Troubleshooting i5100 and IP Series Calibration IssuesCalibration issues are commonly resolved by confirming correct positioning of the gap or notch sensors for your gapped or notched media. You may need to adjust sensors for each new media type loaded into the printer. If these initial steps do not resolve, this article lists further troubleshooting and special-case scenarios. The top section provides the baseline settings that should be confirmed before diving into more uncommon edge-cases listed in this article.
Calibration Symptoms
- Feeds without stopping
- Calibration drift
- Skipping labels
- Printing between labels
- Out of Paper errors
First: Confirm Sensor Configuration
Additional TroubleshootingWe recommend checking these items in order, however you can skip to each section by clicking these links:
Printer SettingsSoftware and driver related problems only occur when the printer is connected to the PC (although page size definitions can exist in the printer memory after disconnecting from the PC). Do not proceed to troubleshooting the driver or software until you confirm the printer itself can maintain consistent calibration after power cycle.
First confirm the printer itself maintains calibration. A simple feed test will confirm the printer has been loaded correctly and mechanical failure has not occurred.
- Remove the USB Connection to the PC.
- Power cycle the printer.
Note: Incorrect page sizing can continue to exist in the memory buffer of the printer even after disconnecting the USB cable. A complete power cycle with clear printer memory.
- Press feed several times, the printer should start to feed 1 label at a time.
If the standalone feed test fails, reference these articles to confirm the printer is loaded correctly and the appropriate sensor is configured for your media:
Other Sensor Troubleshooting
FirmwareAlthough uncommon, calibration issues can be caused by outdated firmware.
Special Media ConsiderationsSpecial settings may be required depending on media properties such as size, sensor type, and physical material type.Tear-Off Mode
Tear-Off Mode aligns the label gap to the serrated tear-off bar. This should be disabled for these media types:
- Permasleeves
- Raised Panel
- Labels less than .5" in length
How to Disable Tear-Off Mode on the i5100
IP Series - How to Disable Tear-Off Mode
HSNX and HSCM Labels
These label types have known issues with the IP Series and i5100 printer models: Heatex Labels are Not Compatible with the IP Series or i5100 Printers Small Labels
Disable Tear-Off mode for labels less than .5" in length
Minimum compatible label length is .25” high for IP and i5100 printers
Large Labels
Continuous Media
Raised Panel Media
Media with no RFID Tag
If no RFID tag is present on the media, the printer may default to a sensor setting.
Color Ribbons
IP 300 / 600 - Registration / Calibration Problems when using White Ribbon
Universal Ribbon Core
The universal ribbon care has been known to cause feeding and label detection issues.
If the printer is still unable consistently feed at this point, the likely cause is mechanical failure. To further confirm try loading a different media type (gapped or notched), calibrate accordingly, and test.
Ribbon with No RFID Tag
In rare instances we have seen the i5100 continuously feed labels when the label material did not contain an RFID tag. To resolve this, install an IP-enabled ribbon: IP 300 / 600 - Difference between IP Enabled and IP Compatible label materials.
Printer-PC ConnectionThese factors are known to cause communication interference
DriverMake sure the correct driver is installed. Often users Google "IP300 driver" and select the first result, which is often a driver offered by Seagull Scientific. We have found this driver often causes "remove ribbon" and "no label found" errors: Remove Drivers Using the Seagull Driver Removal Wizard.Connecting more than one of these printer models via USB to the same PC can often cause conflicts: i5100 and IP Series Driver Conflicts.
Brady Driver & Software Compatibility
Make sure the most recent driver is installed - How to Check the i5100 and IP Series Printer Driver Versions.
If you have an old or incorrect driver installed
SoftwareMake sure the part chosen in the software label file matches the part installed in the printer.
Confirm the software is up to date - the i5100 must use the most recent version of Brady Workstation and LabelMark.
Custom Parts
Custom parts may need to be manually defined within the software.
Old Label Files (Created in Obsolete Software)
Old label files may use outdated label specifications, parts database are not retroactively updated for obsolete Brady software.
