Wax Transfer (Ribbon-Based) Printers in Software

Print Data Matrix in Software Wax Transfer (Ribbon-Based) Printers

Rimage PerfectWriter & Prism The rst wax-transfer disc printers were introduced by Rim-

age early in the life of the CD-R industry This technology offers monochrome or color printing that has several advantages and some disadvantages The advantages include the fact that monochrome images when properly designed can almost rival silk-screening for density and sharpness The wax is also smudge-proof a distinct advantage over most inkjet disc printers Disadvantages include the higher cost of these printers and their relatively low resolution, since they have a physical limitation of 300 dpi, even for the three-pass color version (the Prism) which has a combined dpi of 300 over all three bands of color Nonetheless, the monochrome PerfectWriter has long been considered the high-end disc printer against which others are measured Several duplicator manufacturers integrate this printer with their autoloaders, and Rimage itself is among those who do this

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Even though many CD duplicators are designed to be as simple as a copying machine, they are still precision instruments and the media integrity can be compromised if subjected to mishandling or abuse The following guidelines should be considered whenever performing disc duplication to ensure the best results Good quality bulk media is essential to successful recording operations If you are producing large volumes of recorded discs, you don t want to produce a lot of faulty discs Make sure that you choose high-quality media that is designed to accommodate the speed of your recorders Media designed to work successfully in a 4x recorder may not work at all in an 8x or 12x recorder Disc manufacturers formulate the dye and engineer the media to critical tolerances to ensure successful recording at higher speeds Ensure that your media is up to the task High humidity environments can cause discs to stick together on the spindle If the duplication operation is to run unattended, the operator loading the spindles should ensure that the discs separate freely ( uttering the discs slightly while dropping them onto the spindle can help ensure that they are not sticking together) A relative humidity of approximately 45% is ideal for duplicator operation Very dry environments can also cause problems static electrical charges can prevent discs from separating freely as they are uploaded from spindles If the humidity level is signi cantly below 45%, a humidi er placed in the room where the duplicator is being used can help avoid this problem A clean environment favors duplication operations, since dust or dirt can foul the recording activities While not requiring cleanroom conditions, CD duplication will be the most successful if the air in the room is free from smoke or dust and the duplicator mechanisms including recorder trays, printer bins, and robotic assemblies are kept as clean as possible If using compressed air to clean out any of the cavities in a drive or printer, make sure that the product does not contain propellants or other chemicals that might leave a residue on discs or drive mechanisms Pure compressed air is best for this application Since simpler CD duplicators might be operated by personnel who are not skilled in computer operation, make sure that ade-

quate training is provided before turning someone loose to duplicate discs Media handling techniques should be taught along with other fundamentals that apply to CD duplication Handle media only by the edges and always use a delicate touch Rough handling can result in data integrity problems Fingerprints or debris on the media s recording surface can impede data recording If you are printing on the media, make sure that the print surface provided is compatible with your printer Recordable media is sensitive to heat, humidity, and light exposure Avoid extremes in each of these areas to ensure the best results Treat your blank media as if it is in an archival environment (cool, dry, and dark) and you ll eliminate many potential problems Provide plenty of table space and spare empty spindles for materials staging Use a cart to move media between work areas Don t carry a stack of media without a spindle or something to prevent the discs from shifting and possibly scratching each other Be sure to remove the protective blanks from the top and bottom of new spindles of media