newbie with Gerber Edge, help with setup

[ego198]

hello, my name is Pablo, from Spain, this is my 1st post here im looking for some help.
Sorry for my english, im learning...
ive just bought a gerber Edge system, and i have 0 experience with it and no idea how to set up and start working...is very old model, the 1st one i guess

anybody can help me and give me step by step instructions on how to set up and connect everything properly.
i guess i have all the necessary to start, ill post some pics.

Printer Gerber Edge 1 model is LE i guess
Plotter GSX Plus
Notebook i was told to put Win98 in order to work with old software program, i have ibm thinkpad with w98
i have 3 cables but in mot sure if this are the genuine ones...ill show you.
and this 2 pieces, blue and gray, i dont know the name in English, called "mochila" in Spanish, with Serial number and i guess the software inside¿?
also the cds with Graphix Advantage 6.2, prior to Omega i guess, as you can see.

i have no idea how to connect and set up, this is my very first time i put mi hands in this wonderful machines.
i read the gerber manual pdf but is very confusing to me..if someone please colud help me i would be very thankful.
Thanks in advance.

this is the soft i was given and the 2 pieces i dont were should be connected

and these are the 3 cables, as you can see they got like a "G" from gerber logo, but i dont know if they are genuine ones cause the seller gave like 10 cables..i choose these 3...

 

[Bradley Signs]

I hope this was given to you!

 

[ego198]

I hope this was given to you!

hello, my friend upgraded and he asked me if i wanted to buy it.
ive always heard about gerber and id like to try...i have no experience, always used roland and graphtec.

 

[signage]

Does that Laptop have both a serial and printer port?

Why don't you get the person that sold it to you help get it set-up.

 

[ego198]

Does that Laptop have both a serial and printer port?

Why don't you get the person that sold it to you help get it set-up.

Hello,
Yes it has both serial and parallel,25 and 9 pin. Connection should not be an issue.

Its a long story...it came.from a sign company the first owner who bought the machine sold the company to my friend..and my friend never used it..he upgraded to other machine and sitted away this machine in a corner for years until i came and buy it last week...

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

Does it even work, sitting around for years? Hope you didn't pay no more then 50 euros even that's to much.

 

[ego198]

Does it even work, sitting around for years? Hope you didn't pay no more then 50 euros even that's to much.

how can i check it?
I dont really know , i ve heard these machines you can let them around for years and keep on working after that but i dont know i need to set up everything correctly...

 

[Jburns]

Hello,

So do the following:
1. Load the software, then plug in the Blue Key when prompted. Do not plug in the key until prompted.
2. The first cable connects to the printer, then the computer.
3. the second cable you are holding connects to the plotter.- the other end goes to the COM1 port on the computer.
4. you will have to learn the software ( see help section in the software.
5. run a print test on the machine - with vinyl and foil loaded - press setup again and again, until you get to TEST PRINT- then select Block or number 5
6. Press the hidden print key - between the setup and slew key, - Press reset after 5 seconds of printing- Note: you do not have to have the printer connected to the computer for this.

 

[ego198]

Hello,

So do the following:
1. Load the software, then plug in the Blue Key when prompted. Do not plug in the key until prompted.
2. The first cable connects to the printer, then the computer.
3. the second cable you are holding connects to the plotter.- the other end goes to the COM1 port on the computer.
4. you will have to learn the software ( see help section in the software.
5. run a print test on the machine - with vinyl and foil loaded - press setup again and again, until you get to TEST PRINT- then select Block or number 5
6. Press the hidden print key - between the setup and slew key, - Press reset after 5 seconds of printing- Note: you do not have to have the printer connected to the computer for this.

hi and thanks for your help Jburns,


ive been trying this evening and i dont know if ive done well, i ve installed the graphix advantage cd, now i get a program called "Composer" and "gaplot32 "also another programs spectatron and to digitalize and scan etc...
ok. when i was installaing under "set up" i was asked to add a printer and a plotter.
as you can see i added Gerber Edge 1 printer as LPT1 thats seems to be ok.
but then i was asked to add plotter and my plotter is GSXPlus and is not on the list i added GSX15plus in COM1 ok. maybe this is no good.

i ve tried a sample job called Jake, you can see, first printing with gerber and it came ok, good quality,

but then i tried to send it to plotter GSXPlus to cut and i got a error comunication with plotter and i can not cut it. something is wrong but i dont know where to check...anybody please give me any clue...thank you.when i send to cut from gaplot32 to the plotter the program Gerber spooler shows error comunicating and cut does not start..

first time i added GSX15plus in com1, but my plotter is GSXplus is not listed, then i tried again adding also GSX15 to see if that was the mistake, but anything happened, keep the device error...

Device error

how are the dongles supossed to be connected? like this or this is wrong way? should i connect just one or both?
shouldnt be always connected maybe?

 

[ego198]

think ive solved problem with plotter error, i searched among all the cables my friend gave me (10 cables) and i found another serial cable, this is it.
plug this new cable et voila, the plotter is moving and no error again..so it was the cable i guess, this one is just 3 pins as you can see and works well no error, and the other one was complete with all the pins and gave the comunication error....

 

[ego198]

Tomorrow i will keep struggling with trial and error..hope i will get the set up properly. Thank you.

 

[Jburns]

Cool - yes the gerber plotter cable only uses those pins. Looks like you are on the right track!
The Edge model you have is an LE- its old but pretty reliable.
Also clean the silver rails on the plotter, and put some light oil on them - such as 3 in 1.

 

[ego198]

Cool - yes the gerber plotter cable only uses those pins. Looks like you are on the right track!
The Edge model you have is an LE- its old but pretty reliable.
Also clean the silver rails on the plotter, and put some light oil on them - such as 3 in 1.

Yes yes thank you Jburns..ive cutted a test print and 1 sample and cuts pretty well so its been a very good day..from 0 experience no idea to almost on the right track..im very very happy . Tomorrow i will keep working with it and will see..im thinking of upgrading to omega in the future...

 

[ego198]

hello friedns, how are you doing?
im playing with my gerber and getting used to graphix advantage, ive done some jobs and very happy with the machine, awesome, fast, reliable and strong!, what a piece of equipment!! i wish i had a fx!!!!$$$!!!!!

i ve just ordered one of this, the rubber roller from the plotter,

Gerber Plotter GS GSX Plus Bail Arm Repair Rubber Roller HS Edge Printer Foil 15 | eBay

cause mine the black rubber is isticky and seems like it is disintegrating..you understand what i mean?
i guess cause it is very old the rubber....got to clean it and put the new rubber on the metal

also ive checked my gerber edge printer shocks and they fail and i have to put my head in front of the cover while i load cartridges hahaha good solution! in the future maybe i order shocks....is there any instructions or youtube video on how to change the shocks..for newbies i mean..thanks in advance guys!

 

[ego198]

other issue that disturb me is that graphix advantage composer software to work in the notebook gerber edge printer should be connected, if the machine is off you can not load and work with graphix advantage composer, is this usual?

 

[Billct2]

The shocks can be purchased at an automotive parts store. They are fairly simple to replace.
Be sure to clean the printhead with only wipes made for cleaning electronic printheads, they are used on barcode readers and other devices so readily available.
Always clean the head by gently wiping after use.
And wipe the rails with machine oil as Jburns suggested. Also wipe the cutter head where it sits in the holder. There may also be a point to oil the head.
Good luck.

 

[Billct2]

You can't use the software unless the printer is turned on? That is not right. You should be able to design and save jobs any time, as long as the dongle is installed.

 

[Jburns]

Yes that roller does degrade over time. As for the shocks- I use one of these to mount new ones - it compresses the shock so you can mount it.
No- I can operate composer with the machines off.

 

[ego198]

The shocks can be purchased at an automotive parts store. They are fairly simple to replace.
Be sure to clean the printhead with only wipes made for cleaning electronic printheads, they are used on barcode readers and other devices so readily available.
Always clean the head by gently wiping after use.
And wipe the rails with machine oil as Jburns suggested. Also wipe the cutter head where it sits in the holder. There may also be a point to oil the head.
Good luck.

thanlk you very much mate, yes, the other day i cleaned the rails with isopropylic alcohol ( no residue) and oiled with 3&1, that was good!
the seller also gave me a box with some wipes to cleah the printhead, the are from gerber and tyey are small wipes or towels i guess with isoprop alcohol also.

i will do the cleans as gerber manual indicates.

 

[ego198]

You can't use the software unless the printer is turned on? That is not right. You should be able to design and save jobs any time, as long as the dongle is installed.

yes, if i dont turn on the printer the graphix advantge does not load in the notebook..¿? i ve been these days playing with the software and in my opinion it is ok, i mean is not failling or doing strange things..this is the only issue that disturbs me...i will check it again maybe i did something wrong..thanks Billct2