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I've got a 4B plotter I've been using since 1989, just for pounce patterns. And I have a Graphtec FC4100 plotter that's about 15 years old. The 4B started going wonky on the patterns and doesn't work anymore. I just bought a pounce attachment for the Graphtec and put it in the holder and I heard a snap, bang sound and a screw fell on the floor (nothing to do with the attachment, just coincidental). The media hold down lever came loose. I put the screw back in but the lever is not functioning. It doesn't raise or lower the pinch rollers. Does anyone have experience with something like this so they can walk me through a fix? Seems like everything around here is old, including me.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1265 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have a 4B that I still use. It has broken a few times and every time I think it's the end of the line I find it's something easy to fix, just hard to identify. Last time a piece of adhesive was on the cam shaped black rod where the material feeds in. It caused the cutting head to snag in a spot. Another time the small orange belt with teeth was worn. One time the fan broke causing it to do wierd stuff when it overheated. Turns out the fan is an aftermarket part I got at an electronics store.
I hope you can fix yours.
-------------------- Chuck Peterson Designs San Diego, CA Posts: 1050 | From: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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There is a guy in Los Angeles area that I took my Graphtec to for repair. I might assume there are some certified repair folks around the country, maybe in your area. They do like a tune up on occasion. I use the pounce feature on mine regularly. When I got it, there was a problem with if I did a pen plot followed by the perforating there was about a quarter inch offset. Graphtec wrote a fix for that for me. I think mine might be a bit older than yours.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I would take the lever back off and look at the side of the lever that goes into the machine. They usually have a slot or square to locate the lever on the shaft. You just might not have it seated properly. The snap/bang deal though sounds like a spring has broken somewhere. The springs provide the "pinch". If you take the case apart, a broken spring will be apparent.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Rick, are you talking about the Plotter Doctor? I think he is in Downey, CA.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3812 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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