Description
The HID FARGO DTC1500 is a direct-to-card ID card printer built for schools, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and growing businesses that need secure credentials at a low cost per card. This configuration, part number 051411 (also listed as 51411), combines the dual-sided printer, the single-side lamination module, and a factory-installed ISO magnetic stripe encoder. Each card prints front and back, gets its stripe written on tracks 1, 2, and 3, and receives a protective overlaminate in one workflow. HID recommends composite cards, such as UltraCard Premium, when laminating. USB 2.0, Ethernet, and an internal print server are all standard.
It prints at 300 dpi, combining dye-sublimation color with resin thermal transfer for sharp black text and barcodes. A full-color card takes about 16 seconds, a dual-sided color card about 24, and a monochrome card about 6. High-capacity consumables are the DTC1500's signature: the standard YMCKO cartridge yields 700 prints per roll and the dual-sided YMCKOK yields 600, so ribbon changes are less frequent and each card costs less. The cleaning roller is built into the ribbon cartridge and is replaced automatically with every ribbon change.
Security comes standard on every unit, and this configuration layers physical protection on top. The custom watermark feature embeds your logo or text permanently into the card's overlay panel, while PolyGuard overlaminates add a durable, tamper-evident seal. AES-256 encryption protects card data in transit, resin scramble renders used ribbon panels unreadable, and password protection locks down printer operation.