A common support call we receive in our Technical Support department has to do with how to fix a torn ID card printer ribbon or how to prevent card printer ribbons from breaking. The good news is that the ribbons can usually be salvaged by taping them back together. After you complete the taping process, you'll definitely want to figure out what is causing the ribbon to break to prevent it from happening again.
These list of helpful tips are a great resource to use when trying to fix a torn printer ribbon:
Tip #1
Restore all your driver settings to the default settings. Changing settings in your printer driver can cause the ribbons to get so hot that they break. This typically happens when customers want to put more ink on the card in an attempt to get darker, richer colors. Restore the driver settings to the default settings to prevent future breakage.
Tip #2
Clean your printer and calibrate the ribbon sensor. Both of these items are essential in preventing ribbons from breaking. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your printer model on cleaning and ribbon sensor calibration. Most printers call for a cleaning every time a new ribbon is loaded into the printer. Card printer cleaning kits are available for all printer models. After cleaning the printer and before installing a new ribbon calibrate the ribbon sensor if it applies to your printer.
Tip #3
Don’t try to print too close to the edge of the card with a direct-to-card printer. Only reverse transfer printers can print to the very edge of the card. If you own a direct-to-card (also called a "dye sublimation") printer and try to print too close to the edge of the card, it will cause the ribbon to snap. Simply modify the design of your card in your software by increasing the unprinted border around the edges.
If you try these tips and continue to have problems with ribbons breaking, our dedicated Technical Support Team is happy to provide additional guidance. Give them a call, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT. at 800-321-4405, x4.