Thermal Transfer Ribbon for TSC Printers

How ribbon differs across TSC desktop and industrial printers

TSC builds its printers in two groups, and the ribbon follows the group. The desktop group is the TE, TC and TX series plus the older TTP-244 Pro, TTP-247 and TTP-345, which TSC itself lists as 4-inch desktop printers. The industrial group is the MH, ML, MB and MX series, the TTP-2410M Pro, TTP-346M Pro and TTP-644M Pro, the TTP-2410MT, and the 6-inch TTP-2610MT.

On a TSC desktop printer the ribbon is outside wound (ink side out) and 40mm to 110mm wide. The roll is 110m on a ½ inch core or 300m on a 1 inch core, depending on the series. On a TSC industrial printer the core is always 1 inch, the ribbon can be wound inside or outside, and rolls run to 450m on the ML, MB and TTP-2610MT or 600m on the MH, MX and TTP-2410M models.

Widths differ too. The MH and TTP-2410M models take ribbon from about 25mm to 114mm, the ML and MB start at 40mm, and the 6-inch TTP-2610MT takes 50mm to 178mm. Our slitting range of 25mm to 160mm covers the 4-inch models, and the TTP-2610MT up to 160mm.

Which core your TSC takes: ½ inch or 1 inch

Core size changes inside TSC's desktop range, so it is the first thing to check. The TC200, TC210, TC300 and TC310 take only a ½ inch core, with rolls of 110m and a maximum roll diameter of 40mm. The TTP-244 Pro, TTP-247, TTP-345 and the TX series take a 1 inch core, with rolls of 300m and a maximum diameter of 67mm.

The TE series takes either. TSC's documents for the TE200, TE210, TE300 and TE310 list two roll types, both ink side out: 300m on a 1 inch core, or 110m on a ½ inch core. A 300m roll is close to three times the length of a 110m roll, so a TE printer that runs 110m rolls today can print the same labels with fewer reloads on the 300m roll. If you are not sure which size to order, look at the core of the roll in the printer now and tell us.

TTP-244 Pro or TTP-244CE: two printers, two different rolls

The TTP-244 Pro and the TTP-244CE are both TSC desktop printers at 203dpi, but TSC's datasheets list different ribbon rolls for them. The TTP-244 Pro takes 300m, with a roll diameter of up to 67mm, on a 1 inch core. The TTP-244CE takes 110m, with a roll diameter of up to 40mm, on a ½ inch core. Both are coated on the outside and run ribbon from 40mm to 110mm wide.

A 300m roll holds close to three times the ribbon of a 110m one, so the Pro needs fewer reloads, but each printer needs the roll TSC lists for it. Check the core of your old roll before you order, or send us the printer model.

Finding the right ribbon for your TSC model

Start with the old roll. Read the width and length on the core or the box, check whether the core is ½ inch or 1 inch, and note which side of the roll carries the ink. Then find your model in the table above, which gives the usual ribbon size, core and winding for each TSC model from the maker's own documents.

If there is no old roll, use the printer manual. TSC's user manuals for the TE200, TC200, TX200 and MH240 each include a ribbon specification with width, length, core and winding.

To find the ink side of a roll you already have, press the sticky side of a label against the outside of the roll and peel it away. If flakes of ink come off on the label, the roll is wound ink side out, which is what every TSC desktop printer takes.

Then choose a width at least as wide as the label and no wider than the printer takes. A ribbon narrower than the label leaves part of the printhead unprotected, and that part wears early.

Wax, wax-resin or resin for your TSC labels

The label decides the grade, not the printer. For paper labels that stay dry and indoors, wax is enough: printer makers, TSC included, describe wax as the fast, low-heat ribbon for paper. CW-11 is listed for uncoated and matte paper, and CW-12 for matte, semi-gloss and coated paper labels.

When the paper is coated and the label is handled, stacked or wiped, move to wax-resin, a blend of soft wax and hard resin that prints harder than wax and resists scratching and rubbing better. CW-15, CW-20, CW-22 and CW-25 are listed for coated paper, and CW-30 for heavy-duty coated paper. For polyester labels the wax-resin choices are CW-20, CW-22, CW-25 and CW-30, and for polypropylene CW-22, CW-25 and CW-30.

Choose resin when the label is polyester, polypropylene or another film that will meet chemicals, abrasion or weather. CW-28 is listed for polyester, polypropylene, polyimide and film. CW-33 is listed for polyester, polyimide and metal-effect labels and withstands sterilisation. CW-66 is our chemical-free resin for polyester and polypropylene.

Each step up needs more heat from the printer. Raise darkness in small steps and stop at the lowest setting that gives a barcode that scans, because too high a setting can burn through the ribbon and wear the printhead early.

Ordering ribbon for a TSC printer

Send the printer model, label width, core size (½ inch or 1 inch), inside or outside wound, roll length and number of rolls. Standard sizes have no minimum order, and a free sample lets you run the ribbon on your own TSC printer before you commit to volume. Custom widths run from 25mm to 160mm and lengths from 50m to 600m, on standard or notched cores. MSDS is available on request.

One model line needs no ribbon at all. The TSC DA series printers are direct thermal: they print on heat-sensitive labels, so there is nothing to order for them.