MagiCard Tango 2 Badge Printer

Reset the driver to all default settings and see if that changes behavior. This should be checked both at the Windows default settings for the driver, and also check through the printer-properties accessible from your badge-printing software.
Check your power-supply to be sure it's the one that came with the printer - improper voltage/amperage can cause dark or light printer, depending on what you have vs. should-have.
Make sure you're using genuine Magicard MA300YMCKO ribbon - there are sometimes knock-offs infiltrating the market through non-dealer channels - particularly on 3rd-party marketplace sites. Get one from a source known to be an authorized dealer to be sure you have the real thing.
If it is still printing dark after the above are all checked, contact a dealer for service options. If in the USA, we'd be happy to assist.
Good luck!
Safe-Card ID Services
Charlotte, NC USA
https://www.safecardid.com

reload the ribbon make sure you load correctly and set the correct type of ribbon on the driver make this and reply to me

Hi Mahom -
It sounds like your printing software has sent the print-job to the Windows print-queue as a single job. Because it didn't complete originally, and then you reset the printer (power-off), it has now lost track of where it was and will only start at the beginning of the job again. Best thing to do is unplug the printer again; cancel any pending jobs in the Windows print queue for the Tango printer; then re-print job EXCEPT for the cards already printed.

The printer driver must be set to print text with the K resin panel.
If the text is part of a bitmap image and not a true-type font then it will print from the coloured panels and be dark grey.
To create the correct green on the card you need to change the RGB values so it prints correctly but look wrong on the badge design program. Even different printers print the same colour differently.

Cleaned printer and new ribbon

The Rio 2E is a single side printer to print on both sides of the card you need a Tango 2E Printer.

Hi There,

The printer will say 'Locked' if someone has removed a custom HoloKote key from the slot in the front of the printer. Have you ever had a custom key fitted to this slot?

First of all, make sure you have the very latest version of firmware installed in your printer. You can find this here;

http://www.magicardonline.net

Just enter your printer's serial number in the QuickSearch box.

If after updating the firmware, the printer is still saying it is locked, download and install the Magicard Support Utility (available from the same site. Run the Support Utility and select the 'Query Printer' tab.
Then press the query button. You can then save the result of this query as a text file. You can paste this into your reply. This may give a hint as to what the problem is.

With Best Regards,

MC.

Hi MaCaTa2,

It can be frustrating when things aren't going smoothly.
Sounds like you're wasting a lot of dye film and cards too!

What program are you printing the badges from?
You have a very 'paper' size with this type of printer.
If you select 'Magicard Printer Series' as the printer, you will then see a special paper size called 'CR80 Edge To Edge'. This is basically the size of a credit card. (2 1/8 x 3 3/8" (54 x 85.6mm). Check your font sizes are not too big. Any text printed on the back of the card is on page 2 of 2 (on the Tango model, a Rio would feed a second card).
Experiment with an application like MS Word, where you can clearly see the 'pages'.
Create a new word document, straight away go to 'File, Print', select 'Magicard Printer Series' from the printers list, then 'Close' (not 'Print'). Next, go to 'File', 'Page Setup', for the paper size choose 'CR80 Edge to Edge', set all the margins to '0' (this is a 'full bleed' printer.
You will now see a credit card size page to work on. If you fill this page (or insert a page break), you continue onto page 2 (the card back - only available on Tango).

I hope this helps.

Regards,

MC.

Hi There,

I think this may be something Win 2K is doing.
However, rather than power cycling the printer, simply removing the USB connection then replacing it should be enough to 'wake it up' (and save on dye film).

Check the power saving settings for your USB Root Hub;(Hardware/Device Manager/USB Controllers/ USB Root Hub/Properties/Power Management). Make sure the 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' option is NOT ticked.

Check also under 'Settings' / 'Printers', right-click on 'Magicard Printer Series', you should NOT see either 'Resume Printing' (printer is paused), or, 'Use Printer Online' (printer is offline).

Also, make sure you have the latest drivers installed. The Rio 2 / Tango 2 driver V6.01 is compatible with the 'older' Rio / Tango printer (even the non 'NP' models). You can download this here;
Make sure though that you select 'update driver files' and NOT 'add a printer' when prompted (restart is required). Port name should be 'NUSB01' when you see the list of available ports.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

MC.

Hi There, 1. Make sure there is no dye film stuck to the print roller. This will cause card mis-registration (you will see feathered edges or a blurry effect. If there is dye film stuck to the print roller peel it off using adhesive tape or similar (the dye film will stick to the tape). You can move the print roller round with your finger quite easily. Then clean with a normal cleaning card. Afterwards check your print start and end position (you may be printing off the end of the card - also snaps the ribbon often!) 2. Make sure the other pinch rollers are really clean. 3. ** Check the warranty status first! *** Remove the right-hand side panel (2 screws on the side, 3 at the back). Check for free play on the card transport stepper motor pulley (there should be none!). Check the belt tension is not too loose (motor is adjustable - loosen 4 screws)). Hold the print roller with your left hand while trying to turn the large plastic pulley. You should feel no play. The grub screw on the pulley can sometimes come loose (1.5mm hex key required). Do NOT try to use a ball ended hex key. This only rounds off the grub screw socket. I hope the above helps! Regards, MC.