ZXP3 Magnetic Encoding Strings

Magnetic Encoding Strings for the Zebra ZXP3 Card Printer

For most Card Printing Software, you must alter your encoding strings for the PC to be able to communicate magnetic encoding information to the printer. Encoding strings are different for all manufacturers. For this example, I will be using the CardExchange software.

You must set your HiCo/LoCo settings first. Your cards magnetic stripe will either be high or low coercivity. Your card seller will be able to tell you this, but normally there will be a sticker on the box of cards you have purchased, noting what coercivity the cards are. Reversed encoder position and Encoder type other than ISO is not supported in the ZXP3, so the rest of the info here is irrelevant for us. Click apply and close the window.

Next we need to open CardExchange and set the Encoding Strings for your ZXP. Click the print tab and select Printer Options. Ensure your correct printer is selected and then select the Magnetic tab. You must edit your Magnetic tab so that it looks the same as below:

Select okay and you have completed the set up of the Encoding Strings for your ZXP3 Card Printer.

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RTP 9600 Printer Driver and Firmware

The RTP9600 is the latest edition in our range of retransfer printers. Below you can find the latest drivers and firmware for the RTP9600:

Driver v1.3 Download

Firmware v3.3 Download

You can also download the Operation Guide to assist with general use of the printer

Specifications

Printing Method:	Dye-sublimation retransfer printing
Resolution:	600DPI
Input:	R/G/B 256 level
Output:	Y/M/C/UV 256 level
Printing area:	Over the edge on CR-80 cards
Printing speed (Single printing: YMCK):	More than 22.5s full color YMCK (160 cards/hr)
Printing speed (Double printing: YMCKK):	More than 36s full color YMCKK (100 cards/hr)
Feeder capacity:	250 cards (if card thickness is 0.76mm)
Card exit capacity:	250 cards (if card thickness is 0.76mm)
Card thickness:	0.25 to 1.0 mm
Card size:	CR-79 & CR-80
Card material:	PVC, PET, PC, ABS (Except PVC cards need prior confirmation )
Display:	LCD Panel (with back light), LED, Operation
Dimensions:	17.13(H) x 13.39(W) x 12.60(D) In.
Weight:	Less than 33 lbs. (15kg)
Dimensions:	16.57" (h) x 10.66" (w) x 13.03" (d) / 421 x 271 x 331mm
Weight:	Less than 33 lbs. (15kg)
Power Source:	90 - 125VAC 220 - 240VAC 50/60Hz
Power consumption:	Less than 3A (100V)
Operating temperature:	10 to 35°C - 20 to 80% humidity
I/F:	USB and Ethernet 10 Base-T, 100 Base-T
Drivers:	XP, Vista, Win 7 (32 & 64 bits)
Ribbon capacity:	500 images / roll (YMCK)
Film Ribbon:	Clear Retransfer, Holographic Retransfer
Ink Ribbon:
	YMCK, YMCKK, YMCKHs (except for PVC Card)
	YMCKP (for smart card), YMCFK (UV ink)
Agency listing:	UL/CSA/CE/FCC
Printer warranty:	2-year return to depot service printer warranty
Print head warranty:	Limited lifetime
MTBF:	100,000 prints
Extendibility:	2 USB HUBS (inside printer)
Memory size:	64MB
Laminator:	NiSCA dedicated retransfer laminator (Available soon)
Encoder:	Mag Encoder, Contact Encoder, Contactless Encoder*

*Print speed indicates approximate multiple print job print speed and is measured from the time a card feeds into the printer to the time it ejects from the printer. Print speeds do not include encoding time or the time needed for the PC to process the image. Process time is depend on the size of the file, the CPU, the amount of PC memory, the interface (USB) and the amount of resources at the time of the print job.

HID and iCLASS are registered trademarks of HID Corporation. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.

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PPC ID 2000, 2x00, 3x00 (Series 2) Driver and Firmware

PPC ID-2000 / ID-2x00 / ID-3x00 Printers (Series 2)

Driver

Operating System: Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA / 2003 Server / 2008 Server / Windows 7 / Windows 8. NOTE: This driver operates with 32 bit and 64 bit Windows.

• PPC ID 2100/2300 Driver v1.7
• PPC ID 3100/3300 Driver v1.7
• PPC Combined Executable v1.7

New Version 2 Magicard Driver

• PPC ID 2000/ ID 2100/ ID 2300/ ID 3100/ ID 3300 Combined v2.0.7
• Support Utility v3.40 - Use this to assist in remote support of the printer

Firmware

Self extracting and installing firmware upgrade files.

• PPC ID-3100/3300 Firmware v2.10 (18/12/13)
• PPC ID 2100 Firmware v7.09   (17/04/2013)
• PPC ID 2000 Firmware v3.05   (17/04/2013)

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How to Clean the Zebra P1X0i

Watch this video, and use the instructions below to clean your Zebra P1X0i Card Printer.

The supplies you need for cleaning the P1X0i card printer are

• SM01105912-912 – Feed and Engine Cleaning Cards ( 4 Sets )

You can order cleaning supplies via this link Order Cleaning Consumables or on 1300 651 277

1. Leave the Printer power on, or turn it on if it was off.
2. Initiate the cleaning process by either of the following methods:

• At the printer, press and hold the Multi Function button for several seconds, until the LCD Panel displays the message REMOVE RIBBON THEN CLOSE LID.
• From the computer, enter the P1X0i Printer Tools software ( Right Click on the Printer Driver and select Properties, Select the Device settings Tab and the Tools – Properties option )  in the printer driver, and click on the CLEAN button. 

3. The LCD Panel will display the message REMOVE RIBBON THEN CLOSE LID.

• Open the Main Cover, and remove the ribbon cartridge. Then close the Main Cover. 

4. The LCD Panel will display the message EMPTY FEEDER THEN CLOSE COVER.

• Open the Card Feeder Cover and remove cards from the Card Feeder and close the cover.

5. The printer will display EJECTING CARD

• The printer will eject any card that has been pre feed

6. The LCD will display the message FEED LONG CLEANING CARD IN EXIT.

• Insert the long end of the Engine cleaning card into the card exit.

7. At the conclusion of this part of the cleaning process, the Cleaning Card will be ejected, and the LCD will display the message REMOVE LONG CLEANING CARD

8. The LCD will then display the message INSERT FEEDER CLEANING CARD.

• Place a pre-saturated Cleaning Card into the Card Feeder.
• While the cleaning process is underway, the LCD Panel will display the message CLEANING PRINTER.
• When the cleaning is complete the LCD will display REMOVE FEEDER CLEANING CARD

9. The LCD will request the cards and Ribbon be loaded in the printer

10. The LCD will display READY when complete.

10. Discard both cleaning cards after a single use.

Note : Do not use previously used cleaning cards.

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How to Clean the Zebra P330i

How to Clean the Zebra P330i

Watch this video, and use the instructions below to clean your Zebra P330i Card Printer.

<Importantly PPC does not recommend the use of cleaning swabs by end users, 
as there is a small chance that you may damage the print head if you are not careful>

The supplies you need for cleaning the P330i card printer are

• SM01105912-707 - Long Cleaning Card
• SM01800104-001 - Short Cleaning Card
• SM01105912-003 - Sticky Roller Replacement

You can order cleaning supplies via this link Order Cleaning Consumables or on 1300 651 277

1. Leave the Printer power on, or turn it on if it was off.
2. Initiate the cleaning process by either of the following methods:

• At the printer, press and hold the panel button for several seconds, until the LCD Panel displays the message REMOVE RIBBON THEN CLOSE HEAD.
• From the computer, enter the P330i Printer Tools software in the printer driver, and click on the CLEAN button. 

3. The LCD Panel will display the message REMOVE RIBBON THEN CLOSE HEAD.

• Open the Main Cover, release the Print Head Carriage, and remove the ribbon. Then close the Print Head Carriage. 

4. The LCD Panel will display the message EMPTY FEEDER & PRESS BUTTON.

• Open the Card Feeder Cover and remove cards from the Card Feeder. The last card is difficult to remove; leave it in place. 
• Press the Panel Button on the front of the printer. The card remaining in the feeder will be ejected. 

5. The LCD Panel will then display the message LOAD CLEANING CARD IN FEEDER.

• Place a pre-saturated Cleaning Card into the Card Feeder. 
• The Cleaning Card will automatically feed into the printer and the cleaning process will start (there is a several second delay after the Cleaning Card feeds before the cleaning movement starts). 
• While the cleaning process is underway, the LCD Panel will display the message CLEANING PRINTER.

6. At the conclusion of this part of the cleaning process, the Cleaning Card will be ejected, and the LCD Panel will display the message PRESS BUTTON TO CONTINUE.

7. After the user presses the panel button, the LCD Panel will display the message FEED LONG CLEANING CARD IN EXIT. 

• Insert the long end of the long cleaning card into the card exit (directly above the Output Hopper).
• If the user inserts a “regular” cleaning card into the card exit, the LCD Panel will display the message INVALID CARD, PRESS BUTTON
  until the user presses the panel button and inserts the long cleaning card into the card exit.

Note : This cleaning procedure uses two cleaning cards. One cleaning card is the size of a regular plastic card, and is referred to as the “cleaning card.” The other is elongated, with a wider section at one end; it is referred to as the “long cleaning card.” Note • If the user does nothing at this point (i.e., does not insert the long cleaning card), after a timeout the LCD Panel display will change to CLEAN PRINTER. The printer will be able to print, but the LCD Panel will continue to display CLEAN PRINTER.  This limited cleaning does not do a thorough cleaning, but may be performed if no “long cleaning cards” are available.
To restore the display to READY, you will need to perform a complete cleaning process, using both short and long cleaning cards, from step 2 above through step 9 below.

8. The long cleaning card will automatically feed into the printer and the printing process will continue. The LCD Panel will again display the message CLEANING PRINTER.

9. When the cleaning process is completed, the long cleaning card will be ejected and the LCD Panel will display the message READY, indicating that the printer is ready to resume normal printing operations.

10. Discard both cleaning cards after a single use.

Note : Do not use previously used cleaning cards.

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How to Clean the Zebra P430i

Watch this video, and use the instructions below to clean your Zebra P430i Card Printer.

<Importantly PPC does not recommend the use of cleaning swabs by end users,
as there is a small chance that you may damage the print head if you are not careful>

The supplies you need for cleaning the P430i card printer are

• SM01105912-707 - Long Cleaning Card
• SM01800104-001 - Short Cleaning Card
• SM01105912-003 - Sticky Roller Replacement

You can order cleaning supplies via this link Order Cleaning Consumables or on 1300 651 277

1. Leave the Printer power on, or turn it on if it was off.
2. Initiate the cleaning process by either of the following methods:

• At the printer, press and hold the panel button for several seconds, until the LCD Panel displays the message REMOVE RIBBON THEN CLOSE HEAD.
• From the computer, enter the P430i Printer Tools software in the printer driver( Right Click on the Printer Driver and select Properties, Select the Device settings Tab and the Tools – Properties option )  , and click on the CLEAN button. 

3. The LCD Panel will display the message REMOVE RIBBON THEN CLOSE HEAD.

• Open the Main Cover, release the Print Head Carriage, and remove the ribbon. Then close the Print Head Carriage. 

4. The LCD Panel will display the message EMPTY FEEDER & PRESS BUTTON.

• Open the Card Feeder Cover and remove cards from the Card Feeder. The last card is difficult to remove; leave it in place.
• Press the Panel Button on the front of the printer. The card remaining in the feeder will be ejected. 

5. The LCD Panel will then display the message LOAD CLEANING CARD IN FEEDER.

• Place a pre-saturated Cleaning Card into the Card Feeder.
• The Cleaning Card will automatically feed into the printer and the cleaning process will start (there is a several second delay after the Cleaning Card feeds before the cleaning movement starts).
• While the cleaning process is underway, the LCD Panel will display the message CLEANING PRINTER.

6. At the conclusion of this part of the cleaning process, the Cleaning Card will be ejected, and the LCD Panel will display the message PRESS BUTTON TO CONTINUE.

7. After the user presses the panel button, the LCD Panel will display the message FEED LONG CLEANING CARD IN EXIT.

• Insert the long end of the long cleaning card into the card exit (directly above the Output Hopper).
• If the user inserts a “regular” cleaning card into the card exit, the LCD Panel will display the message INVALID CARD, PRESS BUTTON
  until the user presses the panel button and inserts the long cleaning card into the card exit.

Note : This cleaning procedure uses two cleaning cards. One cleaning card is the size of a regular plastic card, and is referred to as the “cleaning card.” The other is elongated, with a wider section at one end; it is referred to as the “long cleaning card.” Note • If the user does nothing at this point (i.e., does not insert the long cleaning card), after a timeout the LCD Panel display will change to CLEAN PRINTER. The printer will be able to print, but the LCD Panel will continue to display CLEAN PRINTER.  This limited cleaning does not do a thorough cleaning, but may be performed if no “long cleaning cards” are available.
To restore the display to READY, you will need to perform a complete cleaning process, using both short and long cleaning cards, from step 2 above through step 9 below.

8. The long cleaning card will automatically feed into the printer and the printing process will continue. The LCD Panel will again display the message CLEANING PRINTER.

9. When the cleaning process is completed, the long cleaning card will be ejected and the LCD Panel will display the message READY, indicating that the printer is ready to resume normal printing operations.

10. Discard both cleaning cards after a single use.

Note : Do not use previously used cleaning cards.

How to Replace the Cleaning Roller

1.     Open the Main Cover and locate the blue Cleaning Cartridge.

2.     Gently remove the Cleaning Cartridge. Lift the “handle” end, and then pull it away from the printer.

3.     Remove the cleaning roller from the Cleaning Cartridge and discard.

4.     Install new cleaning roller into the Cleaning Cartridge underneath the springs on each end . To avoid contamination, always hold the cleaning roller by the ends.

5.     Peel protective wrapper from the cleaning roller by gently pulling on the tape.

6.     Replace the Cleaning Cartridge into the printer with the raised end sitting in the grove and the arrow pointing to the back of the printer.

7.     Close the printer Main Cover.

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How to install Ribbons in the Zebra P330i

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Silent/manual Sensor Calibration on a P330i/ P430i

Silent/manual Sensor Calibration on a P330i/ P430i

Note: This is valid for Firmware 1.17.88 and above

1. Install a colour ribbon in your printer (Use YMCKO in the P330i Printer. Or optionally a YMCKOK ribbon in a P430i)

2. Select Windows “Printer and Faxes”, Right mouse click on the applicable driver, then select Properties.

3. Select the “Device Settings” tab., Select “Tools – Properties”.

4. Input the manual calibration command CALB in the “Command to send to printer” field.

5. Select the “Execute” button (or hit the Enter on the keypad).

6. Wait till the printer completes the calibration process., This is indicated by the Printer LCD displaying READY.

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What is a Barcode?

Introduction
During a shopping excursion to a shopping mall, you would have noticed the cashier scanning your products using some Laser device to produce a bill. What actually he is doing that he is reading the product barcodes using a Laser/Barcode scanner. Barcode scanner reads the code, data is sent to the computer, and computer looks up into the database for the price and description of the item.

Barcodes are structured to contain specific product related information. It basicallyencodes alphanumeric characters and symbols using black and white stripes, also called bars.  Bar-coding is one of the AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Collection)technologies which reduce human involvement in data entry and collection and thereby also reducing error and time.
Structure of Barcode
A typical barcode consists of the following:
Quiet Zone –The minimum required space for bar code scan-ability, preceding the Start Character of a bar code symbol. The quiet zone should be free from any printing and be the same colour and reflectance as the background of bar code symbol. The Quiet Zone should be ten times the width of the narrowest element in the bar code, or 0.25 inch minimum. Also known as Clear Area.
Start Code –Indicates the start of the barcode. These are sspecial bar code characters & they signify the start of data to the scanner/reader. Start characters are usually stripped-off and not transmitted to the host. 
  Data –The actual data the barcode stores.
Check Digit –Check digit (not always present) is a mathematical sum that is used to verify the accuracy of the other elements of the barcode. It is the eextra digit added at the end of a bar code to allow the scanner to confirm that it read the bar code correctly. It is typically stripped from the data and not transmitted to the host.
Stop Code – Indicates the stopping point of the barcode. These characters signify the end of data to the scanner/reader. They are also stripped-off and not transmitted to the host.
Trailing Quiet Zone – Another clear space with no printing following the Stop Character.

Standards

Number of bar code standards have evolved over the years and are represented in different symbologies. A symbology specification defines the details necessary for the barcode to be printed and also provides details to read and decode barcode by a scanner/reader.

 

Symbology specification documents typically range from 8 pages to 120 pages. However, in a simplified way, the standard must contain:

·         A definition of the width of the bars and the spaces.

·         A method to define each character that is encodable (whether numeric only or full ASCII).

·         The start and stop characters.

·         Any check character support built in.

·         Any free space needed around the symbology to allow for a clean decode.

 Barcode symbologies can be either linear or two-dimensional.

Linear Barcode Standards

Linear barcodes use single row of black and white bars. Examples of linear barcodes are:

·             ISO/IEC 15420 Bar code symbology specification - EAN/UPC

UPC (Universal Product Code) uses 12-digit numeric containing a unique manufacturer ID number, and product number. EAN (European Article Numbering) is similar to UPC except the fact that it uses 13-digit numeric.

 ISO/IEC 16388 Bar code symbology specifications - Code 39

It is a discrete barcode. It implies that a single character is represented by a fixed pattern of bars. Each character is made up of 9 (5 black & 4 white) bars. Code 39 barcode symbology supports 43 characters set plus an additional character used as a delimiter or start/stop character. The start/stop character always occurs as the first and last character in a complete barcode and is represented in the human readable text by the *character.

 

The 43 character set includes the following: 1234567890ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ -   . $ / + % SPACE.

A check digit is generally not used with Code 39. The check digit is the modulus 43 sum of all the character values in the message and it is printed as the last data character.

 

ISO/IEC 15417 Bar code symbology specification - Code 128

CODE 128 allows the full ASCII 128 character set to be encoded. Each bar or space can be one of four different unit widths. The narrowest possible bar or space will thus be one quarter the width of the widest. It permits bidirectional scanning and theoretically, there is no restriction on the number of characters allowed in each symbol.

Code 128 has three different character sets as Code Set A, Code Set B and Code Set C. Any of these codes may be selected by appropriate selection of start character. The Code 128 Specification requires the inclusion of a check digit. The check digit is a Modulus 103 checksum.

Each character in the barcode symbol is composed of three bars and three spaces. The stop character has four bars and three spaces.  

 

· ISO/IEC 16390 Bar code symbology specifications - Interleaved 2-of-5 (ITF25)

Primarily used in the warehouse industry, Interleaved 2 of 5 encodes any even number of numeric characters in the width of both bars and spaces. It is called “Interleaved” because 2 characters are encoded in a unit of 5 bars and spaces. It uses both bar and space width to encode information so the density of ITF25 is much higher. Interleaved 2 of 5 is a numeric symbology and it character set only include 10 digital characters.

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