Maintaining the efficiency of your barcode label printer is important. This consists of regularly cleaning and replacing faulty parts when it is needed. This will ensure that your barcode printer operates properly to give the finest print quality for your business needs.
It is necessary to understand the common printing issues and their causes so you can fix the problems. Most of them can be prevented if you know the right barcode printing solutions. Do not let printing problems interrupt your smooth business operations. Here are some barcode printing solutions that can help you troubleshoot some of the most common label printer problems.
Common Barcode Printing Solutions to Label Printing Issues
1. Underburn
This is where the dark bars of your barcode are printed too lightly. Some of the causes are uneven or inadequate pressure coming from the printhead to the material. The barcode printing solutions include adjusting the printhead pressure or adjusting the heat settings until you reach the right contrast if the underburn is due to heat that is not set high enough.
2. Overburn
In contrast, overburn is caused when heat settings are too high and the bars appear too thick. This results in barcodes that are unreadable and out of spec. This can be fixed by lowering the heat settings on your barcode printer.
3. Wide/Narrow Ratio Unsustainable
This can occur with underburn or overburn. One of the barcode printing solutions that you can do is to create your symbols through the use of the highest wide-to-narrow ratio that the label specification permits. Increase the print resolution so the wide/narrow ratios can be enhanced and made more consistent.
/
4. Dead Spots or Voids in The Image
This can be an indication of abrasion, dirt, or burned-out elements on your printhead. Burned-out elements do not permit heat from transferring and this leads to dead spots on your barcode labels. You have to replace your printhead. Dirt can block or redirect heat which leads to illegible barcodes. Regular cleaning of your printhead will solve the problem.
A wrinkled ribbon causes streaks and dead spots. The two barcode printing solutions for this problem are to adjust the tension in your ribbon and to reduce your printer speed if the ribbon in your barcode label printer always wrinkles.
5. Unwanted Diagonal Lines
This is an indication that the ribbon in the barcode label printer is not loaded or feeding properly. Keep in mind that the best barcode printing solutions for this issue are to check the ribbon to ensure that it is smooth and to see if the label material is loaded correctly and feeding into the printer very well.
6. Poor Edge Definition
Barcode readers need precise edges so they can distinguish between bars and spaces and decode symbols correctly. Fuzzy or rounded edges can cause problems. Reduce the print speed if your barcode label printer is doing this. Poor edge definition signifies the use of low quality labels. This means either the ribbon and media are not compatible or the ribbon material is of low-quality. Barcodes printed in vertical orientations can also cause edge definition problems. Horizontal printing must be utilized whenever it is possible.
ALSO READ: Why Manufacturers Need Continuous Inkjet Printers this Peak Season
Proper maintenance of your barcode label printer includes regular cleaning and replacement of defective parts. This will keep your barcode printer running smoothly and give high-quality prints for your business. Problems with the equipment sometimes arise but there are available barcode printing solutions that you can do to fix the common issues.
Elixir is a supplier of industrial equipment that can fulfill numerous functions at different points on the assembly line. Our One Stop Solutions are designed to meet the operational requirements of businesses like printing and packaging companies in the Philippines. Elixir provides Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO) which are used for coding onto flexible packaging films and self-adhesive labels. TTO can print simple date codes and batch codes as well as logos, ingredient lists, nutritional panels, product descriptions, and fully compliant barcodes. Are you in need of barcode label printers for your business? Elixir can help.