A method and apparatus for scanning and printing in an ink-jet printer. The interface includes a configurable hardware interface and a storage component for storing a bitstream that configures the configurable hardware interface to implement the driver of the external device. A cycle of the electric welding waveform includes a pinch current phase providing an increasing pinch current level, a peak current phase providing a peak current level, a tail-out current phase providing a decreasing tail-out current level, and a background current phase providing a background current level. The projection may include a sleeve attached thereto. The distance the sensor moved from a reference point to arrive at the pre-selected distance from the blade is also monitored and the gap between the fixed turbine component and the blade is determined from these measurements. The separating member is coupled to the gate member so as to be movable therewith away from the stacking opening in a retracting course of the gate member for loading of the nails into the feeding tray, and to be moved underneath the stacking opening in an advancing course of the gate member.