Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking

the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-2

Checking the Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-2

Choosing a Place for the Printer ......................................................... 1-4

Assembling the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-6

Installing the Platen Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-6

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7

Attaching the Paper Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-10

Testing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-13

Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-13

Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-14

Checking the Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-21

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22

The Parallel Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-22

Setting Up Your Application Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25

Choosing From a Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-25

Setting Up the Printer 1-1

Unpacking the Printer

Checking the Parts

When you unpack the printer, make sure that you have all the parts shown below and that none have been damaged.

1-2 Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer

After removing the parts, save the packaging materials in case you ever need to transport your printer.

Note: Be sure to lift the printer cover and remove the pieces of white packing material.

Setting Up the Printer 1-3

Choosing a Place for the Printer

There are several important things to consider when selecting a place to set up your printer. Keep the following in mind:

•

Place the printer on a flat, hard, stable surface. A soft surface, such as a padded counter or carpeted area, will block the ventilation slots and may cause overheating.

•

•

•

Place the printer close enough to the computer for the printer cable to reach.

Leave adequate room around the printer to allow for easy printer operation and maintenance, and for unrestricted flow of air around the printer.

Use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug.

WARNING: Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, or dust.

•

•

•

Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental interruption of power can wipe out information in both your computer’s memory and in your printer’s memory.

Avoid using outlets that share a circuit with large motors or electrical appliances; this could cause fluctuations in line voltage.

Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of electromagnetic interference such as loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones.

1-4 Setting Up the Printer

Choosing a Place for the Printer

The illustration below shows a good printer location.

Note: Before using a printer stand, read these requirements and suggestions.

l

The stand should be able to support at least twice the weight of the LQ-510 printer (approximately 26 pounds, or 12 kilograms).

l l

Never use a stand that supports the printer at an angle of more than 15 degrees from horizontal.

With a cut sheet feeder, your printer must be kept level.

l l

If your paper supply is positioned below the printer stand, make sure there is enough clearance to keep the paper from catching on the underside of the stand. Also, make sure the distance between the stand supports is wide enough for the paper you are using.

Position your printer’s cables so that they do not interfere with paper feeding. If possible, secure the cables to the printer stand.

Setting Up the Printer 1-5

Assembling the Printer

After you’ve decided on the best place to set up your printer, the next step is to install the platen knob,

Installing the Platen Knob

The platen knob is used to feed the paper manually in the event of a paper jam or other paper feeding problem. The platen knob is packed in an indentation in the printer’s white foam packing material.

1. Remove the printer cover.

2. Insert the knob into the hole on the printer’s side and rotate it slowly until it slips onto the shaft.

1-6

Setting

Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

3. Push firmly on the platen knob until it fits against the printer case.

CAUTION: Do not use the platen knob to adjust the position of the paper. This interferes with the automatic paper loading system and may cause a paper jam.

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge

Your printer’s ribbon cartridge is designed for easy installation and removal. Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure the printer is turned off.

Install the ribbon cartridge as follows.

1. Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.

Setting

Up the

Printer

1-7

Assembling the Printer

CAUTION: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on because this can damage the printer. Also, if you have been using the printer, the print head may be hot; let it cool for a few minutes before touching it.

2. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow.

This removes slack in the ribbon and makes it easier to install.

3. Open the paper tension unit cover.

1-8 Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

4. Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly down into position, making sure the plastic hooks fit into the slots.

Note: Press lightly on both ends of the cartridge to make sure the plastic hooks are properly seated.

5. Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide while you turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place.

Setting Up the Printer 1-9

Assembling Printer

6. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Also check that the ribbon is not twisted or creased.

7. Close the paper tension unit cover.

Attaching the Paper Guide

When you use single sheets, the paper guide helps to feed the paper smoothly and efficiently into the printer. Attach the paper guide using the following procedure.

1-10 Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

1. Place the paper guide on the printer as shown below.

2. Raise the paper guide until it locks into place.

Note: To lower the paper guide, lift up slightly to release it from its locked position; then gently lower it down onto the printer.

Setting Up the Printer

1-11

Assembling the Printer

3. Attach the printer cover by fitting the hooks on the cover into the notches at the front of the printer and tilting the cover back into place.

1-12 Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

Now that your printer is fully assembled, you can use its built-in self test function to see that the printer is working correctly before you connect it to a computer. You should perform this test to make sure that your printer was not damaged during shipping and that the ribbon is correctly installed.

Before running the self test, you need to connect the printer to an electrical outlet and load a sheet of paper.

Plugging in the Printer

1. Make sure that the printer is turned off.

Setting Up the Printer 1-13

Testing the Printer

2. Plug the power cable into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Running the Self Test

The self test can be run in the draft or Letter Quality mode, depending on which button you hold down as you turn on the printer. Although the self test can be run with continuous paper, use single-sheet paper now because single-sheet loading is easier.

1. Make sure the printer is turned off.

2. Push the paper release lever back to the single-sheet position.

1-14 Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

3. While holding down the LINE FEED button (draft mode) or FORM

FEED button (Letter Quality mode), turn on the printer. The printer beeps several times and POWER and PAPER OUT lights come on.

Setting Up the Printer 1-15

Testing the Printer

4. Move the left edge guide so that it locks in place next to the guide mark.

5. Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.

Next, slide a sheet of paper down between the edge guides until it meets resistance.

1-16 Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

WARNING: Never run the self test using paper that is narrower than A4 size (8.27 inches or 210 mm) or letter size (8.5 inches or 216 mm) to prevent the print head from printing directly onto the platen.

6. Press the LOAD/EJECT button to load the paper.

7. Press the ON LINE button to start the self test. A list of DIP switch settings is printed first, followed by a series of characters. The self test continues until the paper runs out or until you press the

ON LINE button.

Setting Up the Printer 1-17

Testing the Printer

8. If the test results are satisfactory and you wish to stop the test, press the ON LINE button. If the test results are not satisfactory, see Checking the Operation later in this chapter for possible causes and solutions.

Note: To resume the test, press the ON LINE button once more.

9. If the paper is still loaded, press the LOAD/EJECT button or LINE

FEED button to eject it. Then turn off the printer.

WARNING: After turning the power off, always wait at least five seconds before turning it back on. Turning the power on and off rapidly can damage the printer.

1-18 Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

Here is part of a typical self test printed in draft mode.

Draft mode

Note: When using the optional cut sheet feeder, the first page of the self test printout is slightly different. For details, see the Cut

Sheet Feeder section in Chapter 5.

Setting Up the Printer 1-19

Testing the Printer

Here is part of a typical self test printed in Letter Quality mode.

Letter Quality mode

1-20 Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

Checking the Operation

If the self test does not print properly, check the control panel and the print head area. If paper is jammed, turn off the printer. Then remove the paper using the platen knob and load a new sheet. See that all packing material and shipping restraints have been removed from inside the printer. (You can also see Chapter 7 for further information.)

Solution Problem

The printer does not print.

The printer sounds like it is printing, but nothing is printed.

The test did not print when you pressed the

ON LINE button.

The ribbon may not be installed properly.

Turn off the printer, reinstall the ribbon cartridge, and then tighten the ribbon by turning the ribbon-tightening knob. Make sure the ribbon passes between the print head and ribbon guide. See page 9.

The ribbon may be worn. Replace the ribbon cartridge. See page 6-4.

Turn off the printer and repeat the self test. Make sure you hold down the FORM

FEED or LINE FEED button the entire time you are turning on the printer.

Turn off the printer and disconnect the cable from the host computer. Try the self test again.

If the printer still does not print the self test correctly, contact your Epson dealer or Epson authorized service center.

Setting Up the Printer 1-21

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

If the self test printed correctly, you are now ready to connect the printer to your computer.

If your computer has a parallel interface and you have a suitable shielded cable, you should be able to connect your printer immediately. The steps below describe how to connect the parallel interface cable.

If your computer requires another type of interface, you need to install an optional interface board. See the Interface Boards section in Chapter 5.

If you are not sure which type of interface cable is required, see your computer manual.

The Parallel Interface

Connect the parallel interface cable as described below:

1. Make sure that both your printer and computer are turned off.

1-22

Setting

Up the Printer

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

2. Plug the cable connector securely into the printer.

3. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either side of the connector.

Setting Up the Printer 1-23

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

4.

If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the ground screw beneath the interface connector.

5.

Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. If there is a ground wire at the computer end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.

1-24 Setting Up the Printer

Setting Up Your Application Software

Now that you have set up and tested the LQ-510, you should make sure that it works with your application programs.

Most application programs let you specify the type of printer you are using so that the program can take full advantage of the printer’s features. Many of these programs provide an installation or setup menu that presents a list of printers to choose from.

If your application program has a printer selection menu, use the instructions below.

Choosing From a Menu

Because the family of Epson printers shares a great many commands, you can use an application program even if it does not list the LQ-510 on its printer selection menu. If the LQ-510 is not listed, choose one of the following printers. They are listed in order of preference.

LQ-850 (LQ-950, LQ-1050)

LQ-500

LQ-2550

LQ-800 (LQ-1000)

SQ-2500

LQ-2500

LQ-1500

If none of these printers is listed, select the first one available on the following list:

LQ

EX

FX

LX

R x

MX

Epson printer

Standard printer

Draft printer

To use all of the features of the LQ-510, however, it is best to use a program with the LQ-510 on its menu. If your program does not list the LQ-510, contact the software manufacturer to see if an update is available that supports the LQ-510 model.

Setting Up the Printer

1-25

1-26 Setting Up the Printer