[Nhcoll-l] Thermal label problems

Wed Jun 1 13:50:29 EDT 2016

Hi all

This has happened a couple of times in the past and in every case it was traced back to the incorrect ribbon having been sent to the user.  The SDR-A ribbon is what you should be using (until we have done some tests on the SDR5+).  Make sure that you have been shipped the correct ribbon.

Having done years of testing on this printer/paper/ribbon system we have never had any issues with any labels – even in very oily alcohol.  There is no need to set you print head temperature higher than about 15 as higher will damage the print head over time.  Speed of print is important to ensure good adhesion of ribbon to media and should not be set higher than about 3 inches per second.  We have found that not using the return spool for the ribbon and just letting it feed out the front of the printer with the media produces a higher quality print and less streaking.  You then just have to peel it off the label.  We are now using the Datamax I-4206 printer but before used the Datamax Prodigy Max 300

We have never had any issues with ribbons of media coming out of the printer.  I would suggest you check that the media has been fed correctly and that you do not have any protrusions in the media path that may be cutting it.

I have had an informal test going on my window ledge of labels in 95% ethanol, conc. formalin and glycerin in full sunlight for about 12 years now and the labels look like they were just added yesterday – no fading, no yellowing, no cracking and no problems with the print.

Hope that helps.  Happy to answer any further questions

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

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From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Christine Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2016 8:49 AM
To: Jon Fong <jfong at calacademy.org>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Thermal label problems

Hi Jon,

We too had a one-time issue with the ink having come off of a few labels in a loan return of specimens in 75% ethanol.

We never were able to pinpoint exactly the issue, as it only seemed to be these few vials, whereas the other vials in this loan return were completely unaffected.

However, there are solvent/surfactant products that will cause the ink to dissolve, disintegration, smear, fall off.

These are:

-          Industrial surfactants (Aerosol OT & Contrad) using in specimen rehydration. So if there is residue of these surfactants in/on the specimens, this may/will cause the label to fail. This might be avoided if specimens are rinsed well.

-          Methyl ethyl ketone (butanone) or MEK

-          Glacial Acetic Acid (3 mol)

-          DEET (so if you are in the field and have DEET on your hands, you might not want to handle the labels)

Make sure to use Thermal Transfer SDR ribbon (not SDRa). I am still using an old SATO M-84Pro printer and get the paper (polytag) and SDR ribbon from Alpha Systems, and outside these very few vials, we’ve not had a problem.

Chris

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From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Jon Fong
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 4:03 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Thermal label problems

We are having a label printer problem that supposedly no one else has, so I'm asking around to see if it really is only us, or whether that no one else has noticed.

The problem is that we are able to scrape off the ink with a fingernail from our thermal transfer labels after they've been soaked in ethanol for a few minutes. We're using a relatively new Datamax H-4408, with supposedly chemical-resistant resin ribbon, and polyester paper. This shouldn't happen, and I know that we've been able to successfully print labels where we couldn't scratch off the ink. With this printer.  But it keeps recurring, and we don't know whether it's the supplier (Alpha Systems), the manufacturer, our printer (lemon? doubtful, it's the second one), or us. Please answer this quick survey.

  1.  With a recently printed label, soaked in ethanol for a few minutes, are you able to scratch off ink with your fingernail?
  2.  What make/model of printer do you use?
  3.  What are the heat and print speed settings on the printer?
  4.  Which ribbon and paper do you use?
  5.  Who do you order your supplies from?
  6.  We've also had problems with fine white threads coming off the polyester paper and clogging the print head. Anyone else experience this?
Thanks for your time,
Jon

Jon D. Fong
Curatorial Assistant / Programmer
Dept. of Ichthyology
California Academy of Sciences
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