Brother 1880 User Manual

ELECTRONIC L

ABELING SYSTEM

ELECTRONI

C L ABELING

 SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC L

ABELING SYSTEM

1

1

2

2

3

3

USER'S GUIDE

www.brother.com

Printed in China

LW1704001

English

With your PT-1880, you can create labels for any application. Select from the 
many frames, character sizes and styles to design beautiful custom labels. In 
addition, the variety of tape cartridges available allows you to print labels with 
different widths and exciting colours.
Read this User’s Guide carefully before starting and keep the User’s Guide in 
a handy place for future reference.

• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have 

the  

mark.

• Do not disassemble or modify the machine/AC adapter.
• Do not clean the machine with alcohol or other organic solvents. Only use a soft, dry 

cloth.

• Do not touch the print head mechanism. Use a soft wipe (e.g. a cotton swab) when 

cleaning the print head.

• To avoid injuries, do not touch the cutter's edge.
• To prevent damage or breakage, do not press on the LCD display.
• Do not put any foreign objects into or heavy objects on the machine.
• Do not leave any rubber or vinyl on the machine for an extended period of time, 

otherwise the machine may be stained.

• Do not get the machine/AC adapter/power plug wet, such as by handling them with 

wet hands or spilling beverages on to them.

• Do not expose the machine/AC adapter to extremely high temperatures or high 

humidity. Never leave them on the dashboard or in the back of your car, near heaters 
or other hot appliances. Keep them out of both direct sunlight and rain.

• Avoid using the machine in extremely dusty places.
• Depending on the environmental conditions and the applied  settings, some 

characters or symbols may be difficult to read.

• Do not pull on the tape being fed from the P-touch labeler, otherwise the tape 

cassette or P-touch labeler may be damaged.

• Do not attempt to cut the tape while printing or feeding since this will damage the tape.
• Do not try to print labels using an empty tape cassette set in the P-touch labeler. Doing 

so will damage the print head.

• Remove the batteries and disconnect the AC adapter if you do not intend to use the 

machine for an extended period of time. (

Note:

 When power is disconnected for more 

than five minutes, all text, format settings and any text files stored in the memory will 
be cleared.)

• Do not use old and new batteries together or mix alkaline batteries with other type 

batteries, or set the positive and negative end in the wrong position. Otherwise, the 
batteries may leak or be damaged.

• Do not use metallic articles, such as tweezers or metallic pen, when exchanging the 

batteries.

• Always use the specified voltage and the suggested AC adapter (AD5000) for 

this machine to prevent any damage or failure.

• To prevent fire or electric shock, make sure that the plug of the AC adapter is fully 

inserted into the power outlet.  Do not use an outlet that is loose.

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

Unpacking Your P-touch Labeler

Check that the package contains the following before using your P-touch la-
beler.

Included items may differ by distribution.

Power Supply

Make sure that the power is turned off when replacing batteries.

Turn the machine over and remove the battery compartment cover. 

If batteries are already installed, remove them.

Insert six new AA-size alkaline 
batteries (LR6), making sure that 
their poles point in the correct 
directions. Always replace all six 
batteries at the same time using 
brand new ones.

Attach the battery compartment cover by inserting the three hooks at the 
bottom into the slots on the machine, then pushing down firmly on the 
cover until it snaps into place.

Tape Cassettes

Make sure that the power is turned off when replacing a tape cassette.  

Open the tape compartment cover by lifting up both sides at the same time. 

If a tape cassette is already installed, remove it by pulling it straight up.

Insert a tape cassette, making sure that it snaps into place.

• Make sure that the end of the tape feeds under the tape guides.
• If the ink ribbon is loose, use your finger to wind the toothed wheel in the

direction of the arrow on the cassette.

After you have installed the tape, feed the tape (

+

) once and then 

push in the tape cutter lever to cut the tape.

Securely close the front cover, making sure that it snaps into place.

When using optional AC adapter (model 
AD5000)

Insert the plug on the adapter cord into 
the adapter jack on the right side of the 
machine.
Insert the plug into the nearest standard 
electrical outlet.

For memory back up, we recommend using 
AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6) together 
when using the AC adapter.

TZ tape cassette

Accessories Guide

PT-1880

User's Guide

Warranty Card

Battery compartment 
cover

Tape compartment 
cover

End of tape

Tape guide

Toothed Wheel

Keyboard & LCD

Turning the Power On

Setting Language  

(

>

[Language]

/

>

[English]

/

Setting unit 

(mm/inch)

>

[Unit]

/

>

[mm]

/

• The LCD shows one row of 15 characters; however, the text that

you enter can be up to 80 characters in length, which will scroll
across the display.

• Use

with Shift key to go to beginning/end of the text. 

• The machine automatically turns off if no key is pressed within 5

minutes.

• To cancel operations, press

.

• To initialize the P-touch labeler back to factory settings, turn off the

machine and then while holding down

and

, press

to

turn the machine back on. Finally, release

and

.

Size

Caps

Preview key

Font keys

Character keys

Tab key

Caps key

Shift key

Symbol key

Auto Format key

Width

Style

Underline/Frame

Label Length

Cursor keys

Function key

Power key

Backspace key

Enter key

Shift key

Accent key
Space key

Cursor

Tape cutter lever

Esc key
OK key

Print key

)   

(

+

)

English/Spanish/

French/Portuguese

(

+

)

Troubleshooting

Error message

What to do when...

Specifications

Accessories 

(Supplies may differ by distribution.)

Message

Cause/Remedy

Battery Weak!

The batteries are weak. Replace them with new ones.

Check Battery!

The installed batteries are about to run out.

Invalid!

• There is no text above the cursor when you set Number-

ing.

• Invalid character is selected for Numbering.
• Invalid number is selected for Tab Length or Label Length.

No Text!

• You tried to print a text file when there is no data stored in 

the memory.

• The Print key is pressed when no text is entered.
• You tried to set Copies, Numbering or Mirror when no text 

is entered.

Line Limit!

• You tried to enter a 3rd line by pressing Enter key.
• You tried to print a 2 line text when 3.5 mm or 6 mm tape is 

installed.

No Cassette!

You tried to print a label when there is no cassette installed.

Cutter Error!

Tape cutter lever is used in the middle of printing process.

Full!

The maximum number of characters (80 characters) have 
already been entered.

Text Too Long!

The text length exceeds the selected label length or the 
selected Auto Format setting length.

No Frame OK?

Printing on 3.5 mm tape with invalid Frame setting ON. 

(Select 

 to print with no Frame, 

 to cancel.)

Problem

Solution

The display stays blank 
after you have turned on 
the machine.

• Check that the batteries are correctly inserted.
• If the batteries are weak, replace them.
• Check that the AC adapter is correctly connected.

When the label is 
printed out, there is too 
much margin (space) on 
both sides of the text.

• Refer to "Setting [Margin] 

(Tape Margin)

" on this users 

guide and select [Half] or [Narrow] to have smaller margins 
for your label.

The machine does not 
print, or the printed 
characters are not 
formed properly.

• Check that the tape cassette has been inserted correctly.
• If the tape cassette is empty, replace it.
• Check the tape compartment cover is properly closed.

The setting has cleared 
on its own.

• The batteries may be weak. Replace them.
• When power is disconnected for more than five minutes, all 

text & formats in the display will be lost. Language and unit 
settings will also be cleared.

A blank horizontal line 
appears through the 
printed label.

• There maybe some dust on the print head. Remove the 

tape cassette and use a dry cotton swab to gently wipe the 
print head with and up-and-down motion.

• The print head can be cleaned more easily if the optional 

print head cleaning cassette (TZ-CL4) is used.

The machine has 
"locked up" (i.e., nothing 
happens when a key is 
pressed, even though 
the machine is on.)

• Turn off the machine, and then while holding 

down

and

, press

to turn the machine back 

on. Finally, release

and

.

• Note: The text and formats in the display are erased. Also, 

the language and unit settings will be cleared.

The power turns off 
when you try to print.

• The batteries may be weak. Replace them.
• Check that the batteries are correctly inserted.

The tape does not feed 
properly or the tape gets 
stuck inside the machine.

• Check that the end of the tape feeds under the tape guides.
• The cutter lever is used while printing. Do not touch the 

cutter lever during printing.

All text and format settings 
need to be cleared to 
create a new label.

• Press

while holding down

, and select [Text&For-

mat].

Item

Specification

Dimensions

167 mm (W) 

×

 215 mm (D) 

×

 57 mm (H)

Weight

570 g (without batteries and tape cassette)

Power supply

Six AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6) or optional AC adapter 
(model AD5000)

Tape cassette

Brother TZ tape (width) :
3.5 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm

Accessories

Stock No.

Tape Cassettes

See the attached "Supplies and Accessories Guide".

AC Adapter

model AD5000

Carrying Case

CC3500

PREPARATION

OPERATION

REFERENCE

[GETTING STARTED]