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Calibrating Media Sensor on the SATO CT4-LX – Instructions

Target Audience: Basic User, Advanced User, IT Manager
Article #: 12374

Summary

This article will guide you through the steps for manually or automatically calibrating the media sensor for the CT4-LX. The media, or gap, sensor ensures that the printer prints within the label instead of overlapping onto the backing substrate or onto an adjacent label.

The Calibrate window on a Sato CT4-LX printer.

Preparation

  • Verify that you are using a SATO CT4-LX printer
  • Power the printer on and resolve any errors
  • Have a media roll loaded in the printer
  • Align the media sensor with the label roll
  • Navigate to the calibration menu
Navigating to the Calibrate window on the Sato CT4-LX printer

Instructions

You can use the auto-calibration feature on the CT4-LX or you can calibrate the printer manually.

Auto-Calibration

Auto-calibration window on the CT4-LX’s LCD screen
  1. Open the printer
  2. Remove a label and pass the substrate liner below the media sensor making sure to avoid any mark, including black I-marks
  3. Close the printer
  4. Navigate to Gap in the Auto-calibration screen on the printer’s LCD panel
  5. Press the righthand select button
  6. Follow the prompts

Manual Calibration

GAP Levels window on the CT4’s LCD screen
  1. Set the sensor’s Low value – the minimal needed to detect the backing substrate
    1. Open the printer
    2. Remove a label and pass the substrate liner below the media sensor making sure to avoid any mark, including black I-marks
    3. Close the printer
    4. On the printer’s LCD screen, navigate to GAP Levels in the Calibrate menu
    5. Change the Emit value until the Sensor value is below 0.5V. Set the Emit value as low as possible.
  2. Set the sensor’s High voltage value – the minimum needed to see through the medium and backer
    1. Open the printer
    2. Remove a label and pass the substrate liner below the media sensor making sure to avoid any mark, including black I-marks
    3. Close the printer
    4. Check the Sensor value
      • If the value is 1.0V higher than the Low level value you have recorded, this is the High level value for the Gap sensor
      • If the difference is less than 1.0V greater than the Low level value, adjust the Emit and Receive values so that the difference is greater than 1.0V. Otherwise, adjust the Low level downward.
    5. If both the High and Low values comply with the standard values (see below), tap ✓ to confirm:
      • The standard value for Low (backer substrate only) is ≤ 0.5V
      • The standard value for High (label media on backer) is Low ≥ 1.0V

Outside Sources and Helpful Links

SATO Online Manual – Auto Calibration (opens in new tab)

SATO Online Manual – Manual Calibration (opens in new tab)

Additional Comments

Tested using SATO CT4-LX

If you need further assistance, please contact us.

Author

Dave Klement

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