Most office spaces, irrespective of their size, now employ in-house ID card printers. ID card printers need to be maintained properly for the proper functioning of the machine. Read more to know how to maintain your in-house ID card printer.

Every office in Saudi Arabia is becoming self-reliant to become more productive and gain considerable profit. Now every company, irrespective of the size, owns its own ID card printer according to their requirement. Management has understood the need and advantage of having an inhouse card printer. An inhouse card printer is cost-effective and saves a lot of time from making ID cards through third-party sources. Screencheck, leading distributors of ID card readers in Saudi Arabia in this article explains about ID Card printing and how the card printer can be maintained for long.

ID card printer technology works by running a heated print head over a ribbon, which transfers the colours to the card to make the design. The process is known as thermal transfer. With different ribbon and print technology, one can actually design a card with ease. While there are several types of thermal transfer they all involve heating up small elements in a print head, and heating the film and directly fusing the ink on the ribbon with the card. The other printing processes are called Dye Sublimation (Dye Sub) and Reverse Transfer Dye Sublimation.

Dye-sublimation printing is a process in which the printhead applies the ribbon directly to the card. This printing method is known for fast printing, making it ideal for organisations that need quick and efficiently print cards. With reverse transfer dye sublimation process, the design is first applied to a clear transfer film and then the film is applied to the card. The card reproduces true images because the transfer film is larger than a CR80 card. The printhead doesn’t contact with the card making it an ideal technology to print uneven surface ID cards.

How to maintain an ID card printer

ID card printer needs to be kept clean. ID card printers are very sensitive to dust and dirt which is the reason why manufactures recommend to place the printer in a clean environment. Dust particles can affect the final output quality. If this happens, the only solution is to replace the printhead. The printhead is expensive and it is not necessary to spend more during this economic crisis.

Make sure that the environment is clean where the card reader is placed. It is essential to check the PVC card condition. The PVC cards come in an airtight packaging card. A broken packaging might cause dust to get accumulated between the cards. A damaged package of PVC cards needs to be returned while purchasing your ID card printer in Saudi Arabia. Always bear in mind that printheads are very sensitive and a little dirt could harm not just the printhead but also the printer. When buying ID card printers from authorized dealers like Screencheck, there is always nil damage to the product.

During printing, load the PVC card immediately after opening the package. Avoid direct contact on the surface, always hold the card by the edges. With clean cards, you can expect a more professional looking ID badge. After printing, if not all PVC cards were used; store it on a clean, airtight container.

The finished ID card should be free of unwanted lines or ribbon traces. Check for discolouration on printed material. In that case, always use the recommended cleaning method like a cleaning pen to clean the head. Switch off the printer and run the cleaning pen across the length of the printhead.

When the print quality starts to blur or diminish, the printhead needs to be changed. Printhead needs to removed as per the instruction provided by the manufacturer. Always switch off the ID card printer before doing any repair. Gently disconnect the cable connector from the printhead.  Don’t hold the card by its surface, always move to hold its edges. Disengage the printhead and replace it with the new print head. Gently push the connector into the position. Check if the ribbon is in place. Close the lid and switch on the printer.

A green steady light indicates that you can start printing.