The Letterville BullBoard: HELP! E6 / Gerber 4B Connection

This is topic HELP! E6 / Gerber 4B Connection in forum Old Archives at The Letterville BullBoard.

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Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

I have a couple of questions for you guys - please help if you can answer any one of them. Thank you, Mark is here helping me and we're pulling out our hair.

Question #1: How do you set up a 4b with a GDS interface card? So far we have it in slot #1 but don't know how to get the 4B to go online.

Question #2: We get a DLL Error when trying to use the GDS Card driver that came with Signlab E6. Is the driver messed up or are we doing something wrong?

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

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Myra A. Grozinger
Signs Limited
Winston-Salem, NC
V 336-722-1033/F 336-723-6112
signslimited@triad.rr.com

Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :

Isn't the GDS card for use with an Apple 2e?
The one which I had was. I now have a Unilink card in my 4b for using with a PC w/Signlab.
It fits on the rear of the motherboard of the
4b, not in slot 1. GDS is the abbreviation for GERBER DESIGN STATION which had an Apple 2e for a computer.

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Frisby Signs, Inc.
El Dorado, Arkansas
870-862-5073

Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

Whoops! I misread the card. Boy do I feel like a fool.

It's GSP not GDS. For "Gerber Scientific Products." The date on the card is 3-23-92 and the serial # is 47889.

This was just sent from Hyatt's as the card to use but came with _no_ documentation at all.

Thanks

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Myra A. Grozinger
Signs Limited
Winston-Salem, NC
V 336-722-1033/F 336-723-6112
signslimited@triad.rr.com

Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :

What driver are you using and is the card in the first font slot?

(trying to do this from memory)

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Warning: A well designed sign may cause fatigue due to increased business.
http://members.tripod.com/taylor_graphics

Personal > walldog@nc.rr.com
Business > creativesigns@bbnp.com

Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :

Hello Myra. I just had a look inside my old 4B where a LMK card has beeen inserted. We've never touched it since the newer system was installed, and that LMK card is plugged into the last font slot (closest to the back- farthest from the keyboard) I don't know if yours will work there, but ours worked flawlessly when it was operational. Hope this helps you out.

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Ken Henry
Henry & Henry Signs
London, Ontario Canada
(519) 439-1881
e-mail kjmlhenry@home.

Some days you get to be the dog....other days, you get to be the fire hydrant.

Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

OK.. Thanks Glenn and Ken!

I got through to Chet with Hyatt's and he confirmed that slot 8 was the proper one. Now we just can't get the gerber to go "on line." He thinks the card is bad. Does anyone know a button maybe that we should be pushing on the 4b?

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Myra A. Grozinger
Signs Limited
Winston-Salem, NC
V 336-722-1033/F 336-723-6112
signslimited@triad.rr.com

Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :

Have you tried turning the 4-b on first and then booting up the computer?

Posted by geocob (Member # 515) on :

ok heres how mine does it ,after i do my layout and send to the plotter (4B) i must hit the font key 1st key on left then off and running the little bugger goes if i dont hit font nodda,so give that a shot ,
ge;o)).

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Geo Cob
"Outside Rocket City,Al"
(huntsville)
Just my "Thoughts" not the "Rules"
geocob@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/geocob/index.html

Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :

Myra,

Without looking in my 4B, I am almost positive you have another module in the first slot.

This module is a plastic cartridge style module like the old fonts, but it overrides the basic 4B functions. then the link card with the cable goes in the last slot.

so you should have two pieces that you install in the 4B.

The module that I am talking about will enable the 4B to go online.

Any other questions call me at the shop on monday, I use mine all the time behind my edge.

Bob

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Bob Rochon
Creative Signworks
Millbury, MA
bob@creativesignworks.com

"Some people's kids"

Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :

Like Geo.I have to hit the First key,top row of buttons(marked "font select") for my computer to send directions to the 4b plotter
IF you just want the run the plotter to change color vinyl,or set blade position.This can be done by pushing the next button over,marked "Letter Height"
Thes buttons kind of act like and ON/OFF switch from the computer.When the 4b cutter part can read the instructions from the puter
the GREEN LIGHT next to the caps lock will be on.
Hope this helps.
Come over to the Duck Soup Splatter Jam and you will be able to SEE what I am trying to type

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PKing is
Pat King of
King Sign Design in
McCalla,Alabama
The Professor of
SIGNOLOGY

Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :

Hi Myra,

My connection is in two parts, one is the thick card that goes in the front slot toward you and the other is the card that is green(in my case) and thin with the circuit board showing - it has the cord on it that goes to the computer. It goes in the 8th slot. To engage printing, the Font Select Key must be pushed and lit up(first key on left top of 4b keyboard) and the second key
(letter height) is used to disengage the commands you order and allow the blade and roller to move with the arrow keys.
Does that make any sense? Good luck, Deb

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Deb**Creative Signs
(and more)

Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

I am taking all of these suggestions to heart. Could not try them on my 4B though, because, lo and behold, a neighborhood transformer blew and caught fire, so there has been no power for many hours.

I suspect that the card is bad as Chet from Hyatt's thinks it may be. Am shelving it til the replacement gets here.
In the meantime, my "new" used Edge is chugging along. A workhorse of a machine, and reminds me a lot in sound and stability of my 4B. You all realize that what I'm trying to do is hook up the 4B to cut behind my Edge?!?
Thanks for putting your brains in gear for me and sharing your knowledge.
I'll report mid week if I have found a way to cut the decals I'm printing! I'm so excited. This Edge will pay for itself, I know it.
Now I have to gather all the Fargo stuff and post it on the Classified Board.

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Myra A. Grozinger
Signs Limited
Winston-Salem, NC
V 336-722-1033/F 336-723-6112
signslimited@triad.rr.com

Posted by Rob Larkham (Member # 2105) on :

Alright Gang...I just bought my first 4b and would like to hook it to my Flexi system in my PC. How and what do I need to buy and where do I get it. Thanks for any information!

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"Paint with Passion"

Rob Larkham
The Bershire Brush
RL Graphic D-Sign
Chester, MA
rldsigns@aol.com
413-354-0287

Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :

Bob,I don't run Flexi,BUT...I bet someone will be here at the Duck Soup that will be able to help you out on the technical end of your question.'course you gotta be here to ask in,19days,2hours,45minutes,23seconds
You too Myra!
Gotta friend going to be here that does EXACTLY what you are trying to accomplish.
Come on over,and bring Mark with you

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PKing is
Pat King of
King Sign Design in
McCalla,Alabama
The Professor of
SIGNOLOGY

Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

Its all solved now (5:30 this afternoon the first time the 4B groaned into service to cut after some decals I had printed on the Edge.)

Rereading the posts, they mostly make good sense now.
It did take two cards, a big fat one in slot one, and a slim one packed with sautered places in slot two. (see how PC illiterate I am!)

Most everything I was told by you wonderful helpers was right on. I just did not have the right stuff.

Thanks again. I am on my way to become knowledgable about this whole thing so I can pass it on when the next person has the screaming meamies.

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Myra A. Grozinger
Signs Limited
Winston-Salem, NC
V 336-722-1033/F 336-723-6112
signslimited@triad.rr.com

Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :

the old 4-b users come crawling out of the woodwork! LOL

glad to see you have the problem worked out myra.
i too am a 4-b user with the LMK card(and cable) inserted in the last font slot and the program module in the first font slot(closest to the front)

this makes the 4-b a "slave plotter"

composer 6.0 software

"The 4-B takes a lickin', but keeps on tickin'"

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Mark Fair Signs
Montgomery, Alabama
http://www.markfair.com/flash.html

Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

The first time
ever i saw
your
face....
Mark Fair

I've been impressed with your expertise with the graphics,
You did not make this photo yourself, did you?

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Myra A. Grozinger
Signs Limited
Winston-Salem, NC
V 336-722-1033/F 336-723-6112
signslimited@triad.rr.com

Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :

thanks myra for your kind comments.
i can't take credit for the photo. LOL
the mayor of letterville found that somewhere
from one of the letterville meets i have attended.

thanks steve, i guess?
(hey, the bubba maintains this here website, after all he is not a plastic surgeon!)

i have been a lettervillian for 3 years now.

mark

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Mark Fair Signs
Montgomery, Alabama
http://www.markfair.com/flash.html

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