posted
My son is planning on buying a used plotter and driving it with his mac. My stuff is so old I'm WAY outta the loop on the current stuff. The software driving the plotter would have to be compatible with Adobe Illustrator.
This is a cutting plotter only.
-------------------- Bob Parsons 907-258-6283 rparsons@gci.net Posts: 118 | From: Anchorage, AK / USA | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Bob, I just purchased a graphtec which claims to be able to be run on the mac side as well as windows. It comes with it's own built in software. And has some sort of plug in to illustrator.
A new plotter alone for a 24" is about $2k so it may be worth the jump to go new if you can't find anything compatible.
posted
SAM at skidmore sign in Birmingham, al. cuts with a old mac...........you might check with him.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey thanks for the tips. I'm working pretty old stuff. I have an old mac that is just a slave to my serial port set-up plotter. That mac can handle illustrator 5!
My son is having to buy new stuff. Now, I have a graphtec plotter but it doesn't hook up to USB. Be cool if it did...
-------------------- Bob Parsons 907-258-6283 rparsons@gci.net Posts: 118 | From: Anchorage, AK / USA | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Bob, there are some workarounds to hook up your old plotter to a newer system if it's in good shape and your son wants to save a few bucks. I changed a serial port connection on my Summa D-60 to USB with a little thingamajig I bought at the geek store. My level of expertise is apparent, but you get the picture......
WHERE'S CURTIS?
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Graphtec plotters come with Cutting master, an Illustrator plug in. I have my FC 7000 plugged into my MacPro via USB and it's also plugged into my ancient G$ with a USB/Serial conversion cable. I can cut from either Mac without changing a thing.
Running Illustrator 10 on the G4 just so I can run MacImprint for my edge and CS3 on my Mac Pro.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1356 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
There are several usb to serial adapters out there that you can plug your old plotter cable into and then just plug the new adapter into a usb port,....
the trick is to use your old working cable with the new adapter cable and that eliminates most peoples problems with an off the shelf adapter
[ March 28, 2012, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
This company has a great bridge program to cut Illustrator files. They have Mac and Windows versions. Best of all you can go with various subscriptions (requires internet) or you can buy the dongle version. Last I looked they had 1 month (for trial) 3 month 6 month and 1 year subscriptions which were very reasonable.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic