20 Most Recent Zebra 105SL Thermal Label Printer Questions & Answers

Had the same problem with a ZM400. As stated in the User manual (can be downloaded http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/resource_library/manuals.results.html?FRRBarcodePrinters=6882), warning "Ribbon in" is usually caused by the wrong printing method (thermal direct instead of thermal transfer [which should be selected for ribbbons]). My error disappeared after choosing "thermal transfer" directly on the printer. For network printers this needs to be set by an admin in the network settings for the the printer to solve the problem permanently.

This solution is for the Zebra Xi II and the Zebra Xi III , so the wording may be different in different models, but here is the solution:

Press the SETUP button.

Scroll through until you see MEDIA AND RIBBON.

Press the CALIBRATE button.

It will say LOAD BACKING. At this point you must REMOVE the tags completely.

Press CONTINUE.

It will then say REMOVE RIBBON.

Just pull the ribbon to the side so that it does not block the ribbon sensor.

After pulling the ribbon away from the sensor,

CLOSE THE PRINT HEAD.

Hit Continue.

It will now say CALIBRATING PLEASE WAIT It will then display RELOAD ALL

Reload the labels, making sure to position the end of one label and the beginning of the next label between the red optical sensor.

Then, while keeping the label in that position, move the ribbon back to the normal position, and close the print head. Then hit CONTINUE. It will then display MEDIA AND RIBBON CALIBRATE

It will calibrate automatically at this point.

Hit the SETUP button.

Hit the NEXT/SAVE button.

You are all done.

Note that this is the intermediate way of calibrating the unit; normally it is done with the CALIBRATE button at the bottom of the front panel. If both of the above do not work, read below (in blue) FIRST-if that doesn't do the trick, then you can do a "hard reset" by powering the unit down, holding the PAUSE and the FEED button at the same time, and while holding them down, turning back on the power. This should only be used as a last resort, however, because it resets everything to factory settings. (NOT a good thing!)

Please be advised that if the intermediate calibration does not correct the issue, then you should use a bottle of 92% rubbing alcohol/Isopropyl alcohol (you can buy at CVS or any pharmacy for less than 2 dollars) and cotton swabs to clean both the top sensor and the bottom sensor-make sure to turn off the power FIRST, and make sure to allow a minute or so for the alcohol to dry after doing the cleaning. The combination of cleaning the sensor and doing the intermediate calibration procedure is about 95% effective.I am passing this on from experience. The first time we got the 'ribbion out' error, we had to call the big service company in excess of 400.00 to come out. So when she did the above and had it runing in about 2 minutes, I asked the serice person to let me document the procedure. So you get the benefit without having to spend the big bucks!

In the printer setting-

Change the Print Method from - "Tharmal Transfer to Direct Thermal" and save it permanently

new or old ribbon?

Calibrate the printer from the setup menu.

You'll (1) Load the label backing with the ribbon (2) remove the ribbon - just shove it to the right, out of the way of the ribbon sensor (3) reload the label and ribbon.

The printer will run a number of labels out.

Type the IP address of the printer in your web browser. If that is not working verify that you can ping the printer.

Drivers have an entry in preferences/page setup where you can rotate the data on the page. Look for 'Oreintation' settings or 'Layout Settings' called 'Portrait' & 'Landscape'. Also the software being used to send the data will have settings in it to rotate the data, most likely. Look for Options or Edit in the software and see if there are any settings for rotate." Feel free to call us at 972-535-5555 for more help. www.emsbarcode.com Inventory Management Solutions By EMS Barcode

There are 3 different DPI Printheads for Zebra printers if you print a label set up for a 200 DPI Printhead on a printer with a 300 DPI Printhead installed it will be about 66% of the size.

Full resin ribbons tend to require higher darkness settins on all thermal printers.
It could be a mismatch between label and ribbon. This would need to be looked by your supplier.