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Hello Heads. I am trying to cut vinyl. I have a Gerber IVE running through a Dell, using Graphix Advantage software. It is just a dummy plotter, but I am even dumber than it today. Everything was going smoothly. I changed colors and then suddenly, nothing would happen. The file sent showed up in the active Spooler toolbar, but the plotter won't start up. (the electric part is fine, it is on, it is just ignoring me) I have tried everything...starting/restarting, blowing it off with compressed air, etc. I went into set-up and made sure it was selected as my default plotter. I opened it up, and it looks as if the amp has come unplugged from the motherboard. So I plugged it back in, which was difficult, and still no dice. The display window on the plotter reads GDS/READY when I hit the return. It usually says nothing. I called Gerber & really don't feel like paying them $45 for a tech call. Does anyone have any advice for me, please, because I am obviously clueless. My cell# is 724-831-1367 if it is easier to just call. Thanks so much & Love JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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1. Try another serial cable from your computer to your plotter (or whatever type of connection you're using.) Sometimes cables go bad.
2. Make sure your computer and plotter are still using the same port settings...you know, same baud rate, same x on x off. parity, data bits, handshaking on or off......they should be the same....
3. Does your plotter have any "dip" switches for the above mentioned settings that may have gotten bumped into the wrong position?
4. Does the plotter have a "test" routine where, if you hold down certain buttons on the plotter it will do a self test, move the carriage, etc? If it does, give it a try and see if the plotter is capable of advancing the rollers without any input from the computer.
5. Check and see if there is a way to completely reset/purge all data from the plotters cache...although this probably would be done when you unplugged the plotter from the outlet and or turned it on/off.
Hope some of these suggestions help.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Do you have a firewall running such as Zone Alarm? Zone Alarm got to the point it would occasionally (and with increasing frequency) forget I gave permission to Flexi to talk to the plotter. Going back into the programs tab and resetting permissions would not do it. I would send things to plot and nothing would happen, whereas a few minutes previously, everything worked perfectly. The only way to produce something was to reboot the computer, kill Zone Alarm and then plot. Reinstalling the latest Zone Alarm did the trick.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5107 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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close every thing,, turn off computer turn off plotter reboot computer after done rebooting turn on plotter
-------------------- 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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I have a Sprint lettering machine running through a switchbox, so it works as a dumbplotter, as Curtis says switch off everything and restart, you can also check your cables in the sprint they're numbered J10 and J11 from memory, I sometimes unplug them and put them back again on the main card if I get a commmunication problem, you can laso take out your LMK link module and put it back again.
You mention that it says GDS ready, I thought GDS was Gerber Digitising System like my old GDS 2, is that something you can change options on? If its something you don't normaly see. These are just ideas hope you get it going ágain
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Thank you, sirs... So far, no luck. I have been messing with the darn thing since I posted, except for running kids, making supper & doing a delivery. (and nearly witnessing a domestic situation at my hairdresser's) Does this help? I have no Internet on this computer. It is a 1990 4-E, no LMK (that's on the crap 4B that died this summer) It says "READY" when I turn it on. Then I have to push the "MODE" button until "GDS Plot" comes up in the window. After I hit the cut button in Compser, before it will plot I always push "RETURN". Normally, when I do this, the display window says nothing...now it says "GDS Ready". I can push the up/down/etc. arrow keys in this mode & the knife part will move & the rollers turn. My big kid pushed the amp part further on to the prongs on the mother board. I removed J10 & J11 & cleaned them. I have rebooted & restarted everything at least 6 times. It is not making any unusual sounds. That's just me crying.
Now to try the rest of the hints, thanks for giving them. And yes, Denis, I will even say a prayer...maybe one for you too. Thanks & Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I bet your quills are still operating! Damn computers! Try a nice sledge hammer, or an axe. If that doesn't work, take the late John Belushi's advise, from Animal House "My advice to you, is to start drinking heavily". Good luck.
-------------------- Luke S. Luke Scanlan Artistry Ocala, Fl. lukescanlan@cox.net Posts: 249 | From: Ocala, Florida | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:My big kid pushed the amp part further on to the prongs on the mother board.
I'm no expert with anything mechanical/electrical... but I have, in the past, encountered things that were unplugged for a reason, like on my truck... maybe where accessories that I don't have, would have went anyway, if something needed a second person to help plug it further into wherever... it sorts sounds like something that wouldn't have unplugged itself maybe? what happens when it's not plugged in? same stuff, or nothing at all? I think Henry's on to an improtant clue if the "GDS Ready" message is a new one. I hate pay-per-incident tech fees too, but could there be a knowledge base, or on-line help you could spend some time researching on?
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Hi Doug.... I just woke up! I never sleep in, I am just putting off the inevitable I guess. I did try to contact Gerber via website, but the one I found worked about as well as my plotter. This unplugged thing was partially plugged in to the same spot, only just the upper prongs were in but catty-cornered. It is the main cable end from the tower to the plotter. I think what happened is that I bumped the cable. thus partially unplugging it from the motherboard. Well, I'm gonna schlurp some coffee & go mess with it some more...Just had a regular customer stop by, in a hurry for DOT #s for his tow truck. (If my plotter had been working yesterday, I would not even have been here. I would have been at the fire hall, sticking reflective!) He says, "Well get it fixed, I need these by Monday, or I'll have to go somewhere else." Thanks for everything, guys. You are all the best. Love- JILL ps: I am closed on Saturdays, too!
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I have no plotter answers for ya, but aint there nobody nearby that will discretely cut them for you? Dot numbers aren't usually very intricate at all. If you don't have the plotter working by Monday, you could draw the numbers on the vinyl & cut 'm with an x-acto. Making plotter noises while cutting is optional, of course.
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 704 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Just me again with my boring little problem. Tried Gerber's website again....still nuthin. Called Gerber, willing to pay the $45, but tried to sneak in by posing the question as a Graphix Advantage problem....got bit in the bum, (as I deserved) they charge $45 to ask about that too. I did get Advantage Sign Supply's #, where I originally bought my system in 1998. I am buying a new card for $150+ shipping....cannot afford to lose another day's work. They won't sell a cable without buying a card & an LMK module for $800. I think it is the card. I hope. Anybody out there who knows a company that will sell me just a cable? Helllllpppp me....I'm melting.... Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
Maybe its your com port on the computer. If its on com2, try moving the plotter to com1 or visa/versa. You will also need to reconfigure the software to tell it its on a differant port. Sometimes I need to delete say Com2 in device manager and then reinstall com2 via AddNew Hardware in device manager. Its worth a shot and costs nothing if you are are comfortable doing it. Do you have another plotter to plug into the port the gerber is currently on to test the port?
-------------------- Frank Droog SignLab programmer Posts: 91 | From: ottawa,ont,Canada | Registered: Jun 2003
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I can't help with the problem itself, but whenever I get a computer problem that's driving me nuts, I find it's helpful to just back off it awhile, come back later and start anew. Working under pressure never works for me. The customer that want's some DOT's...cut em' by hand. You make the sale, and get away from the demon computer for awhile...plus the pressure is off.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Hi Frank... I will try this step as I have tried everything else at this point. I think I only have 1 port tho.... George...I ignored it all day yesterday, went and saw my brand new little great-niece Sara Welsh & even had 3 hydraulic sandwiches (thanks, Lukie) then I made a few plotter sounds like Bob recommended but it is still there today, sneering at me. Called my cousin who is an electrician to come & solder my 4B which died in July, but he hasn't shown up yet. I would have cut the #s by hand...but of course this guy wants outlines too...in Pittsburgh Steeler colors no less. If my VISA wasn't still smarting from my Grand Tour last summer, I'd charge a new damn plotter. I give up....stick a fork in me, folks. Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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