Quick answer
The T4000 is the smallest and most affordable Printronix industrial printer: a metal 4-inch machine that Printronix rates at 5,000 labels a day. Choose the T4204 (203 dpi, up to 12 inches per second) for dispatch, carton and pallet labels, and the T4304 (300 dpi, up to 10 inches per second) when you print small text or dense 2D codes. Add the RFID encoder if you must encode UHF labels or on-metal tags.
Is the T4000 the right class of printer?
Printronix places the T4000 between the T800 desktop printer and the mid-range T6000e. A simple way to decide:
- Stay with a desktop T800 if you print a few hundred to around 2,500 labels a day and space is very tight.
- Move to the T4000 when a desktop printer is struggling, operators keep stopping to change ribbon, or the printer sits in a dusty store or on a shop floor. It holds an 8-inch label roll and a 450 m ribbon in a full metal body with a bi-fold side door that needs little clearance.
- Go to a T6000e or T8000 for heavier round-the-clock lines, wider labels or inline barcode verification. See the T6000e page and the T8000 series page.
All of these share the Printronix System Architecture (PSA), so the control panel, menus and management tools look the same. A team that already runs larger Printronix printers will need very little training.
Which T4000 model should you buy?
Both models print at 4.1 inches (104 mm), take media from 1 to 4.72 inches (25.4 to 120 mm) wide, print direct thermal or thermal transfer, and have 128 MB RAM and 128 MB flash. The table maps typical jobs to the right model.
| Your main job | T4204 (203 dpi) | T4304 (300 dpi) | Add RFID encoder? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courier and e-commerce shipping labels | Best fit: fastest at 12 ips | Works, but slower | Not usually |
| Carton and pallet labels for retail supply chains | Best fit | Works | Yes, if the customer asks for UHF tags |
| Small component, pharma or electronics labels | Possible for large codes only | Best fit for fine text and small 2D codes | Rarely |
| Asset tags for metal racks, tools or equipment | Works | Works | Yes, the RFID model encodes on-metal tags |
| Returnable crates and ESD-safe tags | Works | Works | Yes, these tag types are supported |
See the current price on the Printronix T4204 or Printronix T4304 product page. For several printers or a site rollout, ask us for a project quote.
The decision is less final than it looks. Printronix confirms the 203 dpi and 300 dpi printheads are interchangeable. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be fitted later as field kits. For the standard model there are RFID upgrade kits too, along with tear and cutter upgrade kits for media handling.
Setting it up
- Connect it. Serial, USB host and device, and Ethernet are standard. Use Ethernet or Wi-Fi if you plan to manage the printer with TSC Console Web, because that tool does not work over USB.
- Install the driver or set an emulation. There is a WHQL-certified Windows driver plus Mac, Linux and Chrome OS drivers. The printer supports nine printer languages, so existing ZGL, STGL, DGL or MGL label formats can often be reused after testing.
- Load labels and ribbon. Fold back the side door, place the roll on a 1.5 to 3 inch core and thread the labels through the print station. Fit the ribbon on its 1 inch core. Printronix publishes a video on loading ribbon and media for the T4000.
- Calibrate. Run the setup wizard on the 3.5 inch colour display. Pick the gap or mark sensor in the Settings menu to match the media, then let the printer feed a few labels to find the top of each one. Auto-calibration can run at power-up or whenever the print station is closed.
- Save your settings. Store up to five configurations for different label jobs, and keep a copy on the quick change memory card so a replacement printer can pick it up.
RFID tips for the T4000 RFID
- The encoder handles RAIN UHF (GS1 EPC Gen2 v2 / ISO 18000-63) only. HF RFID labels are not supported.
- Run the RFID label calibration in the RFID menu whenever you change label stock. It feeds three or four labels to find the best encoding position and RF power for both standard and on-metal labels.
- On-metal tags use a thin foam spacer, so they are thicker than paper labels. The T4000 accepts RFID media up to 1.2 mm thick. Order on-metal tags with a bridge between them so they travel smoothly through the print station.
- If a tag fails to encode, the printer overstrikes it and prints a replacement, and it keeps a record of success and failure rates.
- Use tear-off with on-metal stock. The cutter does not support on-metal RFID labels or tags.
Running costs and consumables
- Ribbon: wax, wax/resin or resin, 40 to 110 mm wide, up to 450 m long. Match the ribbon width to the label so the printhead is not exposed. Browse thermal transfer ribbons.
- Labels: rolls or fan-fold labels, tags, paper, film and tickets, 0.06 to 0.279 mm thick, on a roll up to 8 inches across. The minimum label length is 0.25 inch in continuous and tear-off mode and 1 inch for peel or cutter. Shop labels and stickers.
- Peel and rewind: the peel/rewind option works with paper labels at up to 6 ips and rewinds the liner from an 8-inch roll.
- Printhead life: printheads are warranted for 12 months or 1 million linear inches in thermal transfer mode, and 180 days or 1 million linear inches in direct thermal mode, whichever comes first.
A printhead swap is a quick, one-screw job. The front panel can be replaced in the field with the Printronix control panel assembly for T4000, part 98-0720042-00LF. For printheads and other parts, browse genuine Printronix printheads and spares and accessories, or send a spares enquiry with your printer's serial number. A 5-year Printronix Comprehensive Care Pack, bought with the printer, keeps service costs predictable.
Common problems and fixes
- Labels drift or the printer reports a media error. The sensor setting probably does not match the stock. Reselect gap or mark and recalibrate.
- Too many voided RFID labels. Rerun RFID calibration for the current inlay, and check that the tags are UHF, not HF.
- On-metal tags jam. Check the tag thickness is within 1.2 mm and that tags are bridged, and do not use the cutter with them.
- Print is faint at full speed. Clean the printhead and confirm the ribbon grade suits the label face. For very small codes, a 300 dpi head may solve it.
- Need to know when a head is due. TSC Console Web can show printhead mileage on its dashboard and set maintenance reminders.
For on-site help, see our printer service centre in Delhi or read about our role as an authorized Printronix distributor in India.
Warranty and cover options
New printers ship with the standard manufacturer's warranty against manufacturing defects. Longer cover can only be bought at the time you buy the printer. You can choose a 1-year extended warranty, or a comprehensive warranty for 3 or 5 years, such as the 5-year Comprehensive Care Pack. There is no 1-year comprehensive option, and comprehensive cover can't be added later. The comprehensive warranty takes the place of the standard warranty, and both run together from the printer's invoice date. So a 5-year plan means 5 years in total, not 1 + 5. Once cover ends, ask us about an AMC.
FAQ
How do the T4204 and T4304 differ in practice?
With 203 dpi output at a top speed of 12 ips, the T4204 suits fast shipping and carton work. The T4304 trades a little speed (10 ips) for 300 dpi, giving sharper small text and compact 2D codes. Everything else, including width and media capacity, is the same.
What daily volume is the T4000 rated for?
Printronix states the T4000 can print 5,000 labels a day, which makes it the next step up when a desktop printer can no longer keep pace.
Can a standard T4000 be converted to RFID?
Yes. Printronix offers RFID upgrade kits for the standard T4000 model, so RFID can be added later without replacing the printer.
Does the T4000 encode HF RFID labels?
No. The T4000 supports only UHF Gen2 (ISO 18000-6C / 18000-63) RFID labels and tags.
How thick can RFID tags be on the T4000?
RFID media can be up to 1.2 mm thick, which allows on-metal tags with a foam spacer. Normal labels range from 0.06 to 0.279 mm.
Are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth available as add-ons after purchase?
Yes. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth come as field kits. Many buyers begin on Ethernet or USB and fit wireless when it is needed.
Can I manage the T4000 with TSC Console Web over USB?
No. TSC Console Web needs a network connection, so the printer must be connected by Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
What is needed to replace the T4000 printhead?
Just a screwdriver. One screw, placed where it is easy to reach, holds the head in place.
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