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Zebra® 105SL™

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

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1. Turn the power switch off and disconnect both the power cord and printer communications cable.

2. Open Cover.3. Remove media and ribbon (if applicable).4. Unscrew Printhead mounting screw with flat-head

screwdriver.

Removing the Printhead

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1. Open Printhead Lever

*Make sure you are appropriately grounded using proper anti-static procedures.

Printhead Lever

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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.

Left Printhead Assembly Cable

Right Printhead Assembly

Cable

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Installing the Printhead

1. Turn the power switch off and disconnect both the power cord and the printer communications cable.

2. 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.

Left Printhead Assembly

Cable

Right 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 slotsIn Printhead

Alignment Posts on Mounting

Bracket

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Print line

Alcohol swab

Clean the Printhead using an alcohol swab, removing dirt or oil that may

have been deposited during installation.

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Reinstall media and ribbon (if applicable).

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1. Lower the Printhead Assembly.2. Close the Printhead lever and check for proper alignment.3. Close the side cover.4. Connect the power cord and printer communications cable. 5. 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.

Printhead

Mounting Screw

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Printhead Position Adjustment

If print is lighter toward one side of the label and Printhead has been correctly installed, perform the Printhead Position Adjustment.

Top screws

Loosen the four top screws, found at the rear of the Printhead Assembly (do not remove).

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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.

Gold hex nuts

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.

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Toggle Position Adjustment

1. Loosen locking nut so the toggle can slide freely.

2. Position the toggle so it distributes even pressure across entire label.

Locking nut

Upper knurled nut

Adjusting nutThreads

showing underneath

the Adjusting nut

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Printhead Pressure

Adjustment1. Print several test labels at

2 ips by pressing SETUP/EXIT, scroll until Print Speed is displayed and select 2 ips.

2. 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.

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.

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Wear Plate Adjustment

Perform this adjustment to help achieve even

pressure

1. Run several test labels at 2 ips.

2. During label testing, use the LCD panel to lower the darkness setting until the labels print gray instead of black.

3. Use a 7/64 hex wrench to loosen the two hex nuts attached to wear plate.

Silver Adjustment Knob

Wear Plate

Two hex nuts

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1. For even pressure across width of label, adjust the Silver Adjustment Knob with your hand or with a 7/16 wrench.

2. 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.

3. When gray print is even across label, tighten the two hex nuts to secure wear plate in place.

4. On the LCD, increase darkness setting to achieve desired print quality.

Silver Adjustment Knob

Wear Plate

Two hex nuts

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Calibrating the Darkness

1. After the printer is turned on and self power test is completed, press the SETUP/EXIT button.

2. If the LCD does not display DARKNESS, scroll forward or backward using the INCREMENT buttons (+ or -).

3. Once DARKNESS is displayed on the LCD, press the INCREMENT buttons to increase or decrease the DARKNESS value.

4. 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. Z105SL-Instructions_082405