Why Are Thermal Printheads Like Spare Tires?

You wouldn't drive your car without a spare tire, would you? Alright, well maybe you would, but what would you do if one of your tires went flat? Imagine you are in the middle of nowhere and could safely get home if you just had a spare tire. Well, a spare printhead could also save the day. It’s important to maintain your printhead, but it’s also important to have a spare.

Printhead maintenance is fairly simple and centers around four main issues:

Residue-buildup: The high volume and heat settings combined with the fast print speeds and complex label formats can cause residue buildup on the printhead. Residue builds up over time so removal of it regularly should prevent any damage to the printhead.

Abrasion: With the high speeds and the tight surfaces, the friction can also wear down your printhead fairly quick if you’re not careful. So be wary of your ribbon size. It is best to use ribbons that are 1/8” wider than the label stock with a liner.

Electrostatic discharge: We are talking electronics aren’t we! Electronics + static = expensive paper weight, and with printhead the damage can be done with as little as 200 volts. Therefore, it is extremely important to make sure you use the proper anti-static equipment when dealing with your printhead.

Heat settings: Quality is important but the higher the heat settings are the more wear and tear the printhead will take. So keep that mind when printing. Try and find that balance between the cost and the benefits for the most extended use with best quality to meet your needs.

The most important rule is to regularly clean and maintenance your printer. Using the car analogy again, it’s like changing your car oil every couple of thousand miles to make sure it’s running at its peak. The same goes for thermal printheads. Regularly cleaning and maintenance can extend the life of your printhead.

Unfortunately though, also like a car they get old and eventually will breakdown. There is only one sure way to tell if your printhead needs to be replaced. That is when gaps form in the printing causing vertical white lines even after cleaning it. Faint print, smudged print and white diagonal lines can also be warning signs, however they can be caused by other issues as well.

Even though it is quite easy to order another printhead when this occurs, it isn’t convenient and you are losing efficiency with your downed printer. To avoid this, we strongly recommended to plan ahead and always keep a spare printhead on hand so you don’t incur any downtime. After all, you wouldn’t go on a long trip without a spare tire. Would you?

Did you know there is a way to get FREE printheads? If you use Zebra printers and supplies, you may want to check out Zebra's Printhead Protection Program.

Learn more about Zebra's Printhead Protection Program by calling us at (800) 643-2664 and immediately talk to one of our friendly representatives or click here. Remember to chat us up on Facebook , Twitter , Google+ and LinkedIn !

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