Loading Media to Zebra ZD621
There are two types of badges: fanfold badges, which look like a stack of long, narrow paper, and badge rolls. How you load badges depends on which type of badge you’re using. Most badge types have a black bar printed on the back. The black bar should always face down, and feed toward the front of the printer.
After initial calibration to a specific media, additional calibrations are not necessary for newly-loaded media as long as it is of the same type as the prior media used (media type, vendor, batch, size, etc.). The printer automatically measures the newly-loaded media and adjusts for any small changes in its characteristics when printing.
After you load a roll of new media from the same batch, you can synchronize the labels and get the media set for printing by simply pressing FEED once or twice.
If the printer should fail to recognize and correctly calibrate to the media, see Calibrating Zebra ZD620 & ZD621 printers
Fanfold badges
This badge stock looks like a stack of paper, and it doesn’t usually require ribbon. Set the stack of badges directly behind the printer so they feed straight into the back without bending.
- Pull the two yellow tabs on either side of the printer toward the front and lift the top of the printer to open it.
- Feed the first badge into the slot at the back of the printer and pull it forward.
- Use the yellow knob between the yellow media guides to adjust the width of the guides. They should be wide enough to keep the badges centered in the printer. Make sure the badges slide easily between the guides without bending.
- If you’re using badges with a hole in the backing, make sure the yellow sensor near the front of the printer is positioned so the holes pass over it. Otherwise, position the yellow sensor in the middle of the printer.
Keep in mind, if your badges have punchout sections for lanyards, position the sensor between punchouts so the sensor doesn’t detect a punch-out as a mark or gap.
- Bring the first badge over the black roller at the front of the printer. Feed it through the slot so that half a badge hangs out the front of the printer. Make sure the black bar on the back of the badges is facing down and the arrow on the back is pointing toward the front of the printer.
- Close the top of the printer tightly. If the screen shows “HEAD OPEN”, the printer isn’t fully closed.
Badge rolls
Badge rolls are suspended between two pins inside the printer, and some types of badges may require a ribbon roll.
- Pull the two yellow tabs on either side of the printer toward the front and lift the top of the printer to open it.
- Pull one of the yellow guides toward the side of the printer to make room for the badge roll. Place the roll in the printer so it’s suspended between the guides. The leading edge of the roll should fall to the front of the printer, as shown in the following illustration.
- Bring the first badge over the black roller at the front of the printer. Feed it through the slot so that half a badge hangs out the front of the printer.
- If you’re using badges with a hole in the backing, make sure the yellow sensor near the front of the printer is positioned so the holes pass over it. Otherwise, position the yellow sensor in the middle of the printer.
- If the badges came with ribbon, follow the instructions on the sticker inside the printer to load the ribbon and the cardboard rewind tube.
- Close the top of the printer tightly. If the screen shows “HEAD OPEN”, the printer isn’t fully closed.
