How do I clean my FARGO Card Printer?

General guide:

Materials we typically need:

1. FARGO Cleaning Cards: These are specialized adhesive cards intended for the cleaning of the card path and rollers.
2. Use only genuine FARGO cleaning cards recommended for your printer model.
3. Printhead Cleaning Swabs: Usually included in cleaning kits, these are used to gently clean the sensitive printhead.
4. Isopropyl Alcohol Cleaning Cards (Optional): Some cleaning kits include these for more thorough cleaning of rollers.
5. Lint-Free Cloth or Cleaning Pads: For wiping the exterior of the printer.
6. Cleaning Roller (if applicable): Some ribbon cartridges come with a cleaning roller that you should use with each new ribbon.

General Cleaning Steps:

1. Power Off and Unplug: Always turn off your FARGO printer and unplug it from the power source before cleaning to prevent any electrical hazards.
2. Open the Printer: Open the printer cover and remove the ribbon cartridge and any cards from the input hopper. Close the cover.
3. Use a Cleaning Card:
   • Remove the protective backing from the adhesive side of a FARGO cleaning card. If your printer has a magnetic encoder, do NOT remove the small liner strip at the bottom of the cleaning card.
   • Follow the instructions in your printer’s manual or the cleaning card packaging on how to feed the cleaning card through the printer. This usually involves inserting it into the card input slot and running a cleaning cycle through the printer driver on your computer.
   • Via Printer Driver (Recommended):
     • On your computer, go to Start > Devices and Printers.
     • Right-click on your FARGO printer icon.
     • Select Printing Preferences or Printer Properties.
     • Look for a Toolbox or Maintenance tab.
     • Find an option for Clean Printer and follow the prompts.
   • The printer will feed the cleaning card through, and the adhesive will pick up dust and debris.⁵
   • Dispose of the used cleaning card; do not reuse it.
4. Clean the Printhead:
   • Turn off and unplug the printer. Open the cover and locate the printhead.
   • Take a new printhead cleaning swab (usually from a cleaning kit). Some swabs may need to be squeezed gently to saturate the tip with the cleaning solution.
   • Gently wipe the swab back and forth across the surface of the printhead.
   • Allow the printhead to dry completely before reloading the ribbon and cards and turning the printer back on.
5. Clean Rollers (if applicable):
   • Some cleaning kits include long isopropyl alcohol cleaning cards for more thorough roller cleaning. Follow the instructions on the card and in your printer manual. This often involves feeding the card into the printer while holding the feed button to allow the rollers to rotate against the cleaning card.
6. Clean the Exterior: Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe down the outside of the printer to remove dust and fingerprints. Avoid using liquids or harsh chemicals.
7. Replace Cleaning Roller (if applicable): When you replace your ribbon, also replace the cleaning roller that comes with the new ribbon. This helps to keep the card path clean during printing.
8. Reload Supplies: Once all parts are dry, reload the ribbon and cards into the printer and close the cover.
9. Power On and Test: Plug the printer back in, turn it on, and try printing a test card to ensure it’s working correctly.

Cleaning Frequency:

• The cleaning frequency is determined by your printing volume and the surrounding environment. It is generally recommended to clean your FARGO printer each time you replace the ribbon or after printing 1,000 cards, whichever occurs first. In dusty conditions, more frequent cleaning may be necessary.

Important Reminders :

• Dust: Given the potential for dust in the environment, regular cleaning is crucial to maintain print quality and prevent issues.
• Genuine Supplies: Always use genuine FARGO cleaning supplies and consumables recommended for your specific printer model. Using third-party products can potentially damage your printer.
• Refer to Your Manual: Your FARGO printer’s user manual is the ultimate guide for cleaning procedures specific to your model.

By following these steps and the recommendations in your printer’s manual, you can keep your FARGO card printer in good working order and ensure high-quality ID card printing in Lahore.

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