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Help, I just "upgraded" to a "new" puter with windows 98 from Windows 95 (have avoided this cuz I knew I would have problems) I have a Roland pnc-5000 and run vinyl express expert. I downloaded the windows 98 driver from Roland but my plotter is not cutting properly. It cuts fine for a while and then cuts right through the letters or graphics. This is random as it will do it differently on the second and third attempts, but still destroys the graphics buy cutting all the way across the vinyl. I have deleted the roland printer several times and reloaded the driver (even the 95 driver) several times. I have changed the parallel cable and that didn't help. I know just enough to be dangerous so I haven't looked into baud thingys or anything too complicated. The plotter is on the lpt1 printer port, (only one parallel port on this puter) it was on lpt2 on old puter and ran fine) I really don't want to go back to old puter as it is maxed out on space and kinda unstable. I have been working on this for 2 days and should be cutting 50 feet of repeat graphics for a border for a new business. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind if you do respond I need actuall steps cuz I don't know where to begin lol. Thanks in advance.
-------------------- Kymi Hum Vital Signs by Kymi Hum Dunnellon, FL vitalsignsbykymi@aol.com wyme on mIRC Posts: 58 | From: Dunnellon, FL, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Kymi...I have run into this problem in the past. Get a flashlight and get down real close to the cutter and observe whether or not the blade is actually lifting fully between cuts. Sometimes, nicotine or whatever will build up on the blade holder and the blade will stay in a sorta half way down position and drag on it's way to the next cut.
If the extra cuts are absolutely straight, even if on a diagonal, that is most likely the cause.
If that is what is happening, take the cover off the blade holder and clean everything up with alcohol on a q-tip. You will see the part that slides up and down. Once that is done DON'T apply any oil!!!
If this is not the cause of the problem then I'm sorry I can't offer any other advice. The cutter and software and operating system are pretty old.
Hope this helps you.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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I should mention that the POWER/ERROR light starts blinking after it starts cutting. I cleaned the pen holder/lifter jobby like you said and i have tried just cutting small jobs but it is still doing it. I turned the plotter off for about 15 minutes and it only destroyed one letter out of 32, so maybe I'm on to something. Next I'm turning Norton antivirus off to see if that helps. It seems like a driver thing to me though, since it was cutting great day before yesterday on my old puter. But who knows? I'll try all suggestions and am greatful for your input.
-------------------- Kymi Hum Vital Signs by Kymi Hum Dunnellon, FL vitalsignsbykymi@aol.com wyme on mIRC Posts: 58 | From: Dunnellon, FL, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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try pluging in the plotter on a seperate electrical outlet. i got one here like that i cant plug my monitor into the sme plug all the other computer stuff is plugged into.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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The PNC5000 is the original ColorCAMM. Durn near an antique! This machine should run on its own dedicated LPT port. If you have anything else plugged in, like a dongle, ot a switchbox, this COULD BE the problem. Also, if you are running an HP desktop printer, THIS could be the problem if you have loasded in your 'puter the HP application that tells you when you're running low on ink. If THAT'S the case, DELETE this application. In ANY case, you'd be ahead of the game if you'd get a 2nd LPT port installed.
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Hi Kymi, I had this identical problem running a Roland 24 Camm1 with Windows XP. After 2 days of messing with blades, rollers, cables, ports, and running test programs we finally discovered the problem. The communication between the computer and the Roland cutter was not correct. We called Roland to get the proper BIOS instructions that the computer needed to talk correctly to the Roland. Then we called HP (our computer's manufacturer) and got step-by-step instructions on how to check and change the BIOS of the computer. Some settings were incorrect and after changing them the Roland cut correctly. Hope this helps and good luck.
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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Kymi, I've found that raising the knife/blade holder in the holder holder, by an eighth of an inch helps, so it has further to travel down to get to the vinyl, and more springback off it, also, don't connect on-line while plotting, or be on line, just leave the plotter alone to do its bit, but keep close by! Good luck!
PS sometimes, you have to recreate the design in a fresh file, and it'll plot well from that. Occasionally I've had trouble if the design is one that's had a lot of editing & undoing & copy & pasting to get to the final image.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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I have 1 parallel port on one computerfeeding a printer and a cutter, just unplug one and connect to the other, THEN RESET THE COMPUTER, AND RESET THE BIOS AS IT STARTS- the printer port must be set to "SPP" for the plotter, "EPP" or "ECP" for the HP inkjet, or else screwy stuff happens
-------------------- Bob Sheers 24 Hour Services Columbia, MD USA 410-995-3655 bob@go-to-airport.com Posts: 140 | From: Columbia, MD, USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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Ok let's see, I have a new hp deskjet 5150 that is on a USB port (and actually works), and the roland color camm is plugged in to the vinyl express dongle and then into to the parallel port. It has probably been six years since I have had to go to the setup place where the SPP etc changes are made and frankly I'm a little chicken, ok alot chicken. But I will give this a try. This latest input makes alot of since to me, just don't know if I'm confident enough or bright enough to get through it. But I just ran a 5 sets of county numbers for some trucks and the dern thing destroyed 25 numbers, so I have got to do something. Thanks again, all input greatly appreciated.
-------------------- Kymi Hum Vital Signs by Kymi Hum Dunnellon, FL vitalsignsbykymi@aol.com wyme on mIRC Posts: 58 | From: Dunnellon, FL, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Disable Norton. The monitors it uses are a waste of system resources and they're notorious for getting in the way of normal computer operation - plus you just don't need a real time status on most of the information Norton supplies.
I never had any problems running my PNC-5000 on win98 with an ECP printer port, in fact I have mine cutting jobs right now on winME through ECP, but it never hurts to try another setting.
I've also never had problems with HP software conflicting with the 5000's operation.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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You go to cut something and it cuts fine for a while and then at some random point in the middle of cutting the plotter decides that it's next coordinate is 5 feet down the vinyl, so it cuts to that point and then back to what SHOULD have been the next point and then continues as normal, only now you've got this errant cut in the middle of everything?
If thats what you are talking about it is the cable. We've had it happen to use before. The tech at Roland said it was crosswire interference from a damaged cable. We replaced the cable and no more problems.
Also, don't they suggest you not run the cable through the dongle? Dang dongles ain't cheap.
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Try turning off "Enable Arc Commands" While I've not had this problem another sign shop in town finally traced the exact problem down to this option being enabled.
-------------------- Brian Crothers CR Signs 1790 C Tamarac St. Campbell River B.C. V9W 3M6 briancrothers@crsigns.ca Posts: 82 | From: Campbell River B.C. Canada | Registered: Apr 2002
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Just wanted to let everyone know that I got the plotter problem fixed! After several days of head banging etc. I got a second parallel port and added more ram. Now the dongle is on lpt1 and the plotter is on lpt2 (the way I had it set up on old puter) and no more problems! YEAH! Upgrading is like taking a beating to me but I think it will all be worth it in the end. My "antique" equipment still works so I don't have to invest in new stuff and I don't have to spend a bunch of time learning new programs. I just want everyone who responded with suggestions to know that I truly appreciate your time, consideration and experience. It is so nice to know that I'm not alone out here in the sticks, that all I have to do is to type a few lines and someone will be there to share their knowledge. Hats off to all of you and thanks again for all of your help!
-------------------- Kymi Hum Vital Signs by Kymi Hum Dunnellon, FL vitalsignsbykymi@aol.com wyme on mIRC Posts: 58 | From: Dunnellon, FL, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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just a question....do you get teased about you name? we have a woman freind in sarasota..and her name is dublo....used to rag on her all the time!!!
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Old Paint, If I get your meaning....and I think I do...lol, the first time I ever heard the HUMMER reference was about 3 years ago from my sister, she had been around a lot of military people and had heard it from them. Of course she had to call me to let me know what my husband's last name referred to. So now you make the second person to mention it. I'm sure others have teased me in the past and I just didn't get it since I was oblivious to the meaning. There was a time when I was more with it, guess I'm gettin old. My husband is of course just thrilled with the corrolation as you can imagine If we ever get rich enough we're just gonna go buy one of those real HUMMERS (H2's) and bask in the irony.
-------------------- Kymi Hum Vital Signs by Kymi Hum Dunnellon, FL vitalsignsbykymi@aol.com wyme on mIRC Posts: 58 | From: Dunnellon, FL, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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![[Dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
YEAH! Upgrading is like taking a beating to me but I think it will all be worth it in the end. My "antique" equipment still works so I don't have to invest in new stuff and I don't have to spend a bunch of time learning new programs. I just want everyone who responded with suggestions to know that I truly appreciate your time, consideration and experience. It is so nice to know that I'm not alone out here in the sticks, that all I have to do is to type a few lines and someone will be there to share their knowledge. Hats off to all of you and thanks again for all of your help! ![[Thanks]](graemlins/thanks.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
If we ever get rich enough we're just gonna go buy one of those real HUMMERS (H2's) and bask in the irony.
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