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Troubleshooting port issues
[+] Switching between Parallel and Serial Communications.
SmarTrac signcutters communicate with the computer via either parallel or serial cable.The system detects the cable type the first time data is sent to the plotter and sets it as the default. That default stays in effect until the power is turned off.
Always turn power to the plotter off before switching communication type. Move or add the necessary cables between the computer and the plotter. Turn power on to continue plotting.
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[+] Parallel Port Troubleshooting.
- In Windows® 95/98, click the Start button and select Settings. Then click Printers to open the printers window folder.
- Right-click the printer icon for the network printer and select Properties.
- Click on the Capture Settings tab.
- Click on End Capture to end the port capturing.
- Click the Start button and select settings and then click Control Panel to open the Control Panel window.
- Double-click the system icon to open the system window. Then, click on the Device Manager tab.
- To remove the LPT port, selecting the port, then click the REMOVE button.
- Restart Windows®.
- Before the computer launches Windows®, press the indicated key (watch for an on-screen message; The system usually directs you to press the delete key or ESC key on your keyboard during boot-up). The system will display the PC's BIOS setup.
- Set the port to SPP (not ECP or EPP). Make certain there is no DMA activity associated with the port, then save the BIOS settings.
- Allow Windows® to launch under the new settings. Windows® 95 should be able to find your port and install it using the new settings.
Windows® 95/98 commonly assigns LPT1 or LPT2 as the default communications port for PCs on a network—redirecting data across the network instead of to the local parallel port. In such case, in order to communicate correctly with the SmarTrac, you need to end the port capture on the PC:
BIOS settings can also effect communication between the plotter and the computer. The signcutter supports only the simplest modes of IEEE-1284 communication.
Print and follow these instructions for editing your PC's BIOS prior to starting Windows®.
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Use with CorelDRAW!®
[+] How to plot from CorelDRAW!® 7.- Verify that all of the objects you wish to plot or cut are grouped and that the group is selected.
- Position the drawing in the lower left corner of the page.
- Go to the file drop-down menu and select EXPORT.
- Name the file, and pick the folder where you want to store it. Below the file name under Save as type, select HPGL plotter file (PLT) from the drop-down menu. In the bottom right corner, check the box that reads Selected only—make sure your drawing has been selected first—then hit the EXPORT button.
- HPGL Export dialog box: Under the PEN tab, make sure all of the pens are unused. Save those settings in the box marked Pen Libraries.
- Under the Page tab: Plotter origin should be Page Center. Plotter units should read 1013.
- Under the Advanced tab: Curve resolution should read 0.001 Inches. Nothing else should have a check in it.
- Hit the OK button. Your plot file has been saved to the folder under the name of your choice.
- Turn the cutter on and setup for a new plot. Press the Start Point button. Open the Ioline Control Center.
- Click on the Options drop-down menu, and select the HPGL Setting. Select the Center origin, and click OK. The system will ask if the panel size is correct; Click OK.
- Next, change the panel size to reflect the size of the plot. (For example; If the drawing size in CorelDRAW!® is 100 long by 24 wide, then make the X-axis panel size in the control center 100.0, and make the Y-axis panel size 24.0. Now send the settings to the plotter by clicking on the Temporary button.
- Next, click on File, then Send Cut/Plot File. Find your plot file (the one you saved from CorelDRAW!® earlier). Click on it, and click OK. The cutter will now start to plot (or cut) the drawing.
Note: Make certain CorelDRAW!® is running and your drawing is open and ready to export.Special note: When you send the plot file to the cutter, the system will measure to the center of the page you selected in the Control Center. For example, if the X-axis panel size is 100 inches, the plotter will scroll out 50 inches of vinyl to locate the center, then return to the start to begin cutting out the design.
- [+] How to plot from CorelDRAW!® 9.
- Make sure all of the objects to be plotted/cut, are grouped together and that the group is selected.
- Verify that your drawing does not have any fills in it and select the Hairline pen outline for all the objects. (Without an assigned outline, your drawing will not plot).
- Place the drawing in the lower left corner of the page.
- Go to the file drop-down menu and select EXPORT.
- Name the file, and pick the folder where you want to store the file. Below the file name under Save as type, select HPGL plotter file (PLT) from the drop-down menu. In the bottom right corner, check the box that says Selected only—make sure your drawing has been selected first—and hit the EXPORT button.
- The next window to come up will be the HPGL Export screen. Click on the Page tab, make sure the Plotter Origin has Bottom Left checked. Plotter units should read 1013.
- Click on the Advanced tab, and make sure none of the boxes are checked. Curve Resolution should read .001 inches. Click OK.
- Make sure the Ioline Cutter is powered on and assign a start point. Open the Ioline Control Center.
- At the main screen click on the File drop-down menu. Select Send Cut/Plot File.
- In the Send Cut window, locate the file that you named in step 3, and select it. Then choose OK. The plotter should start cutting or plotting.
Note: Make sure CorelDRAW!® is running, and the drawing you intend to cut or plot is ready to for export.
- [+] How to plot from CorelDRAW!® 10.
- Make sure all of the objects to be plotted/cut, are grouped together and selected. Place the drawing in the lower left corner of the page.
- Select the drawing and go to the file drop-down menu and select EXPORT.
- Name the file, and pick the folder where you want to put the file. Below the file name under Save as type, select HPGL plotter file (PLT) from the drop down menu. In the bottom right corner check the box that says Selected only (Make sure your drawing has been selected first) hit the EXPORT button.
- Under the Page tab; Plotter origin should be Page Center. Plotter units should read 1013.
- Under the Advanced tab; Curve resolution should read 0.0 Inches. Nothing else should have a check in it.
- Hit the OK button. Your plot file has been saved to the folder, and name of your choice.
- Turn the cutter on, and setup for a new plot. Press the Start Point or Set Origin button. Open the Ioline Control Center.
- Click on the Options drop-down menu, and select HPGL Setting. Select the Center origin, and click OK. It will ask if the panel size is correct. Click OK.
- Next, change the panel size to reflect the size of the plot. (For example; If the drawing size in Corel is 100 wide by 24 tall, then make the X-axis panel size in the control center 100.0 and set the Y-axis panel size 24.0. Now, send the settings to the plotter by clicking on the Temporary button.
- Click on File, then Send Cut/Plot File. Find your plot file (the one you saved from CorelDRAW!® earlier). Click on it, and click OK. The cutter will now start to plot or cut out the drawing.
Note: Make sure CorelDRAW!® is open, and the drawing you intend to cut or plot is ready to for export.NOTE: Once settings are changed in the HPGL export window of CorelDraw, the settings will stay the same for all other files.
- [+] How to plot from CorelDRAW!® 11.
- Make sure all of the objects to be plotted/cut, are grouped together and selected.
- Make sure your drawing does not have any fills in it, then select the Hairline pen outline for all the objects. (If it doesn't have an outline, it won't plot).
- Place the drawing in the lower left corner of the page.
- Go to the File drop-down menu and select EXPORT.
- Name the file, and pick the folder where you want to put that file. Below the file name under Save as type, select HPGL plotter file (PLT) from the drop-down menu. In the bottom right corner check the box that says Selected only (Make sure your drawing has been selected first) and click the EXPORT button.
- The next window to come up will be the HPGL Export screen. Click on the Page tab, make sure the Plotter Origin has Bottom Left checked. Plotter units should read 1000.
- Click on the Advanced tab, and make sure none of the boxes are checked. Curve Resolution should read 0.0 inches. Click OK.
- Make sure the Ioline SmarTrac is powered on, and is setup with a start point. Open the Ioline Control Center.
- At the main screen click on the File drop-down menu. Select Send Cut/Plot File.
- In the Send Cut window, locate the file that you named in Step 3, and select it. Then choose OK. The plotter should start cutting or plotting if everything was set up right.
Note: Make sure CorelDRAW!® is open, and the drawing you intend to cut or plot is ready to be exported.NOTE: Once settings are changed in the HPGL Export window of CorelDRAW!®, the settings will stay the same for all files.
- [+] How to plot from CorelDRAW!® 12.
- Make sure all of the objects to be plotted/cut, are grouped together and selected. Make sure your drawing does not have any fills in it, and select the Hairline pen outline for all the objects. (If it doesn't have an outline, it won't plot). Place the drawing in the lower left corner of the page.
- Go to the file drop-down menu and select EXPORT.
- Name the file, and pick the folder where you want to put that file. Below the file name under Save as type, select HPGL plotter file (PLT) from the drop-down menu. In the bottom right corner check the box that says Selected only (Make sure your drawing has been selected first) hit the EXPORT button.
- The next window to come up will be the HPGL Export screen. Click on the Page tab, make sure the Plotter Origin has Bottom Left checked. Change the Plotter Units number to 1013.
- Click on the Advanced tab, and make sure none of the boxes are checked. Curve Resolution should read 0.0 inches. Click OK.
- Make sure the Ioline Cutter is powered on, and is setup with a start point. Open the Ioline Control Center.
- At the main screen click on the File drop-down menu. Select Send Cut/Plot File.
In the Send Cut window, locate the file that you named in step 3, and select it. Then choose OK. The plotter should start cutting or plotting if everything was set up right.
Note: Make sure CorelDRAW!® is open, and the drawing you intend to cut or plot is ready to be exported.NOTE: Once settings are changed in the HPGL export window of CorelDraw, the settings will stay the same for all other files.
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Issues with CASmate®
[+] Issue: plot shifts or plots incorrectly when using CASmate®.- Sorting - Make sure the SORT command is turned OFF in the Plotmate Dialog box. If you want to sort the file, you should select the Automatic Ordering command located under the Edit, Arrange menu option.
- Check the Config.sys to make sure FILES is equal to 50 or more.
- Remove any temporary files in the TEMP directory.
- If running Windows® 3.1 or 3.11, go into the Control Panel, select Port, highlight the port the plotter is connected to, then click Settings. Make sure Handshaking is set to Hardware and not Xon/Xoff. If you are running Windows® 95, go into the Control Panel / System / Device Manager, highlight the port, then click Properties. Click on Port Settings tab and make sure Flow Control is set to Hardware. You should also click Advanced and turn Use Fifo Buffers to OFF .
- In CASmate®, select Setup from the MISC menu into the Setup in CASmate®, highlight the driver, click Communication and change from Hardware to Polling.
- While in the Setup menu you can switch from Plotting via the Job Manager to Plot Direct.
- If you are using Windows® 3.1 or 3.11, CASmate® recommends replacing the COMM.DRV in the Windows\System directory with the one on the CASmate® Disk #1 or CASmate® CD (either in the root directory of the CD or the OTHER directory). If you are running Windows® 95, CASmate® recommends the new Job Manager in #8 before replacing the COMM.DRV.
- If you are running CASmate® 6.0 - 6.04, you can replace the JOBMAN.EXE located in the CASWIN directory. This file is in the OTHER directory on the newest CASmate® CD.
These problems most likely stem from a communication problem between CASmate and the Ioline SmarTrac. CASmate® recommends checking the following order:ANY OTHER QUERIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO CASMATE® TECH SUPPORT www.scanvecamiable.com
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Troubleshooting USB issues
[+] USB Support Troubleshooting.If you have a newer Macintosh® or PC that has USB ports instead of a serial port, you will need to purchase a USB to Serial adapter to connect an Ioline plotter to your computer. We have tested our software successfully with the following adapters:
Keyspan USB to Serial Adapter www.keyspan.com
Belkin® USB PDA Adapter model F5U109 or F5U103-MAC www.belkin.com
