Anser U2 Printer Troubleshooting Tips & Tricks
Compact, lightweight, and capable of creating high-DPI codes on a wide variety of substrates, Anser U2 printers are some of the most popular thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers available today. Available at cost-effective price points, the U2 series is filled with different TIJ models that all offer their own unique strengths and specialties. For example:
- The Anser U2 Pro-S is a versatile production line printer that is able to place machine-scannable codes on both porous and non-porous substrates, making it perfect for a wide variety of industries and line setups.
- The Anser U2 SmartOne is a production line printer that excels at marking porous and semi-porous materials like cardboard, paper, and lumber. The printer’s 1” print height also makes it capable of certain large character marking applications.
- The Handheld Anser U2 SmartOne offers the same capabilities as the standard U2 SmartOne while also featuring handheld operation for unmatched mobility.
Although all of these printer models are built for long-lasting operation and require little-to-no regular maintenance, that doesn’t mean they won’t experience the occasional operating issue. Fortunately, Anser U2 printer troubleshooting isn’t hard to perform with a little bit of expert guidance.
If you’re currently experiencing problems with your Anser U2 printer, consider these five tips to improve your hardware performance.
1. How To Properly Set Up a Production Line Anser Printer
First, place the printer inside the line mounting brackets alongside your production line. Make sure that the distance between the printer and substrate is no more than 6mm; any space larger than this will lead to subpar printing quality.
Before you begin printing, make sure that the printer is also properly grounded. To do so, fix the ground wire to the controller and tighten it using the provided screws. This will protect the printer from short-circuiting during operation.
After performing these steps, your printer will be ready for operation.
2. How To Fix Issues With Your Remote Control
All Anser U2 printers come with a remote control. However, sometimes the printer will not properly respond to the commands from the remote.
If your printer shows no response to remote commands, make sure that the LED light on the right side of the printer display is on and glowing. If the LED is not glowing, simply press the “Infrared On-Off Switch” located on the top of the printer. Once the LED is glowing, try to use the remote once more. If the printer is still not responding, change the remote control’s three-volt battery and try again.
3. How To Successfully Enable Printing Mode
Anser printers can refuse coding commands for a few reasons. For example, the cartridge may be out of ink, the device could be exposed to alarming environments, or the printer may simply not be in printing mode. To help users solve these problems quickly, all Anser U2 printers are built with troubleshooting LED lights located on their top surfaces.
When viewing the printer from above, you will notice four icons:
- Alarm
- Ink Low
- Run
Make sure that the “Alarm” and “Ink Low” icons are not illuminated. Next, check that the “Run” light icon is pulsing. If the “Run” icon is pulsing, click the “Print On” key on your remote control. This should illuminate the “Print” icon on top of the printer signifying that the machine is ready for operation.
4. How To Fix a Clogged Nozzle
Although Anser U2 printers don’t require regular professional maintenance, they occasionally do require nozzle cleaning to ensure consistent code quality.
If your printer’s nozzle has become clogged with dust, dry ink, or a similar obstruction, follow these three steps to alleviate the problem:
- Remove the ink cartridge from the printer.
- Use a lint-free wipe to gently clean the nozzle, with a downward motion. Once the obstruction is clear, you should see two separate lines of ink form on your wipe.
- Once the cartridge is clean, place it back into the printer and restart the operation.
To avoid clogged nozzles in the future, remember to always remove your cartridges whenever you know you won’t be printing for a significant period of time (e.g., more than 30 minutes for a solvent-based ink cartridge and 60 minutes for a water-based ink cartridge).
Once the cartridge is removed, place a cap on its nozzle and put it in a sealed plastic bag, making sure to keep it in an upright position. Next, store the cartridge in a dimly lit space that has a temperature of around 68–76 °F. This will help prevent the ink from drying out and clogging the nozzle.
5. How To Adjust Printing Direction, Speed, and Delay
If you want your codes to come out clear and legible, it’s essential to program your device with the correct printing speed, direction, and delay. To set these parameters, follow the five steps outlined below:
- Shut off printing mode.
- Press escape to access the “System Settings” menu.
- If you need to adjust your printing direction, enter the “Printhead” menu. From there, you can select the correct printer orientation on the menu.
- If you need to adjust your printing speed, enter the “Devices” menu. Next, click on the “Encoder” tab. There, you can select your desired speed value. Press “Escape” to save your changes.
- To adjust the delay, from the “Print Preview” screen, press “Tab A” on your remote. Next, scroll down to “Delay Value,” and enter your desired delay value.
Want More Anser U2 Printer Troubleshooting Tips? Contact InkJet, Inc. Today
Still have issues even after performing the Anser U2 printer troubleshooting steps outlined above? InkJet, Inc. is happy to help you resolve the issue. As a trusted Anser partner, we are here to help U2 users with everything from choosing new ink cartridges to uncovering why a code won’t print correctly. Call today to find the answers to your questions.
For more Anser U2 printer troubleshooting tips, contact us online today or call 1(800) 280-3245.