Zebra ZD500 Quick Reference Guide
Zebra ZD500 is a versatile label printer designed for a variety of applications. It features a user-friendly control panel that allows for easy navigation through menus and settings. The printer supports different communication interfaces including USB, serial, parallel, Ethernet, and Bluetooth, allowing for easy integration into existing systems. With its reliable performance and durable design, the ZD500 is ideal for printing labels for shipping, inventory, asset tracking, and more.
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ZD500 Series™ Quick Reference Guide
Use this guide to operate your printer on a daily basis. For more detailed information, refer to the ZD500 Series™ User Guide.
Printer Features
shows features on the outside and Figure 2 shows features inside the media
compartment of your printer. Depending on the printer model and the installed options, your printer may look slightly different.
Figure 1 • Printer Features
Control Panel
Release
Latches
Release
Latches
Fan-Fold Media
Entry Slot
Interface
Connectors
© 2014 ZIH Corp. All product names and numbers are Zebra trademarks, and Zebra and the Zebra logo are registered trademarks of ZIH Corp. All rights reserved.
DC Power
Receptacle
Power
Switch
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2 Printer Features
Figure 2 • Printer Features Continued
Ribbon Roll Holders
Take Up Spindles
Printhead
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Supply Spindles
Ribbon Trailer Sensor
(hidden from view)
Media Guide Stop
Adjustment
Moveable
BlackLine
Sensor
Roll Holders and
Media Guides
Web (Gap)
Sensor
Dispenser Option
Platen
Roller
RFID Antenna
(inside)
Head-Up Sensor
(inside)
Dispenser Door
(open)
Sensor Pinch
Roller
Peel Bar
ZD500 Quick Reference Guide 01/23/2014
Media Cutter
(Option)
Figure 3 • Printer Features - Cutter Option
Printer Features 3
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4 Control Panel
Control Panel
The control panel indicates the printer’s operating status and allows the user to control basic printer operation.
Figure 4 • ZD500 Control Panel
1
12
11 10 9 8 7 6 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
STATUS light
Shows the current status of the printer. For more information, see
The PAUSE button starts or stops printer operation when pressed.
The FEED button forces the printer to feed one blank label each time the button is pressed.
The CANCEL button cancels print jobs when the printer is paused.
The RIGHT ARROW button, which is active only in the menu system, navigates to the right.
The DOWN ARROW button changes the parameter values. Common uses are to decrease a value or to scroll through choices.
•
•
The OK button operates as follows:
When on the Home screen, pressing OK enters the menu system.
When in the menu system, pressing OK accepts the values shown.
The UP ARROW button changes the parameter values. Common uses are to increase a value or to scroll through choices.
The LEFT ARROW button, which is active only in the menu system, navigates to the left.
RIGHT SELECT button
These buttons execute the commands shown directly above them in the
LEFT SELECT button display.
The display shows the printer’s operating status and allows the user to navigate the menu system.
Add
2
3
4
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Control Panel 5
Table 1 • Printer Status Indicator Light
STATUS light steady green
The printer is ready.
STATUS light steady amber
This indicator light on steady indicates one of the following:
•
•
The printer is not ready.
The printhead is over temperature.
Caution • The printhead may be hot and could cause severe burns. Allow the printhead to cool.
STATUS light flashing amber
This indicator light flashing indicates one of the following:
• The printhead is under temperature.
STATUS light steady red
This indicator light on steady indicates one of the following:
• The media supply is out.
•
•
•
The ribbon supply is out.
The printhead is open.
Cutter malfunction.
The printer needs attention and cannot continue without user intervention.
STATUS light flashing red
•
•
This indicator light flashing indicates one of the following:
The printer is unable to correctly identify the printhead type.
The main logic board (MLB) is over temperature.
• The printhead is extremely over temperature.
Caution • The printhead may be hot and could cause severe burns. Allow the printhead to cool.
The printer needs attention and cannot continue without user intervention.
STATUS light flashing amber followed by alternating amber/ green
This status light condition indicates the printer is in Forced Download Mode.
Forced Download Mode is used to download new firmware to the printer. This mode should only be used by trained personal.
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6 Control Panel Display Menu and Status Icons
Control Panel Display Menu and Status Icons
Figure 5 • Typical Home Menu
Error
Cover Unlocked
Ribbon In
Media In
Data
Ethernet
Bluetooth
Signal Strength
WiFi
Previous Menu Shortcut
Language Menu
Settings Menu
Sensors Menu
Tools Menu
Ports Menu
Network Menu
Bluetooth Menu
RFID Menu
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Printer Control Panel Display 7
Printer Control Panel Display
The printer’s control panel includes a display, where you can view the printer’s status or change its operating parameters. In this section, you will learn how to navigate through the printer’s menu system and change values for menu items.
After the printer completes the power-up sequence, it moves to the Idle Display (
Figure 6
If a print server is installed, the printer cycles through the information shown and the printer’s IP address.
Figure 6 • Idle Display
PRINTER READY
V74.19.1Z
1
2
1
2
The printer’s current status
Information that you set through Idle Display
Home menu shortcut
The printer’s operating parameters are organized into several user menus, which you can
access through the printer’s Home menu (
Figure 7
). For detailed information about
changing the printer settings, see the ZD500 Series Users Guide.
Figure 7 • Home Menu
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SETTINGS
See SETTINGS Menu.
See TOOLS Menu.
See NETWORK Menu.
See RFID Menu.
Exit and return to the Idle Display
See LANGUAGE Menu.
See SENSORS Menu.
See PORTS Menu.
See BLUETOOTH Menu.
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8 Printer Control Panel Display
Navigating through Screens in the Menu
Table 2
shows navigating through the screens in the control panel display.
Table 2 • Navigation
Idle Display
Home Menu
At the Idle Display ( Figure 6 on page 7 ), press LEFT SELECT to go to
the printer’s Home menu (
To move from icon to icon in the
Home menu, press the ARROW
buttons.
When an icon is selected, its image reverses to highlight it.
SETTINGS menu icon
To select the highlighted menu icon and enter the menu, press
SELECT (
) button.
Press LEFT SELECT to exit the
Home menu and return to the Idle
Display.
SETTINGS menu icon highlighted and active for selection.
Note • The printer automatically returns to the Idle Display after 15 seconds of inactivity in the Home menu.
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Setting the Printer Menu and Report Display Language 9
Table 2 • Navigation
User Menus
XXXXXXX
Press LEFT SELECT to return to the Home menu. ▼and
▲
indicate that a value can be changed. Any changes that you make are saved immediately.
Press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW to scroll through accepted values.
XXX
To scroll through the items in a User menu, press the
LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW.
A word in the bottom-right corner of the display indicates an available action.
Press SELECT (
) button or press RIGHT
SELECT to perform the action shown.
Note • The printer automatically returns to the Home menu after 15 seconds of inactivity in a User menu.
Setting the Printer Menu and Report Display Language
The printer supports many languages for menu display, time and date format, and configuration reports.
The primary method used to configure language is the control panels menu. Use the following procedure to set your printer’s language when the printer is turned on and in the ‘Ready’ state.
1.
Press the menus ‘Home’ ( ) button.
2.
Navigate to the ‘LANGUAGE’ ( ) menu button and press the ‘Select’ (
) button.
3.
Use the ‘Up’ (
) and ‘Down’ (
) navigation arrows to browse the languages.
4.
Stop browsing when you have found the language you wish to use for operating the printer. The language displayed will be your selected language.
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10 Control Panel Menu Map
Control Panel Menu Map
Home Menu Items
Menu Item also in other Menus
Printer Option. May not be present.
Go to next Menu group
Printer Ready
V74.xx.xxZ
Settings Tools Network RFID
Language
(Menu)
Sensors Ports Bluetooth
Darkness
Print Speed
Media Type
Print Method
Tear Off
Print Width
Print Mode
Label Top
Left Position
Reprint Mode
Label Length
Max
Language
Tools Menu
Information
LCD Contrast
LCD Backlight
Idle Display
Power Up
Action
Head Close
Action
Load Defaults
Manual
Calibration
Diagnostic
Mode
ZBI Enabled?
Yes No
Run ZBI
Program
Stop ZBI
Program
Network Menu
Active Print
Server
Primary
Network
Wired IP
Address
Wired Subnet
Mask
Wired
Gateway
Wired IP
Protocol
Wired MAC
Address
Wired Port
WLAN
Installed
No
WLAN
WLAN IP
Address
WLAN Subnet
Mask
WLAN
Gateway
WLAN IP
Protocol
WLAN MAC
Address
WLAN Port
ESSID
Channel
Signal
Information
Reset Network
IP Port
IP Alternate
Port
Load Defaults
RFID Menu
RFID Status
RFID Calibrate
RFID Read
Data
RFID Test
RFID Program
Position
RFID Read
Power
RFID Write
Power
RFID Valid
Count
RFID Void
Count
Language
Menu
Language
ZPL Override
Command
Character
Control
Character
Delimiter Char
ZPL Mode
Sensors Menu
Sensor Type
Manual
Calibration
Information
Label Sensor
Take Label
Ports Menu
Baud Rate
Data Bits
Parity
Host
Handshake
Parallel Mode
WML Version
Settings
Menu
Bluetooth
Menu
Bluetooth
Address
Mode
Discovery
Connected
BT Spec
Version
Min Security
Mode
Settings Menu
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Attaching Power 11
Attaching Power
Important • Set up your printer so that you can handle the power cord easily if needed. To make certain the printer cannot carry electrical current, you must separate the power cord from the power supply receptacle or AC electrical outlet.
Caution • Never operate the printer and power supply in an area where they can get wet.
Serious personal injury could result!
1.
Make sure the printer’s power switch is in the off position (down).
2.
Insert the AC power cord into the power supply.
3.
Plug the other end of the cord into an appropriate AC electrical outlet. Note: The active power light will go on if power is on at the AC outlet.
4.
Insert the power supply’s power connector into the printer’s power receptacle.
Printer
Power
Switch
Plug Varies by Country
Power
Connector
AC
Power
Cord
Power
Receptacle
Power
Supply
Active Power Light
IEC 60320
C-13
Note • Ensure the appropriate power cord with a three (3) prong plug and an IEC 60320-C13 connector are used at all times. These power cords must bear the relevant certification mark of the country in which the product is being used.
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12 Load Media and Transfer Ribbon
Load Media and Transfer Ribbon
Caution • When you are loading media or ribbon, remove all jewelry that could come into contact with the printhead or other printer parts.
Caution • Before touching the printhead assembly, discharge any built-up static electricity by touching the metal printer frame or by using an anti-static wriststrap and mat.
Loading Ribbon Ribbon is used only with thermal transfer labels. For direct thermal labels, do not load ribbon in the printer (omit steps 2 through 6 in the following procedure).
Important • Use ribbon that is wider than the media to protect the printhead from wear.
Ribbon must be coated on the outside (refer to the User Guide for more information).
Loading Media Use the instructions in this section to load ribbon and to load roll media in
Tear-Off mode. For instructions for loading fanfold media or for loading in different print modes, refer to the User Guide.
Preparing Media
Whether your roll media is inside or outside wound, you load it into the printer the same way.
• Remove the outside length of media. During shipment, handling, or storage, the roll may become dirty or dusty. Removing the outside length of media avoids dragging adhesive or dirty media between the printhead and platen.
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Load Media and Transfer Ribbon 13
Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment
1.
Open the printer. Pull the release latch levers toward the front of the printer.
2.
Open the media roll holders. Pull the media guides open with your free hand and place the media roll on the roll holders and release the guides. Orient the media roll so that its printing surface will face up as it passes over the platen (drive) roller.
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14 Load Media and Transfer Ribbon
3.
Verify that the moveable blackline sensor is aligned in the center default position. This is the standard operating position for media sensing. When the sensor is moved from the default label web (gap) sensing area, the printer will only detect blackline, black mark and die-cut notched media. See User’s Guide for more details on adjusting this sensor use variation.
Printer Optional:
Moveable
Blackline Sensor
Off Center
Blackline Sensing Only
Default - Web (Gap) Sensing
Standard Operating Position
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Load Media and Transfer Ribbon 15
4.
Pull the media so that it extends out of the front of the printer. Verify the roll turns freely.
The roll must not sit in the bottom of the media compartment. Verify that the media’s printing surface is facing up.
5.
Push the media under both of the media guides.
Under Media
Guides
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6.
Close the printer. Press down until the cover snaps closed.
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16 Loading Transfer Ribbon
Loading Transfer Ribbon
Transfer ribbons come in several varieties and in some cases colors to match your application needs. Genuine Zebra
®
transfer ribbons are specifically designed for your printer and Zebra brand media. Using non-Zebra media or ribbons not approved for use in your Zebra
®
printer may damage your printer or printhead.
• The media and ribbon types should be matched to provide you with optimal print results.
• Always use ribbon that is wider than the media to protect the printhead from wear.
• For direct thermal printing, do not load ribbon in the printer.
Before following these steps, prepare the ribbon by removing its wrapping and pulling its adhesive strip free.
Notch
Right Side
(printer and roll)
Adhesive Strip
See the User’s Guide for more information on ribbon use.
Important • DO NOT USE early model desktop printer ribbon cores! The older ribbon cores can be identified by notches on only one side of the ribbon core. These older cores are too large and will cause take-up spool to bind.
Note • DO NOT USE ribbon cores with damaged notches - rounded, frayed, smashed, etc. The core notches should be square to lock the core on the spindle or the core may slip causing ribbon wrinkle, poor end of ribbon sensing or other intermittent failures.
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Loading Transfer Ribbon 17
1.
With the printer open, place a new ribbon roll on printer’s lower ribbon supply spindles.
Rotate the roll until the notches align and lock into the left side of the supply hub.
2.
Place an empty ribbon core on printer’s take-up spindles. Rotate the ribbon core until the notches align and lock into the left side of the take-up hub.
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You can find your first ribbon take-up core in the packing box. Subsequently, use the empty supply core to take up the next roll of ribbon.
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18 Loading Transfer Ribbon
3.
Pull the transfer ribbon’s leader off the roll and attach it with the adhesive strip on the leader to the empty ribbon core on the supply spindle. Center the ribbon on the ribbon core.
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Loading Transfer Ribbon 19
4.
Rotate the thumb wheel on the left side of the supply spindle towards the rear of the printer until the ribbon is pulled tight across the printhead.
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5.
Verify that the media is loaded and ready to print and then close the printer cover.
6.
Press the Feed button to have the printer feed a minimum of 10 cm (4 inches) of media to remove slack and ribbon wrinkle, and to align the ribbon on the spindles.
7.
Change the print mode setting from direct thermal printing to thermal transfer to set the printer’s temperature profiles for thermal transfer media. This can be done with the printer driver, application software, or printer programming commands.
• When controlling printer operations with ZPL programming, refer to the Media Type
(^MT) ZPL II command (follow the instructions in the ZPL Programming Guide).
8.
To verify the mode change from direct thermal printing to thermal transfer printing, use
Test Printing with Configuration Report Printouts on page 20
to print a configuration label. The ‘PRINT METHOD’ should read ‘THERMAL-TRANS’ on the printer configuration status label.
Your printer is now ready to print.
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20 Test Printing with Configuration Report Printouts
Test Printing with Configuration Report Printouts
Before you connect the printer to your computer, make sure that the printer is in proper working order. You can do this by printing a configuration status report.
1.
Make sure the media is properly loaded and the top cover of the printer is closed.
2.
Press and hold CANCEL button while turning the printer on ( I ).
3.
Hold CANCEL button down until the printer status light turns green for the first time and release.
4.
The Printer and Network Configuration Reports will be printed a couple of seconds after the printer’s display reports ‘PRINTER READY’.
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If you cannot get these reports to print and you have checked your printer installation with this document, then see the Troubleshooting section of the User’s Guide or the Zebra Website for guidance.
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Connecting your Printer to a Computer 21
Connecting your Printer to a Computer
The Zebra ® ZD500™ printers support a variety of interface options and configurations. These include: Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, RS232 Serial, Parallel (IEEE 1284.4), 10/100
Wired Ethernet, Wireless Ethernet (WiFi) and Bluetooth.
Pre-install Windows
®
Printer Drivers
Install the Zebra Setup Utilities before applying power to the printer connected to the PC
(running a Zebra driver supported Windows operating system). The Zebra Setup Utility will prompt you to apply the printer power. Continue to follow the instructions to complete your printer installation.
The Zebra Setup Utility is designed to assist you with installing these interfaces. The cabling and unique parameters for each of these physical printer communication interfaces is discussed in the following pages to assist you with making configuration setup choices prior to and immediately following applying power. The Zebra Setup Utilities configuration wizards will instruct you to turn the printer’s power on at the appropriate time to complete the installation of your printer.
For Connecting to Wireless Communication Interfaces:
• Refer to the ZebraNet™ Wired and Wireless Print Server Guide.
Caution • Keep the power switch in the OFF position when attaching the interface cable.
The power cord must be inserted into the power supply and the power receptacle on the back of the printer before connecting or disconnecting the communications cables.
Interface Cable Requirements
Data cables must be of fully shielded construction and fitted with metal or metallized connector shells. Shielded cables and connectors are required to prevent radiation and reception of electrical noise.
To minimize electrical noise pickup in the cable:
• Keep data cables as short as possible (6 foot [1.83 m] recommended).
• Do not tightly bundle the data cables with power cords.
• Do not tie the data cables to power wire conduits.
.
Important • This printer complies with FCC “Rules and Regulations,” Part 15, for Class B
Equipment, using fully shielded data cables. Use of un-shielded cables may increase radiated emissions above the Class B limits.
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22 Connecting your Printer to a Computer
USB Interface
.
Serial Interface
USB Cable
Parallel Interface
Serial Cable
Tighten
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Parallel Cable
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Wired Ethernet Interface
Connecting your Printer to a Computer 23
Ethernet Cable
(RJ45 Connector)
Ethernet Status/Activity Indicators
LED Status
Both OFF
Green
Green with the Amber flickering on and off
Amber
Amber with the Green flickering on and off
Description
No Ethernet link detected
100 Mbps link detected
100 Mbps link and Ethernet activity detected
10 Mbps link detected
10 Mbps link and Ethernet activity detected
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Green LED Amber LED
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24 Manual Calibration - Media
Manual Calibration - Media
The printer may need to have the sensors and the label length adjusted for a new media. Small variations in media from manufacture to manufacture and even from batch to batch of media may necessitate recalibrating the printer for the media being used.
Use the Manual Calibration procedure when you change media unless to it media from the same batch you have been using.
The primary method used to set the printer for media in use is the control panels SENSORS menu to access the MANUAL CALIBRATION procedure. Use the following procedure to set your printer’s language when the printer is turned on and in the ‘Ready’ state.
Procedure for calibration of label media with liner and inter-label ‘GAP’ between labels.
1.
Load the printer with your chosen label media. Verify the media sensor is in the center position for label gap (transmissive) sensing, see below.
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Center
Position
Media
Guide
2.
Remove the first 3 inches or 80 mm of labels from the liner. Place the label-less liner over the platen (driver roller) and the leading edge of the first label under the media guides.
3.
Close the printer. Turn the printer power ON. Press the menus ‘Home’ ( ) button.
4.
Navigate to the ‘SENSORS’ ( ) menu button and press the ‘Select’ ( ) button.
5.
Use the ‘Left’ (
) and ‘Right’ (
) navigation arrows to browse to the ‘MANUAL
CALIBRATION’ procedure.
6.
Press the select button (—) below the START on the lower right hand of the display.
7.
The display will have a message:
LOAD BACKING
PRINTER PAUSED
8.
Press the Pause button once to start the calibration procedure.
9.
When it has finished the first part of the calibration, the display will read:
RELOAD ALL
CONTINUE.
10.
Press the Pause button once again to continue the calibration procedure. The printer will begin feeding several labels and then it will stop with the display message reading:
READY
Remove excess media. Media calibration has finished and you are ready to print.
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RFID Calibration (ZD500R only) 25
RFID Calibration (ZD500R only)
RFID calibration sets communication parameters for your tag type. This procedure should be done after the printer has been calibrated for the media (length and gap settings), typically a
Manual Media Calibration. During the RFID calibration process, the printer moves the media, calibrates the RFID tag position, and determines the optimal settings for the RFID media being used.
These settings include the programming position, the read/write power level to use, and reads the tag's TID to determine the chip type (or choose F0 from the front panel RFID menu).
To restore the printer’s default programming position at any time, use the "restore" option in the rfid.tag.calibrate SGD command.
Do not remove any labels or tag from the liner (label backing or ‘web’). This allows the printer to determine RFID settings which do not encode adjacent tags. Allow a portion of media to extend out the front of the printer to allow for backfeed during the tag calibration procedure.
Always do a Manual Media Calibration and RFID Calibration when you change media type. It should not be necessary when simply replacing an empty roll of the same media.
Before beginning, load RFID media into the printer and perform the manual media calibration.
1.
Press the Feed button once to feed (advance) one label.
2.
Press the menus ‘Home’ ( ) button. Navigate to the ‘RFID’ ( ) menu button and press the ‘Select’ ( ) button.
3.
Use the ‘Left’ (
) and ‘Right’ (
) navigation arrows to browse to the ‘RFID
CALIBRATE’ procedure. Press the select button (—) below the START on the lower right hand of the display.
4.
The printer will slowly feed a label while adjusting the location and RFID read/write communication settings for your chosen RFID tag/label.
The printer will feed an additional label in some cases when calibration has completed successfully with the display message reading: READY
5.
Remove excess media. Media calibration has finished and you are ready to print.
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Key features
- User-friendly control panel
- Multiple interface options
- Reliable performance
- Durable design
- RFID capability (ZD500R model)
- Media and ribbon loading
- Manual calibration
- Configuration reports