Category Archives: Fargo Printer

Barcode Printing Inconsistently with a Fargo DTC550

Note that the Fargo DTC550 ID-card printer is out-of-production (since 2011), and is considered obsolete (since 30-Sep-2016). The recommended replacement models are the Fargo DTC4500e and the Fargo DTC5500LMX.

If you are printing with a Fargo DTC550 printer and the printing of bar-codes is inconsistent, you will find that bar-code scanners will not recognize or read the code. To correct problem with the Fargo DTC550 printers, you can follow this tech-tip:

Light printing at one-end of the black-ink bar-code can be caused by a misalignment in the angle of the print-head. Note in the picture above how the bar-code is light and inconsistent to the left of the card, and then darkens to normal toward the center. A properly adjusted print-head will result in bar-codes being consistent and uniform across the entire surface of the printed card. Note that, after adjusting the angle of the print-head, it may be necessary to raise the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar. That procedure is address separately in our blog entry: Fargo DTC550 Peel-off Bar Adjustment.

Please consult with the technical support area of the vendor or integrator where you purchased your printer to obtain assistance for your specific printer issue prior to making any adjustment. Additional information may also be available directly on the manufacturer’s web-site, and in their technical support pages. Again, as this is a discontinued and obsolete model, on-line documentation and support from Fargo may be limited.

Still need help?

If you need further assistance, or for information current Fargo printers, contact our ID-card experts toll-free at +1 888.485.4696 (US & Canada), or at +1 704.535.5200 elsewhere.

Fargo DTC500 With a Ribbon Peel Off Bar Line

Our Fargo technical representatives are sharing some common issues with ID card printing. If the following picture looks like the card printing problem you are having, the ribbon peel off bar may need adjustment.

The dark area at the beginning of the card is caused by the “Ribbon Peel-Off Bar” being adjusted too low. When the printhead starts printing the printhead pressure is normal until the card goes under Ribbon Peel-Off Bar. The remainder of the card is printed too light because the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar lifts the printhead slightly off of the card.

To correct this problem it is necessary to raise the Ribbon Peel Off Bar slightly.

Please consult with the ID card intergrator technical support area where you purchased your printer to obtain assistance for your specific printer issue prior to adjustment. For information about the Fargo DTC550 and current Fargo printers, contact our ID Card experts at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC500 Prints A Light Bar Code

Printing ID cards sometimes is difficult as the exact card specifications are critical to the success of the identification program. One important printing requirement is a correct, dark version of the provided bar code. If your bar code is not meeting your requirements, check out the pictures below and see if your problem is displayed. If so, we have recommendations for you.

The light printing of the black in the center barcode is caused by the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar being adjusted too low. Note the horizontal streaking in the bars. Note also that the effect is across the full length of the card. (The light/dark banding on the upper and lower barcodes is due to “camera effect” and not to a problem with the printer)

To correct this problem it is necessary to raise the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar slightly.

The light printing of the black in the barcodes is caused by the angle of the printhead being to small. Note that the barcode darkens to normal as the print approaches the center of the card. Increasing the printhead angle will darken the beginning of the barcode. After adjusting the angle of the printhead it may be necessary to raise the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar.

To correct this problem increase the printhead angle by completing the printhead angle adjustment.

Please consult with the ID card intergrator technical support area where you purchased your printer to obtain assistance for your specific printer issue prior to adjustment. For information about the Fargo printers and current Fargo printer models, contact our ID Card experts at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC550 Printer Prints ID Cards with Smudges

When an ID card is printed, sometimes it enters the output hopper with smudges appearing to be fingerprints. If you are wondering what to do, the following may provide the answer for you.

If your card looks like this:

You need to know that the white smudge marks are caused by contamination on the card surface which prevents the color from adhering to the card surface.

The problem can be the result of fingerprints on the cards. Always handle cards by the edges. If the problem persists on a number of cards, replace the card stock with a clean group of cards.

If your card looks like this:

The dark smudges are caused by fingerprints on the ribbon prior to printing the card.

This problem can normally be solved by careful handling of the ribbon during removal/replacement. Always handle ribbon by the spindles. This problem will usually disappear after printing a couple of cards.

Additional Fargo technical tips provided by Fargo authorized technical representatives are available through this blog. If you need additional assistance with Fargo printer information, please contact our ID card specialists toll free at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC550 Printer Prints ID Cards with Pink Streaks

The pink lines on this card are caused by the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar being too high on the lower edge of the card (side towards the front of the printer).

The pink lines on this card are caused by the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar being too high on the upper edge of the card (side towards the rear of the printer).

The pink lines on this card are caused by the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar being too high on both edges of the card.

To correct this problem, it is best to consult with the technical support staff from the integrator who sold you the printer. They may recommend that you lower the end of the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar that towards the back of the printer. A very small adjustment is required.

For additional information about Fargo printer models, contact our ID card experts at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC500 Printer Prints with Incorrect Image Placement

Occasionally, someone who is printing ID cards will have an issue with the beginning of the card design starting somewhere after the front edge of the plastic ID card. There is a strip of white that is left prior to the beginning of the colored badge design. A picture of what this might look like is below.

The white strip on the leading (right) end of the card is the result of the card being too far forward when the printer begins printing.

To correct this problem, decrease the Print TOF (Top Of Form). This setting is adjustable from the LCD panel on the front of the printer.

For information about ID printers such as the Fargo printer models, feel free to contact our ID card experts at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC500 Printer Prints with White Pixel Lines Across the ID Card

It is common for our technical staff to hear a customer call and wonder why there is a white clear line across the ID cards that they are printing with their ID card printer. Following are pictures of two types of white lines on printed ID cards.

The white line in the above picture across the card is wide and is caused by physical damage to the printhead.

The light thin straight line across the card is normally caused by a bad pixel in the printhead. Although a line this thin can be caused by a damaged printhead, it is usually due to a burned out pixel.

To correct either of these problems, the printhead assembly needs to be replaced. For information about Fargo printer printhead replacements with the Fargo DTC550 or other Fargo printer models, contact our ID card experts at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC500 Printer Prints Light Edges

Various ID card printing issues cause ID card printing output to be substandard to requirements. The following recommendation may be helpful to those who find the edges of their card printed too lightly.

Light edges on the bottom of this card indicate that there is not enough printhead pressure on the bottom edge of the card. This problem can also be caused by defective card stock. To determine if the cause is the card stock, rotate the cards end for end in the card input hopper. If the light edge moves to the opposite side of the card the cause is bad card stock and not uneven printhead pressure.

To correct this problem either lower the end of the printing edge that is towards the front of the printer or raise the end of the printing edge that is towards the back of the printer. Our Head Pressure Adjustment page will walk you through this procedure.

Light edges on the top of this card indicate that there is not enough printhead pressure on the top edge of the card. This problem can also be caused by defective card stock. To determine if the cause is the card stock rotate the cards end for end in the card input hopper. If the light edge moves to the opposite side of the card the cause is bad card stock and not uneven printhead pressure.

To correct this problem either raise the end of the printing edge that is towards the front of the printer or lower the end of the printing edge that is towards the back of the printer. Our Head Pressure Adjustment page will walk you through this procedure.

Please consult with the ID card integrator technical support area where you purchased your printer to obtain assistance for your specific printer issue prior to adjustment. For information about the Fargo DTC550 and current Fargo printers, contact our ID Card experts at 888-485-4696.

Fargo DTC550 Printhead Angle Adjustment

The following procedure, provided by technical support representatives for Fargo printers, can be used to adjust the Printhead Angle on the Fargo DTC-550 series printers. When bar codes print too light and also darker on the same card in the same printer pass, you may be directed by a technical expert to adjust the angle of the printhead.

Warning! Remove all jewelry, rings, watches, bracelets etc. from your wrists and hands before beginning work with the printhead. The printing edge is extremely fragile and is easily damaged. It is strongly advised that you work in a static protected area.

To adjust the printhead angle, loosen the printhead angle lockdown screws at both ends of the printhead.

Turn the Printhead Angle Adjustment Wheel to change the angle of the printhead relative to the ribbon. Turning the wheel clockwise (top of wheel moved in the direction of the back of the printer) will increase the printhead angle. Turning the wheel Counter-Clockwise will decrease the printhead angle. After making the adjustment re-tighten the Printhead Angle Lockdown Screws.

Fargo DTC550 Peel Off Bar Adjustment

Ribbon Peel-Off Bar Adjustment

The following procedure can be used to adjust the Ribbon Peel-Off Bar on the Fargo DTC-550 series printers. You may need to adjust the peel off bar when the color printed on the platic ID card from the printer is not consistant in intensity across the entire surface of the card.

The ribbon peel-off bar should be adjusted to the lowest point possible without allowing any pressure on the card. If it is adjusted too low, the card will bump into it and cause a line to appear on the card. If it is adjused too high, the ribbon will lift off the card too soon and cause ribbon wrinkle.

To raise or lower the ribbon peel-off bar, loosen but, do not remove, both peel-off bar hold-down screws.

Raise or lower the Peel-Off bar by adjusting the Peel-Off bar adjustment screws. Turn the screws clockwise to raise the Peel-Off bar and counter-clockwise to lower it. Generally both ends should be raised or lowered equally to keep the Peel-Off bar parallel to the printing edge of the printhead.

After raising or lowering the Peel-Off bar, tighten the Peel-Off bar hold-down screws.

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