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jette · Guest

hey folks, i got a little strange problem with a pen plotter i try to
run again after some 10 years. it is a colorpro plotter hp 7440 a.

i recon everything works quite fine, the demo version is runnig, you
could control it with the panel it has, but i can't gain any connection
to the computer.

the system is runnig under windows xp, another computer runs on 2000.

i tried to run the motors with pcnc, that didn't work, after that
sending some simple codes through dos, such like moving a pen or
printing a single line. (the commands can be seen on winline.com, it is
an easy method to test old plotters like that)

but even that doesn't work. the printer has a new serial cable, i also
tested the dataflow with a rs 232 minitester. there was some flow, but
the plotter is still calm.

can anybody help me waking him up?

merci beaucoup.

jette

Guest · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: pen plotter beuges

Hi

I am trying to get my old Calcomb plotter working , sort of have the
same problems as you but am progressing. First you must know that
today's computers go with an 8bit one stopbit even parity port where
back then most com ports did 7 bit 2 stop bits and various parity.
Getting old plotters to work is first of all to make sure dipswitches
are set right, to make sure your computers ports are set right
according this, and that your driver software also are checked right
for data flow controls.

Now my problem was simular to yours untill I checked Xon/Xoff instead
of hardware data controll but the strange thing is that last time I had
the thing running it was with Arcnac protocol asking a twisted wire
connection --- if your device expect Arcnac it is obvious you don't get
any response as nothing are listening to the right wire , but ------
maby the problem are what I am about to check, that an old mem-chip are
out of order, this happen and caurse all sorts of trouble like mine,
that you can't sort out by logic.

Check the connections, the protocol the various data response wires old
plotters are like that no plug and play and the connection need to be
set up very strickt.

P.C.

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