Zebra 105SL

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Zebra 105SL

• Removing and Installing Printhead
• Calibrating Darkness Setting
• Print Quality Adjustments

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Removing the Printhead

• Turn the power switch off and disconnect both the
  power cord and printer communications cable.
• Open Cover.
• Remove media and ribbon (if applicable).
• Unscrew Printhead mounting screw with flat-head
  screwdriver.

3
Removing the printhead
1. Open Printhead Lever
Printhead Lever
Make sure you are appropriately grounded using
proper anti-static procedures.
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1. Holding the Printhead, carefully disconnect
the left Printhead Assembly cable, then the
right Printhead Assembly cable from the back of
the Printhead. 2. Remove the Printhead.
Right Printhead Assembly Cable
Left Printhead Assembly Cable
5
Installing the Printhead

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

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Carefully position the new Printhead under the
Printhead mounting bracket and connect both
Printhead cables into the appropriate ports.
Right Printhead Assembly Cable
Left Printhead Assembly Cable
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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 slots In Printhead
Alignment Posts on Mounting Bracket
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Clean the Printhead using an alcohol swab,
removing dirt or oil that may have been
deposited during installation.
Alcohol swab
Print line
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Reinstall media and ribbon (if applicable).
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• 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.

Printhead Mounting Screw
If the print line is not parallel with the platen
roller, check that the Printhead Assembly guides
fit snug into the Printhead slots.
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Toggle Position Adjustment
Toggle Position Adjustment
Locking nut

• Loosen locking nut so the toggle can slide
  freely.
• Position the toggle so it distributes even
• pressure across entire label.

Upper knurled nut
Adjusting nut
Threads showing underneath the Adjusting nut
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Printhead Pressure Adjustment
Printhead Pressure Adjustment
Too much pressure applied to the toggles will
shorten the life of the Printhead. Choose the
lowest pressure that produces the desired print
quality, maximizing Printhead life.

• Print several test labels at 2 ips by pressing
  SETUP/EXIT, scroll until Print Speed is displayed
  and select 2 ips.
• During the test printing, use the LCD panel to
  lower the darkness setting until the labels print
  gray instead of black.

3. On the toggle assembly, loosen the Upper
knurled nut found above the adjusting
nut. 4. Looking down at the printer, use the
adjusting nut to increase (clockwise) or decrease
(counter-clockwise) pressure until darkness is
uniform across label. 5. Once uniformity is
achieved, adjust the darkness level on the LCD
until printing is clear. 6. Tighten the Upper
knurled nut against the Adjusting nut.
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Printhead Position Adjustment
Printhead Position Adjustment
Loosen the four top screws, found at the rear of
the Printhead Assembly (do not remove).
If print is lighter toward one side of the label
and Printhead has been correctly installed,
perform the Printhead Position Adjustment.
Top screws
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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 quality.
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 desired
print darkness is reached.
Gold hex nuts
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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 the two hex nuts
  attached to wear plate.

Perform this adjustment to help achieve even
pressure
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• 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.

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Calibrating the Darkness
Calibrating the Darkness

• After the printer is turned on and self power
  test is completed, press the SETUP/EXIT button.
• If the LCD does not display DARKNESS, scroll
  forward or backward using the INCREMENT buttons
  ( or -).
• Once DARKNESS is displayed on the LCD, press the
  INCREMENT buttons to increase or decrease the
  DARKNESS value.
• After printing a successful label at the desired
  darkness level, press the SETUP/EXIT button twice
  to save the changes and exit the setup mode.

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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.
SSI-105SL-Instructions