Thermal printheads on thermal transfer printers should be viewed as just another consumable. For a thermal transfer setup, the consumables include the labels, the barcode ribbon and the printhead. On a direct thermal setup, you have just the labels and the print head. Print heads cost hundreds of pounds so it is critical if you want to keep costs down to take care of your print head.
How do you take care of the print head? Well it largely comes down to how to clean a print head. Paper Type and Thermal Transfer Ribbon also have an influence and this is covered in our FAQ ‘Why Thermal Printer Print Heads Wear Out And How To Extend Print Head Life’
Most users do not know when or how to clean their thermal printheads. The rule of thumb is to clean the print head every time you change the ribbon on the printer and with a direct thermal setup, every time you change a roll of labels.
The issue is that with ribbon and adhesive labels, residue builds up and clogs the print head. The build up of residue over time requires the print head to work harder to create the image. The harder the elements in the head have to work, the quicker they burn out. A print head that is designed to print up to ten million labels can burn out after only a million if it is not taken care of. That creates a huge consumable expense.
So, how do we clean a print head? Most printers have a release that allows the print head to open. Once the head is open, the easiest way to clean it is with a recommended print head wipe, just wipe the print head clean. It is also wise to wipe the platen roller also. Reload all the label material and ribbon and away you go.
One mistake made by many when cleaning the printer is using a sharp instrument to scrape either the head or the platen roller that the head rests on. If the soft platen roller gets nicked or cut, then the print quality is destroyed. Every label printed will have a line or nick as the platen roller rotates. This is because this roller acts as the surface for the labels and the print head to “write” on. Similar to a desk as you write on paper with a pen, the platen roller is the desk surface and if flawed in any way, will transfer that flaw to the labels it is printing.
So in conclusion, as you clean the print head, take great care not to scratch the surface and to get the entire residue off with alcohol wipes. Make sure you wipe down the platen roller, and never use a sharp instrument to clean. It can destroy the roller or print head surface requiring it to be replaced.
Keep print head cleaner kits on hand to perform regular print head maintenance and ensure optimum printer performance.
Maintaining a clean print head reduces replacement costs by extending the life of your print head and improving the performance of your printer. With proper care and maintenance, print head life can be extended without sacrificing print quality.
For more information on this topic, you can visit your owner’s manual for your printer or just give us a call to discuss your printer maintenance.