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Added information on the testfeed and testprint functions, cleaning pen and cleaning swab accessories, and default error conditions. 7/2009 Added information about using the PW50 smart card reader with the CN3 or CK61 mobile computer. PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
Safety Information Your safety is extremely important. Read and follow all warnings and cautions in this document before handling and operating Intermec equipment. You can be seriously injured, and equipment and data can be damaged if you do not follow the safety warnings and cautions.
The battery may present a fire or chemical burn hazard if mistreated. Do not disassemble the battery, heat above 100 °C (212 °F), or incinerate. Dispose of any used batteries according to the instructions. viii PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
Before You Begin Global Services and Support Warranty Information To understand the warranty for your Intermec product, visit the Intermec website at www.intermec.com and click Support > Returns and Repairs > Warranty. Disclaimer of warranties: The sample code included in this document is presented for reference only.
This user guide provides you with information about the features of the PW50, and how to configure, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the printer. Before you work with the PW50, you should be familiar with your network and general networking terms, such as IP address. Related Documents The Intermec website at www.intermec.com...
Using the PW50 Workboard Printer Use this chapter to familiarize yourself with the PW50 Workboard Printer. This chapter contains these sections: • Learning About the PW50 Workboard Printer • Using the Batteries • Loading Media • Printing a Testprint •...
Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer Learning About the PW50 Workboard Printer The PW50 is a rugged direct thermal receipt printer that is designed for use with these Intermec mobile computers: • CN3 and CN3e CN4 and CN4e •...
Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer Identifying the Parts of the Printer Use this illustration to familiarize yourself with some of the features of the PW50. Feed button Card reader (optional) Standby button Battery Printer ports Intermec Ready-to-Work...
Understanding the Ports and Optional Card Reader The PW50 ports are located on the bottom of the printer. Power connector COM1 PW50 Ports: Use this illustration to familiarize yourself with the PW50 ports. PW50 Port Descriptions Port Description Allows USB devices to connect to the PW50.
Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer Understanding the Control Panel The PW50 control panel contains two buttons and four LED indicators. Use the two buttons to perform functions on the PW50 printer. Note: The Intermec Ready-to-Work™ indicator and the Status LED also indicate the status of the printer modes.
Understanding the Printer Sounds The PW50 plays sounds in response to several actions that you can take with the printer. Use the following table to understand when the sounds occur and what they mean.
Keep away from children. Installing the Battery Make sure you fully charge the battery before you use your PW50. You can charge the battery before or after you install it in the PW50. To install the battery 1 Lay the PW50 upside down on a flat surface.
Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer 3 Insert the edge of the battery under the lip of the PW50 and then push down until you hear the battery latch click. Charging the Batteries There are two ways to charge the PW50 battery: •...
Loading Media You can use roll or fanfold receipt media with the PW50 printer. The PW50 ships with a small amount of media loaded and a test page printed to verify that the printer works. For information on media specifications, see “Specifications”...
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Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer To load media 1 If you are using fanfold media: a On the bottom of the printer, remove the adhesive cover from the fanfold media slot. b Turn the printer over. 2 Press the blue media cover release button to open the cover.
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Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer 3 Insert the media. • If you are using roll media, make sure you load the media counter-clockwise so that it pulls off the core from the bottom of the printer. •...
If you cannot get the testprint information to print, see Chapter 3, “Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50.” To print a testprint 1 Make sure the PW50 is in Standby mode and is loaded with media. 2 Press and hold the Standby and Feed buttons until the PW50 beeps.
4 The PW50 prints a testprint and starts Test Mode. For more information, see “Understanding Test Mode” on page Inserting a Mobile Computer The PW50 is designed for use with the CN3, CN3e, CN4, CN4e, CK61, CK61ex, CN70, and CN70e mobile computers. To insert a mobile computer •...
Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer Using the Card Reader The optional card reader reads magnetic stripe cards and smart cards when a CN3, CN4, or CK61 mobile computer is inserted in the PW50. Before you can use the card reader, you need to: •...
• SCardReleaseContext To use the smart card reader 1 Insert a CN3, CN4, or CK61 mobile computer in the PW50. 2 On your mobile computer, start an application that can read smart card information. 3 Orient the smart card with the chip facing the printer.
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Chapter 1 — Using the PW50 Workboard Printer PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
Configuring the PW50 This chapter describes how to configure the PW50 and contains these sections: • Configuring the PW50 • Establishing Communications With a Host • Downloading Fonts and Graphics • Upgrading the Firmware • Understanding the Printer Modes...
Manual. Establishing Communications With a Host The PW50 must establish communications with a host that sends the data for the printer to print. The PW50 can communicate with a host using one of these methods: • Bluetooth radio communications with a CN3, CN3e, CN4, CN4e,...
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Bluetooth scanner using EasySet software. To create the bar code labels using EasySet, you need the Bluetooth Device Address and the PIN of the PW50. EasySet is a free software available from the Intermec website at www.intermec.com.
Chapter 2 — Configuring the PW50 To set up Bluetooth communications with a scanner 1 Make sure that the PW50 is not connected to a serial cable. 2 Download and install EasySet on your host PC. 3 Create the following bar code labels using EasySet: •...
Intermec website. You download a self-extracting cabinet file (.cab) to copy onto your mobile computer. When you double-click the .cab file, the mobile computer sends the files down to the PW50. PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
4 Double-click the .cab file on your mobile computer. Upgrading the Firmware You can download firmware to your PW50 from a host PC using a serial connection. To upgrade your firmware, you need to send a .upg file to the PW50 that follows this format: PW50fxxxx_mmddyy.upg...
“Cold Booting the PW50” on page Understanding the Printer Modes The PW50 has five modes to help you effectively interact with the printer: Ready, Pause, Error, Test, and Upgrade. Use the following sections to understand the different printer modes. Understanding Ready Mode The printer is in Ready mode when the printer is on and ready to print.
To enter Test mode 1 Make sure the PW50 is in Standby mode and is loaded with media. 2 Press and hold the Standby and Feed buttons until the PW50 beeps.
2 Press the media cover release button to open the media cover. 3 Press the Standby button to turn the printer off. 4 Press and hold the Standby and Feed buttons until the PW50 beeps. 5 Close the media cover. The printer is in Extended Test mode.
5 Perform a testfeed by holding down the Feed button until the PW50 beeps. Understanding Upgrade Mode The PW50 is in Upgrade mode while it is upgrading firmware. While the PW50 is in Upgrade mode, the Intermec Ready-to-Work indicator and the green status LED blink. For more information about upgrading firmware, see “Upgrading the Firmware”...
Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50 This chapter contains information to help you solve problems you may encounter while using the PW50 and contains these sections: • Troubleshooting the PW50 • Cold Booting the PW50 • Cleaning the PW50...
Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50 Troubleshooting the PW50 You may have printer operation, print quality, or printer communication problems at some time during the life of the PW50 printer. It is easy to fix most of the problems and you will find solutions in “Troubleshooting Printer Problems and Finding...
Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50 Understanding Error Messages Use the following tables to troubleshoot common errors. To receive error messages, you need to turn on the Allow Messages From Printer ESC/P Programmer’s Reference Manual command. For help, see the...
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50 Printer Problems and Possible Solutions (continued) Problem Possible Solution You press the Standby The printhead may be too hot. Wait until the button, but the printer printhead cools down and try again.
“Understanding Test Mode” on page Cold Booting the PW50 You rarely need to cold boot the PW50 printer, unless you are upgrading the firmware. If your printer occasionally locks up, you should cold boot it. A cold boot clears the working memory.
To cold boot the PW50 1 Disconnect the PW50 from power if externally powered. 2 Remove the battery from the PW50 for at least one second. 3 Insert the battery back into the PW50. 4 Reconnect external power if your PW50 is externally powered.
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50 Cleaning the PW50 Printer Printer Part Cleaning Method Cleaning Interval Platen roller Rotate the platen roller and clean it After every five rolls of thoroughly using a cleaning swab media, or more often if (P/N AE26034).
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PW50 PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
-30 °C to 70 °C (-22 °F to 158 °F) Charging temperature 0 °C to 45 °C (32 °F to 113 °F) Relative humidity 0 to 95% non-condensing Memory Memory Value 16 MB Flash 64 MB PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
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Receipt roll stock media is supplied as a continuous roll and has an end of roll indicator. The end of roll indicator is a red marking (on last 3 feet of roll) on the thermally sensitive side of the paper. PW50 Workboard Printer User Guide...
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Intermec recommends that you test the media in your application. Supported Media The PW50 printer supports direct thermal receipt media. Receipt media is supported in both a top coated and an uncoated paper in continuous roll stock only.
PW50 Vehicle Mount (Model AV11) Use the vehicle mount to attach the PW50 to a truck. There are five versions of the vehicle mount available depending on the mobile computer you are using with the PW50: •...
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Use the handstrap (P/N 825-196-xxx) to conveniently carry your PW50. Shoulder Strap Use the shoulder strap (P/N 074788-xxx) to easily carry the PW50 printer. The wide padded strap makes it comfortable to wear the printer for long periods of time.
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