Zebra Technologies P640i Manuale Utente

980541-001 Rev. A

P640i Card Printer User Guide

41

The “mag encoder” is a factory option for the P640i. 

Replacement read/write heads are shipped pre-
assembled to the bracket shown here. Check the 
location of the 

 wire. This must be in the lower 

right corner. 

Shoulder screws at the two ends of the bracket allow 
vertical float. Springs hold the read/write head firmly 
in contact with the card’s mag stripe. 

The head needs to be cleaned only if encoding 
becomes troublesome. (This will show up as extra 
passes of the card under the head if the Mag Verify 
function is enabled - recommended - in Printing 
Preferences.) To clean the head, turn power OFF and 
remove all cards from the hopper. Drive the truck to 
the right, clear of the mag encoding station, by 
rotating the card transport knob left of the laminator. 

Reaching down through the floor of the hopper, clean 
the head with a Q-Tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol. 
Allow several minutes drying time before running the 
printer. 

As shipped, the replacement read/write head is a 
complete assembly comprising mounting bracket and 
clamp hardware. Other screws and springs are not 
included. 

Remove, setting aside for re-use, the shoulder screws 
and adjustment screw from the defective assembly, 
together with springs and washers. Install the 
adjustment screw in the replacement bracket, bringing 
its tip flush with the bottom surface of the bracket. 

Check how the head sits in the bracket. Look for 
symmetry, with the upper rim of the head 
(surrounding the “potted” wires), 

 with the 

bracket, just a hair below. Install the encoder 
assembly, taking care that the shoulder screws do not 
clamp either end of the bracket or the washer at the 
right hand end. Check that the assembly is 

 at both ends. 

Adjust the mag encoder using Mag Amplitude Adjust 
and Mag Position Adjust utilities in the Windows 
printer driver, see below. 

For this procedure you will need to cut a feeler gauge 
about ¼" wide (6 mm) from a standard CR-80 card 
(which should be 0.03”/0.75 mm thick). 

 > Printers (or Printers and Faxes) > Right click 

Zebra P640i > Properties > Device Settings > Control 

> Advanced Utilities > Calibration 

1.

If you have not already done so (see Replacing 
the read/ write head, above) back off the adjust-
ment screw (counterclockwise) until the head 
bracket is fully down. 

Shoulder 
screw

Adjustomg 
screw (3/32" 

Spring

Clamp 
Screws

Nylon 
Washer

Steel 
Washer

Spring

Card

Read/Write 
head