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the M-8400RV is much greater than the older M-8400, it must receive the commands
in the sequence it is anticipating.
There are some other minor differences in how the M-8400RV responds to certain
commands. For example, the M-8400RV can print at speeds up to 10 inches per
second whereas the older M-8400 had a maximum print speed of only 6 inches per
second. Therefore, if you send it a <ESC>CS5 command, it interprets it as a
command to print at 10 ips whereas an M-8400 would interpret it as a command to
print at 6 ips. There is also a difference in how the newer M-8400RV handles graphic
files. When an <ESC>A3 or <ESC>R rotate commands is sent to an M-8400RV, it
rotates all fields, including graphic images. The older M-8400 on the other hand
would only rotate the text and bar code fields and not graphic fields. To compensate
for these differences, a Compatibility setting can be selected using DSW2-8. When it
is placed in the ON position, the M-8400RV will respond to these commands the
same as an M-8400 would.
NOTE: Even when DSW2-8 is in the ON position, the M-8400RV expects the
command sequences to follow the rules specified in the Programming Reference.
When printing labels designed for an M-8400 on the newer M-8400RV, the following
procedure is recommended.
1. First try printing the label with DSW-8 in the OFF position. If it prints all the fields
correctly but the print quality needs improvement, try adjusting the Print Darkness
using the front panel potentiometer.
2. If the print quality is still lacking, try changing the print speed and/or heat setting
using the front panel LCD controls. After each change, reprint the label using the
FEED key (printer must be ON LINE). If you resend the label to the printer,
any old software commands will override the changes you made with the
LCD controls. The M-8400RV uses a new intelligent print head that compensates to
a great degree for print quality variations due to print speed. Therefore, you should
not see as much variation in print quality due to print speed as was present with the
older M-8400.
3. If a new LCD setting solves the problem, then make the appropriate changes in the
command stream.
4. If the field placement is incorrect or if the printer “beeps” indicating it did not accept
the command stream, place DSW2-8 in the ON position, cycle power to make the
printer recognize the new switch setting and resend the label.
5. If the printer still does not accept the command stream, then something in the
command stream is not correct. It must be examined carefully to make sure it
conforms with all of the rules for usage outlined in Section 4: Programming
Reference.
If any problems are encountered with M-8400 compatibility, please contact the SATO
Technical Support department.
Section 1. Printer Overview
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