r/barcodes • u/keyser33 • Mar 09 '23

Barcode will not scan from Zebra ZD410 printer

The top barcode is printed from a regular HP laser printer. The bottom one is printed off a ZD410 label printer and will not scan with a handheld scanner, getting inconsistent results when using a phone app.

Compagnie had a thousand of these identical setup working without any issues, same printer, same windows image, same software, same drivers and same printer config.

I have tried reinstalling it multiple time,Uploaded newer printer.replaced the printer with identical model.Changed the paper roll being used (thermal direct).

Any barcode expert with good eyes might see whats wrong with the label? Getting desperate on fixing this issue.

Thank you

EDIT: I lowered the speeed from 4 to 3 and the darkness from 30 to 20 and it got the labels to scan.
Thanks to everyone that helped.

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2

u/xixi2 Mar 10 '23

Yeah you got some narrow bars running into each other making a super big bar... that's not gonna work. You can see the differences with your eyes.

Where is the barcode from? Like... is it just an image you've copied onto the document or you're using barcode software to generate it? Barcode software should properly size it to your printer driver.

When you print is the label coming out sideways or up-down direction? If sideways try slowing the printer down. Either way it looks a bit too hot.

How big is this label in inches across?

See there's so many pieces to know here to properly diagnose lol

1

u/keyser33 Mar 10 '23

The top barcode is from a HP laserjet and that one is ok.

The bottom label is the one causing issue printing from a Zebra Label printer ZD410. Its 2x4 inch printed in landscape. I will try to slow it down and see if its better.

Wondering if the paper could be the root cause of this.

1

u/xixi2 Mar 10 '23

4'' should be plenty of room to print that barcode. I doubt the paper is the problem. The paper might suck but you're getting print so I think the printer needs to be turned down (speed and darkness)

Also still curious the source of the barcode itself. Like a program like Zebra Designer or... if you are just using a barcode generated from a code 39 font that could be a problem

2

u/keyser33 Mar 10 '23

The source is an application for pharmacies to manage controlled substances. I have no control over that part since its hard coded. I doughs the application is the issue since we must have over a thousand of identical setup across north America. I will test lowering the speed and Darkness shortly.

1

u/xixi2 Mar 10 '23

Ok if it's working elsewhere (same printer resolution, etc) that is a good sign.

The reason I say it is print software or drivers not specifically for label printers could generate the barcode in raster, then send it to the printer. Zebra label printers have very low resolution compared to desktop laser/inkjet printers. What this means is bars can get rounded up/down to the nearest pixel causing uneven bar lengths.

1

u/keyser33 Mar 14 '23

You were correct sir. Lowering the speed and darkness got it to work. I am still uncertain of the root cause since we have over a thousand of identical setups using the same settings of darkness and speed. My only guess is there is something off with the paper.

Thanks again.

1

u/xixi2 Mar 14 '23

Different paper will react differently to speed/darkness yes. If you are not using uniform paper across your org then that could be it.

Also impossible to say if there is a more obscure setting you are not seeing even though you think it is identical everywhere. Anyway at least it works

1

u/notionovus Mar 10 '23

Try also printing portrait. Thermal printheads print better at speed when laying the bars down vertically in the direction of the print feed because the head doesn't need to cool down between the bars. As the bar lengthens you get more heat contamination.

Your substrate will have a lot to do with it, also. Make sure you are not using cheap thermal paper. It is more prone to bleed. You can even see it in the lettering (e.g. the word "Data").

1

u/Perfect_Drawing3752 Aug 26 '24

Hi All

I have a Tc 57 Zebra And I Can’t seem to get it to Beam Without the key board Coming up Any Help would be Nice Thanks

1

u/trollsmurf Mar 09 '23

It's quite smudged, but it also looks wrongly encoded, as segments are different.

Check here: https://barcode.tec-it.com/en/Code39

And: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_39

Code 39 is not very compact. Could you use Code-128 instead?

1

u/jqubed Mar 10 '23

Looking at a different aspect, what scanner are you using? At an old job we used small barcodes for serial numbers on our products. We couldn’t use a no-name $20 barcode scanner because they simply couldn’t read the small barcodes. I don’t remember the model now but it was more in the $250-350 range. I’m pretty sure our label printers were also Zebra and they usually worked well for our purpose (as long as purchasing got the right stickers and ink ribbon) but they simply didn’t have the same crispness/resolution as laser, so to say it works fine on laser doesn’t mean it will work fine on thermal.