Zebra GK420d User's Guide Page 1

User GuideZebra® GK420d™Desktop Thermal Printer

x980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Long Term Printer In-activity or Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Printer Memory Management and Related Status Reports88980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Printer Memory Management and Related Status ReportsT

89Printer Memory Management and Related Status Reports8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CTable 4 • Object Management and Status Report Command

Printer Memory Management and Related Status Reports90980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10 Notes • ____________________________________________

xi8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CResetting the Factory Default Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xii980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10 Notes • _______________________________________________________________________________________________

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C1IntroductionThis section describes what you get in your shipping box and provides an overview of printer f

IntroductionGK Series Thermal Printers2980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10GK Series Thermal PrintersThe Zebra® GK model is the best value in a

3IntroductionWhat’s in the Box?8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CWhat’s in the Box?Save the carton and all packing materials in case you need

IntroductionWhat’s in the Box?4980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Your PrinterOpening the printerTo access the media compartment, you must ope

5IntroductionWhat’s in the Box?8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CPrinter FeaturesSensorPeel BarPlatenRollerDispenser Option BlackLineSensorGa

IntroductionWhat’s in the Box?6980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Operator Controls Power Switch Press up to turn ON or down to turn OFF the p

7IntroductionWhat’s in the Box?8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CStatus LightLocated on the top case next to the feed button, the status ligh

ii980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10

IntroductionWhat’s in the Box?8980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Closing the printer1.Lower the top cover.2.Press down until the cover snaps

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C2Getting StartedThis section describes how to set up your printer for the first time and use the most commo

Getting StartedAttaching Power10980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Attaching Power1.Make sure the printer’s power switch is in the off positio

11Getting StartedLoading Roll Media8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CLoading Roll MediaWhen you load media, you must place the roll onto the

Getting StartedLoading Roll Media12980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment1.Open the printer. Remember t

13Getting StartedLoading Roll Media8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C3.Pull the media so that it extends out of the front of the printer. Ver

Getting StartedPrinting a Test (Printer Configuration) Label14980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Printing a Test (Printer Configuration) Label

15Getting StartedPre-install Windows® Printer Drivers8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CPre-install Windows® Printer Drivers Zebra is changing

Getting StartedPre-install Windows® Printer Drivers16980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Serial Port and Windows® operating systemsThe Windows

17Getting StartedConnecting your Printer to a Computer8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CConnecting your Printer to a ComputerThe Zebra® G-Ser

iii8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C©2010 ZIH Corp. G-Series,GK420d, ZBI, ZBI 2.0, ZBI-Developer, Uni-Ribbon, ZebraDesigner, ZebraNet, EPL,

Getting StartedConnecting your Printer to a Computer18980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10USB Interface RequirementsUniversal Serial Bus (versi

19Getting StartedConnecting your Printer to a Computer8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CSerial CommunicationsThe printer automatically detect

Getting StartedConnecting your Printer to a Computer20980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10EPL Y CommandUse the serial port setup (Y) command to

21Getting StartedConnecting your Printer to a Computer8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CParallel PortThe required cable must have a 25 pin “D

Getting StartedConnecting your Printer to a Computer22980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Ethernet The printer requires UTP RJ45 Ethernet cable

23Getting StartedAfter Your Printer is Connected8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CAfter Your Printer is ConnectedNow that you have basic comm

Getting StartedAfter Your Printer is Connected24980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Test Print with a Copied ZPL Command File for Non-Windows O

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C3Print OperationsThis section provides media and print handling, font and language support, and the setup o

Print OperationsDetermining Printer Configuration26980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Determining Printer ConfigurationThe G-Series™ printer u

27Print OperationsModes of Printing8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CModes of PrintingYou can operate this printer in many different modes an

iv980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10FCC Compliance StatementThis device complies with Part 15 rules. Operation is subject to the following tw

Print OperationsPrint Media Types28980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Table 1 • Types of Media Roll and Fanfold MediaMedia Type How It Looks D

29Print OperationsReplacing Supplies8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CDetermining Thermal Media TypesThermal transfer media requires ribbon f

Print OperationsAdjusting the Print Quality30980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Adjusting the Print QualityPrint quality is influenced by the

31Print OperationsMedia Sensing8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CMedia SensingThe G-Series™ printer has automatic media sensing capability. T

Print OperationsPrinting on Fan-Fold Media32980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Printing on Fan-Fold MediaPrinting on fan-fold media requires y

33Print OperationsPrinting on Fan-Fold Media8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C3.Insert the media through the slot at the rear of the printer.

Print OperationsPrinting with Externally Mounted Roll Media34980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Printing with Externally Mounted Roll MediaThe

35Print OperationsFonts and Your Printer8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CFonts and Your PrinterThe G-Series™ printer supports your language

Print OperationsFonts and Your Printer36980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Identifying Fonts in Your PrinterFonts and memory are shared by the

37Print OperationsStand Alone Printing8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CStand Alone PrintingYour printer can be configured to work without be

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CAbout This DocumentThis section provides you with contact information, document structure and organization,

Print OperationsSending Files to the Printer38980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Sending Files to the PrinterGraphics, fonts and programming f

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C4Printer OptionsThis section covers the common printer options and accessories with brief descriptions and

Printer OptionsLabel Dispenser Option40980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Label Dispenser OptionThe factory installed label dispenser option a

41Printer OptionsLabel Dispenser Option8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C2.Lift the liner over the top of the printer and open the dispenser

Printer OptionsLabel Dispenser Option42980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/104.Close the dispenser door. 5.Press the Feed button to advance the m

43Printer OptionsZebraNet® 10/100 Internal (Wired) Print Server Option8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CZebraNet® 10/100 Internal (Wired) Pri

Printer OptionsZebraNet® 10/100 Internal (Wired) Print Server Option44980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Printer Network Configuration Status

45Printer OptionsZebra® KDU — Printer Accessory8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CZebra® KDU — Printer AccessoryThe KDU (keyboard display unit

Printer OptionsKDU Plus™ — Printer Accessory46980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10KDU Plus™ — Printer AccessoryThe KDU Plus is a terminal devic

47Printer OptionsZBI 2.0™ — Zebra Basic Interpreter8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CZBI 2.0™ — Zebra Basic Interpreter Customize and enhance

About This DocumentWho Should Use This Documentvi980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Who Should Use This DocumentThis User Guide is intended fo

Printer OptionsZBI 2.0™ — Zebra Basic Interpreter48980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10 Notes • _______________________________________________

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C5MaintenanceThis section provides routine cleaning and maintenance procedures. ContentsCleaning. . . . . .

MaintenanceCleaning50980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10CleaningWhen you clean the printer, use one of the following supplies that best suits

51MaintenanceCleaning8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CCleaning the PrintheadAlways use a new cleaning pen on the printhead (an old pen carri

MaintenanceCleaning52980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Media Path ConsiderationsUse a cleaning swab to remove debris, dust or crust that has

53MaintenanceCleaning8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CSensor CleaningDust can accumulate on the media sensors. 1.Gently brush away dust; if

MaintenanceCleaning54980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Platen Cleaning and ReplacementThe standard platen (drive roller) normally does not re

55MaintenanceCleaning8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C6.Make sure the bearings are on the shaft of the platen.7.Align the platen with the ge

MaintenanceReplacing the Printhead56980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Replacing the PrintheadIf you need to replace the printhead, read the p

57MaintenanceReplacing the Printhead8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C2.Pull the printhead forward and pull it free of the top case if necess

viiAbout This DocumentContacts8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CContactsTechnical Support via the Internet is available 24 hours per day, 365

MaintenanceReplacing the Printhead58980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/102.Slide the printhead into the left side and jog it into the right side

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. C6TroubleshootingThis section provides information about printer error reporting that you might need for pri

TroubleshootingStatus Light Descriptions60980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Status Light DescriptionsWhat the Status Light is Telling YouLED

61TroubleshootingStatus Light Error Resolutions8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CStatus Light Error ResolutionsThe following Status Error Lig

TroubleshootingStatus Light Error Resolutions62980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/106. The printer is paused.• Press the Feed button to resume

63TroubleshootingPrint Quality Problems8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CPrint Quality ProblemsNo print on the label.• The media may not be d

TroubleshootingPrint Quality Problems64980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10There are long tracks of missing print (blank vertical lines) on sev

65TroubleshootingPrint Quality Problems8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CA EPL label format was sent to, but not recognized by, the printer.•

TroubleshootingManual Calibration66980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Manual Calibration Manual calibration is recommended whenever you are us

67TroubleshootingTroubleshooting Tests8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CTroubleshooting Tests Printing a Configuration Label To print out a l

About This DocumentDocument Conventionsviii980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Document ConventionsThe following conventions are used throughou

TroubleshootingResetting the Factory Default Values68980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Resetting the Factory Default Values Sometimes, resett

69TroubleshootingCommunications Diagnostics8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CThe following example of a communications DUMP mode printed out.

TroubleshootingFeed Button Modes70980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Feed Button ModesPower Off ModesWith the printer power off, press and hol

71TroubleshootingFeed Button Modes8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CPower On ModesWith the printer power on and top cover closed, press and h

TroubleshootingFeed Button Modes72980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10 Notes • ________________________________________________________________

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CAAppendix: Interface WiringThis section provides printer interface connection information.ContentsUniversal

Universal Serial Bus (USB) Interface74980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Universal Serial Bus (USB) InterfaceThe figure below displays the cab

75Parallel Interface8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CParallel InterfaceThe printer’s parallel interface uses the IEEE 1284-A to 1284-B paral

Ethernet Interface76980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Ethernet InterfaceThis interface requires a UTP RJ45 Ethernet cable rated CAT-5 or bett

77Serial Port Interface8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CSerial Port InterfaceThe maximum current available through the serial and/or paralle

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CContentsAbout This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Serial Port Interface78980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Connecting the Printer to a DTE Device Connecting the Printer to a DCE Device DB-25S

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CBAppendix: DimensionsThis section provides external printer dimensions.ContentsExternal GK Printer Dimensio

External GK Printer Dimensions80980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10External GK Printer Dimensions7.136.112.848.538.008.530.534.0511.24All dime

81External GK Printer Dimensions8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CLabel Dispenser7.136.112.969.0310.50

External GK Printer Dimensions82980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10 Notes • __________________________________________________________________

8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CCAppendix: ZPLConfigurationThis section provides a basic overview of managing printer configuration, the Co

Managing the ZPL Printer Configuration84980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Managing the ZPL Printer ConfigurationThe ZPL printer is designed t

85ZPL Configuration Status to Command Cross-reference8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CZPL Configuration Status to Command Cross-referenceThe

ZPL Configuration Status to Command Cross-reference86980608-001 Rev. C GK420d™ User Guide 8/4/10Table 2 • ZPL Commands and Configuration Receipt Callo

87ZPL Configuration Status to Command Cross-reference8/4/10 GK420d™ User Guide 980608-001 Rev. CThe configuration settings listed here resume after th