Printing Thin Media

Have you had this experience using the C6000 printers?

C6000 Crinkled Media

That leads to this?

C6000 Paper Jam Error

And this?

C6000 Crinkled Media

Printing thin, non-label media in one of the C6000 series printers can be difficult.  In this work, I attempted to print 2 types of thin media; a 3” wide, direct thermal receipt paper and a 1.25” wide non-woven apparel tag.  Let me give you a few ideas on how to print these types of difficult media.

First, you need to ensure you have the latest firmware.  Epson made changes to the firmware to help print this type of media. 
For example, get the latest firmware for the C6000A printer here:
Epson C6000A Firmware Update

or the latest C6500A firmware here: Epson C6500A Firmware Update

With this change, you can now use the “Feed” button to load the media into the printer.  Prior to this firmware update, the printer would not accept this type of thin media.

Second, you need to change the printer’s actions upon feeding the material.  The default setting is to feed the material into the printer and out the exit.  At this point, this thin media creates paper jam when automatic feeding.
 
From the LED screen on the printer, select MENU, GENERAL SETTINGS, PRINTER SETTINGS, PRINT OPTIONS, and then ACTIONS WHEN REPLACING MEDIA:

Actions When Replacing Media

Once the choice “Actions When Replacing Media” is chosen, select “NOT FEED”.

C6000 Not Feed

This selection stops the feeding process once the media is loaded.

C6000 Media Fed

Third, then use the feed button to move the thin media through the printer.  It may take a few buttons pushes to get the media out of the printer.

C6000 Fed Thin Media

Once fed through the printer, you can go ahead and print.  For example, I printed this direct thermal paper using the least amount of ink setting (plain paper, max speed).

C6000 Printed DT Receipt Paper

Even though this material is not designed for inkjet prints, I thought it printed really great.  Perfect for printing the back of receipt paper.

Or this non-woven apparel tag material:

C6000 Printed DT Receipt Paper

On this material, I could use a higher quality print setting; and thought the print quality was great.

(FYI: I find the “NOT FEED” setting saves labels by not feeding until the media is printed).

Printing thin, non-label materials with the C6000 printer series can be a pain.  But with the correct settings and process, you can print these items on-demand and in color. Contact us if you want to print these materials or the C6000 series printers.

Posted at 1:09 PM
Guy Mikel
855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com