Brother HL-2100 Series

Brother HL-2140, HL-2150N and HL-2170W

A4 mono laser printers introduced in January 2008 at a low price point intended to appeal to home and small office users. Features are a small footprint print engine capable of 22 page per minute throughput and true 1200 dot per inch print resolution.

The HL-2100 series are successors to the Brother HL-2030 family which also included the HL-2035, HL-2040, HL-2045, HL-2070, HL-2075.

The new printers are styled rather differently and have a big coloured "Go" button set in the left front corner.

Members of the series are:

  • HL-1240 USB, 8MB memory, GDI printing for Windows but with Mac and Linux support.
  • HL-1250N Wired Network, 16MB and the standard PCL6 language.
  • HL-1270W Wireless Ethernet, 32MB memory and PCL 6.

All the printers have Windows, Mac and Linux compatability .

Multifunction Versions

The engine (and consumables) are also used in the Brother MFC-7000 Multifunction Series digital copiers (DCP) and multifunction machines (MFC). These have the same 22 page per minute A4 performance and HQ1200 resolution but are integrated with a colour scanner on top.

DCP-7030, DCP-7040, DCP-7045

MFC-7320, MFC-7440N, MFC-7840W

The DCP and MFC software work under Windows XP and Vista. Most functionality also works under Apple OS. There is no mention of Linux in the Software User's Guide although the press release says it is supported. The Linux Foundation forum says there is a driver on solutions.brother.com which supports both printer and scanner.

The secure lock function is available as a download. For information on the multifunction printers see the relevant pages, the rest of this section only deals with the printers.

The HL-2100 and MFC-7000 series use new cartridges and drums:

  • TN-330 (US) aka TN-2110 (EU) and TN-2130 (Asia) 1,500 pages at 5% cover.
  • TN-360 (US) aka TN-2120 (EU) and TN-2150 (Asia) 2,600 pages at 5% cover.
  • DR-360 (US) aka DR-2100 (EU) and DR-2125 (Asia) rated for about 12,000 pages.

As the cartridge yields suggest these printers are very much aimed at home and home-office users with low volumeprinting needs. The selling point is laser dependability and lower print costs when compared to inkjets. The lower cost and small size might help sell them against small-footprint colour laser printers. The size of the cartridges suggests business with serious print requirements for things like invoicing would be better looking at a different model. The printers are cheap but they could prove expensive to run if a lot of printing is required.

Control:

Printers and multifunction are obviously very different, the printer has just one button whilst the MFC has a display and a numeric keypad.

This section is for the printers and the MFC version is covered elsewhere.

Blue illuminated "Go" button, is dimmed when the printer is in sleep mode and pressing the button will wake it up. Flashing indicates a wait -warming up, cooling down, receiving data or some data is stuck in memory. Pressing the "Go" button during a print cancels it. To reprint the last document press "Go" for about 4 seconds.

Red error light, amber drum and toner lights inset into the top left side of the case. (Older models had a paper light, that has been swapped for error).

Error on its own is likely to be paper, put paper in the tray or slot and press "Go".

Error flashing is a cover open, a paper jam or memory full.

Error and drum both flashing are either clean the corona wire - or replace the drum.

Service Calls: All lights flashing is a service call problem. Press the go button and note what light is lit. It is usually worth turning the printer off, waiting a few seconds and then turning on again and waiting ten minutes to see if the error will clear.

Other Controls:

As well as the rather basic lights and button the printer may have:

  • Status Monitor - A function for indicating errors of the printer on a PC.
  • Utilities: Web Based Management - Web browser print server management.
  • BR Admin Light - Print Server Management for Windows and Mac OS X 10.2.4 or greater.
  • Web Download Utilities: BRAdmin Professional - For LAN management.

Obviously you don't get Web based management on the HL-2040 because it doesn't have a network port; for a singleuser the Status Monitor will probably be more convenient.

Service Modes:

As with Brother's other printers (and most printers) there are some hidden user and service modes entered by holding down "Go" at power on.

For instance to reset the network settings:

  • With the front cover closed
  • Turn the power on whilst holding the "Go" button. Check that the toner, drum and erro LEDs all light.
  • Release the go button and all the LEDs go out.
  • Press the Go button 7 times and check that all the LEDs light for one second. This shows the operation completed.

Chapter 5 of the service manual gives more details on user and service modes.

Duty Cycle:

Not stated. Neither

Print Speed A4: Up to 22ppm

First Print Out Time: Less than 10 seconds

Resolution: 300dpi, 600dpi and HQ1200 (2,400 x 600dpi),

Brother say "HQ1200 resolution (up to 2400 x 600 dpi) will ensure that your letters, reports, spreadsheets and other important documents have crisp text and sharp graphics."

Paper Handling:

A4 / US-letter paper path with a single sheet manual feed slot and 250 sheet standard tray.

Manual Feed Slot:

Single sheet manual feed slot typically used for letterhead and envelopes. Manual Feed Slot: - Plain Paper, Bond Paper, Recycled Paper, Envelopes, Labels, Transparencies

Media Weights, Manual Feed Slot: - 60 - 163 g/m2 (16 - 43 lb)

Media Sizes, Manual Feed Slot: Width 76.2 to 220 mm, Length 116 to 406.4 mm

Tray 1:

Main tray holding up to 250 sheets of 80 gsm paper.

Media Types, Standard Paper Tray: - Plain Paper, Bond Paper, Recycled Paper, Transparencies (up to 10 pages)

Media Weights, Standard Paper Tray: -60-105 g/m2 (16-28 lb)

Media Sizes, Standard Paper Tray: A4, Letter, B5 (ISO/JIS), A5, B6 (ISO), A6, Exe

Optional trays:

None with this model.

Paper Types

Brother warn:

NOT to use inkjet paper because it may cause a paper jam or damage the printer. The coatings on inkjet paper are not designed to withstand the temperature in the fuser

That pre-printed paper must withstand a temperature of 200 degrees centigrade in the fuser process.

As usual the user manual has a list of recommended papers but most ordinary office copier paper should perform well.

Face Down:

Output to 100 sheet face down tray on top of the printer.

Face Up:

Not mentioned

Duplex:

Manual Duplex - Manually print on both sides of the paper.

Processor:

The processor in a laser printer is primarily used to convert the print language into the page image, a process called rasterisation.

181MHz

Memory:

Memory Capacity

  • HL-2140: 8MB
  • HL-2150:16MB
  • HL-2170W 32MB

Interface:

Full-Speed USB 2.0 on all models

Network:

HL-2150W Ethernet 10/100BASE-TX

HL-2170W - 10/100 Base-TX, Wireless LAN IEEE802.11b/g (Infrastructure Mode/Adhoc Mode)

Network Protocols:

IPv4 Supported: TCP/IP, ARP, RARP, BOOTP, DHCP, APIPA(Auto IP), WINS/NetBIOS, DNS resolver, mDN, LLMNR responder, LPR/LPD, Port9100, IPP, FTP Server, POP before SMTP, SMTP AUTH, APOP, TELNET, SNMP, HTTP, TFTP, SMTP Client, ICMP, Web Services

IPv6 Supported: TCP/IP, NDP, RA, DNS resolver, mDNS, LLMNR responder, LPR/LPD, Port9100, IPP, FTP Server, POP before SMTP, SMTP AUTH, APOP, TELNET, SNMP, HTTP, TFTP, SMTP Client, ICMPv6, Web Services Secure Easy SetupTM (SES), Wi-Fi Protected SetupTM

Wireless Easy Setup: (WPS), AirStation OneTouch Secure SystemTM (AOSS)

HL-2140: GDI Printer

HL-2150: PCL6 - 49 Scalable Fonts,12 BitmapFonts, 11Barcodes

HL-2170W: PCL6 - 49 Scalable Fonts,12 BitmapFonts, 11Barcodes

All the printers have:

  • N-up Printing - Reduce up to 2, 4, 9, 16 or 25 A4 pages to 1 A4 page
  • Poster Printing - Enlarge 1 A4 page into a poster using 4, 9, 16 or 25 A4 pages
  • Watermark Printing - Print documents with predefined text or user-defined messages
  • Quick Print Set-up - Select print options in the driver quickly

System-Compatabilty:

Windows, Macintosh and Linux

Windows: Windows VistaTM, Windows XP Professional (32 and 64 bit editions) / XP Home Edition, Windows Server 2003 (32 and 64 bit editions), Windows 2000 Professional

Macintosh: Brother Laser Driver for Mac OS X 10.2.4 or greater

Linux: Brother Printer Driver for Linux

The user manual specifically says there is both an LPR and a CUPS driver for the HL-2100 series. If it isn't on your distribution (it isn't on mine in 2009) then check on the CUPS website www.cups.org.

As a PCL 6 printer with no accessories basic functionality should work with the HP LJ 4000 etc. but obviously wireless networking will need manual setup and there won't be a status monitor.

Power:

There are two models matching the two common power supply voltages:

USA and Canada: AC 110 to 120 V, 50/60 Hz

Europe and Australia: AC 220 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz

Brother recommend that the power cord, including extensions, should not be longer than 5 metres.

Power Consumption:

These printers have hot-roller fusers which demand high currents momentarily as the fuser reaches operating temperature.

Printing 460W

Standby 80W

Sleep 5W, 8W for the HL-2170W

Environment:

These printers have an economy printing mode which saves toner use by making printing somewhat lighter. The lighter print saves money for tasks like proof-reading.

Sleep mode reduces the power consumption to less than 8W.

Separate toner and rum units allow the user to replace only the components needed to keep the printer going.

Dimensions:

With carton 475(W) x 454(D) x 360(H) mm

Without carton 368(W) x 361(D) x 170.5(H)

Weight:

With carton 8.4kg,

Without carton 6.8kg

Acoustic-Noise:

Sound Pressure (Printing) LpAm= 51 dB (A)

(Standby) LpAm= 30 dB (A)

Sound Power (Printing) LWAd= 6.7 B (A)

(Standby) LWAd= 4.5 B (A)

Consumables:

Separate toner cartridge and drum unit. The idea of using separate toner and drum is to decrease the printer ownership costs. To fit the small profile of the printer both have limited size and lives.

When handling either toner or drum either do so on a surface that will not be stained by any lose toner or cover the surface with material such as disposable tissue paper.

Brother suggest cleaning the scanner window on the inner top face of the printer when replacing a toner or the drum. They also recommend cleaning the contact terminals with a soft dry cloth, the power should be off to do this. Beware of static charges when doing this, do not touch the terminals if your body or the cloth might be charged with static.

If hands, clothes or furnishings come into contact with toner brush it off or use cold water.

The printer indicates that toner is nearly finished by flashing a light on for two seconds and off for 3 seconds. It may be worth gently shaking the toner and drum to redistribute any remaining toner and get some extra life if possible. When the light is continually on the printer has run out of toner.

There are two cartridges. The small size will suit home users who only have an occasional use for a printer because it is cheaper to buy and modern microfine toners do age, so their quality does decline after a few months.

TN-2110 - (aka TN-330) Approx. 1,500 pages @ 5% cover

TN-2120 - (aka TN-360) Approx. 2,600 pages @ 5% cover

The HL-2140 printer ships with a 1,000 page starter cartridge. With the HL-2170W one leaflet says this is 1,500 pages

Declared yield values are in accordance with ISO/IEC 19752

Note that Brother use a curious process for handling waste toner which deposits it back in the cartridge. Cartridges always have some toner in them when the printer declares them empty but that toner is no longer considered good enough to print. Some websites suggest forcing the printer to use this toner but there is a risk of contaminating the cleaning brush in the drum unit which will then need replacing or cleaning so it may be a false economy.

Drum and Developer:

When the Drum LED flashes the drum is near the end of it's life and will need replacing before there is a deterioration in print quality.

DR-2100 - (aka DR-360) Approx.12,000 pages

To reset the drum counter :

With the printer on and the drum LED blinking open the front cover.

Press and hold the white GO button for about 4 seconds until all the LEDS light up.

Once all four are let release the Go button.

Take out the drum unit and cartridge assembly. The green lock lever releases the toner cartridge from the drum unit. Unpack a new drum and replace the toner on it, make sure it clicks into place. Put the drum into the printer and make sure the drum light is now off.

The user manual has details and pictures.

Fuser:

Laser printers produce an image in toner powder, this is fixed to the page by a combination of heat and pressure in the fuser. The fuser hot roller is coated in non-stick material to prevent it sticking to the image but over time the material loses its qualities and the fuser or the roller needs to be replaced.

Fuser unit failure is indicated by a service call light pattern. All lights flash then on pressing "Go" the yellow toner light is on.

LU2373001 Fuser Unit 115V for US and Canada etc

LU2374001 Fuser Unit 230V for UK and EU etc

At the moment there are no spare rollers or heaters for the fuser.

Maintenance Kit:

LU2545001 Paper Feed Kit / Roller Holder

As at March 2010 the paper feed kit is the only spare in UK distribution but no doubt more will be available shortly.

Spares:

As at March 2010 the paper feed kit is the only spare in UK distribution. The printers are now moving out of warranty so more spares will be available shortly. The other parts listed here are those that experience suggests we will be asked for but this is not yet a comprehensive list.

LU2545001 Paper Feed Kit / Roller Holder

LU2154001 Separation Pad Assembly

LU2464002 Paper Tray A4 (HL-2140 GER/UK/BEL/FRA/NL/IBERIA/EEU etc )

LU2126001 Fan Motor 60 Unit

LU2375001 Laser Unit

LV0050001 Main PCB Assembly 2140 B512256

LV0080001 Main PCB Assembly 2150N B512257

LV0094001 Main PCB Assembly 2170W B512257

LV0074001 Power Supply PCB Assembly 230V

LV0047001 High Voltage Power Supply Assembly

Whats-In-The-Box:

Printer, Drum with Starter Toner, Power cord, CD and installation instructions. Illustrations sometimes suggest they might ship a USB or network cable but they don't. Printer manufacturers are curiously mean about this.

Warranty:

In the US: One year express exchange limited warranty

Sevice: One year limited parts and labour.

Service:

We offer service in North East England and are researching other options


Options:

At the moment -None. The printer isn't extendable