTION! TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THE UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE FRONT, TOP, SIDE, OR REAR PANELS. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
  • Page 9 Avant dÕutiliser lÕappareil, pri•re de lire attentivement les consignes de sŽcuritŽ Consignes suivantes. de sŽcuritŽ Avertissements ATTENTION ! POUR EVITER TOUT RISQUE DÕINCENDIE OU DÕELECTROCUTION, NE PAS EXPOSER LÕAPPAREIL A LA PLUIE OU A LÕHUMIDITE. POUR EVITER TOUTE DECHARGE ELECTRIQUE, NE PAS RETIRER LES PANNEAUX AVANT, SUPERIEUR, LATERAUX OU ARRIERE.
  • Page 10 Prima di dare inizio al funzionamento dellÕunitˆ siete pregati di leggere attentamente le seguenti precauzioni di sicurezza. Avvertenze ATTENZIONE! ONDE EVITARE IL PERICOLO DI INCENDIO O SCOSSA ELETTRICA, NON ESPORRE LÕUNITË ALLA PIOGGIA OD UMIDITË. EVITARE DI RIMUOVERE I PANNELLI ANTERIORE, SUPERIORE, LATERALE O POSTERIORE PER RIDURRE IL RISCHIO DI SCOSSA ELETTRICA.
  • Page 13: Choosing A Good Location

    This will allow the moisture to evaporate. While unpacking your printer, inspect the carton to ensure that no damage has occurred during shipping. Make sure that all supplied accessories are included with your unit.
  • Page 14: Identifying The Parts

    The On-Line Button takes the printer on- and off- line. When the printer is on-line, the on-line LED light will turn ON. When the printer is off-line, the on-line light will turn OFF. The printer must have its on-line light ON in order to print. When flashing, the on-line light also serves to indicate a number of other printer conditions.
  • Page 15: Removing The Ribbon Cartridge

    Interface Serial Interface Leave the small switches on the rear panel of the printer in the default position unless otherwise instructed by this manual or a factory technician. The default position of these switches is for switch #1 and #2 to be DOWN and for the rest of the switches to be UP.
  • Page 16 GRASPING EACH SIDE OF THE CARTRIDGE, lift it straight up and carefully remove it from the printer. You are now ready to go on to Section 4 to learn about print ribbons, print media, and how each is...
  • Page 17: Introduction

    Print Media B. About Ribbons NOTE The Color Sign Printer is able to produce a variety of output by using a variety of different print ribbons. Each of these ribbons is unique, and each requires its own compatible print media. To make it...
  • Page 18 Resin Thermal Transfer For long lasting, outdoor-durable printing, the Color Sign Printer offers both a 3-color (C,M,Y) resin thermal transfer ribbon and a variety of spot color resin ribbons. The 3-color resin ribbon allows you to automatically print full process color images.
  • Page 19: Loading Ribbon Into The Ribbon Cartridge

    Note that A/A4 Super-size print supplies are not available for resin thermal printing. For current selection and availability on all of the Color Sign Printer ribbons, please contact your nearest reseller or the printer manufacturerÕs supplies department. Whether using the Ribbon Cartridge supplied with...
  • Page 20: Placing The Ribbon Cartridge Into The Printer

    DO NOT REVERSE THE RIBBON. DAMAGE MAY OCCUR TO THE THERMAL PRINTHEAD! Once the ribbon is installed into the Ribbon Cartridge, it can then be placed into the printer. D. Placing the Ribbon Cartridge cover to swing up and open.
  • Page 21: About Print Media

    #300-Series vinyl and polyester print media are available. This print media is specifically designed for use with the Color Sign Printer. Both the vinyl and the polyester are optimized to feed and print consistently and are also carefully packaged in dust-free plastic bags to help prevent dust from contaminating your output.
  • Page 22: Specialty Supplies And Applications

    This paper can be printed on either side. IMPORTANT! Always store the Color Sign PrinterÕs blank print media in its original packaging and place on a smooth, flat surface when not in use. Print media must not be exposed to excess dust, heat, direct sunlight, or moisture and must not be allowed to curl or bend.
  • Page 23: Loading Print Media Into The Supply Tray

    NOTE G. Loading Print Media into the Supply Tray for use only with the Color Sign PrinterÕs wax thermal transfer ribbons. Printed images can be transferred to T-shirts, aprons, banners, sweatshirts, mouse pads, caps, and more. A special FotoMUG! Transfer Kit is also available, which...
  • Page 24 Supply Tray until it is latched in its ÒdownÓ position. This panel will unlatch and return to its ÒupÓ position when inserted into the printer. Remove a stack of print media from its packaging. Please note that no more than about 50 sheets of print media should be loaded at a time.
  • Page 25: Inserting The Media Tray Assembly Into The Printer

    Although the separate parts of the Media Tray Assembly can be loaded into the printer one at a time, it is easiest to load the Media Tray when it is fully assembled. Refer to the following steps to assemble and insert the Media Tray Assembly into the printer.
  • Page 26: Important Print Media Information

    Assembly and slide it into the printer until the mounting posts on both sides of the Supply Tray engage the securing notches on both sides of the printerÕs front interior. As the Media Tray Assembly is inserted into the printer, you should hear its spring loaded panel automatically unlatch and spring back to its ÒupÓ...
  • Page 27 Make sure that the image you are sending to the printer falls within these printable areas. Otherwise, your printed image could be cut off.
  • Page 28: Applying Power

    Place the other end of the power cord into an available wall outlet. Once the power cord is connected, press the power switch located on the rear panel of the printer to turn the power ON. P owering Up the Printer...
  • Page 29: Running The Self Test

    The Color Sign Printer is capable of doing a specific self test print for 3-color resin, wax thermal transfer, and dye- sublimation. To tell your printer which type of self test you would like it to print, simply configure the small switches on the printerÕs rear panel...
  • Page 30 Release the on-line button when you hear the printerÕs engine begin to cycle. The Color Sign Printer will print the self test image. A sample of this image is shown below. PROGRAM VERSION C 1.26 02/27/95 Self Test Example (Approximately 30% of actual size)
  • Page 31: Connecting The Color Sign Printer To Your Pc

    Color Sign Printer. Snap the fastening clips into place. The Color Sign Printer is designed to be used with nearly any high-end IBM-PC or compatible running Windows 3.1x or Windows 95. For best performance, a minimum of a Pentiumª class...
  • Page 32: Installing The Windows Gdi Printer Driver Software

    Tighten the cableÕs thumbscrews. LED light illuminated to receive data. If the light is not ON, verify that the printer power is ON, and press the on-line button. B. Installing the The Color Sign Printer can be used with virtually any Microsoft Windows 3.1x or Windows 95...
  • Page 33 Microsoft documentation to become familiar with the basics of Windows before proceeding. Windows 95 To install the GDI printer driver into Windows 95, refer to the following: Insert the printer driver diskette into your computerÕs disk drive.
  • Page 34 Before installing updated printer driver versions, NOTE always delete the existing printer driver version from your system. To do this, simply select the printer driver icon from within the Printers folder, and press the Delete key. Windows 3.1x To install the GDI printer driver into Windows 3.1x, refer to the following:...
  • Page 35: Installing The 32-Bit Print Spooler For Windows 95

    Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon. NOTE The Color Sign Printer ships with a print utility program called the 32-Bit Print Spooler. This print spooler is for use only with Windows 95. Once installed, the print spooler is able to process your...
  • Page 36 To print with the 32-Bit Print Spooler, you must select the Fast 32-bit Spooler option from within the printer driver setup window (see Part E of this section for further printer driver setup information). When this option is selected, the 32- Bit Print Spooler will automatically open and close with the start and finish of each print job.
  • Page 37: Parallel Port

    Current Job tab. The Job Queue tab appears only when a print job is being sent to the printer. This tab tells you the name and status of each job in the queue and shows you the order in which the jobs will print if you have sent multiple jobs to the printer.
  • Page 38 DMA channel showing, go to step 6. ÒPrinter PortÓ instead of ÒECP Printer Port,Ó you must change the parallel port mode through your system ÒBIOSÓ or setup screen. The system BIOS is generally entered by holding down a specific keyboard character while your computer is booting up.
  • Page 39 ECP, and print with the Write Direct To Port option selected within the Color Sign PrinterÕs printer driver (see Part E of this section for more printer driver information). Since the process of verifying and/or changing your computerÕs parallel port to ECP is largely dependent on...
  • Page 40: Setting Up The Windows Gdi Printer Driver

    E. Setting Up the Before you can print to your Color Sign Printer, Windows GDI you will need to set the printer driver up with the appropriate print options for your specific print Printer Driver job. Refer to the following steps to change or verify your printer driver options.
  • Page 41 Click on the Paper Size down arrow. A list of paper size selections will appear. Select the paper size option that matches the print media size currently installed in the printer. See Section 4-E and 4-I for additional paper size information. Ribbon Type Click on the Ribbon Type down arrow.
  • Page 42 Select Algebraic if you would like the printer driver to make very simple, yet fast, color balance adjustments. This option gives you more natural...
  • Page 43 TrueType text with the ribbonÕs black panel only. Normally, when printing gray scale or black text, the Color Sign Printer lays down all four of the ribbonÕs color panels. By laying down only the black panel, the Color Sign Printer is able to print black text with greater sharpness and definition.
  • Page 44 32-Bit Print Spooler software has been installed. When selected, this option allows the printer driver to send all print jobs to the Color Sign PrinterÕs 32-Bit Print Spooler rather than to the Windows 95 print spooler. See Part C of this section for complete details on the 32-Bit Print Spooler.
  • Page 45 After your selections have been made, close out of the printer setup window. All printer driver options you selected will stay the same until you change them. Refer to Section 9 to start printing.
  • Page 46: Connecting The Color Sign Printer To Your Macintosh

    NOTE If you intend to use the Color Sign Printer with a Macintosh which does not have a GeoPort you will not be able to utilize the printerÕs serial port. Instead, you must install one of the manufacturerÕs high-speed...
  • Page 47: Installing The Color Quickdraw

    PostScript driver and is used for printing non- PostScript file formats such as a TIFF, JPEG, or PICT from non-PostScript applications. As an option, the Color Sign Printer also has true Adobe PostScript Level 2 software available. This optional software provides genuine PostScript support and is used only when printing PostScript files from a PostScript application.
  • Page 48 QuickDraw printer driver packaged with the Color Sign Printer must be installed prior to installing and using the PostScript software. NOTE This section of the OperatorÕs Manual assumes that you are already familiar with the Macintosh operating system and know how it operates. If you are not yet...
  • Page 49: Choosing The Quickdraw Printer Driver

    The Chooser is a Desk Accessory in the Apple menu. Before you can use the Color Sign Printer, you need to select the Color Sign Printer printer driver using the Chooser. This instructs your...
  • Page 50: Setting Up The Quickdraw Printer Driver

    This means that you donÕt have to go back to the main printer setup window each time you want to change a setting or option in the printer driver. These applications will usually give you the same choices and options, but in a slightly altered format.
  • Page 51 Click on the Ribbon Type box. A list of ribbon type options will appear. Select the option appropriate for the ribbon type currently installed in the printer. The following table explains each of these options. See Section 4-B for additional ribbon information.
  • Page 52 Draft provides a quick print at screen resolution (72 dpi). High uses the maximum resolution supported by the Color Sign Printer which is 300 x 300 dpi. High quality prints take longer to print and require more memory.
  • Page 53 The Color Sign Printer has a resolution of 300 dpi, so for every dot in the original bitmap, the driver theoretically has to put 4.2 dots across and down the page.
  • Page 54 TrueType text with the ribbonÕs black panel only. Normally, when printing gray scale or black text, the Color Sign Printer lays down all four of the ribbonÕs color panels. By laying down only the black panel, the Color Sign Printer is able to print black text with greater sharpness and definition.
  • Page 55 When the Gamma method is selected, you can access the gamma correction method by clicking on Options. Through gamma correction, the printer driver allows you to individually increase or decrease the intensity of the red, green, and blue components of the print.
  • Page 56 As a solution, raw printer profiles are included in case you would like to combine your custom monitor profiles with the printer profiles. This can be done through many of the third-party color matching utility programs currently available.
  • Page 57 Solid Color Relative: All colors that fall within the range of both source and printer profiles are left unchanged. This type of color matching allows some colors to be exactly the same. A...
  • Page 58 The Calibrate option also allows you to send a simple self test print to the printer by clicking on the Send button for either the Wax Test Image or 12Ó Dye Test Image. Be sure the appropriate B/A3-Super size print supplies are installed for the type of test print you select.
  • Page 59: Introduction

    NOT selected by default, so if you did not select the Backgrounder option when installing the printer driver, it is most likely not installed. To install the Backgrounder, simply go through the printer driver installation procedure described in Section 7-B making sure that the Install Background Print Utility option is selected.
  • Page 60: The Backgrounder Status Window

    The list of queued jobs displays below the current job in the order in which they were sent to the printer. Some applications, however, may put each page of the document into a separate spool file, creating a different job in the queue for each page.
  • Page 61 NOTE be enabled and manipulated with the following commands of the File menu: New Log File: Selects a new file in which to maintain your ongoing Backgrounder printing log. Save Copy of Log as: Saves the current Log file to a new file name or location of your specification.
  • Page 62: Problems During A Background Print

    Canceling the current job can take some time, since the printer software may be performing a lengthy task that cannot be interrupted. Remove Hold: Moves the job from the hold section of the list and places it at the bottom of the waiting queue.
  • Page 63: Batch Printing

    100 Mb of free hard disk space to print to the Color Sign Printer. When you choose to process your batch of print jobs, simply choose Start Processing from the Admin menu.
  • Page 64: Interpreting The Led Indicator Lights

    LED sequence. Both the cancel and on-line LEDÕs are solid. This indicates that either the printer is ready to receive a print job or that it is in the middle of printing and experiencing no problems.
  • Page 65: Printing A Process Color Image With A Paneled Ribbon

    This can also indicate that print media is not properly feeding. If, for any reason, the printer is unable to feed media or advance the ribbon after several seconds of trying, it will time out and the on-line light will flash. Correct the problem and press the on-line button to continue printing.
  • Page 66: Printing A Process Color Image With Spot-Color Resin Ribbons

    Generally, photos and complicated graphics take longer to RIP. Printer will feed in a sheet of print media and begin printing. The Color Sign Printer always prints the Yellow panel first followed by the Magenta panel and the Cyan panel.
  • Page 67 Once rasterization is complete, a sheet of print media will feed into the printer and out onto the Media Tray Cover, then it will retract back into the printer and pause. When the printer pauses, the cancel and on-line LED lights will begin alternately flashing, signaling that the printer is ready to print.
  • Page 68: Spot-Color Resin Ribbon

    1. You may press the on-line button to begin printing with the currently installed ribbon. ÑorÑ 2. You may open the cover of the printer to verify that the proper ribbon is installed or to load another ribbon altogether. In either case, the printerÕs cover must be closed and you must press...
  • Page 69: With Spot-Color Resin Ribbons

    After your single-color image has printed, the print media will again be retracted back into the printer. The reason for this is explained in Part E of this section. To eject your finished single-color sign from the printer, press the printerÕs cancel button.
  • Page 70 1. You may press the on-line button to begin printing with the currently installed ribbon. ÑorÑ 2. You may open the cover of the printer to verify that the proper ribbon is installed or to load another ribbon altogether. In either case, the printerÕs cover must be closed and you must press...
  • Page 71: Section 10: Maintenance

    Isopropyl alcohol Soft, lint-free cloth Small vacuum cleaner (if available) Or, to make these maintenance procedures more convenient, a Printer Cleaning Kit is available from your authorized reseller or the printer manufacturer. This optional kit includes the following: Printhead Cleaning Pens pre-moistened with 99.99% isopropyl alcohol for cleaning your...
  • Page 72: Cleaning The Printhead

    Printhead Printhead Cover Media Supply Tray Open the printerÕs Top Cover by pressing the Remove the Ribbon Cartridge from the printer. Use a Printhead Cleaning Pen from the Printer Allow the printhead to thoroughly dry before Re-install the Ribbon Cartridge, and shut the...
  • Page 73: Cleaning The Printerõs Case

    Never spray the cabinet with a cleaner. Rather, spray the cloth first, and then wipe down the printer. As you use your Color Sign Printer, dust and paper particles will accumulate inside the printerÕs case. These particles are attracted to the underside of the ribbon by static produced during printing and can cause voids on the printed image.
  • Page 74: Clearing A Ribbon Jam

    Leave the power on and open the cover of the Remove the ribbon take-up core (the side with Gently pull the ribbon up and out of the printer If any ink is visible on the drive roller, clean it Remove the Ribbon Cartridge.
  • Page 75: Cleaning The In-Feed Rollers

    Media Tray Assembly is removed. These rollers serve to pull print media out of the Supply Tray and feed it up into the printer. This procedure should be performed only if your printer consistently seems to be having difficulty pulling in blank print media from the Media Supply Tray.
  • Page 76: Section 11: Troubleshooting

    If your computer seems to raster the image and send it to the printer, but the printer does not react at all, you may be in need of more hard disk space for the size of your image. You...
  • Page 77 Color Sign Printer is not properly receiving the print data. If such an error occurs, you must correct the problem, reset the printer by pressing the printerÕs cancel button, and cancel and resend the print job from your application. Refer to the following list for possible causes to this printer error condition.
  • Page 78 Such add-on ports may not be fast enough to sustain the printerÕs high- speed rate of data transmission. To solve this problem, connect the printer to one of your computerÕs built-in ports such as the Printer or...
  • Page 79 . Lastly, increase the Transmission retry value of the Details tab from 45 to 900. Click on OK to close the Properties window. Symptoms: The Color Sign Printer stops printing and the Printer on-line LED light is flashing. Check that you have properly loaded print media and a print ribbon according to the instructions in Section 4.
  • Page 80 Color Sign PrinterÕs printer driver up or down as needed. Some applications have selections you must enable in order for the Color Sign Printer to use its own dither patterns. For best output, you should always use the Color Sign PrinterÕs dither patterns.
  • Page 81 The ribbon may have been loaded backwards. This causes no harm. Just turn it around so that the supply end is towards the back of the printer and the take-up is towards the front. Symptoms: Printer starts to make noise like everything is fine, but no print media feeds.
  • Page 82 When this happens the printer will seem to ÒstutterÓ as it waits for more data to be sent down from your computer. To solve this problem, connect the Color Sign Printer to one of your computerÕs built-in ports such as the...
  • Page 83 The ribbon sensor needs adjustment. Printer or Modem port. Be sure the port to which you connect the Color Sign Printer is Geo- compatible. Mac and Windows: This condition can also occur if using a substandard interface cable. To...
  • Page 84 This will properly place the panel over the ribbon sensor. . Remove the Side Cover on the right-hand side of the printer by loosening the two screws located on the inside top of this cover and lifting the cover straight up (see illustration on page 81).
  • Page 85 . Go to printer driver setup window (see Section 7-D) by selecting Page Setup from the File menu. Click on the Expert button and then on the CalÉ button of the Expert Options dialog box. The printerÕs ribbon sensor calibration...
  • Page 86 Rotate the screw just a fraction of a turn either clockwise or counter clockwise until both of the printer LED lights stop flashing. When both LED lights remain solid, the ribbon sensor calibration is complete. Reassemble the printer and try your...
  • Page 87: Troubleshooting For The Color Sign Printerõs Macintosh Printer Driver And Backgrounder Software

    PrinterÕs Macintosh QuickDraw driver, run through the following check list. Is the printer plugged into the wall outlet? Are the LED lights on? Is the printer selected in the Chooser? Is the printer connected to your Macintosh? Is the connection solid? Does the...
  • Page 88 Try disabling unnecessary extensions (i.e. those which are not completely necessary to run your system or your Color Sign Printer). To disable extensions, remove them from the Extensions folder and restart. To isolate the extension causing the problem, try removing suspect extensions one-half at a time while printing to the Color Sign Printer.
  • Page 89: Section 12: Technical Specifications

    Colors Print Speed Dye-Sublimation Process Color: Technical Resin Process Specifications Color: Wax Process Color: Resin Spot-Color: Interfaces Printer Drivers Ribbons Dye-Sublimation: Resin Thermal: Wax Thermal: Print Media Types Dye-Sublimation: Resin Thermal: Wax Thermal: Print Media Size Dye-Sublimation: Resin Thermal: Wax Thermal:...
  • Page 90 Printable Area Media Size Color Print Area A/A4 Super 8.8Ó x 11.3Ó (224 x 287mm) B/A3 Super 11.95Ó x 17.4Ó (304 x 442mm) Extended B/A3 Super 11.95Ó x 22Ó (304 x 559mm) Dimensions 17.1ÓW x 8.25ÓH x 14.75ÓD (26.5Ó D with Media Tray installed); 43.5cmW x 21cmH x 37.5cmD (67.3cmD with Media Tray installed) Weight...
  • Page 91: Introduction

    Parallel Interface I nterfacing Information The Color Sign Printer is equipped with both a standard 8-bit Centronics-type parallel interface port and a high-speed serial interface port. These communication ports are the means through which the printer receives data from your computer. This section describes the pin assignments and signal specifications for each of these ports.
  • Page 92: Mini 8-Pin Serial Interface

    Macintosh GeoPorts. If your Macintosh does not have a Geo-compatible serial port, you will not be able to use the Color Sign PrinterÕs serial port. The Color Sign PrinterÕs serial port mates with a standard computer to printer serial cable.
  • Page 93: Index

    PostScript ...27, 42 Power...23 Print Backgrounder ...54 Print Media ...16 Print Quality ...47 Print within margins ...48 Printable area...22 Printer driver ...27, 42 Printhead ...67 Printing ...59 Put temporary files on ...52 QuickDraw...42 Resin Thermal Transfer...13, 16 Ribbon Cartridge ...10, 14 Ribbon sensor adjustment...78...
  • Page 94 Ribbons...12 Save temp files for re-print...47 Self Test ...24 Serial port...41, 87 Spot Color Resin Ribbon ...13, 61, 63, 64 Supply Tray ...19 Text anti-aliasing ...49 Thermal Transfer ...1 Transparency Film...17 Tray Cover...19 Vinyl...16 Wax Thermal Transfer ...13, 17 Write Direct to Port ...39...
  • Page 95 Printed In The United States of America P/N 510201...

This manual is also suitable for:

510201

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