Top tips from Timmy Thermal

Industrial Print Specialists

At Print Priorities, we've been in the thermal printer repair game for longer than we'd like to admit. We've noticed that many of the printer repairs we handle could have been avoided with a bit of preventative maintenance. So, we've put together a list of the most common procedures to help reduce the need for service calls.

Here are the 10 rules to keep your thermal printer running smoothly:

Rule One: One of the biggest issues with thermal barcode printers is dirty printheads. Clean the printhead every time you replace a ribbon or roll of paper. It only takes a minute and can save you thousands in the long run. Always check your User's Manual for the right cleaning solvent for your model.

Rule Two: If your printheads are burning out too often, check the User's Manual for the recommended heat and darkness settings. Incorrect settings can shorten the lifespan of your printhead and cost you big time.

Rule Three: Dust on the Media Sensor can cause major problems. The Media Sensor keeps the gap between the paper and printhead constant. A quick blast of canned air every time you change the ribbon or paper roll can prevent downtime.

Rule Four: Use high-quality ribbons in your thermal printer. Cheap ribbons may not meet the exact wax and resin specifications of your printer and can cause wax buildup on the platen, leading to poor print quality and barcode reliability issues.

Rule Five: If you’re using a Direct Thermal printer (no ribbon) and frequently have defective printheads, consider switching to a Thermal Transfer printer or using better quality paper. Thermal Transfer printers place the ribbon between the printhead and label paper, reducing friction and extending printhead life.

Rule Six: When buying new ribbons for your thermal transfer printers, choose a ribbon that's slightly wider than your labels. For example, if your label is 4.1" wide, go for ribbons that are 4.33" wide.

Rule Seven: If your printheads are wearing out too quickly, make sure you're not using low-grade label paper with Direct Thermal printers. Bargain rolls might seem cost-effective, but they can be rougher and cause more wear on your printheads—up to 50% more! Since printheads are expensive consumables, it might be smarter to invest a bit more in high-quality paper.

Rule Eight: Got burned-out printhead elements? Try a PAUSE TEST to check if your thermal printer’s print elements are the problem. Missing info on labels or barcodes could indicat

e burned-out print elements. This quick test can help you identify the issue before calling for repairs. Remember, printheads are consumables and might need replacement from time to time, typically by a certified technician.

Rule Nine: Printer and print server alerts are your friends! They help you manage your thermal printer proactively. Zebra uses ZebraNet Bridge to let you monitor barcode printers from anywhere and logs alerts. When an alert occurs, it shows up in the Events tab and can notify you via the taskbar. A good Zebra repair company can help supply new printheads and maintain your printers. Check with your thermal printer manufacturer for their management options.

Rule Ten: Clean both the interior and exterior of your thermal printer often to keep it running optimally. Dirt and debris can cause issues if they get into the wrong areas. Use a lint-free cloth for the exterior, avoiding harsh cleaning agents. Inspect the interior after every four rolls of media and clean it with a soft brush or vacuum. Regular maintenance will help keep your printer up and running longer.

Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance. We hope these rules help extend the life of your thermal printers. But when the time comes we carry a broad range of replacement printheads and platen rollers for most of the leading manufacturers, have a look around our store...

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