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My CompTIA A+ > Printers > Flashcards

Printers Flashcards

1
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Testing the printer

A
  • Print or scan a test page
    – Built into Windows, not the application
  • Use diagnostic tools
    – Web-based utilities built into the printer
    – Vendor specific
    – Generic utilities
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2
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Bad output

A
  • Lines down the printed page
    – Inkjet: Clean print heads
    – Laser: Check for scratched photosensitive drum
  • Faded prints, blank pages - Low toner or ink
  • Double/echo images or speckling
    – Laser printer optical drum not cleaned properly
    – Ghost or “shadow” from previous drum rotation
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3
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Garbled print

A

Bad printer driver / wrong model
– Incorrect page description language
(PCL or PostScript?)
* Verify the printer functionality
– Check with a test page
* Bad application
– Check the output
– Upgrade the application

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4
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Toner not sticking to the paper

A
  • Laser printer output smudges everywhere
    – Toner sticks to everything
  • Toner not fused to the paper
    – Toner should be permanently melted and pressed
    – May not be hot
  • Fuser problem - Replace the fuser assembly
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5
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Incorrect paper size

A

Print a letter size page
– Accidentally send it to a legal size paper tray
Printer stops and shows a message
– Gives you a chance to fix the issue
* Tray selection is provided during the printing process
– Try printing again
– Change the defaults in the printer configuration

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6
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Paper jam

A

Careful when removing
– Don’t rip the paper
– Don’t damage internal components
* Paper not feeding or misfeeds multiple pages
– Check the tray
– Pickup rollers are part of a laser printer maintenance kit
* Creased paper
– Problems in the paper path
– Check the paper weight

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7
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Multiple prints pending in queue

A
  • Corrupted print jobs
    – Print spooler will crash
    – Most spooler configuration will automatically restart
  • Problems are logged
    – Windows Event Viewer,Windows-PrintService
  • One job may be causing the issue
    – Monitor the queue for details
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8
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Incorrect color settings

A
  • The output colors aren’t the same as the display
    – Important for publishing and color printing
  • Calibrate the monitor
    – A third-party calibration tool will help
  • Check the paper
    – Bright white paper provides good color representation
  • Calibrate the printer
    – The proper amount of ink and toner
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9
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Grinding noises

A
  • Never a good sound from your printer
    – The ink is already manufactured
  • Something is not operating properly
    – Paper jam - Carriage is stalled or jammed
  • Each printer has a different process
    – Check the manuals for removing paper jams
    – Some inkjet printers have a particular process
  • May require additional maintenance
    – Or replace the printer
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10
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Finishing issues

A
  • Finishing happens after the ink or
    toner has been applied
    – Collate, binding, etc.
  • Staple jams
    – Larger printers will collate and staple groups of papers
    – Each printer manufacturer has a different removal
    process
  • Incorrect hole punch location
    – Verify with the printer driver
    – May require a driver update
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11
Q

5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers – Incorrect page orientation

A

Print a portrait page - Get a landscape print
* Check the settings when printing
– Controlled by the print driver
– May require a driver update
* The printer also has a default setting
– Check the settings on the printer console

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12
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers

A

Laser printer
* Combine a laser, high voltage, charged ions,
powdered ink, heat, and paper
* Very high quality
* Fast printing speeds
* Very complex, many moving parts, requires on-printer
memory and messy on the inside

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13
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Imaging drum

A

Image is drawn onto a photosensitive drum
– “Painted” with a laser
* Picks up toner - Transfers toner to the paper
* Can be separate from the toner cartridge or combined

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14
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Fuser assembly

A

Heat and pressure - Melt plastic toner powder
– Permanently bond toner to paper

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15
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Transfer belt and roller

A

Color laser printers
– Cyan, yellow, magenta, black
* Four separate toner cartridges
* Image is transferred from all cartridges to the single belt
And then to a single transfer roller

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16
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Pickup rollers

A
  • Pickup paper - Should be a single page at a time
    – Problems if no paper is picked up
    or multiple sheets are picked
  • Should be periodically cleaned or replaced
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17
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Separation pad

A
  • Pull just the top sheet from the paper tray
    – Not multiple sheets
  • Small and inexpensive - Easy to clean or replace
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18
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Duplexing assembly

A
  • Printers usually print on a single side
    – Not both sides simultaneously
  • Printing on both sides is a two step process
    – Print side one, print side two
  • You need mechanisms to “flip” the page
    – Automatically
  • Can be built-in to the printer
  • Or available as an add-on
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19
Q

3.7 - Laser Printers – Steps

A

Step 1: Processing
* Build the entire page in memory
Step 2: Charging
* Prepare the drum with a
negative electrostatic charge
Step 3: Exposing
* Write the image with the laser
Step 4: Developing
* Add toner to the charged areas
of the imaging drum
Step 5: Transferring
* Move the toner from
the drum to the paper
Step 6: Fusing
* Heat and pressure
Step 7: Cleaning
* Remove excess toner

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20
Q

3.7 - Laser Printer Maintenance – Replacing the toner cartridge

A
  • Look for the messages
    – Low doesn’t mean empty
  • The toner can also contain the OPC drum
    – Organic Photoconductor drum
    – Sensitive to light; keep it in the bag
  • Power down the printer
    – Safety first
  • Remove packing strips from the new drum
    – Replace it with the old
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21
Q

3.7 - Laser Printer Maintenance – Laser printer maintenance kit

A

Laser printers wear out
– All those moving parts
– Heat and pressure
* Standard maintenance kits
– Replacement feed rollers, new fuser unit, etc.
* When to perform maintenance?
– Check the printer’s page counter
* Power down and replace the components
– Fuser units are HOT
* Reset the page counter when you’re done!

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22
Q

3.7 - Laser Printer Maintenance – Replacing the toner cartridge

A
  • Look for the messages
    – Low doesn’t mean empty
  • The toner can also contain the OPC drum
    – Organic Photoconductor drum
    – Sensitive to light; keep it in the bag
  • Power down the printer - Safety first
  • Remove packing strips from the new drum
    – Replace it with the old
23
Q

3.7 - Laser Printer Maintenance – Laser printer calibration

A
  • Different toner cartridges print with different densities
    – Some dark, some light
  • Laser printer calibration can adjust the density
    – Makes it looks perfect
  • Can be automated or a manual process
    – Every printer is different
    – Check the printer manual
24
Q

3.7 - Laser Printer Maintenance – Laser printer cleaning

A
  • Laser printers are dirty
    – All that toner and paper dust
  • Check the manufacturer’s recommendations
    – Water, isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
    – Don’t use harsh chemicals!
  • Outside - Damp cloth
  • Inside - Wipe dust away
    – Don’t use a normal vacuum cleaner or
    compressed air
    – Wash off skin with cold water
    – Clean rollers with IPA
25
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printers

A

Inkjet (ink-dispersion) printer
* Relatively inexpensive technology
* Quiet
* High-resolution
* Expensive ink
– Proprietary
* Eventually fades
* Clogs easily

26
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printers – Ink cartridge

A

Place drops of ink onto a page
– Pulled from a set of cartridges
* CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black)

27
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printers – Print head

A
  • Some consumer printers integrate the print head
    into the ink cartridge
    – Change the cartridge, get a new print head
  • Others separate the ink cartridge from the print head
28
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printers – Feed rollers

A
  • Pick up and feed paper through the printer
    – Must be clean and not worn
  • Duplexing
    – Print on both sides of the paper
    – Included with some printers
29
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printers – Carriage and belt

A
  • Ink cartridges are moved over the paper
    – Carriage may include its own print head
  • Belt moves the carriage back and forth
    – Another moving part
30
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printers – Inkjet printer calibration

A
  • Align nozzles to the paper
    – Lines should be crisp
    – Colors should align
  • Printer includes a calibration option
    – May need to make minor adjustments
31
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printer Maintenance – Cleaning print heads

A
  • Small droplets of ink - And small holes in a print head
  • Clogged heads is a big issue
    – Many printers automatically clean every day
    – Output has streaks or sections of missing color
  • Cleaning process can be started manually
    – Only takes a few minutes
  • Some print heads/cartridges can be removed
    – Manually cleaning may help
32
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printer Maintenance – Replacing inkjet cartridges

A
  • Usually separate colors
    – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (CMYK)
    – Some cartridges will combine these
  • Takes seconds to replace
    – Takes a few minutes to calibrate and
    prepare the cartridge
  • Recycle the empty cartridge - All plastic
33
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printer Maintenance – Inkjet printer calibration

A
  • Align nozzles to the paper
    – Lines should be crisp
    – Colors should not overlap
  • Printer includes a calibration option
    – May need to make minor adjustments
34
Q

3.7 - Inkjet Printer Maintenance – Clearing jams

A
  • Lots of turns and twists
    – A jam is inevitable
  • Remove tray paper
    – Any loose paper
  • Remove paper from the path
    – Firm pressure, don’t rip
  • Check for any scraps of paper
  • Remove all loose paper
35
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printers

A
  • White paper
    – Turns black when heated
    – No ink!
  • VERY quiet
    – Almost silent
  • Paper is sensitive to light and heat
    – And clear tape
36
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printers – Feed assembly

A

Pull paper through the printer
– Relatively small paper path

37
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printers – Heating element

A
  • Full-length heating element
    – No moving print head
38
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printers – Thermal paper

A
  • Paper covered with a chemical
    – Changes color when heated
  • Cash registers, credit card terminals
    – And quiet areas
  • Looks like normal paper
    – Feels a bit different
39
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printer Maintenance – Thermal paper replacement

A
  • Relatively inexpensive
    – But impossible to substitute
  • Different sizes
    – Not like laser printer paper - Keep a list
  • Actual replacement process is easy
    – Simple paper feed
    – Small device
40
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printer Maintenance – Cleaning the heating element

A

Liquid cleaner
– Isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
– Get a cleaning pen
– Check manufacturer’s recommendations
* Swab gently - Usually small areas
* Use a cleaning card
– Cleans the head and paper pathways

41
Q

3.7 - Thermal Printer Maintenance – Removing debris

A

Relatively small amount
– Paper bits and dust
– No toner!
* Blow out the printer
– Take it outside
* Wipe it out
– Damp cloth
* Avoid using a vacuum
– Unless it’s designed for computers
– Resists static buildup/discharge

42
Q

3.7 - Impact Printers

A

Dot-matrix (impact) printers
* Print head with a small matrix of pins
– Presses against a ribbon to make a mark on paper
* Good for carbon/multiple copies
* Low cost per page
* NOISY
* Poor graphics
* Relatively niche use cases

43
Q

3.7 - Impact Printers – Dot-matrix printer head

A
  • Moves back and forth
    – Pins hit ribbon and paper
  • One matrix - Must move across the page to print
44
Q

3.7 - Impact Printers – Printer ribbon

A
  • Fabric
    – One long ribbon - Never ending circle
  • Easy to replace - Once single unit
  • Proprietary size - Specific to printer model
45
Q

3.7 - Impact Printers – Tractor feed

A

Paper pulled through with holes on the side of the paper
– Instead of using friction
* Continuous paper feed
– Perforations between pages
* Holes have to line up perfectly
– Tractor paper can be perforated to remove holes

46
Q

3.7 - Impact Printer Maintenance – Printer ribbon replacement

A

Single ribbon - Self-contained - One long circle
* Replace when ink becomes too light
– Ink is eventually consumed
* Designed to be modular - Replace in less than a minute

47
Q

3.7 - Impact Printer Maintenance – Print head replacement

A
  • Takes a lot of abuse - Directly hits the ribbon and paper
  • Gets hot - Watch your fingers
    – Another modular part - Look for a release lever or bar
  • Replace with the ribbon for the best effect
    – The output should look perfect
48
Q

3.7 - Impact Printer Maintenance – Printer ribbon replacement

A
  • Single ribbon
    – Self-contained - One long circle
  • Replace when ink becomes too light
    – Ink is eventually consumed
  • Designed to be modular - Replace in less than a minute
49
Q

3.7 - Impact Printer Maintenance – Print head replacement

A

Takes a lot of abuse
– Directly hits the ribbon and paper
* Gets hot - Watch your fingers
– Another modular part
– Look for a release lever or bar
* Replace with the ribbon for the best effect
– The output should look perfect

50
Q

3.7 - Impact Printer Maintenance – Replacing paper

A
  • Not as easy as a laser printer
    – Paper must feed perfectly into holes
    – Tractor feed
  • Forms must be positioned correctly
    – Text needs to fit a predefined space
  • Paper must feed without constraint
  • Make sure nothing is in the way
51
Q

3.7 - 3D Printers

A

3D printers
* “Print” in three dimensions
– Create a 3D item based on an electronic model
* Additive manufacturing
– Build in layers to create the object
– No machining process required
* Rapid prototyping
– Design and create relatively quickly and inexpensively
* Deploy designs anywhere in the world
– Or into space

52
Q

3.7 - 3D Printers – Filament printing

A
  • Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
    – Melt filament to print 3D objects
    – This is probably the printing type you’ve seen
  • Print a layer, move up,print another layer
    – Watch the printer create the object
  • Good all-around printer
    – Larger print bed than resin printers
    – Easy to manage filament
    – Minimum of mess
    – Fewer disposal issues
53
Q

3.7 - 3D Printers – Resin printing

A

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing
– Smooth and finely detailed 3D prints
* Resin is hardened using a light source
– Ultraviolet light or a laser
– Layers are added to the bottom
– Entire print hangs from the build platform
* Resin must be handled properly
– Wear protective gear
– Take unused resin to your local
hazardous materials disposal

54
Q

3.7 - 3D Printers – The print bed

A
  • A flat adhesive surface
    – The foundation of a 3D print
    – Everything builds on that first layer
  • Needs to be level and clean
    – Prints “stick” to the bed
  • Filament printing
    – The print bed is the printing surface
    – Many different print bed options
  • Resin printing
    – The “bed” is the location where the resin is
    hardened by the UV light

My CompTIA A+ (8 decks)

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