Thermal Printer
User’s Manual
2746e
User’s Manual No. 980412-001 Rev.A
©2002 ZIH Corp.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
This document contains information proprietary to Zebra Technologies Corporation. This docu-
ment and the information contained within is copyrighted by Zebra Technologies Corporation and
may not be duplicated in full or in part by any person without written approval from Zebra Technol-
ogies Corporation. While every effort has been made to keep the information contained within cur-
rent and accurate as of the date of publication, no guarantee is given or implied that the document
is error-free or that it is accurate with regard to any specification. Zebra Technologies Corporation
reserves the right to make changes, for the purpose of product improvement, at any time.
TRADEMARKS
2746e is a service mark and Zebra is a trademark of Zebra Technologies Corporation. Windows
and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All other marks are trademarks or regis-
tered trademarks of their respective holders.
2746e Thermal Printer
European Council
Directive
Compliance to Standards
89/336/EEC
EMC Directive
EN55022-B, 1998
RF Emissions control
EMC Directive
EN55024, 1998
EMC Directive
EMC Directive
CB Scheme
EN61000-3-2: 1995
EN61000-3-3: 1995
EN60950 IEC60950
Immunity to Electromag-
netic Disturbances
Harmonic Emissions
Voltage Variation
Product Safety
FCC - DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY:
Model: 2746e conforms to the following specification:
FCC Part 15, Subpart B, Section 15.107(a) and Section 15.109(a) Class B
digital device
Supplemental Information:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following Two Con-
ditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference , and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
INDUSTRY CANADA NOTICE:
This device complies with Industry Canada ICS-003 class B requirements.
Cet equipement est conforme a l’ICS-003 classe B de la norm Industrielle Canadian
ii
980412-001 Rev.A
Table of Contents
Installation & Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Unpacking Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Getting To Know Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Controls & Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Media Loading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Before You Load Media in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Using AutoSense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Label Dispense Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Media Rewinding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Loading Transfer Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Where to Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Serial Interface Communication Configuration. . . . . . . . . A-4
Serial Interface Cable Wiring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
USB Interface Cable Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Parallel Interface Cable Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Printer Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Media Sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Sensor Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
Top Of Form Sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
Gap and Index Hole Sensing Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
Operator Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Cleaning Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Extending Print Head Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Print Head Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Using the Media Cutter
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
Cutter Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Mounting the Cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3
Print Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
ELP2 Odometer Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2
980412-001 Rev.A
iii
General Cautions and Warnings
This page describes general safety and maintenance warnings and cautions for the printer and
are referenced throughout the manual.
Warning - Shock Hazard
The printer should never be operated in a location where it can
get wet. Personal injury could result.
Warning - Static Discharge
The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the
surface of the human body or other surfaces can damage or
destroy the print head or electronic components used in this
device. DO NOT TOUCH the print head or the electronic
components under the print head assembly.
Caution - Printer Setup & Handling
1)When installing or modifying the printer setup or
configuration, ALWAYS TURN POWER OFF Before:
A) Connecting any cables.
B) Performing any cleaning or maintenance operations.
C) Moving the printer.
2) Damage to the printer interface connector, accessories or
door may result from placing the printer on it’s front bezel or
backside during unpacking or handling.
Media Warning
Media Reload Hint
Print Quality Tip
Always use high quality approved labels and tags. If adhesive
backed labels are used that DO NOT lay flat on the backing
liner, the exposed edges may stick to the label guides and
rollers inside the printer, causing the label to peel off from the
liner and jam the printer.
If you should run out of labels while printing, DO NOT turn the
power switch OFF (0) while reloading or data loss may occur.
The printer will automatically resume printing when a new label
or ribbon roll is loaded.
Print density (darkness) is affected by the heat energy (density
setting) applied and by the print speed. Changing both Print
Speed and Density may be required to achieve the desired
results.
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980412-001 Rev.A
Installation & Operation
1
Installation & Operation
Unpacking Your
Printer
Open the shipping carton and remove the
printer and its accessories.
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980412-001 Rev.A
1
Installation & Operation
Getting To Know
Your Printer
Lower Front Cover
(Lift Up & Out to Open)
Media Access
Cover
(Lift to Open)
Label Taken Sensor
Ribbon Core
(Shipped mounted on
Ribbon Tube)
Print Head
Assembly
& Bracket
Label Mode Switch
Interface
Connectors
Power Switch
& Cord Module
Print Head
Release Lever
Liner Rewind
Tube and Clip
Media Sensor
and Guide
Auxiliary Media Access
(Opening for Fan Fold &
External Media)
2
980412-001 Rev.A
Installation & Operation
Getting To Know
Your Printer
Ribbon Take-Up
Tube
Ribbon Supply
Tube
Media Roll
Holder
Controls
Platen
Roller
Print Width
Adjustment Knob
Rewind
Bracket
Platen
(Media Drive)
Roller Bracket
Liner "Peeler"
Gate
Print Head
Peel/Tear
Bar
980412-001 Rev.A
3
Installation & Operation
Controls &
Indicators
Power
Indicator
Error
Indicator
PEEL
BATCH
Power Switch
OFF
0 = Off
ON
1 = On
O
O
Button
PAUSE
FEED
Function
Press Once - Halt batch printing.
Press Second Time - Resume batch
printing operation.
Press Once - Feed one label or “form”.
Press & Hold - Feed a single label, stop,
feed a single label, stop, and so on until
the FEED button is released.
CANCEL Press Once - resets and terminates any
print operation in progress.
Indicator LEDs
POWER
On Solid
Flashing
OFF
OFF
ERROR
OFF
OFF
Flashing
On Solid
Condition Report
Power On
Pause
Print head open
1) Hardware Error
2) Command Error
3) Media or Ribbon Out
Mode
Peel
Batch
Label Mode Switch
Description
Print one label and pause. Remove label.
Prints next label. Repeats until print oper-
ation is completed. Use label
liner
rewinder to peel the liner from the label.
Standard operation - Prints one or more
labels until the batch form (label) print
operation is complete.
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980412-001 Rev.A