Datamax RL3 User Manual
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Datamax RL3 User Manual

Datamax-o'neil printer user guide
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Summary of Contents for Datamax RL3

  • Page 1 User Guide...

  • Page 3: Copyright Information

    Copyright Information This manual and any examples contained herein are provided “as is” and are subject to change without notice. Datamax-O’Neil makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this manual, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Datamax-O’Neil shall not be liable for any errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual or the examples herein.

  • Page 4: Important Safety Instructions

    Important Safety Instructions This printer has been carefully designed to provide many years of safe, reliable performance. As with all types of electrical equipment, however, there are a few basic precautions you should take to avoid hurting yourself or damaging the equipment: •...
  • Page 5 The manufacturer declares under sole responsibility that this product conforms to the following standards or other normative documents: Applicable Directive 2004/108/EC, 73/23/EEC  Applicable Standards RL3 Printers: EN55022 (2006) Class A; RL4 Printers: EN55022 (2006) Class B  EN55024 (1998), A1 (2001), A2 (2003)  IEC60950-1 (2005) 2nd Edition ...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    1 Getting Started 1.1 Introduction ......................1 1.2 Unpacking ....................... 1 1.3 Carry Accessories ..................... 3 2 Printer Setup 2.1 Charging ......................... 5 2.2 Interface Connections ....................7 2.3 Loading Media (Labels or Paper) ................. 8 2.3.1 Loading for Presenter Mode ................10 2.3.2 External Media Loading .................
  • Page 8 4 Maintenance and Adjustments 4.1 Cleaning Intervals ....................31 4.2 Cleaning the Printhead .................... 32 5 Troubleshooting 5.1 Introduction ......................35 5.2 Troubleshooting Tips ....................35 Appendix A: Specifications Appendix B: Wireless LAN and Bluetooth Setup B.1 Introduction ......................1 B.2 Static IP/DHCP Setting ....................
  • Page 9 Congratulations on your RL3/4 printer purchase. The RL3/4 printer family, hereafter referred to as ‘the printer’, blends the rugged durability with state-of-the-art electronics and user-friendly features to redefine the standard in portable thermal printers. The printer’s RS-232 serial, USB, or optional wireless LAN or Bluetooth ®...

  • Page 10: Charging

    The table below identifies the P/N and printer features of the RL3 and RL4 printers. The model number can be found on the label located on the back of the printer. RL3: MODEL NUMBER STANDARD FEATURE(S) OPTIONAL FEATURE(S) RL3-DP-00000000 SERIAL/USB...

  • Page 11: Belt Clip

    Several accessories are available for the printer to allow for ease of use and portability. Belt Clip Included with printer, the Belt Clip allows easy attachment to a belt or similar object.  Belt Clip Shoulder Strap/Hand Strap Choose either a hand or longer shoulder strap for maximum comfort and flexibility.
  • Page 12 IP54 Soft Case Optional, proper use of this case will allow the printer to be used in harsh, dusty, or rainy environments. This case is certified to an IP54 rating, so when properly used, it will protect your product against particles as small as dust, and water from any direction.
  • Page 13 The battery is charged by an external auto-ranging power supply, which connects between the printer and an electrical outlet. If the battery is completely dead, the battery will need to be charged before the printer can be turned on. The printer will only operate with the battery installed, the printer will not function on AC power alone.
  • Page 14 3) Connect the Power Supply to Power Jack of the printer. 4) Connect the AC Power Cord to the Power Supply. 5) Connect the AC Power Cord to an Electrical Outlet. For RL3 printers the printer will not turn on automatically and must be turned on by pressing the button..

  • Page 15: Interface Connections

    The printer can be connected to the host via the USB, serial, optional wireless LAN 802.11 A/B/G, or Bluetooth. The printer will automatically connect to the first port that delivers valid data. Once established, the printer’s power must be cycled ‘Off’ and ‘On’ to change an interface connection. Once the cable connection has been made see section 3.3 for information on using the configuration software (NETira CT).
  • Page 16 Load media into the printer as follows: 1) Slide the Thumb latch rearward and then lift up on the printer’s Cover.  Thumb-Latch  Cover 2) Slide and hold open the Supply hubs.  Supply Hubs...
  • Page 17 3) Orient the Roll of Media (paper or labels) as shown and insert it into the printer.  Roll of Media 4) Allow the Supply Hubs to retract onto the Roll of Media. Then close the printer’s Cover and press downward until latched.

  • Page 18: Loading For Presenter Mode

    2.3.1 Loading for Presenter Mode  The printer must be configured for use in “Presenter Mode”. See section 3.5 for connecting and configuring the printer’s settings. 1) Load media as described in Section 2.3, (steps 1-3). 2) Remove about 8 inches (200mm) of labels from the Media Backing. 3) Open the Peeler Door.

  • Page 19: External Media Loading

    2.3.2 External Media Loading Load media into the printer as follows: 1) Slide the Thumb latch rearward and then lift up on the printer’s Cover.  Thumb-Latch  Cover 2) Open the External Media Door located in the bottom of the printer. ...
  • Page 20 3) Slide and hold open the Supply hubs and install the Media Spacer  Supply Hubs  Media Spacer 4) Insert the Media through the External Media Door and through the printer as shown:  Media 5) Then close the printer’s Cover and press downward until latched. 6) Press the button a couple of times to normalize tracking.

  • Page 21: Front Panel

    RL3 & RL4 printer displays will turn off and enter during sleep mode after 1 minute of inactivity; press any button to wake. ...

  • Page 22: Buttons

    Short Press: Wakes the printer from sleep or off mode. Short Press: Puts the printer into sleep mode. Press and hold (~4s) then release: Turns off the printer (RL3 models only). Press and hold (~10s): Resets the printer. Short Press: Feeds one label or a preset paper length...
  • Page 23 Initiation of this mode causes the printer to print its Configuration Label. The Configuration Label provides valuable printer information including the firmware version, memory allocations, enabled options, communications settings, and label-counter data. To print the Configuration Label: 1) Be sure the printer is properly loaded with media (at least 4 inches wide), and that the power to the printer is off.

  • Page 24: Netira Ct Printer Configuration Utility

    The NETira CT printer configuration utility (available for download at www.datamax-oneil.com) is a Windows based configuration utility that allows the user to make changes to the existing printer setup via a serial or Wireless LAN connection. Utility Features: Allows Real-Time Control/Query of Printer Configuration ...
  • Page 25 For Wireless LAN Connections: Close the ‘Open a configuration file…’ dialogue box. a) In the toolbar, Click on the ‘ TCP/IP Configuration’ Icon b) In the ‘TCP/IP Configuration’ dialogue box enter the IP address of the printer and click ‘OK’. (The IP address should be displayed on the printers LCD).

  • Page 26: Selecting Media Type

    3.4.1 Selecting Media Type To accommodate a variety of media types the printer is equipped with two sensors. A transmissive sensor (for gap and notch type label media) and a reflective sensor (for “black mark” type label media). Several media types and their proper sensor settings are shown below: Media Notch Media Notch Media...
  • Page 27 Common Settings: Name Value New value Continuous Label Distance the printer will advance after pressing the FEED button. Length (1/100 inch) Distance is measured in 1/100 inch. i.e. 1000=10 inches. Label Width (1/100 200 = 2 inch media inch) 300 = 3 inch media 400 = 4 inch media Maximum Label Length Distance must be greater than the length of your media.

  • Page 28: Quick Media Calibration

    3.4.2 Quick Media Calibration The printer is factory calibrated for operation with most media types (both gap and black mark). Try your media without performing any calibration adjustments first, this will determine if the factory settings are compatible. Only perform the calibration adjustments if you are experiencing media registration issues. The Quick Media Calibration should be performed first, if it fails to detect your label media proceed to the Manual Media Calibration procedure, see section 3.4.3.

  • Page 29: Manual Media Calibration

    3.4.3 Manual Media Calibration The Manual Media Calibration is intended for use when Quick Media Calibration printer has failed to detect the start of each label. This procedure performs a complete recalibration of the sensors and will optimize the printer to your media. In some instances you may need to perform a Quick Media Calibration after the Manual Media Calibration to further optimize the printer’s sensor.
  • Page 30 7) NETira CT will display a message indicating the process has finished. In case of any error, a FAILED CALIBRATION message will be displayed. Repeat the process. 8) To confirm changes, observe that Gap Back Value and Gap Paper Value have changed. Procedure for Black Mark Media: (be sure the printer is set to sense Black Mark media, see Section 3.4.1).
  • Page 31 Note: A special media with black marks is needed to perform this calibration. See the image to the right. A sample image is included at the end of this document, it can be printed and used for this calibration procedure. 4) Load Stock: Place a white section of media under the sensor, close the door then...
  • Page 32 7) NETira CT will display a message indicating the process has finished. In case of any error, a FAILED CALIBRATION message will be displayed. Repeat the process. 8) To confirm changes, observe that the Black Mark values have changed.

  • Page 33: Presenter Mode

    To set the printer to work in Presenter Mode, follow the following steps: Set the “Presenter Sensor Equipped” parameter to enable the presenter sensor. Calibrate the Presenter Sensor to store the media settings (liner and media). These setting changes can be performed using the NETira CT configuration utility, (see section 3.3 for more information on NETira CT).
  • Page 34 Calibrate the Presenter Sensor:  After calibration is complete the presenter sensor will be disabled. You must re-enable the presenter before use. 1) Install the media in the printer and route the liner through the peeler door, see section 2.3.1. When the FEED key is pressed, ...
  • Page 35 The printer supports several printer languages such as CPCL, ZPL, DPL, etc. However, the printer has an AUTO input mode that will detect the type of script and switch to the desired printing language. By default the printer is configured as an AUTO mode. To manually change the printer language used, perform the following steps.
  • Page 36 & & & The NETira CT configuration program allows printer configuration files to be saved to a file. These files can be useful for saving a printer configuration for a particular application or media. Saved configuration files can be shared with other printers/users. Saving and Loading a Configuration file can be performed using the NETira CT configuration utility, (see section 3.3 for more information on NETira CT).

  • Page 37: Printer Demo

    There are two ways to send demo label formats to the printer, NETira CT and the standalone Printer Demo program available for download at www.datamax-oneil.com. NETira CT Printer Demo: 1) Launch the NETira CT configuration utility, select Tools, then Printer Demo. 2) Browse to folder containing print files, highlight files to be printed and click Add>.

  • Page 38: Firmware Update

    1) Identify the new version for your model of printer from the Datamax-O’Neil Web site at www.datamax-oneil.com and download it onto your computer’s hard drive. Note RL3 and Rl4 firmware files are not interchangeable. 2) Launch the NETira CT configuration utility, and query (connect) to the printer, (see section 3.3 for more information on NETira CT).

  • Page 39: Troubleshooting Tips

    This section details the cleaning, adjusting, and troubleshooting tips for the printer. Proper cleaning is critical. To maintain peak performance of the printer, Datamax-O’Neil offers a complete line of cleaning products including pens, cards, films and swabs. Visit our website at www.datamax-oneil.com to learn more.
  • Page 40 If print quality declines (symptoms include non-compliant bar codes, print dropouts, and streaks) the typical cause is debris build-up on the printhead. Furthermore, when the build-up is not removed it may lead to reduced service life or printhead failure. Streaks in printed labels usually indicate a dirty or faulty printhead.
  • Page 41 3) Close the Cover and then Press the button several times until the cleaning card has been completely fed through the printer. Repeat if necessary.  Cleaning Card  Cover  Feed Button 4) Reload the media. Close the Cover, push down until it latches closed. Press the button to normalize tracking.
  • Page 43 Occasionally, situations arise that require troubleshooting. Possible problem situations and potential solutions are listed below. Contact a qualified technician for problems that persist or problems not covered in this section. The following section lists the symptoms and the associated page numbers of the topics covered. While not every situation is addressed, you may find some tips helpful.
  • Page 44 Printer fails to power ON: The battery may need to be charged: Charge the battery (see Section 2.1).  For RL3 models make sure the printer is turned on. (see Section 3.1.3).  Label advances 8 inches before a fault indication: The media may not be properly loaded: Reload it (see Section 2.3).

  • Page 45: Physical Characteristics

    Physical Characteristics Dimensions RL3: 5.6” w x 7.6” h x 3.2” d (142 x 193 x 81 mm) RL4: 6.5” w x 7.9” h x 3.2” d (166 x 200 x 81 mm) Weight (printer only): RL3: 1.95 lbs. (0.88 kg) RL4: 2.16 lbs.

  • Page 46: Power Source

    External charge contacts, 11-15V, built-in spike and surge protection, (standard on RL4 models only) Recharging 4 - 6 hours RL3 Endurance: Prints over 5500 3”x1” (76.2 x 25.4 mm) labels when operating 8 continuous hours. RL4 Endurance: Prints over 320 4”x6” (100 x 150 mm) labels when operating 16 continuous hours.

  • Page 47: Approved Media

    Software/Firmware • NETira CT Configuration Tool - complete printer set-up utility • Control Language Compatibility: - DPL, ZPL II®, CPCL, IPL™, XML • Device management compatibility: - Wavelink® Avalanche™ MC, Motorola MSP 3.0 and later • Network Compatibility - TCP-IP based networks - AS/400 (LPD) based networks •...
  • Page 49 9100 9100 UDP Port: 9200 9200 Bluetooth Name: Printer – RL3 Printer – RL4 Printer – RL4 1) Turn the printer ON and connect it to the computer using the serial cable. 2) Install and Open the NETira CT configuration utility application on your PC, (see section 3.3...
  • Page 50 The printer can be configured to use a static IP or an dynamic IP obtained from a DHCP server. Using a Dynamic IP Address (DHCP): 1) Click on the ‘Wireless General Network’ printer component. 2) Change (or confirm) the following parameter setting: IP address method: DHCP 3) After updating the “New Value”...
  • Page 51 1) Click on the ‘WIFI’ printer component. 2) Change (or confirm) the following parameter settings: ESSID: (Default: D-O) Type name that match the name of your access point Network Type: Infrastructure or Adhoc 3) After updating the “New Value” column, click the Send button to send these changes to the printer.

  • Page 52: B.4.1 Wep 64 & 128 Bit

    The printer can be configured to utilize several Wireless LAN security protocols. The following sections outline the most popular configurations. B.4.1 WEP 64 & 128 Bit 1) Click on the ‘WIFI’ printer component. 2) Click the ‘Static WEP’ radio button. 3) Change (or confirm) the following parameter settings: WEP Selected Key: Select the key...

  • Page 53: B.4.2 Wpa2-Psk W/Ccmp

    B.4.2 WPA2-PSK w/CCMP 1) Click on the ‘WIFI’ printer component. 2) Click the ‘Click the WPA/WPA2’ radio button. 3) Change (or confirm) the following parameter settings: Group Cipher: CCMP Network Authentication Type: WPA2-PSK 4) Type the Pass Phrase under the “WPA_PSK_TKIP/ WPA2_PSK settings”...

  • Page 54: B.4.4 Wpa2-Enterprise

    B.4.4 WPA2-Enterprise 1) Click on the ‘WIFI’ printer component. 2) Click the ‘Click the WPA/WPA2’ radio button. 3) Change (or confirm) the following parameter settings: Network Authentication Type: WPA-Enterprise Phase 2 Method: EAP-MSCHAPv2 EAP Type: Select EAP-PEAP Note: EAP Type can be variable. Other values supported: EAP-LEAP, EAP-TTLS, EAP-PEAP, EAP-FAST 4) Type the user name and...

  • Page 55: B.4.5 Wpa-Psk Tkip W/Tkip

    B.4.5 WPA-PSK TKIP w/TKIP 1) Click on the ‘WIFI’ printer component. 2) Click the ‘Click the WPA/WPA2’ radio button. 3) Change (or confirm) the following parameter settings: Group Cipher: TKIP Network Authentication Type: WPA2-PSK_TKIP 4) Type the Pass Phrase under the “WPA_PSK_TKIP/WPA2_PSK settings”...
  • Page 56 In the event of a Wireless LAN communication problem (drop offs, hangs, can’t communicate, ect..), the printer can be reset. To reset the printer: 1) Press and hold the button until the “Radio Off” message is displayed and then release. 2) Next, press and hold the button until the “Turning Radio On”...
  • Page 57 NETira CT Configuration Utility  Seagull Windows Drivers (for Printer and Composite Class installations only)  “Datamax-O'Neil Composite Class.inf” file (for Composite Class installations only)  “Datamax-O'Neil CDC Class.inf” file (for CDC installations only)  Create a new folder on your local computer named “Drivers”. Download the necessary files and place them...
  • Page 58 Before attempting an USB connection the printer must first be configured to use the desired USB class. Set the printer to appropriate USB class for your particular application by using NETira CT configuration utility. 1) Turn the printer ON and connect it to the computer using the serial cable.
  • Page 59 The following files are required and can be downloaded from: www.datamax-oneil.com. Datamax-O’Neil Windows Drivers  “Datamax-O'Neil Composite Class.inf” file  Create a new folder on your local computer named “Drivers”. Download the necessary files and place them in this folder.
  • Page 60 5) Check the “Include this location in the search” checkbox and then click Browse. 6) Navigate to the “Driver” folder you created earlier that contains the “Datamax-O'Neil Composite Class.inf” file. 7) Select the folder and then Click ‘OK’. Then Click...
  • Page 61 8) When prompted click “Continue Anyway” 9) Windows will now load the drivers to assign the necessary ports to the printer. 10) Click Finish to close the wizard. Proceed to Step C to begin the installation of the Windows Printer Driver. Step C: Windows Printer Driver Installation: 1) The PC will launch the “Found New Hardware Wizard”...
  • Page 62 3) Select the “Install from a list or specific (Advanced)” radio button and then click Next. 4) Select the “Search for the best driver in these locations” radio button. 5) Check the “Include this location in the search” checkbox and then click Browse. 6) Navigate to “C:\Seagull”...
  • Page 63 9) When prompted click “Continue Anyway” 10) Windows will now install the necessary files for the Windows printer driver. 11) Click Finish to close the wizard. The printer can now be selected for use in the printer dialogue box of any windows application.
  • Page 64 5) Check the “Include this location in the search” checkbox and then click Browse. 6) Navigate to the “Driver” folder you created earlier that contains the “Datamax-O'Neil CDC Class.inf” file. 7) Select the folder and then Click ‘OK’. Then Click...
  • Page 65 8) When prompted click “Continue Anyway” 9) Windows will now load the drivers to assign the necessary ports to the printer. 10) Click Finish to close the wizard. The printer can now be selected for using the virtual com port assigned to the printer.
  • Page 66 Do not plug the USB cable into the computers USB port. If you have done so, unplug it now. Software/Files Needed: The following file is required and can be downloaded from: www.datamax-oneil.com. Datamax-O’Neil Windows Drivers  Create a new folder on your local computer named “Drivers”. Download the necessary file and place it in this folder.
  • Page 67 Step B: Windows Printer Driver Installation: 1) The PC will launch the “Found New Hardware Wizard” again. 2) Select the “No, not this time” radio button and then click Next. 3) Select the “Install from a list or specific (Advanced)” radio button and then click Next. 4) Select the “Search for the best driver in these locations”...
  • Page 68 8) Select the driver that matches your model printer. (there may be multiple models listed) and then click Next. 9) When prompted click “Continue Anyway” 10) Windows will now install the necessary files for the Windows printer driver. 11) Click Finish to close the wizard. The printer can now be selected for use in the printer dialogue box of any windows application.

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