Help, Can't Cut Anything

[stitch]

Just bought a used set-up. Graphtec CE1000-60 and Flexi 6.5.
I got everything hooked up, but when I send a design to the cutter, nothing happens. Not even a error message.
Got it hooked to LPT1, production manager is set for CE1000, loaded the drivers, etc. I know the cable is good because I cut something from Corel.
I'm probably missing something obvious, just can't figure it out.

Thanks

 

[gvgraphics]

Is production manager set for LPT1?

 

[stitch]

Yes, when the production manager window is open, it says
"CE1000-60 on LPT1"

 

[williamson design]

I was going to mention the cable, but I overlooked the point you made in your post.

Nevemind
Glen

 

[Fred Weiss]

Is the Graphtec online? What happens when you run a self test on the Graphtec?

 

[stitch]

I was reading that in the manual, but it says to mount a "plotting pen and not a cutter pen" I dont have a plotter pen, so I didn't do it.

 

[Fred Weiss]

So use a plotter knife and put a scrap of vinyl in the plotter instead of paper.

 

[stitch]

it started cutting immediately, lines, shapes, "test of plotter rs232 etc"
it just kept on going though, i had to stop it.

 

[Fred Weiss]

You have now eliminated the plotter as any part of the problem.

Did it come with any software of its own? If you can get it to run from anything else then you know the problem is with Flexi. What ports do you have available with the plotter? I thought it was just Rolands that ran from LPT ports. I suspect that the Graphtec may run if you set it up on a serial comm port instead of a printer port.

 

[stitch]

Thanks for your help Fred. I will keep plugging away.

 

[The Big Squeegee]

Make sure you are not sending to a print que. Check the printer ques.

 

[stitch]

checked that too

 

[Fred Weiss]

I am moving this to the Graphtec forum where perhaps you may get a reply from Howard at Graphtec.

 

[Howard Keiper]

You don't say what language you're using...HPGL or GPGL. They need to be the same. You can find out quickly enough on the graphtec side: Put the machine in PAUSE; NEXT a couple of times 'till INTERFACE; COMMAND. Whatever it is, change it....see if you get communication. If you're working in GPGL, you'll more than likely have to set the STEP SIZE to 1016.
hk

 

[Just Another Sign Guy]

Howard, what are you doing weighing in on a Graphtec issue? shouldnt you be advising us on the best places to fish? or the best cruise destination now?

 

[stitch]

Thanks for the help Howard, but when I go to step size my choices are .010, .025, .050 and .100. There is no 1016. Am I missing something?

 

[Howard Keiper]

It means you're in HPGL. The question is, do you get communication even though the size might be incorrect?

 

[stitch]

No, no error message or anything. When I send a design to the plotter via Flexi, the production manager says that its cutting and goes from 0 to 100% progress.

 

[Howard Keiper]

If I remember correctly (can't guarantee that) Flexi outputs to Graphtec in GPGL unless you tell it otherwise. Anyway, sounds like a HPGL / GPGL conflict to me.
But most of it's working if wou successfully cut from Corel.
hk

 

[stitch]

I tried GPGL and HPGL, I bought a new cable (parallel to centronics). Still nothing.
One thing I did notice was when I click the cut/plot icon and window pops up, there is a little icon next to the material size. The icon has a question mark and when I click on it it says "cutter is not responding to poll size".