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FAQ: LabeLase® 1000 & Producer
If you are unable to find an answer to your question, please contact our sales or service
departments.
Q: What is the difference between the 10 watt LabeLase® 1000 tag printer and the larger 25 and 50 watt printers?
A: The biggest difference between the printers is cycle time. The 10 Watt printer is slower than the larger printers because it takes more energy per unit time to darken the tag
material. The LabeLase® 1000 printer has a finer resolution that allows for better looking tags. Also, the LabeLase® 1000 printer has no limit on the number of
text, barcode and graphic fields; it can use any font installed on the PC; and it has more options for connecting to your host computer.
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Q: What power is required to run the LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: The printer requires standard 110VAC. We also offer 220VAC models if required.
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Q: What are some of the main uses for the LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: Anywhere that a tag is required to survive “harsh” environments (e.g. high temperatures, fluids, acids, etc.) such as steel mills, automotive plants, galvanizers, fabricators, forging companies, etc.
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Q: What software is required to run the LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: InfoSight provides the software FREE from our web site. It can operate off of just about any Windows based personal computer. A serial COM port (or USB to serial adaptor) is needed for
communication to the printer.
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Q: What is the typical maintenance required on a LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: Cleaning the optics can be easily done by removing one screw and pulling out the lens. This procedure typically requires about 2 minutes to complete.
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Q: How can I speed up printing of my tag?
A: Several factors can influence the time it takes to print a tag. Here are some suggestions:
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Increase the LASER SPEED setting until the marking is just black enough for good contrast.
- Switch to DRAFT mode. In draft mode, the printer only prints every other column of the image, thus saving significant time although with reduced print quality.
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Reduce the FONT SIZE and switch to BOLD style to compensate for smaller text.
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Design the tag in LADDER style (text and barcodes running across the 3" width of the tag) instead of PICKET FENCE style
(along the length of the tag.)
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Justify text to the right hand edge of the tag, when viewed from the front exit slot of the printer.
This corresponds to the bottom of the screen in the Layout Designer.
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Don't draw boxes around text.
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Q: Why do I see shadows after my barcodes?
A: This may be caused by the Laser Off Tickle parameter setting. Try reducing this setting until the shadows disappear. If this does not work, the tag rollers may
need to be cleaned.
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Q: Why does my printing look lighter than it used to when the printer was new?
A: You may need to clean the pass-through lens. If the lens was not dirty, did you recently change the type of tag stock? Different types of tags respond differently to the
laser, some printing at faster speeds than others. If you are not sure, contact your InfoSight sales representative.
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Q: Do I need to have a PC dedicated to each LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: Yes, a PC is required for each LabeLase®1000 tag printer, although it doesn't have to be dedicated solely to the tag printer. You can use the PC for other tasks as long as it is powerful enough to handle everything it
is required to do, and the programs do not conflict with one another.
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Q: How do I connect my host system to the LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: Because the tag printer requires a PC for operation, you will actually connect your host system to the PC, not directly to the tag printer. This opens up many options for connection
to your system. If the PC has a spare RS232 COM port (remember, one COM port is required to connect the PC to the tag printer) then you can use this extra port to connect to your
system. If that is not desirable, you can install a network card (Ethernet, Token Ring, Arc NET, etc.) in the PC and connect it to your network. If you use a network
connection, then the LabeLase® Producer software can be configured to listen for TCP/IP connection requests to receive data, or it can watch a shared network folder for specific
data files that your host can create. The Producer software can be configured to accept data in one of several different formats (protocols) so there is sure to be an option suitable
for your application. Producer can be configured to emulate printers from other manufacturers such as Pannier, Zebra and Intermec, which makes replacing one of these other
printers a snap. For more information, please see the host communications section of Producer's online
reference manual.
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Q: My laptop doesn't have a COM port. Can I use a USB to RS232 converter to connect to the LabeLase®1000 tag printer?
A: Yes, you can. Such a converter provides a "virtual" COM port on your PC that can be used to interface with the tag printer. However, we know
that some manufacturers of these converter devices do not correctly implement the XON/XOFF (software) flow control protocol that is used by the tag printer. If your tag
printer starts to show random dark lines in the printed tag, it may be due to this flow control problem. To help you select a compatible converter, refer to "Using
a USB to Serial Converter with InfoSight Printers".
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Q: Can I run LabeLase® Producer as a Windows service?
A: Yes, you can. If you are running Producer on a PC that has Windows NT, 2000 or XP then you can install and run a special version of Producer as a Windows
service. A Windows service runs in the "background" and does not have a user interface so the PC's operator cannot interact with the program. In fact, the
service will run even if no one is logged into the PC. Note that the service and the normal graphical version of Producer cannot both run at the same time. Detailed
instructions for installing the service are available in the online reference manual for Producer.
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