posted
I just added a new HP deskjet 940 to my computer today and now my Summa cutter cuts extremely slow from Signlab. I use the parallel port and the bytes sent that shows on the screen are very slow and small in number. What changed to cause this? It takes forever to cut a simple 12" character.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2787 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Just a guess, but when you loaded the printer drivers for your new printer, I wonder if it changed the parallel port settings in your Bios. Like EPP or ECP-EPP or EPP. If you know what all that stuff is and your Cutter needed to see EPP now it's maybe ECP thanks to the printer install. I'd check it because if you have your cutter setup on your parallel port it would effect it.
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
dave a real easty fix for this is to get a LPT PORT CARD, i have one in my computer and my plotter is on LPT-2, and its the only thing on that port. the LPT-1 that is on the m/b is for my printer. card is only $20-30 and i think the new ones are capable of having 2-3 things hooked to it.
-------------------- 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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posted
what is set as default ? just a guess, can u set the plotter as default printer and get the speed back?
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
David, I have a Roland and a 952 HP. The HP has a choice of parallel and USB. I have to put it on USB port, or it will print extremely slow. My Roland cuts almost too fast on LPT 1. I guess I had the same problem but just the other direction. The USB connection took care of it. Jack
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Seriously folks... The parallel (or printer) connection ought to be way more than fast enough for any plotter. Select the printer icon from your control panel and select PROPERTIES. From there be sure you are spooling RAW data...after first page should be ok. Use the ECP mode. hk
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
I highly doubt that your printer install could have changed the parrallel port settings. You normally have to change this through the bios. Now I could be wrong, but that has been my experience.
Open up Windows Device Manager and check for conflicts. If there are any, clear them. Switch over to serial connection and see if that helps. From my (limited) experience with plotters, serial has always been way more than fast enough for the data requirments needed by my 24" 48ips cutter. The add-on parrallel port sounds like a good, quick fix too.
-shane
-------------------- Halo Graphics Clearlake Oaks, CA http://www.halographics.com ntshane1@halographics.com Posts: 308 | From: Clearlake Oaks, CA | Registered: May 2001
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posted
My guess is that the HP printer install changed some things...they do it all the time. HP thinks that they are the only ones that count, and their installs overwrite .dlls and all sort of other things!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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David, they are telling the truth when it comes to new software/devices “interfering” with operating system settings. I have had other customers with similar communication problems after installing scanners, printers, and MOSTLY … personal hand held devices like Palm Pilot software.
Besides changing settings the computers can … at times… hold peripheral devices like cutters in a transient state. Once in this state the only way to change it back is to break that connection between the device and computer (disconnect it). After that the cutter can reset itself back to what it’s suppose to be and function normally once you restart EVERYTHING and reconnect it.
However there is a easy way to tell if our Summa cutter does have a problem or if its coming from your computer / software. All the new cutters including all the old SummaSign models have onboard controls. What that means is you do not need a computer to do any tests.
To test this: first power off the cutter and disconnect it from your computer (remove EVERY cable except the power cable). Then power on the cutter and run an internal “Confidence” cut (your manual will describe where and how to run it on your specific Summa cutter). If it still cuts slow like you described then the cutter has something wrong. If it returns to normal operation then the cutter is working fine and the problem lies in your software or computer.
If you have any other questions or this doesn’t solve your problem please give us here at Summa Tech Support a call at 1-206-527-0447 or 1-800-323-9766… Monday – Friday, 7AM – 5PM Pacific Standard Time.
[ October 16, 2002, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: Allen ]
-------------------- Regards,
Allen Summa, Tech Support Posts: 6 | From: Seattle | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
Thanks for all the responses. I just uninstalled all of Hp's drivers and software and did a test plot. Everything is back to normal. Definitely was the Hp software that changed my port or system settings. The printer will also work with a usb connection which I am proceding to setup now (hope nothing gets wrecked from this one). I did use a serial connection with my Summa before but it was always waiting for data.
As for two lpt ports, I have that now. One is for Signlab's dongle and the other has (or did have) one parallel cable going to a switch box sharing the plotter and printer. Hopefully the Usb connection will alleviate a lot of this.
Thanks again for the Summa (and even Graphtec) people showing up here. I called Cadlink yesterday and they wanted $55 for help on this. That, after all the crap I have gone through with Signlab in the last year. I won't even get into the disappointment I feel in the way they are handling a current order.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2787 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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