HID Fargo DTC1250e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (050100)
HID Fargo DTC1250e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (model number 050100) is a high-performance, cost-effective solution designed for small to medium-sized organizations. This dual-sided printer delivers maximum efficiency with impressive print speeds of 16 seconds per full-color card and 6 seconds per monochrome card. Featuring 300 dpi resolution, it produces visually…
Introduction
The HID Fargo DTC1250e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (model number 050100) is a high-performance, cost-effective solution designed specifically for small to medium-sized organizations seeking an efficient and reliable way to produce professional ID cards and credentials. Manufactured by HID Global, a leader in secure identity solutions, this printer combines user-friendly operation with advanced features to deliver exceptional results with minimal maintenance requirements.
Design and Physical Characteristics
The DTC1250e features a sleek, compact design that makes it ideal for office environments where space may be limited. With dimensions of approximately 17 x 15 x 12 inches and weighing just 15 pounds, this printer maintains a small footprint while delivering professional-grade performance. The printer’s modern aesthetic is characterized by its predominantly black exterior with a clear card loading chamber, giving it a professional appearance suitable for various environments.
The intuitive design includes a SmartScreen graphical display that provides clear status information and simplifies printer operation. The front-loading card input hopper and output slot are easily accessible, making card loading and retrieval straightforward for operators of all experience levels.
Dual-Sided Printing Capability
Unlike its single-sided counterpart (model 050000), the DTC1250e Dual-Sided model (050100) offers the significant advantage of printing on both sides of a card in a single pass. This capability allows organizations to maximize the use of card real estate by including additional information, barcodes, or security features on the back of cards without requiring manual card flipping or reinsertion.
The dual-sided printing functionality is particularly valuable for applications where comprehensive information needs to be displayed, such as:
- Employee ID badges with company policies on the reverse
- Student IDs with academic calendars or emergency information
- Membership cards with terms and conditions
- Access control cards with usage instructions
Printing Technology and Performance
The DTC1250e utilizes dye sublimation and thermal transfer printing technology to produce high-quality ID cards. This technology enables the printer to create vibrant, full-color images and sharp text on various card types.
Key performance specifications include:
- Print Resolution: 300 x 300 dpi for clear, detailed images and text
- Print Speed:
- Monochrome: 6 seconds per card
- Full-color: 16 seconds per card (single-sided)
- Full-color: 24 seconds per card (dual-sided)
- Print Area: Edge-to-edge printing on standard CR80 cards
The printer’s impressive speed makes it one of the fastest in its class, minimizing wait times for personalized cards and IDs. This efficiency is particularly valuable in environments where multiple cards need to be produced in a single session.
Card Handling and Media Capacity
The DTC1250e is designed to handle standard CR80 cards (3.37″ x 2.12″ or 85.6mm x 53.98mm), which is the standard size for most ID and credit cards. The printer accommodates card thicknesses from 9 to 40 mil, providing flexibility for different card applications.
Media handling specifications include:
- Input Hopper Capacity: 100 cards
- Output Hopper Capacity: 30 cards
- Accepted Card Types: PVC, composite PVC, PET, ABS, and polycarbonate cards
The high-capacity input hopper reduces the frequency of reloading, making the printer suitable for batch printing operations. The printer’s reliable card feeding mechanism minimizes jams and misfeeds, ensuring smooth operation even during extended print runs.
Connectivity and Compatibility
The DTC1250e offers straightforward connectivity options to integrate seamlessly into existing IT environments:
- USB 2.0 interface (standard)
- Optional Ethernet connectivity with internal print server
The printer is compatible with Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions). This broad compatibility ensures that the printer can be easily integrated into most organizational IT infrastructures.
Software and Driver Support
The DTC1250e comes with comprehensive driver support that facilitates easy setup and operation. The printer is compatible with HID’s Swift ID badge application, which allows for quick and easy card design and printing. For more advanced requirements, the printer works seamlessly with HID’s Asure ID card personalization software and other third-party card design applications.
The included software provides intuitive controls for:
- Print quality adjustment
- Color management
- Card encoding (for models with encoding capabilities)
- Printer diagnostics and maintenance
Print Quality and Features
The 300 dpi print resolution of the DTC1250e delivers excellent print quality with the following characteristics:
- Vibrant, accurate colors
- Sharp text and fine details
- Consistent edge-to-edge printing
- Durable, long-lasting prints
The printer supports both color and monochrome printing, providing flexibility for different credential designs and requirements. The high-quality output makes the DTC1250e suitable for creating professional ID cards that include photographs, logos, and other detailed graphic elements.
Security Features
The DTC1250e includes several security features to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized use:
- AES-256 data encryption for secure data transmission
- Resin scramble data protection to obscure printed information on used ribbons
- Password protection to prevent unauthorized printer access
- Fluorescent panel printing option for additional card security (with specialized ribbons)
These security features make the DTC1250e suitable for organizations that need to maintain high standards of data protection and card security.
Optional Encoding Capabilities
While the base model (050100) is primarily a dual-sided printer, it can be enhanced with various encoding options to expand its functionality:
- Magnetic stripe encoding for access control and payment applications
- Contact smart card encoding for secure authentication
- Contactless smart card encoding for proximity-based applications
These encoding options allow organizations to create multi-functional cards that serve various purposes, from visual identification to electronic access control and secure transactions.
Environmental Considerations
The DTC1250e is designed with environmental sustainability in mind:
- GreenCircle Certified for energy efficiency
- ENERGY STAR qualified power consumption
- Support for eco-friendly (ECO) refill ribbons that reduce waste
- Compatibility with rewritable cards that eliminate the need for new cards for temporary credentials
- Reduced power consumption in standby or sleep mode
- Default sleep mode time lowered from two hours to five minutes
These features help organizations reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality ID card production capabilities.
Maintenance and Reliability
The DTC1250e is engineered for minimal maintenance, making it particularly suitable for organizations without dedicated technical staff. Key maintenance features include:
- Easy-to-replace print ribbons with a simple drop-in design
- Automatic ribbon identification and calibration
- Built-in cleaning routine that maintains print quality
- Robust construction for long-term reliability
The printer’s ultralow maintenance requirements mean that even novice users can operate it effectively with minimal training, reducing the total cost of ownership over the printer’s lifecycle.
Applications
The HID Fargo DTC1250e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer is suitable for a wide range of applications across various industries:
Corporate
- Employee ID badges with company policies on reverse
- Visitor management credentials
- Facility access cards
- Corporate membership cards
Education
- Student and faculty ID cards with academic calendars
- Library cards
- Cafeteria payment cards
- Event access credentials
Healthcare
- Staff identification badges with facility protocols
- Patient identification cards
- Visitor passes
- Pharmacy cards
Retail and Hospitality
- Loyalty program cards with terms and conditions
- Gift cards
- Membership cards
- Event passes
Government
- Municipal employee IDs
- Library cards
- Recreation center passes
- Local program identification cards
Warranty and Support
The DTC1250e comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, demonstrating HID Global’s confidence in the printer’s reliability and build quality. Extended warranty options are available for organizations seeking additional coverage.
HID Global provides comprehensive technical support through various channels, including:
- Online knowledge base and documentation
- Email support
- Telephone technical assistance
- Authorized dealer support network
Conclusion
The HID Fargo DTC1250e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (050100) represents an excellent balance of performance, quality, and value for small to medium-sized organizations. Its combination of user-friendly operation, fast printing speeds, dual-sided printing capability, and high-quality output makes it an ideal solution for organizations that need to produce professional ID cards and credentials efficiently.
The printer’s compact design, comprehensive security features, and environmental considerations further enhance its appeal for modern organizations. With its robust construction and reliable performance, the DTC1250e provides a dependable solution for ID card printing needs while offering the flexibility to expand capabilities through optional features and upgrades as organizational requirements evolve.
