Zebra Technologies P330I Plastic Card Printer User Manual 980459 P330i Printer
Zebra Technologies Corporation Plastic Card Printer 980459 P330i Printer
Contents
- 1. Users Manual Part 1
- 2. Users Manual Part 2
- 3. Users Manual Part 3
- 4. Users Manual Part 4
Users Manual Part 3
Installation and Setup
Loading Cards
980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1 P330i User’s Manual 19
2. Remove all wrapping from the card deck.
3. Holding the card deck by the sides, hold it vertically against a flat surface such as a
desktop. If the deck is too thick for your hand to hold it comfortably, use about half a deck
at a time.
4. Push the stack back and forth to an angle of about 45° from vertical, so as to separate all of
the cards.
5. Restore the card stack to its original squared-off condition, and place the cards in the input
hopper.
6. Note that there will be a “gap” in the card stack, with several cards lying flat and the cards
above angled upward, as shown in the exaggerated drawing below. This is normal and
ensures proper feeding.
Caution • Do not touch print surfaces of the cards; this can reduce print quality
Note • Static charges and edge burrs from the card die-cutting process can render individual
cards stuck together with significant adhesion force. These cards must be physically
separated from each other before inserting into the feeder; if not separated, feeding or
printing problems may occur.
20 P330i User’s Manual 980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1
Installation and Setup
Card Output Hopper
Card Output Hopper
The card output hopper is normally extended to receive the printed cards. The printer may be
operated with the card output hopper in its closed position; in this case the cards will not be
collected in the output hopper.
1. Pull the card output hopper out to place it in its functional position.
2. When not using the printer, slide the card output hopper back into its closed position to
protect the printer from dust and protect the output hopper from damage.
3. The output hopper can be completely removed from the printer if necessary by inserting a
thin, blunt object (such as a pencil) up through the hole in the bottom of the printer
enclosure and pressing (up) to release the hopper while simultaneously pulling the hopper
out. To re-install the output hopper, simply slide the output hopper in until it locks in
place.
Note • Do not try to eliminate the gap by pressing down on the card stack in the input
hopper; this can cause misfeeds.
Note • The output hopper is a very snug fit to prevent it from moving during shipping or
operation; firm force is required to change its position.
Installation and Setup
Connecting the Printer to your Computer
980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1 P330i User’s Manual 21
Connecting the Printer to your Computer
The P330i Printer includes a standard USB interface.
As an option, the printer can be ordered with a 10/100base-T Ethernet Adapter (in addition to
the USB interface). The Ethernet Adapter can also be ordered as an add-on option and
installed in the field by a Zebra factory certified technician.
1. If using the USB interface, use the supplied USB cable to connect between the USB
connector on the printer and a USB port on the computer, as shown below. (Note that the
figure below shows the optional Ethernet Adapter directly above the USB Connector; this
may not be present on your printer.)
2. If your printer includes the optional Ethernet Adapter as well as the standard USB
connection, use either the supplied USB cable or a standard Ethernet cable to connect the
printer to a corresponding port on the computer or network.
USB Connector
Power
Connector
Power
Switch
(Optional)
Ethernet
Connector
Important • Do not use both USB and Ethernet connections at the same time!
Important • Intermittent or unpredictable operation may occur from unsecured connectors.
If damaged, the power cable must be replaced by an exact equivalent.
22 P330i User’s Manual 980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1
Installation and Setup
Connecting Power
Connecting Power
The P330i Printer includes an internal AC power supply that accepts nominal input voltage in
the range from 110 to 230 volts at 50 to 60 Hertz. The power source must be grounded.
Depending on specific model number, your P330i Printer will include one or two power cords;
use the one that is appropriate for the AC power source connection at your location. If neither
has an appropriate connector, AC power cords may be purchased locally; make sure it is a
three-wire (grounded) cord.
1. Place the Printer’s power switch in the OFF ( O ) position.
2. Depending on your local AC voltage, plug the appropriate power cord into the printer’s
power connector and a grounded AC power source connection.
3. To turn the Printer on, set the Printer’s power switch to the ON ( | ) position.
Power
Connector
Power
Switch
Caution • If the power cord appears damaged in any way, or if the power cord will not
securely plug into the Printer’s power connector or the AC power source connection,
STOP! Use of a damaged or incorrect power cord could cause equipment damage,
result in an electrical fire, or possibly cause injury.
Installation and Setup
Printing a Test Card
980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1 P330i User’s Manual 23
Printing a Test Card
With ribbon and cards loaded, your P330i Printer is ready to print. To check the operation of
the printer, you should print a test card. (Printing a test card does not require that the printer be
connected to your computer or network, but power must be applied.)
1. Set the printer’s power switch (on the back of the printer) to the OFF ( O ) position.
2. While pressing the Printer’s front panel button (next to the LCD display panel), switch the
printer ON ( | ).
3. Hold the panel button until the LCD display panel reads “SELF TEST”.
4. Release the panel button, and the test card will print.
This is an example of the test card:
Packing the P330i Printer for Shipment
If the P330i Printer is to be shipped, it is important to use the original packing and shipping
material to prevent damage to the Printer. If the original material is lost, a replacement
Shipping Kit can be ordered from Zebra; please refer to the Media List on the Windows
Drivers and User Documentation CD supplied with this printer.
1. Remove cards in the card feeder:
a. While the printer still has power applied and is turned on, and is still connected to the
host computer, remove cards from the card feeder. The last card may be difficult to
remove. If so, use the Eject Card command available through the driver on the host
computer to eject the last card that is staged in the feeder.
b. Close the Card Feeder Cover.
PRINTER: P330iM
Serial N°: XXXXX
Firmware: XXXXXXX
Head resistance: XXXX
Offset: XXXX-XXXX
EC:XX
Printing counter: XXXXX
300 dpi
PLASTIC CARD PRINTER
TEST CARD
Note • The specifics of the shipment and the printer’s condition may influence which of the
following steps are followed; common sense should prevail.
Caution • Do not physically pull the last card out of the feeder staging area. This could
damage the printer and void the warranty, as well as damage the card.
24 P330i User’s Manual 980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1
Installation and Setup
Packing the P330i Printer for Shipment
2. If the printer still has power applied and is turned on, and is still connected to the host
computer, set the printer’s power switch (on the back of the printer) to the OFF ( O )
position, and disconnect the interface and power cables to the printer.
3. Open the Main Cover. Open the Print Head Carriage and remove the Ribbon. (If you wish
to save the ribbon for future use, you may want to put it in a plastic bag for storage.)
4. Insert the print head protection pad, and close the Print Head Carriage. Remove the Card
Cleaning Cartridge and place it in the upper foam insert. Close the Main Cover.
5. Slide the Output Hopper in all the way against the Printer.
6. Place the Printer in its protective plastic bag.
7. Place the lower foam insert in the lower part of the shipping carton.
8. Use both hands to carefully place the Printer into the recess in the lower foam insert.
9. Place the upper foam insert onto the Printer and gently press it down so it makes a snug fit
on the Printer; the top of the upper foam insert should be even with the upper edge of the
lower part of the shipping carton.
10. Slide the upper part of the shipping carton down over the lower part.
11. Insert and close the handles/latches.
980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1 P330i User’s Manual 25
3
Printing a Card
Printing with the P330i Card Printer is similar to printing with any other printer in a
Windows environment.
• The Printer Driver Software is installed on your computer (see Chapter 2).
•The P330i Printer is connected to the power source and the computer (see Chapter 2).
•The P330i Printer is selected by either the Operating System or the appropriate
application software program.
• Printer Properties are set (the factory default values will be appropriate for many
applications).
• Card printing is directed by the appropriate application software program.
Setting Printer Properties
Printer Properties can be set either at the Operating System level or within the application
software program used for printing cards.
Preferences settings can configure the P330i Card Printer for Landscape (wide) or Portrait
(tall) printing orientation, and allow the user to verify that the desired ribbon is installed in
the printer. (Monochrome ribbons are selected via the drop-down menu.)
If the P330i Printer includes the optional magnetic card stripe encoder, encoding
parameters and coercivity can be set.
Printer cleaning can be initiated from the Tools window (printer cleaning can also be
initiated at the printer; see Chapter 4).
Note • In the following description of setting Printer Properties, only those properties
and options that are suitable for being set by the User are described. The User should not
make selections or set parameters unless they are specifically described in this section
26 P330i User’s Manual 980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1
Printing a Card
Printing a Sample Card
Also from the Tools window, the Test Card can be selected from several pre-loaded styles.
“Single Feed Options” allows Disabling or Enabling Single Feed Support.
• If “Disable Single Feed Support” is selected, when the P330i Card Printer runs out of
cards in the feeder, the LCD display will read OUT OF CARDS. To continue, press
the panel button.
• If “Enable Single Feed Support” is selected, when the P330i Card Printer runs out of
cards in the feeder it will wait until a card is inserted in the single-card slot or cards
are loaded in the feeder, and then will automatically continue.
Printing a Sample Card
Sample card designs are installed with the printer driver. Sample cards require Microsoft Word
or Microsoft Paint application software. The cards are accessed via the Start menu. Select
Start, select Programs, select Zebra Card Printers, and select a sample card, or follow the
directions below to design a card.
Follow these steps to design and print your first card:
1. Launch Microsoft Word Software. Depending on your computer configuration this may be
done by double-clicking an icon on your desktop, or by clicking the Windows Start icon,
selecting Programs, and navigating to Microsoft Word
2. Go to the File menu and choose Page Setup.
3. Select the Paper Size tab, choose Card. Under orientation, select Landscape.
4. Select the Margins tab, and set the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margins to 0 (zero).
5. Click OK to close the Page Setup window.
6. The card appears on the screen.
7. Design a card with both black and colored text and with colored pictures (see example
below).
us!
http://www.zebracard.com
Printing a Card
Feeding One Card at a Time
980459-001 Rev C Prelim 1 P330i User’s Manual 27
8. Once you are ready to print, go to the File menu and select Print.
9. If the printer was not selected as the default printer, go to the File menu, select Print
Setup and choose Zebra P330i Card Printer from the printer names list. Then Close the
Print Setup dialog box.
10. The printer will feed in a card and start printing (the data download time will vary
depending on the complexity of the card design and the processing speed of your
computer).
11. Once the printing job is complete, the card is ejected from the printer.
Feeding One Card at a Time
A Manual Feed Slot is available below the Card Input Hopper for feeding single cards. The
Card Input Hopper must be empty for single-card feeding to work properly.
1. Open the Card Feeder cover. Verify that there are no cards in the feeder, then close the
Card Feeder cover.
2. Insert a single card into the slot below the Card Feeder. Do not feed more than one card at
a time.
Note • For cards thinner than 20 mils (0.51 mm), the card design must be limited to (1) no
more than two 30 mm x 30 mm areas of full color, (2) black information (text and barcode,
for example) must cover no more than 50% of the card area, and (3) there must be at least a
5mm unprinted border along all edges.
For cards thicker than 40 mils (1.02 mm), the card design must have at least a 5mm unprinted
border along all edges.
For cards with thickness between 20 mils (0.51 mm) and 40 mils (1.02 mm), these
restrictions do not apply; full color printing is permitted edge to edge in both directions.
Note • If single-card feeding will be the normal mode of operation, you may select that mode
through the driver software. In single-card feed mode, the card will not be printed until the
print job has been sent to the printer and the card to be printed has been inserted into the
single-card feed slot