142 Z4Mplus and Z6Mplus User Guide
Extend Printhead Life
Extend the Life of Your Printhead with Save-a-Printhead Cleaning Film
Ribbon Backcoating and Buildup: Printhead contamination from direct thermal
labels or thermal transfer ribbon may occur in applications requiring high burn
settings, high head pressure, high speed, or high volume. This contamination builds up
on the printhead elements, creating a barrier to the heat transformation required to
produce high-quality images. Contaminant buildup occurs gradually and results in
poor print quality that may look like faded print or a failed print element. This buildup
resists cleaning with presoaked swabs and can be difficult to remove. Follow the
recommendations below to avoid contamination buildup on the printhead.
To avoid ribbon backcoating and buildup:
• Use thermal transfer ribbons that have been specially cured to provide backcoat
protection for high-demand applications. These ribbons (sometimes referred to as
anti-stick ribbons) also dissipate static and provide more lubrication.
• Follow the recommended Printhead Preventive Maintenance procedures.
• Use Zebra’s Save-a-Printhead cleaning film to remove printhead contamination
buildup quickly and easily.
Save-a-Printhead
Cleaning Film
Save-a-Printhead cleaning film is a specially coated film that removes contamination
buildup without damaging the printhead. Save-a-Printhead cleaning film extends the
life of your printhead, reduces maintenance downtime and the cost of replacing a
printhead, and is an inexpensive, easy, and quick way to remove contaminants without
removing the printhead.
Use Save-a-Printhead cleaning film when you see degrading print quality that looks
like faded print or a failed print element that cannot be corrected by cleaning with the
presoaked cleaning swabs.
For 200 and 300 dpi printers: Clean after every roll (1500 feet or 450 m) of thermal
transfer ribbon or after every roll (500 feet or 150 m) of direct thermal labels or when
CLEAN HEAD NOW appears on the liquid crystal display (LCD).
