Epson Fx 1180 Impact Printer Product Information Guide / 880+

FX-880 fx880ppg

2015-03-28

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EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

continuous
paper support

User Replaceable Parts
paper guide
edge guides

FX-880+
printer cover

paper
release
lever

User replaceable
part

Parts price list
name

107

Front cover

Cover, front
assembly

1090495

108

Knob

Knob

1039337

120

Logo plate

Logo plate

1090266

115

Optional interface
cover

Upper connector
cover

1037223

106

Paper guide

Sheet guide
assembly, rear

1040399

135

Paper guide
support frame

Support frame,
sheet guide

1039332

585

Paper thickness
lever cap

Lever cap

1039412

104

Printer cover

Cover assembly,
printer

1066760

Ribbon cartridge

Ribbon cartridge

8750

541

Tractor

Tractor assembly

1040231

105

Rear wing

Wing

1039434

101

Rubber foot

Foot

1004605

Parts price list
name

Part number

control panel

front cover
tractor in the front
push position

paper tension unit
ribbon cartridge

optional interface
cover

center support
(tractor unit parts)

paper
thickness lever

knob
sprockets

Part number

FX-1180+

USB
interface

parallel
interface

Reference
number

power switch

Reference
number

User replaceable
part

TBD

Front cover

Cover, front

TBD

TBD

Knob

Knob

TBD

TBD

Logo plate

Logo plate

TBD

TBD

Optional interface
cover

Upper connector
cover

TBD

TBD

Paper guide

Sheet guide
assembly, rear

TBD

TBD

Paper guide
support frame

Support frame,
sheet guide

TBD

TBD

Paper thickness
lever cap

Cap cover

TBD

TBD

Printer cover

Cover assembly,
printer

TBD

Ribbon cartridge

Ribbon cartridge

8755

Tractor

Tractor assembly

TBD

AC inlet

TBD

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 1

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
Other network interface cards (such as the C823622A,
C823632A, and C823642A) are also supported on this
printer. Check with EPSON for more information.

Options
Paper Handling Options

System Compatibility

High-capacity cut-sheet feeder (C806381 for FX-880+,
C806401 for FX-1180+)
Feeds up to 150 sheets of paper or 25 plain bond envelopes
into the printer without reloading. You can load single
sheets, single-sheet multi-part forms, or envelopes.
Single-bin cut-sheet feeder (C806371 for FX-880+,
C806391 for FX-1180+)
Feeds up to 50 sheets of paper into the printer without
reloading. Load only ordinary single sheets in this feeder.
Additional tractor unit (C800201 for FX-880+,
C800211 for FX-1180+)

The printer supports the following versions of Microsoft
Windows:
❏

Windows 3.1, 95, and NT: parallel interface only.

❏

Windows 98, Me, 2000: parallel and USB interfaces.

Printer Specifications
Mechanical

Use the additional tractor in the pull position along with
your standard tractor installed in the front or rear push
position to improve paper handling and reduce the chance
of paper jams. This setup is especially useful with
continuous multi-part forms.

Printing method

9-pin impact dot matrix

Printing speed

Ultra speed draft
494 cps at 10 cpi
564 cps at 12 cpi
High-speed draft
440 cps at 10 cpi
493 cps at 12 cpi

Roll paper holder (8310)

Draft
330 cps at 10 cpi
396 cps at 12 cpi

Allows you to use your printer with 8.5-inch roll paper like
that used with telex machines.
Front sheet guide (C814001 for FX-880+,
C814011 for FX-1180+)

Near letter quality
82.5 cps at 10 cpi
99 cps at 12 cpi

Allows you to load single sheets and carbonless single-sheet
multi-part forms of up to 6 parts.

Printing direction

Bidirectional logic seeking for text and
graphics printing. Unidirectional text or
graphics printing can be selected using
software commands.

Line spacing

1/6-inch or programmable in
1/432-inch increments

Printable columns

FX-880+: 80 columns (at 10 cpi)
FX-1180+: 136 columns (at 10 cpi)

Resolution

240 × 144 dpi (near letter quality)

Paper feed methods

Friction (front, rear)
Push tractor (front, rear)
Pull tractor (front, bottom, rear)
Push and pull tractor (additional tractor
is required) (front, rear)
Cut-sheet feeders (optional)
Roll paper holder (optional)

Paper feed speed

Continuous
5 inches (127 mm)/second

Front paper guide (C814021 for FX-880+,
C814031 for FX-1180+)
Allows you to load single sheets and carbonless single-sheet
multi-part forms of up to 6 parts without removing the
tractor from the front push position.

Optional Interface Cards
You can install an optional interface card to supplement your
printer’s built-in USB and parallel interfaces and provide added
network compatibility. The EPSON interface cards in the table
below are compatible with your printer.
Card type

Model number

Serial interface

C823051

32 KB intelligent serial interface

C823071

Coax interface

C823141

Twinax interface

C823151

IEEE-1284 parallel interface

C823452

EpsonNet 10/100 Base TX Internal Print Server

C823912

2 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Normal mode
62 msec/line at 1/6-inch line spacing

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Paper capacity

Single-bin cut-sheet feeder
up to 50 sheets of 22 lb (82 g/m²)
paper

Electronic
Interfaces

One standard bidirectional 8-bit parallel
interface with IEEE 1284 nibble mode
support, one USB (ver 1.1) interface, and
one optional Type B interface slot

Buffer

96KB

Built-in fonts

Bitmap fonts:
EPSON Draft 10, 12, 15 cpi
EPSON Roman 10, 12, 15 cpi,
proportional
EPSON Sans Serif 10, 12, 15 cpi,
proportional

The total thickness of the
paper stack can be up to
0.20 inch (5 mm).

High-capacity cut-sheet feeder
up to 150 sheets of 22 lb (82 g/m²)
paper
up to 25 plain or bond envelopes
up to 30 airmail envelopes
The total thickness of the
paper stack can be up to 0.59
inch (15 mm).

Reliability

Total print volume
26 million lines (except print head)
MTBF
12,500 POH (25% duty)
Print head life
400 million strokes per wire;
approximately 200 million characters
(Draft, 10 cpi, 14 dots/character)

Acoustic noise

Approx. 53 dB (A) (ISO 7779 pattern)

Dimensions and
weight

Height
6.1 inches (154 mm)

Bar code fonts:
EAN-13, EAN-8, Interleaved 2 of 5,
UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 128,
POSTNET
Character tables

NLSP version: 36 character tables
Character sets

13 international character sets

Electrical

Width
FX-880+: 16.3 inches (415 mm)
FX-1180+: 23.2 inches (590 mm)
Depth
13.8 inches (350 mm)
Weight
FX-880+: 16.8 lb (7.6 kg)
FX-1180+: 21.2 lb (9.6 kg)
Ribbon

Standard version: 13 character tables

220 to 240 V

Rated voltage
range

120 V

220 to 240 V

100 to 120 V/
220 to 240 V

Input voltage
range

103.5 to 132 V

198 to 264 V

90 to 132 V/
198 to 264 V

Rated
frequency
range

50 to 60 Hz

Input
frequency
range

49.5 to 60.5 Hz

Rated current

0.7 A (maximum
2.1 A depending
on the character
type)

Power
consumption

Approx. 40W (ISO/IEC 10561 letter
pattern)

Black ribbon cartridge
FX-880+: 8750
FX-1180+: 8755

0.4 A (maximum
1.2 A depending
on the character
type)

Ribbon life
approximately 5 million characters
(Draft, 10 cpi, 14 dots/character)

10/01

Universal
(UPS)

120 V

0.8 A (maximum
2.4 A depending
on the character
type)/ 0.5 A
(maximum 1.2 A
depending on
the character
type)
Approx. 42 W
(ISO/IEC 10561
letter pattern)

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 3

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
Environmental

Single-sheet multipart forms (for the optional front
sheet or front paper guide only):
Humidity (without
condensation)

Temperature
Operation (plain
paper)

41 to 95 °F (5 to 35 °C)

10 to 80% RH

Operation
59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C)
(recycled paper,
envelopes, labels
or roll paper)

30 to 60% RH

Storage

0 to 85% RH

–22 to 140 °F (–30 to 60 °C)

Paper
Use recycled paper, multipart paper, labels, envelopes,
and roll paper only under normal temperature and
humidity conditions, as follows:
Temperature
Humidity

Minimum

Maximum

3.9
100

FX-880+:
10.1
257

Length**
(inch)
(mm)

3.9
100

14.3
364

Thickness***
(inch)
(mm)

0.0025
0.065

0.0055
0.14

Weight
(lb)
(g/m²)

14
52

24
90

Quality

Plain paper and recycled paper

3.9
100

Length
((inch)
(mm)

3.9
100

14.3
364

Copies

1 original + 5 copies

Total thickness
(inch)
(mm)

0.0047
0.12

0.018
0.46

Weight per sheet of
multipart
(lb)
(g/m²)

12
40

15
58

FX-1180+:
16.5
420

Carbonless multipart forms with a line of glue at
the top or one side of the form

Continuous paper (ordinary and multipart):

Single sheets, front or rear entry

Width*
(inch)
(mm)

Maximum
FX-880+:
10.1
257

Quality

59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C)
30 to 60% RH

Do not load paper that has been folded or is damaged,
wrinkled, or curled.

Minimum
Width
(inch)
(mm)

FX-1180+:
16.5
420

* 7.2 to 8.5 inches (182 to 216 mm) for the optional cut-sheet
feeder for FX-880+.
7.2 to 16.5 inches (182 to 420 mm) for the optional cut-sheet
feeder for FX-1180+.

Minimum

Maximum

Width
(inch)
(mm)

4.0
101.6

FX-880+:
10.0
254.0

Length, one page
(inch)
(mm)

4.0
101.6

22.0
558.8

Copies

1 original + 5 copies

Total thickness
(inch)
(mm)

0.0025
0.065

0.018
0.46

Weight, ordinary
paper
(lb)
(g/m²)

14
52

22
82

Weight per sheet of
multipart
(lb)
(g/m²)

12
40

15
58

Quality

** 8.3 to 14.3 inches (210 to 364 mm) for the optional cut-sheet
feeder.

FX-1180+:
16.0
406.4

Plain paper, recycled paper, and carbonless
multipart forms with point gluing or paper
stapling on both sides

Do not load thick paper, such as multipart forms with
five or six parts, in the rear slot.

***0.0028 to 0.0055 inch (0.07 to 0.14 mm) for the optional
cut-sheet feeder.

The ratio of the cut/uncut length at the perforation
should be between 3:1 and 5:1.
The thickness of the perforation part when extended
should be 1 mm or less.
The perforation between pages should not extend all
the way to the edges of the paper. Uncut length on the
edges should be 1 mm or more.
The horizontal and vertical perforation cuts should not
cross.

4 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
Continuous labels (front and bottom entry only):

Envelopes (rear entry only):

Use only labels mounted on continuous backing sheets.

Minimum
Envelope size
(No. 6)

Minimum
Label size

Maximum

See the figure below.

Width, backing sheet
(inch)
(mm)

4.0
101.6

FX-880+:
10.0
254.0

Length, backing sheet
(inch)
(mm)

4.0
101.6

22.0
558.8

Thickness, backing sheet
(inch)
(mm)

0.0028
0.07

0.0035
0.09

Total thickness
(inch)
(mm)

0.0063
0.16

0.0075
0.19

Label weight
(lb)
(g/m²)

17
64

Quality

Plain paper

FX-1180+:
16.0
406.4

Envelope size
(No. 10)

Total thickness
(inch)
(mm)

Width
(inch)
(mm)

6.5
165

Length
(inch)
(mm)

3.6
92

Width
(inch)
(mm)

9.5
241

Length
(inch)
(mm)

4.1
105

Maximum

0.0063
0.16

0.0205
0.52

Differences in thickness within the
printable area must be less than
0.0098 inch (0.25 mm).
Weight
(lb)
(g/m²)
Quality

12
45

24
90

Bond envelopes, plain envelopes, and
airmail envelopes without glue on the flap

Roll paper (rear entry with optional roll paper
holder only):
Minimum
Width
(inch)
(mm)

A 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) min.

Length
(inch)
(mm)

B 15/16 inch (23.8 mm) min.
C Corner radius = 0.1 inch (2.5 mm) min.

10/01

Maximum

8.5
216
——

Thickness
(inch)
(mm)

0.0028
0.07

0.0035
0.09

Weight
(lb)
(g/m²)

14
52

22
82

Quality

Plain paper

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 5

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
Printable Area

Roll paper
A The minimum top and
bottom margins are
0.17 inch (4.2 mm).

Single sheets

B The minimum left and right
margins are 0.12 inch
(3 mm). The maximum
printable width is
8.0 inches (203.2 mm).

A The minimum top and bottom margins are 0.17 inch (4.2 mm).

Standards and Approvals

B FX-880+:
The minimum left and right margins are 0.12 inch (3 mm).
The maximum printable width is 8.0 inches (203.2 mm).

120 V (US model)

FX-1180+:
The minimum left and right margins are 0.12 inch (3 mm).
The maximum printable width is 13.6 inches (345.4 mm).

Safety standards
UL 1950
CSA C22.2 No. 950
EMI

Continuous paper

FCC part 15 subpart B class B
CSA C108.8 class B

230 V (European model)

Safety standard
EN 60950
EMI

EN 55022 (CISPR pub. 22) class B
AS/NZS 3548 class B

Universal (UPS) model

A The minimum top and bottom margins above and below the
perforation are 0.17 inch (4.2 mm).
B FX-880+:
The minimum left and right margins are 0.51 inch (13 mm).
The maximum printable width is 8.0 inches (203.2 mm). For paper
wider than 9.0 inches (229.2 mm), the side margins increase to
match the width of the paper.

Safety standards
UL 1950
CSA C22.2 No. 950
EN 60950
EMI

FX-1180+:
The minimum left and right margins are 0.51 inch (13 mm).
The maximum printable width is 13.60 inches (345.4 mm). For
paper wider than 14.6 inches (371.4 mm), the side margins
increase to match the width of the paper.

Envelopes
A The minimum top and
bottom margins are
0.17 inch (4.2 mm).
B The minimum left and right
margins are 0.12 inch
(3 mm).

6 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

10/01

FCC part 15 subpart B class B
CSA C108.8 class B
EN 55022 (CISPR pub. 22) class B
AS/NZS 3548 class B

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

9

Control Panel Buttons and Lights

Pause button

Stops printing temporarily, and resumes
printing when pressed again.
When held down for three seconds, enters
Micro Adjust mode. When pressed again,
exits Micro Adjust mode.

10

Lock

When Lock-out mode is on, the Paper Out and
Pause lights flash if a locked button is
pressed.

11

Paper Out light

On when no paper is loaded in the selected
paper source or paper is not loaded correctly.
Flashes when paper has not been fully ejected
or a paper jam has occurred.

Power-on Functions

Button/Light

Function

1

Font button

Selects one of the fonts.

Font lights

Indicate which font is selected.

2

Reset

When you press both the Font and Pitch
buttons simultaneously, the printer clears the
buffer and restores its default settings.

3

Pitch button

Selects one of the pitch settings.

Pitch lights

Indicates which pitch is selected.

Tear Off/Bin
button

Feeds continuous paper forward to the
tear-off position.

Font

Default setting mode

Load/Eject + LF/FF

Data dump

Feeds continuous paper backward from the
tear-off position to the top-of-form position.

Load/Eject + LF/FF + Pause

EEPROM reset

Selects a cut-sheet feeder bin when the
cut-sheet feeder is installed.

Pause

Bidirectional adjustment mode

Load/Eject + Pause

Control panel Lock-out mode (on/off)

Flashes when continuous paper is in the
tear-off position.

LF/FF + Pause

Default settings for control panel
Lock-out mode

On when bin 1 of the optional cut-sheet
feeder is selected.

Font + Pitch

Quiet mode

Pitch + Pause

Copy mode

Font + Tear Off/Bin

Default setting, simple mode

Tear Off/Bin + Pause

Okidata ML 320T mode (FX-880+ only)

4

Tear Off/Bin
light

The table below summarizes the power-on functions available
through the control panel. To perform the function on the
right, hold down the button(s) on the left while you turn on the
printer.
Control panel button

Off when bin 2 of the optional cut-sheet
feeder is selected.

5

LF/FF button

Feeds paper line by line when pressed quickly.

Function

Load/Eject

NLQ self test

LF/FF

Draft self test

Ejects a single sheet or advances continuous
paper to the next top-of-form position when
held down.

6

Micro Adjust

When you hold down the Pause button for
three seconds, the printer enters Micro Adjust
mode. In this mode, you can press the LF/FF
D and Load/Eject U buttons to adjust the
top-of-form or tear-off position.

7

Load/Eject
button

Loads a single sheet of paper.
Ejects a single sheet of paper.
Loads continuous paper from the standby
position.
Feeds continuous paper backward to the
standby position if a sheet is loaded.

8

Pause light

On when the printer is paused.
Flashes when the printer is in Micro Adjust
mode.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 7

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Error Indicators

Selecting a Font and Pitch

If the printer stops working and one or more control panel
lights are on or flashing, or the printer beeps, use the following
table to diagnose and fix the problem.

Usually, you use your application program to select the font and
pitch you want to use in a document. However, you can select
one of the printer’s five fonts (in different pitches) with the
buttons on the printer’s control panel, as described below.

Light status

Beep
pattern

n Paper Out
n Pause

•••

Problem

No paper is loaded in the selected
paper source.
Load paper in the printer or select a
different paper source; the Paper Out
light goes off. Then press the Pause
button; the Pause light goes off and
the printer starts printing.

•••

Settings you make in application programs usually
override settings you make from the printer’s control
panel. For best results, use your application to select a
font and make other settings.

Solution

The available pitch depends on the font you select. See the table
below for more information.
Font

The paper is not loaded correctly.
Remove paper and reload it correctly.

n Pause

•••

The paper release lever is set to the
wrong position.
Set the paper release lever to the
position for the paper source you
want to use. See page 10.
If paper from another paper source is
currently in the paper path, press the
Load/Eject button to eject the paper;
then move the paper release lever to
the desired position.

f Paper Out
n Pause

•••

•••

Continuous paper is not fed to the
standby position.

f Pause

—

—

Paper is jammed in the printer.

•••••

Draft

10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS

Roman

10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS

Sans Serif

10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS

Lights

Font

o n

USD

n o

HSD

n n

Draft

o f

Roman

f o

Sans Serf

3. Press the Pitch button until the two Pitch lights indicate the
desired pitch as shown below.

To clear the paper jam, see page 13.

Lights

Pitch

The print head is overheated.

o n

10 cpi

Wait a few minutes; the printer
resumes printing automatically once
the print head cools.

n o

12 cpi

n n

15 cpi

o f

17 cpi

f o

20 cpi

n f

PS

The printer is in Micro Adjust mode.

An unknown or fatal printer error has
occurred.

n = on o = off f = flashing

Turn off the printer and leave it off for
several minutes; then turn on the
printer again. If the error recurs,
contact your dealer or EPSON.

n = on

10, 12, 15, 17, 20

n = on o = off f = flashing

Make the adjustments as described
on page 10.
All lights flashing

10, 12

HSD

2. Press the Font button until the two Font lights indicate the
desired font as shown below.

A single sheet of paper is not fully
ejected.

Tear off the printed page at
the perforation; then press the
Load/Eject button. The printer feeds
the paper to the standby position.

USD

1. Make sure that the printer is not printing. If it is, press the
Pause button to stop printing.

Press the Load/Eject button to eject
the sheet.

•••

Pitch

f = flashing

••• = three beeps, ••••• = five beeps

8 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
You can use the front, bottom, or rear paper slot with the pull
tractor.

Selecting a Paper Source

Paper slot

Paper can be fed into the printer from the top, front, bottom, or
rear. Select the paper source that bests suits your current
printing needs.

Push Tractor Positions

Description

front

The bottom paper slot has the straightest
paper path, so it is the best slot to use when
printing on thick paper, such as multipart
forms or continuous paper with labels.

There are two push tractor positions: front and rear. The tractor
is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped.
Tractor position

Description
Load paper from the front slot.
bottom

front push

If you print on thick paper such as multipart
forms, use the front paper slot because this
paper path is almost straight. This reduces
the chances of paper jams.
Load paper from the rear slot.

rear push

If you print on thick paper such as multipart
forms or continuous paper with labels, use
the front paper slot because this paper path
is nearly straight. This reduces the chances
of paper jams.

Do not load continuous paper with labels
from the rear slot. Labels require a straight
paper path; otherwise the labels may come
off their backing sheets inside the printer
and cause a paper jam.

rear

When loading paper from the bottom slot,
be sure to use a printer stand with an
opening large enough for the paper to feed
through it without obstruction.
If the front or bottom paper slot is
unavailable, you can also load ordinary
continuous paper from the rear slot. Please
note that loading paper from the rear slot
results in a curved paper path, which may
affect loading performance, so use the front
or bottom slot whenever possible.
Do not load continuous paper
with labels from the rear slot.
The labels may come off the
backing sheets inside the
printer and cause a paper jam.

The rear slot is also not recommended when
your multipart forms have 5 or 6 parts (1
original plus 4 or 5 copies), because paper
might jam.

Pull Tractor Position
The pull tractor allows you to load continuous paper from the
front, rear or bottom of the printer. However, you cannot use
the tear-off feature when the tractor is in the pull position.
To use the tractor in the pull position, you can remove the
tractor from the rear push position and reinstall it in the pull
position, or you can purchase the optional pull tractor unit
(C800201 for the FX-880+ or C800211 for the FX-1180+) and
install it in the pull position.
You need to remove the paper tension unit to use the
tractor in the pull position.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 9

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
.

Setting the Paper Release Lever
Set the paper release lever to indicate the paper source you want
to use, as described in the table below.

Lever position

Paper type

Lever position

Ordinary paper

0 or 1 (single sheets)
0 (continuous paper)

Thin paper

-1 or 0

Carbonless multipart forms with:
2 parts (original + 1 copy)
3 parts (original + 2 copies)
4 parts (original + 3 copies)
5 parts (original + 4 copies)
6 parts (original + 5 copies)

1
2
3
4
5

Continuous paper with labels

2

Envelopes

2 to 6

When the temperature is 41°F (5°C) or less, set the
paper-thickness lever one position lower to improve
print quality. When the temperature is 95°F (35°C) or
more, set the paper-thickness lever one position higher
to improve print quality.

Description
Single-sheet position
For loading single-sheet paper from the top or front
slot.
Front push tractor position
For loading continuous paper with the tractor
installed in the front push position or when using
the front push and pull tractors in combination.
Rear push tractor position
For loading continuous paper with the tractor
installed in the rear push position or when using
the rear push and pull tractors in combination.
Pull tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor
installed on top of the printer in the pull position.
You can load paper in the front, rear, or bottom
slot.

Using the Micro Adjust Function
The Micro Adjust function allows you to move the paper
forward or backward in 1/216-inch (0.118 mm) increments to
adjust the tear-off and top-of-form positions.

Adjusting the tear-off position
If your paper’s perforation is not aligned with the tear-off edge,
you can use the Micro Adjust function to move the perforation
to the tear-off position. Your tear-off position setting remains in
effect until you change it, even if you turn off the printer.
Never use the knob to adjust the tear-off position; this
may damage the printer or cause it to lose the tear-off
position.

Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Setting
Set the paper-thickness setting for the type of paper you are
using.

5

4

3

2

1

0

1. Make sure the Tear Off/Bin light is flashing (the paper is at
the current tear-off position). You may need to press the
Tear Off/Bin button to advance the paper to the tear-off
position.

-1

6

10 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

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EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
2. Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. The
Pause light begins flashing and the printer enters Micro
Adjust mode.

4. Press the LF/FF D button to move the top-of-form position
up on the page, or press the Load/Eject U button to move
the top-of-form position down on the page.

3. Press LF/FF D to feed paper backward, or Load/Eject U to
feed paper forward, until the paper perforation is aligned
with the tear-off edge of the printer cover.

tear-off edge
paper
perforation

5. Press the Pause button to exit Micro Adjust mode.
The printer has a minimum and a maximum top-of-form
position. If you try to adjust it beyond these limits, the
printer beeps and stops moving the paper.

The printer has a minimum and a maximum tear-off
position. If you try to adjust the tear-off position beyond
these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the
paper.

When the paper reaches the default top-of-form
position, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper
briefly. You can use this setting as a reference point
when adjusting the position.

4. Tear off the printed pages.
5. Press the Pause button to turn off Micro Adjust mode.

The top margin setting made in some software
overrides the top-of-form position setting you make
with the Micro Adjust function.

When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the
paper back to the top-of-form position and begins printing.

Adjusting the top-of-form position
The top-of-form position is the position on the page where the
printer starts printing. If your printing appears too high or low
on the page, you can use the Micro Adjust function to adjust
the top-of-form position, as described below. Your top-of-form
position setting remains in effect until you change it, even if you
turn off the printer.
Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position;
this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the
top-of-form position.

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Load paper. (If the tractor is in a push position, press the
Load/Eject button to advance continuous paper to the
current top-of-form position.) If necessary, lift up the
printer cover so you can see the paper position.

Loading Special Papers
Follow the guidelines in this section when loading continuous
multipart forms, single-sheet multipart forms, labels, and
envelopes.

Continuous multipart forms
Except for setting the paper-thickness lever, you load
continuous multipart forms the same way as ordinary
continuous paper. Just keep the following in mind:
❏

Be sure your multipart forms do not exceed 0.018 inch
(0.46 mm) in thickness.

❏

Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded.

❏

Thick paper, such as multipart forms with five or six parts,
requires a straight paper path to avoid paper jams. Load
thick paper in the front or bottom slots.

3. Hold down the Pause button for three seconds. The Pause
light flashes and the printer enters Micro Adjust mode.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 11

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
Single-sheet multipart forms

Removing continuous paper with labels

To load single-sheet
multipart forms, use
the front paper
entry slot with the
optional front paper
guide or front sheet
guide installed.
Thick paper, such as
multipart forms
with five or six
parts, requires a
straight paper path
to avoid paper jams.
Make sure the forms
do not exceed 0.018
inch (0.46 mm).

To prevent labels from peeling off the backing sheet and
jamming the printer, follow these steps to remove continuous
paper with labels from the printer:
1. Tear off the fresh supply of continuous labels at the
perforation nearest the paper entry slot.
front paper guide

2. Hold down the LF/FF button to eject the remaining labels
from the printer.
Never feed labels backward using the Load/Eject or
Tear Off/Bin button. When fed backward, labels can
easily come off the backing sheet and cause a paper
jam.

front sheet guide

Envelopes
Before loading envelopes, set the paper-thickness lever to a
position from 2 (for thin envelopes) to 6 (for thick envelopes).

Labels
When printing on labels, use only the type of labels that are
mounted on continuous backing sheets with sprocket holes for
use with a tractor feeder. Do not try to print on single sheets
with labels because the printer may not feed labels on a shiny
backing sheet properly.

You can feed envelopes one at a time using the paper guide,
or you can load multiple envelopes using the optional
high-capacity cut-sheet feeder (bin 1 of the double-bin
cut-sheet feeder).

Thick paper, such as continuous paper with labels, requires a
straight or almost straight paper path. You can load labels in the
front (push tractor or pull tractor) or bottom (pull tractor)
paper slot; however, for best results, use the tractor in the pull
position, and load paper in the front or bottom paper slot.
The loading procedure for continuous paper with labels is the
same as that for ordinary continuous paper, except you must set
the paper-thickness lever to 2 before printing. Keep the
following in mind:
❏

It is best to load continuous paper with labels on the pull
tractor. Do not load labels on the rear or front push tractor.

Be sure to place the envelope printable side down and insert the
top edge of the envelope into the printer first.

❏

Never feed labels backward using the Load/Eject or
Tear Off/Bin button. When fed backward, labels can easily
peel off the backing sheet and cause a paper jam.

❏

Because labels are sensitive to temperature and humidity,
use them only under normal operating conditions:

The print head must not print past the left or right edge of the
envelope or other thick paper. Make sure your application
program prints entirely within the printable area of your
envelope.

Temperature:
Humidity

59 to 77°F (15 to 25°C)
30 to 60% RH

❏

Do not leave labels in the printer between jobs; they may
curl around the platen and jam when you resume printing.

❏

Do not load continuous paper with labels from the rear
paper slot. Because the rear paper path is curved, labels may
come off their backing sheets inside the printer and cause a
paper jam.

❏

Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded.

12 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

If you are using No. 6 envelopes, make sure the left edge guide
is aligned with the arrow on the paper guide.

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EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Switching Paper Types
You can easily switch back and forth between printing on
continuous paper with a push tractor and printing on single
sheets without having to remove or reload the continuous
paper.

3. Set the paper release lever to the front or rear push position,
depending on the tractor position you are using.
Your printer loads the continuous paper automatically when
you begin printing.

Clearing Paper Jams

Switching to printing on single sheets
Follow the steps below to switch from printing on continuous
paper from a push tractor to printing on single sheets.
If continuous labels are loaded in the printer, remove
them before switching to single-sheet printing.
If the tractor is in the pull position, remove any
continuous paper from it before switching to
single-sheet printing.

1. If any printed pages remain in the printer, press the
Tear Off/Bin button to advance the paper to the tear-off
position. Then tear off the printed pages.
Make sure you tear off your printed document
before you press the Load/Eject button in the
next step. Reverse feeding several pages at a
time may cause a paper jam.

2. Press the Load/Eject button to feed the continuous paper
backward to the standby position. The paper is still attached
to the push tractor but is no longer in the paper path.
3. Lower the continuous paper support on the paper guide
until it clicks into place, then move the paper guide to the
upright position.

Follow these steps to clear a paper jam:
1. Turn off the printer.
2. Open the printer cover.
3. If continuous paper is jammed in the printer, tear off the
fresh supply at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot.
4. Turn the knob on the left side of the printer away from you
to remove the paper in the printer. Remove any remaining
pieces of paper.
5. If the paper is stuck where the printer ejects it, gently pull
the paper out of the printer.
Use the knob on the left side of the printer to
clear paper jams only when the printer is off.
Otherwise, you may damage the printer or
change the top-of-form or tear-off position.

6. Close the printer cover and turn on the printer. Make sure
the Paper Out light is not flashing and the Pause light is
off.

4. Set the paper release lever to the single-sheet
position.
5. Load single sheets.

Switching to printing on continuous
paper
Follow the steps below to switch from printing on single sheets
to printing on continuous paper with a push tractor.
To switch from printing with the optional front sheet
guide to printing with the front push tractor, you need
to remove the front sheet guide.

1. If a single sheet remains in the printer, press the Load/Eject
button to eject it.
Never use the knob to eject paper when the
printer is on; this may damage the printer or
cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

2. Make sure the tractor is installed in the front or rear push
position and that continuous paper is loaded on it.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 13

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Default Setting Mode
The default settings control many printer functions. While you
can often set these functions through your software or printer
driver, you may sometimes need to change a default setting
from the printer’s control panel using the default-setting mode.
The following table shows the options available for each printer
setting. (Default settings appear in bold type.) Instructions for
changing the settings follow the table.
Setting

Options

Skip over perforation

Off, On

Auto tear-off

Off, On

Auto line feed

Off, On

Print direction

Bi-D, Uni-D

Software

ESC/P, IBM PPDS (same as IBM 2380
Plus)

I/F (interface) mode

Auto, Parallel, USB, Option

Auto I/F (interface) wait
time

10 seconds, 30 seconds

Manual feed wait time

1 second, 1.5 seconds, 2 seconds, 3
seconds

Parallel I/F bidirectional
mode

Off, On

Packet mode

Off, Auto

0
/

0 slash

0,

Buzzer

Off, On

Auto CR (carriage return)*

Off, On

IBM character table*

Table 2, Table 1

Page length for front
tractor

Length in inches: 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 8.5,
11, 70/6, 12, 14, 17

Changing default settings
Follow the steps below to enter the default-setting mode and
change the printer’s default settings.
To print the language selection and default-setting
mode instructions, you need three sheets of A4 or
letter size single-sheet paper or three pages of
continuous paper that is at least 11 inches (279 mm)
long and 8.3 inches (210 mm) wide.

1. If you use single sheets, you need to load a new sheet of
paper each time the printer ejects a printed sheet from the
paper guide.
2. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
3. Turn on the printer while holding down the Font button.
The printer enters the default-setting mode and prints the
language selection instructions (one page).
If you want the instructions in English, there is a faster
way to enter default setting mode which skips printing
the language instruction sheet. Hold down the Tear Off
button instead of the Font button while you turn on the
printer.

4. Press the Font button until the Font and Pitch lights
indicate the language you want, as described in the language
selection instructions.
5. Press the Tear Off/Bin button to print the current default
settings and instructions in the language you selected.
6. Follow the printed instructions to change the printer’s
default settings from the control panel.
7. When you finish making settings, turn off the printer to exit
the default-setting mode.
You may exit the default-setting mode by turning off
the printer at any time. Any settings you have made
remain in effect until you change them again.

Page length for rear tractor Length in inches: 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 8.5,
11, 70/6, 12, 14, 17
Character table

International character set
for italic table**

Standard model: italic, PC 437, PC 850,
PC 860, PC 863, PC 865, PC 861, BRASCII,
Abicomp, Roman 8, ISO Latin 1, PC858,
ISO 8859-15
All other models: Italic, PC 437, PC 850,
PC 437 Greek, PC 853, PC855, PC 852,
PC 857, PC 866, PC 869, MAZOWIA,
Code MJK, ISO 8859-7, Bulgaria, PC 774,
Estonia, PC 866 LAT., ISO 8859-2, PC 866
UKR, PC-APTEC, PC-771, PC-AR864,
PC 708, PC 720
Italic U.S.A., Italic France, Italic Germany,
Italic U.K., Italic Denmark 1, Italic Sweden,
Italic Italy, Italic Spain 1

* This setting is available only in IBM PPDS emulation mode.
** The options available for this setting vary depending on the
country.

Locking the Control Panel Buttons
You can restrict the use of buttons on the control panel using
Lock-out mode. In the default Lock-out mode, you can use
only the Pause, Load/Eject and Tear off buttons. If you want
to change which functions are locked, see “Changing the
Lock-out mode setting” below.

Turning Lock-out mode on and off
1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
2. Turn on the printer while holding down the Load/Eject
and Pause buttons. The printer beeps twice, indicating that
the Lock-out mode has been turned on.
When the Lock-out mode is on, the Pause and Paper Out lights
flash simultaneously when any locked button is pushed.

14 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+
To turn Lock-out mode off, repeat steps 1 and 2. The printer
beeps once, indicating that the Lock-out mode has been turned
off.

Changing the Lock-out mode setting

The printer remains in Okidata mode until you repeat the
above procedure. To return to FX-880+ mode, hold down the
Tear Off/Bin and Pause buttons while you turn on the printer.
The printer beeps twice. Turn it off, wait 5 seconds, and then
turn it back on to begin using the printer in FX-880+ mode.
You can print the default settings for the printer when it
is in Okidata mode to check the current settings and
change them if necessary. See “Changing default
settings” on page 14.

You can select which printer functions you want to be locked
while Lock-out mode is on. Follow these steps:
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
2. Turn on the printer while holding down the LF/FF and
Pause buttons. The printer enters the Lock-out setting
mode and prints the instructions. (You’ll need three sheets
of A4 or letter size single-sheet paper or three pages of
continuous paper that is at least 11 inches [279 mm] long
and 8.3 inches [210 mm] wide.)

Aligning Vertical Lines in Your
Printout

See the instructions above to turn on Lock-out mode after you
change the Lock-out mode setting.

If you notice that the vertical lines in your printout are not
properly aligned, you can use the printer’s bidirectional
adjustment mode to correct this problem. During bidirectional
adjustment, the printer prints three sheets of alignment
patterns, labeled High Speed Draft, Draft, and NLQ (near
letter quality). You select the best alignment pattern from each
sheet.

Emulating the Okidata Microline 320
Turbo

To print the instruction sheet and alignment patterns, you need
five single sheets or five pages of continuous paper of at least the
following sizes:

3. Follow the instructions to change the settings as desired.
4. Turn off the printer.

If you have the EPSON FX-880+, you can make it work like
the Okidata® Microline® 320 Turbo by turning the printer on
in a different mode. In this mode, the printer emulates Okidata
functions, including the following. Default settings are bold.
EPSON FX-880+ in
Okidata mode

Okidata ML320
Turbo

IBM® PPDS, EPSON
ESC/P®, Oki ML 320T

IBM ProPrinter III,
EPSON ESC/P, Oki
ML 320T

22 mm
24 mm

22 mm *
24 mm *

Line spacing (lines per
inch)

6 LPI, 8 LPI

6 LPI, 8 LPI

Paper out override

Off, On

Off, On

Feature
Software emulation

Printable area
Top margin
Bottom margin

Paper type

FX-880+

FX-1180+

Continuous paper (including
perforated border)

9.5 × 11 inches
(241 × 279 mm)

14.8 × 11 inches
(376 × 279 mm)

Single sheet

A4 or letter size

A3 landscape

If you use single sheets, you need to load a new sheet of paper
each time the printer ejects a printed sheet from the paper
guide.
Follow these steps to perform the bidirectional adjustment:
1. Make sure paper is loaded, then turn off the printer.

* As measured by EPSON.
If you want to use your printer in Okidata mode, do not
install the Windows driver that came with your
FX-880+. If you have been using an Okidata driver, you
can continue to use it with your FX-880+ in Okidata
mode.

2. While holding down the Pause button, turn on the printer.
The printer enters the bidirectional adjustment mode and
then prints instructions and the first set of alignment
patterns.
3. As described in the instructions, compare the alignment
patterns and select the pattern with the best alignment.
Then select the pattern with the best alignment for each of
the remaining sets of alignment patterns.
4. After you select the best pattern in the final set of alignment
patterns, save your selection by turning off the printer.

To enter Okidata mode, make sure the printer is turned off.
Then hold down the Tear Off/Bin and Pause buttons while
you turn on the printer. The printer beeps once. Now turn the
printer off, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on (with just the
power switch) to begin using it in Okidata mode.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 15

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Printing a Self Test

Printing a Hex Dump

Running the printer’s self test helps you determine whether the
printer or the computer is causing the problem:

The hex dump feature is designed for DOS-based PC
connections. If you are an experienced user or a programmer,
you can print a hexadecimal dump to isolate communication
problems between the printer and your software program. In
hex dump mode, the printer prints all data it receives from the
computer as hexadecimal values.

❏

If the self test results are satisfactory, the printer is working
properly and the problem probably results from your
printer driver settings, application settings, computer, or
interface cable. (Be sure to use a shielded interface cable.)

❏

If the self test does not print properly, there is a problem
with the printer.

You can print the self test using either single sheets or
continuous paper of at least the following width:
Paper type

FX-880+

FX-1180+

Continuous paper (including
perforated border)

9.5 inches
(241 mm)

14.8 inches
(376 mm)

Single sheet

A4 or letter size

A3 landscape

You can print a hex dump using either single sheets or
continuous paper that is at least 8.3 inches (210 mm) wide,
such as A4 or letter size paper.
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
2. To enter hex dump mode, turn on the printer while holding
down the LF/FF and Load/Eject buttons.
3. Open a software program and send a print job to the
printer. Your printer prints all the codes it receives in
hexadecimal format, such as:

Follow these steps to perform a self test:
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
2. To run the test using the Draft font, turn on the printer
while holding down the LF/FF button. To run the test
using the printer’s near letter-quality fonts, hold down the
Load/Eject button while you turn on the printer. Either self
test can help you determine the source of your printing
problem; however, the draft self test prints faster than the
near letter-quality test.
After a few seconds, the printer loads the paper
automatically and begins printing the self test. A series of
characters is printed.

4. By comparing the characters printed in the right column
with the printout of the hexadecimal codes, you can check
the codes the printer is receiving. If characters are printable,
they appear in the right column as ASCII characters.
Nonprintable codes, such as control codes, are represented
by dots.
5. To turn off hex dump mode, press the Pause button, eject
the printed page(s), and then turn off the printer.
Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the hex
dump. Always press the Pause button to stop printing
and the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page
before you turn off the printer.

To temporarily stop the self test, press the Pause
button. To resume the test, press Pause again.

3. To end the self test, press the Pause button to stop
printing. If paper remains in the printer, press the
Load/Eject button to eject the printed page. Then turn off
the printer.
Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the
self test. Always press the Pause button to stop
printing and the Load/Eject button to eject the
printed page before you turn off the printer.

16 - EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Resetting the Printer
To reset the printer’s EEPROM, hold down the Load/Eject,
LF/FF, and Pause buttons while turning on the printer. The
printer beeps once, and restores its factory default settings.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+

Cleaning the Printer

7. Repack the printer, paper guide, ribbon cartridge, and
power cord in the original packing materials and place them
in the printer’s original box.

1. Remove any paper loaded in the printer and turn it off.
2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet; then
disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Remove the paper guide. If a pull tractor or an optional
cut-sheet feeder is installed, remove it.
4. Use a soft brush to carefully brush away all dust and dirt
from the outer case and paper guide.
5. If the outer case or paper guide is still dirty, clean it with a
soft, clean cloth dampened with mild detergent dissolved in
water. Keep the printer cover closed to prevent water from
getting inside the printer.

Related Documentation
4014600-00/
CPD-12721

EPSON FX-880+/1180+ User’s Guide

4014598-00

EPSON FX-880+/1180+ Setup Guide

3010030-01

CD-ROM containing online Reference
Guide and Quick Guide

TM-FX8/1180+ EPSON FX-880+/1180+ Service Manual
PL-FX8/1180+

EPSON FX-880+/1180+ Parts Price List

Never use alcohols or thinners to clean the printer;
these chemicals can damage the printer components
as well as the case.
Be careful not to get water on the printer mechanism or
electronic components.
Do not use a hard or abrasive brush.
Do not spray the inside of the printer with lubricants;
unsuitable oils can damage the printer mechanism.
Contact an EPSON dealer if you think lubrication is
needed.

Transporting the Printer
If you need to transport your printer some distance, carefully
repack it using the original box and packing materials, as
described below.
You need to move the print head by hand to remove
the ribbon cartridge. If you have just used the printer,
the print head may be hot; let it cool for a few
minutes before touching it.

1. Remove any paper in the printer and turn it off.
2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet; then
disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Remove the paper guide.
4. If any options are installed, remove them and pack them in
their original boxes.
5. Make sure that the print head is not hot. Then remove the
ribbon cartridge.
6. Make sure the paper tension unit is installed and the tractor
is installed in the rear push position. Also make sure the
printer cover and front cover are closed.

10/01

EPSON FX-880+/FX-1180+ - 17



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