Home > Support > Do's and Dont's for operating your laser printer
Do’s for operating your laser printer:
- Do make sure that your software is configured to print on A4 rather than letter size paper. This applies to
the default settings in the printer control panel (shown on LCD), in the printer driver(s) and in all the
programs that you use eg MS Word, Excel, MAZE, ALICE, OASIS, etc. on all computers. Check the
settings before using a document or other file from another environment.
- Do make sure that the paper guides in the input trays are set to the correct size for the paper you are
using eg A4. Otherwise, the printer will refuse to print and will ask you to insert letter or some other size
of paper that you do not want. Enable automatic substitution for A4/ Letter in the paper-handling menu.
- Do make sure that the paper guides in the input paper trays are positioned firmly against the edges of the
paper: otherwise, the paper may skew and jam. This is especially important if you have a duplexer.
- Do handle toner cartridges carefully. Avoid dropping or jarring the cartridge: a sharp bump may dislodge
some internal components and/or damage the OPC drum. If the cartridge has a protective shutter
covering the drum, do not allow it to slam shut: it may scratch the drum. If the cartridge has no protective
shutter, do not place it face down on a rough, hard or uneven surface. Protect the drum from sunlight.
- Do adjust the settings in the printer driver to match the configuration of your printer. Make sure that any
additional memory (RAM) you have installed is registered in the driver. If you have installed any extra
input trays or a duplexer, make sure that these are recognised by the printer and registered in the printer
driver. Otherwise, these extra features will not be available for use. You should install any additional
options in both the PCL and PS (PostScript) drivers.
- Do connect the printer to your network via a print server (network card) if one is available. A print server
provides a much faster connection than is possible by using a parallel port. If you must use a parallel
port, use an IEEE 1284 compliant bi-directional parallel printer cable with all 25 wires connected at each
end. Older parallel cables have only 12 wires connected. Check that the plugs on the ends of the cable
are properly connected and fastened to the printer and the computer ie not half-out. Check that the pins
in the plugs are not bent or broken.
- Do position the printer so that the front, top and rear doors can be opened easily in the event of a paper
jam. Provide adequate ventilation around the printer to prevent it from overheating. Provide adequate
ventilation in the room to dissipate any ozone produced by the printer.
- Do replace the fuser cleaner (in Lexmark Optra R, S, Se, T and M printers only) every time you replace
the toner cartridge. Refer to the instructions: Installing a new toner cartridge and fuser cleaner in the
section entitled Introduction to the Optra S family of laser printers.
- Do clean the primary charge roller (PCR) every time you install a new toner cartridge (Lexmark Optra S,
Se, T and M printers only). The PCR should be light brown when clean, not grey or black. Refer to the
instructions in the section: Does your laser printer need a service?
- Do lock-out the menus on the front of the printer to prevent ill-informed people from changing the printer
settings. You can toggle the menus between enabled and disabled by holding down the Go and Return
buttons when you turn on the printer (Lexmark printers). Refer to the instructions in the User Manual.
- Do keep the paper trays clean. You can wash them in soapy water or clean them by wiping with a cloth
dipped in methylated spirits. Otherwise toner and dirt will contaminate your printed copies. Toner deposits
in the paper tray indicate that you have a leaking toner cartridge: Change the cartridge immediately.
- Do keep all rubber feed and separation rollers clean. Wipe them with a micro-fibre cloth or Chux cloth
dipped in methylated spirits to remove dust and toner. The rollers should have a coarse (grippy) texture.
The rollers will become slippery if covered in paper dust, house dust and toner. Keeping them clean will
prevent most paper feeding and jamming problems. The rollers should have a fine tread on the rubber
surface, rather like a miniature car tyre. Otherwise replace them.
- Do keep the inside of the printer clean. This will ensure that your printed output will be clean. Use a
micro-fibre cloth to remove any paper-dust or toner droppings that build up inside. Once a year or once
every 50,000 pages, service the printer as described in the section: Does your printer need a service?
Dont’s for operating your laser printer:
- Don’t use paper that is unsuitable for laser printers. Confirm the label states that the paper is suitable for
use in laser printers. Check that the weight and the texture of the paper are within the printer’s
specifications. Refer to the specifications in the User Manual.
- Don’t overfill the input paper trays. Note the position of the maximum mark on the side of the input paper
tray. If you use excessive force to push an over-filled paper tray into the printer, you may break the paper
pick-up assembly Check the top sheet of paper is positioned underneath any top paper guide in the tray.
Don’t use paper with folded or damaged edges as it may jam in the printer.
- Don’t use paper that has oil or grease spilt on its surface. This will damage the transfer roller and result in
poor quality prints. Don’t touch the surface of the transfer roller for the same reason. The roller sits
directly under the cartridge. Transfer rollers can cost $100 to replace.
- Don’t open the paper input trays while the printer is operating. This may result in a paper jam, especially
if you are using a duplexer. Use the Job Cancel button on a HP or the Right menu button followed by
Select button on a Lexmark to stop a print job. Refer to the User Manual.
- Don’t place lightweight cardstock in the 250 or 500 sheet paper feed trays. If you need to print on card,
use the multi-purpose feeder in the front of the printer and open the back of the printer to provide a
straight through paper path. Use the menu buttons to set the paper type to ’cardstock’ before printing.
Reset when finished. Follow the instructions in the User Manual.
- Don’t use transparencies that are not rated for use in laser printers. They will melt in the fuser (about
185� C) and you may need to replace the fuser. Always use the menu buttons to set the paper type to
�transparency� before printing to reduce the operating temperature of the fuser. Reset the paper type
when you have finished. Refer to the User Manual for more information.
- Don’t use gum-backed labels that are not rated for use in laser printers. The glue will melt in the fuser
(about 185� C) and you may need to replace the fuser. Set the paper type to �labels� before printing to
reduce the operating temperature of the fuser. Reset when you have finished. Don’t use a sheet of labels
with one or more labels missing and the glue surface exposed.
- Don’t feed dirty or gritty paper, staples, paper clips, etc through the printer. This will scratch the Teflon
coated hot roller (Lexmark printers) or tear the plastic fixing film sleeve (HP printers) in the fuser section
of the printer. A damaged hot roller or fixing film will result in black marks being printed on every page
and cost a significant amount of money to repair.
- Don’t continue to use a toner cartridge that is leaking toner. Replace it immediately. Otherwise, toner will
be spread all through the printer and damage its components, especially the fuser.
- Don’t use excessive force to close the top of the printer or you may break the top or damage the LCD
panel. If the top does not close easily, check that the toner cartridge is correctly seated.
- Don’t use excessive force to remove any sheets of paper that may jam in the printer. Look for levers to
release the pressure on the rollers holding the paper. Pull gently on each sheet - try to remove it in one
piece. Yanking the paper out may damage the printer. Don’t use pliers, tweezers, or screwdrivers to
remove paper caught between the fuser rollers. Ask for help, first!
- Don’t block the air vents in the sides of the printer by stacking books against it. Don’t block the fan vents
on the top of the printer by placing papers on top of it. This will cause the printer to overheat and damage
its components, especially the fuser. The fuser operates at 185� C.
- Don’t keep pressing the print button � press it once and wait. If the printer is slow to react, it may be in
power saving mode and it will need to warm up before printing. Every time you press the print button, you
send another copy of your file to the printer.
- If you use the printer infrequently, do not keep the printer in ready mode for hours on end. Set the power
save option to 5 minutes rather than 90 minutes. This will reduce the possibility of flat spots developing
on the pressure roller. It will also extend the life of the toner.
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