How do you avoid common ID printer issues and keep your printer working smoothly? It’s a great question because your device can last for many years if it’s cared for properly. Following best practices when it comes to your ID printer will prevent unnecessary wear and tear, will reduce down time, and most importantly will ensure that your ID badges are of high quality.
Here at ID Edge we get a unique insight into common ID printer issues because we have our very own service department and fix a lot of printers. Let’s take a closer look at some of the issues our expert technicians see on a daily basis, and what you can do to keep your printer in good working order.
Card Jams
Most people enjoy jams made out of strawberries, blueberries or other fruits and berries, but card jams…not so much. It can be especially annoying when cards start to jam in a printer that’s less than a year old. In many cases, however, there are specific steps you can take to reduce chances of jamming.
- In-House Cleaning: Having worked in the ID security industry for over 30 years, we’ve come across some really dirty printers. Certainly, getting your printer professionally cleaned once a year is important, but many organizations skip on regular in-house cleaning. This is a bad idea because buildup of dust and residue can obstruct the path of the blank ID card during the printing process, causing a jam. To avoid this, make sure to clean your printer on a regular basis – many models even come with built-in self cleaning features, so it’s very easy.
- Low Quality Cards: If your printer is new and clean, but keeps jamming, the issue may be with the quality of your blank cards. Cheap, low quality cards may have dimensions that are slightly off, which can cause the card to become stuck in the printer. Worse, a bad card can even damage the print head. To avoid these situations, only use high quality, manufacturer-approved blank cards in your printers.
ID Printer Ribbon Breaks
Another common issue with ID printers is the breakage of the printer ribbon. It can be a frustrating situation, but can be mitigated to a certain degree.
- Printing Settings: In some cases, the ribbon can break due to the printer settings. For example, trying to print images too close to the edge with a direct-to-card printer can cause this issue. Additionally, breakage can occur if the printer gets too hot.
- Dirty Printer: Lack of proper cleaning can also cause some of the printer mechanisms to work out of sync, which can put undue force on the ribbon and cause it to tear.
Fixing a broken ID printer ribbon isn’t too difficult. Simply reattach the broken ends with tape and rotate the ribbon forward a couple of turns. However, if you’re experiencing such breakage on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to get the printer checked out by a professional.
Poor Print Quality
When it comes to print quality, there are many issues that can cause the ID badge to look lackluster.
- Print Head Maintenance: One reason for poor quality can be due to a dirty print head. If the print head isn’t cleaned regularly, the buildup of residue and dust will eventually impact the print quality. In some cases, it can also be due to damage to the print head, especially if you have a direct-to-card printer.
- Low Quality ID Cards: Using low quality ID cards doesn’t just increase the likelihood of card jams, but also affect how the card looks. For example, even small imperfections on the card’s surface can cause the ink pigment to be applied unevenly and lead to faded or blank spots.
- Printer Settings: Running the printer with incorrect settings can also affect quality, especially if the temperature is too high or too low during the printing process.
Connection Issues
Lastly, it’s important to note that connection issues can also play a big role in the printing process. This can cause a lot of lost time and frustration for the person in charge of the printing. To avoid ongoing connectivity issues, it’s imperative to set up the printer properly the first time around.
If you have any questions about your ID card printer, please give us a call at (800) 798-3343!