posted
I have an old Ioline that has been sitting in the back of my shop because I couldn't get it running. I finally have it able to power up and do a self-test but now I don't know what software I can use to run it. I have tried CDraw 9 and AutoCAD but can't get it to move. Anyone know what to do?
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
A lot of older plotters used HP-GL as their print language, try using the generic HP-GL driver that comes with windows, or download and try a driver for one of the older pen plotters from HP.
posted
When you say I need that HP-GL driver. Does that mean that I need to find a printer that speaks the HP-GL language, then install it as a new printer. Then when I want to send a print to the plotter, do I select that printer instead of the LP 4000?
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Laura, We are the manufacturers of SignTools for CorelDRAW. SignTools contains HP-GL drivers that will work with your Ioline LP-4000 plotter. Below is some infornmation.
SignTools Brief Description
The new version contains 30 specialty sign making tools and is compatible with CorelDRAW 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
SignTools 3 is the first version to contains cutter plotter drivers to allow users to cut directly from CorelDRAW. You can now choose from 150 popular vinyl cutter models. The drivers are very accurate and it is not neccessary to place a hairline outline on objects to get the plotter to cut. You can design in full color, with or without outlines.
SignTools 3 is now compatible with all language CorelDRAW's that use the English character set. So if you are using French, German, Dutch or Spanish CorelDRAW it will work. It is also compatible with Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP.
The cost of SignTools is $385 Australian (approx. $225 US dollars). This price includes shipping to anywhere in the world. Considering the power and ease of use of SignTools, it is arguably the best valued sign making software in the world.
Demo Version
We have a demo version of SignTools that you can download from our SignTools Downloads Page (http://www.asigns.com/SignTools_Downloads.htm). The demo version cotains 8 of the 30 tools of the full version and will give you an idea of what the full version can do. Cutting is disabled on the demo as are the other 22 tools.
Support
We have many support pages on our website to help you with any questions you may have. Below are some links to support pages.
If you have any further questions feel free to ask?
--------
Finally, below is some information on the Ioline LP3700 and LP400 models. This information can be used with any HP-GL Lower Left orientated driver.
There may be many other options you can set on your vector device to control your output. Consult your User Guide for information describing these and other settings. Depending on your specific requirements you may need to select different device settings or WinLINE settings. These following settings place the LP3700/4000 into HP-GL mode with 0.025mm/step at power up.
1. Turn the plotter ON 2. ALT,UR,1 Select User 1 3. ALT,1 Enter programming mode 4. RESET Reset User 1 to factory defaults 5. ALT,6,6 Set HP-GL 6. ALT,7,5 Set 0.025mm Coordinate Addressing (global setting, this affects all users) 7. ALT,UR,1,UR Load User 1 settings at Power up 8. ALT,ONLINE Save settings and return to normal mode
If a pen changer is not present, the IOLINE will stop for manual pen changing. Even if only one pen is used for a plot, and the pen is loaded, the IOLINE will stop twice for a manual reload. Once for the initial "SP" command to select the (first) pen and again for the SP command to return the (last) pen to the carousel. At each pause, plotting is resumed by pressing the ALT key.
Ignoring the pen changer means that single pen print jobs can proceed unattended. To ignore pen changes add the following between steps 6 and 7 above.
6a. ALT,LL,ALT,PEN DOWN,RESET disable the pen changer at power up
Note: LP 3700 model plotters with firmware versions lower than 1.05 may not have HP-GL language capability and may require a firmware upgrade. Check your firmware version by performing a self-test printout. Activate the self-test as follows:
1. Use arrow keys to locate the pen at the lower left corner of the sheet. 2. Press the ALT key. 3. Press the 7 key. This turns off the ALT indicator. The plotter draws a test plot and prints the version of currently installed firmware.
-----------
I hope this helps.
-------------------- Andrew Gourvelos A Signs Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 104 | From: Sydnet, NSW Australia | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Andrew, I have SignTools and couldn't get the plotter to move using it. But then I had a hard time understanding the LP4000 manual that I had just downloaded. So are saying that I have to foloow your 8 steps to get the plotter to receive the plot?
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Laura,..Ioline has a download program that will program the eprom(chip inside the plotter mainboard) to go online with a few minimal keypad entries every time you turn it on. It runs in dos so it is not all that user friendly but works great once you get it set up. Once the plotter has the online light on it is ready to recieve the plot. You need to be sure however that the serial port settings are correct and the proper port is assigned to the plotter driver in your software,..in this case signtools.
Another factor to consider is that alot of the old iolines could be set to read dmpl plotter language as well as hpgl. There are instructions how to switch from one language to the other in the manual.
As with most if not all hpgl plotters you will need a null modem cable not just a plain serial cable so the plotter can handshake with the pc. If your cable is just a plain serial cable a null modem adapter can be bought for under $20 at most electronic supply houses.
That's what it means. HP-GL stands for hewlett packard graphic language, they defined the standard for plotter 'print' language in the early days. The drivers are common, easily downloaded (free) from www.hp.com or you can use one of several that are included on windows installation cd. HPGL is still a standard almost every plotter recognises, I plot directly to a graphtec 4100 from coreldraw using their HPGL driver (available here) Graphtec Drivers I'm not 100% sure but I don't think there's anything proprietory about HPGL drivers, Just get one that supports the same width of media that your machine can use. Using drivers other than those designed for your machine may mean you may lose some features that are built into the machine (if any) that do not conform to basic HPGL, but the plot functions should work just fine.
Yes, you would print to the HPGL device instead of the LP 4000, you can rename to anything you want, just ensure that in the installation of the print driver that you have defined the printer port (serial, parallel, or other) as the one to which you have connected the LP 4000. For mucking about, I would suggest removing the blade until you know if its plotting properly or gibberish.
Once you have determined if the plotter is indeed alive and well you can consider whether or not you'll want to buy a 'bridging program' or tools program to make plotting more convenient. I've tried just about all of them and find that plotting directly from Corel is just as fast and convenient, I'm not saying that because of lack of budget. The learning curve is a little different. (Ask Grundy ). .
Mike
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
I have tried the HP-GL and even the HP draftmaster that the manual says to try. Nothing. I've had it hooked to my laptop with a IEEEE wire and even tried running it from Omega. Nothing. I have gotten a few other things to try from this post, when I get to the shop tomorrow.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Laura, SignTools installs a file called "Porttest.exe" into your Windows\System directory. Once you set your cutter to HP-GL, you can run this file to check your port and cable, as well as HP-GL compatibility. It should cut a small square with a diagonal line running up to the centre of the square.
Also, your serial cable must be a RS232-C cable.
-------------------- Andrew Gourvelos A Signs Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 104 | From: Sydnet, NSW Australia | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
). . 
Printer-friendly view of this topic