Zebra 170 XiIII Plus

1
Zebra 170 XiIII Plus

• Removing and Installing Printhead
• Calibrating Head Resistance
• Print Quality Adjustments

2
Removing the printhead

• Turn the power switch off and disconnect
• both the power cord and printer communications
  cable.
• Open Cover.
• Open Printhead Lever.

Removing Printhead
Make sure you are appropriately grounded using
proper anti-static procedures.
Printhead Lever
3

• Remove media and ribbon (if applicable).
• Unscrew Printhead mounting screw with flat-head
  screwdriver.

4
1. Holding the Printhead, carefully disconnect
the left Printhead cable (gray), then the right
Printhead cable (white) from the back of the
Printhead. 2. Remove the Printhead.
Right Printhead Connector
Left Printhead Connector
5
Installing the Printhead

• Turn the power switch off and disconnect both the
  power cord and the printer communications cable.
• Open the side cover.

Make sure to note the new Printhead resistance
before installing in the printer. Resistance
needs to be calibrated before test printing
labels. See calibration instructions.
6
Carefully position the new Printhead under the
Printhead mounting bracket and connect both
Printhead cables into the appropriate ports.
Right Printhead Connector
Strip Plate
Left Printhead connector
7
Position the alignment slots in the new
Printhead with the alignment posts on the bottom
of the mounting bracket. You should hear a
clicking sound which signifies that the
Printhead is securely in place. Tuck the
Printhead cables behind the Printhead.
Alignment Posts
Alignment slots In Printhead
8
Clean the Printhead using an alcohol swab,
removing dirt or oil that may have been
deposited during installation.
Alcohol swab
Print line
9
Reinstall media and ribbon (if applicable).
10

• Lower the Printhead Assembly.
• Close the Printhead lever and check for proper
  alignment.
• Close the side cover.
• Connect the power cord and printer communications
  cable.
• Turn power on.

If the print line is not parallel with the platen
roller, check that the Printhead Assembly guides
fit snug into the Printhead slots.
11
Printhead Resistance Calibration
Printhead Resistance Calibration
12

• On the LCD, press setup/exit.
• Pressing the left arrow button (Previous), scroll
  left until LCD displays HEAD RESISTOR.
• Press left or right back oval key to decrease or
  increase ohm value.

13
LCD will display ENTER PASSWORD. The default
password is 1234.
14

• Change ohm value to match the new Printhead. The
  right black oval key increases the digit, while
  the left black oval key moves cursor.
• Check that the new ohm value matches the new
  Printhead. Press SEUP/EXIT. The LCD displays
  SAVE CHANGES PERMANENT. Press NEXT/SAVE button
  to save.

Resistance
15
Printhead Position Adjustment
Printhead Position Adjustment
Loosen the four top screws, found at the rear of
the Printhead Assembly (do not remove).
Top screws
If print is lighter toward one side of the label
and Printhead has been correctly installed,
perform the Printhead Position Adjustment.
16
1. Adjust the two gold hex nuts found at the
rear of the Printhead Assembly (as viewed from
the rear of the Printer). Adjusting the gold hex
nuts clockwise will move the Printhead toward the
back. Making 1/8 turns will have a noticeable
affect in the print.
2. Adjust the hex nut on the same side as the
lighter print. Adjust in one direction, printing
a test label after each adjustment. If print
begins to darken, continue until desired darkness
is achieved. If print becomes lighter, adjust
the hex nut the opposite direction until maximum
print darkness is reached.
Gold hex nut
17
Toggle Position Adjustment
Toggle Position Adjustment
Locking nut

• Loosen locking nuts so the toggles slide freely.
• Position the two toggles so they distribute even
• pressure across entire label.

Upper knurled nut
Adjusting nut
18
Wear Plate Adjustment
Wear Plate Adjustment

• Run several test labels at 2 ips.
• During label testing, use the LCD panel to lower
  the darkness setting until the labels print gray
  instead of black.
• Use a 7/64 hex wrench to loosen two hex screws
  attached to wear plate.

Perform this adjustment to help achieve even
pressure.
Silver Adjustment Knob
Wear Plate
Hex nuts
19

• For even pressure across width of label, adjust
  the Silver Adjustment Knob with your hand or with
  a 7/16 wrench.
• Turning the Silver Adjustment Knob clockwise will
  increase pressure on the left side of label (as
  viewed from front of printer). Adjusting it
  counter-clockwise will increase pressure on right
  side of label.
• When gray print is even across label, tighten the
  two hex nuts to secure wear plate in place.
• On the LCD, increase darkness setting to achieve
  desired print quality.

Wear Plate
Silver Adjustment Knob
Hex nuts
20
Printhead Pressure Adjustment
Printhead Pressure Adjustment

• Selecting 2 ips from the printer or the label
  software, print several test labels.
• During the test printing, use the LCD panel to
  lower the darkness setting until the labels print
  gray instead of black.

21

• On the toggle assemblies, loosen the Upper
  knurled nuts found above the adjusting nuts.
• Looking down at the printer, use the adjusting
  nuts to increase (clockwise) or decrease
  (counter-clockwise) pressure until the darkness
  is uniform across label.
• Once uniformity is achieved, adjust the darkness
  level on the LCD until printing is clear.
• Tighten the Upper knurled nuts against the
  Adjusting nuts.

Too much pressure applied to the toggles will
shorten the life of the Printhead. Choose the
lowest pressure that produces the desired print
quality, which will maximize Printhead life.
22
Zebra is a registered trademark of ZIH Corp. All
other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. () Contents Subject to Change
Without Notice. Doc.
No. Z170XiIII-Instructions