Ok about 5 years ago I bought a calcomp model 30, brought it home and played with it, as I was playing it did a test print, right on the board......

I ran and got some paper but could not get it to do it again, I dont know what I had pressed.

I put it in the attic one day saying I will use that to draw PCB's with an etch resist pen.


Well that day arrived last week, can I get a test print, no.

Can I get a plot from the PC no.

It all seems fine, it does a 'self test' and 'walks' the pen corner to corner, and flashes error if you block its path, so it seems to be fine.

I cant seem to get it to communicate with the PC, I've been at it for 4 days now!

It has switches for baud/parity etc, set to 300/none, pc set to 300n1.

I tried a 3 wire cable, nothing, I tried a dongle with leds, the leds lit up, but showed that both devices were driving the same data line, I had it wired 2-3 and 3-2, it needed 2-2 and 3-3, fixed that, no change.

It needs a CPGL file, not HPGL, CPGL, but has a switch for CCGL


I'm stuck..........

If I cant get it going in next ferw days, I can see a terminal acceleration project coming on......

Hi

I used to be techsupport for Roland plotters and always found Calcomps odd!

It seems that CPGL is not too far from HPGL and PCs do not like outputing data without DSR and CTS so.....

Assuming 25 pin connectors strap pins 4 & 5 together, and separately 6,8 and 20 together.

Then make a file with Notepad:

PU1000,1000;
PD;CI500;
PU;

And send this file .... copy <file> com1:

If all is well you should get a Circle. The website I just visited says that CPGL is 70% compatible with HPGL whatever that means.

Good luck

Richard

I have tried various cable combinations, and today even through the wire away and started again with fresh wire I'm getting so paranoid about where the fault is!

The above didnt draw anything though.

Think I'll take it to a friends just in case I have a broken comport, even thought the RS232 diagnostic dongle has lights that flash when I press send.......

If its easy its not usually worth it, and when I find who invented that phrase or the one like it, I'll hit him with this plotter!

Small bloody world! I thought I had the last surviving Calcomps; a 3024 and a 3036. If it's a 3036 you have, maybe you've got a lemon to begin with, I always though so regarding the one I have. The 3024 ran well day after day, the 3036 was in need of service frequently.

Neither unit is running; they're where they belong, in the attic. I've kept them in the hope that someday a project will come up where the step motors, rails, etc. will be of some use. So, I can't simply look up the settings I used, the computer I ran them from is also kaputski. I do have the manuals, drivers, and misc. stuff such as pens; if any of this can be of use to you, let me know.

Good luck with that pig.

Tom

Lez

Which of the Calcomp 30 seires plotters are working with? Some can be set to emulate Hpgl/2. I have 3036 users guide. I can probably Email you the cable pinout if you want.

Steve

Oh please do, maybe they kept the same design of cable, I have made so many cables this week I'm having dreams about being tied up in wire, and the most scary thing is none of them involve s e x

Lez:
I hope this helps, I will get you some more resoreses later. You do know that the Calcomp drivers only work in windows 98 or earlier, right? the HP emulation works in XP but not well. there are third party drivers.

steve

SERIAL PORT INTERFACE CABLE

DTE Host DeE Plotter
Male Female
Term Pin Signal Direction Pin
GND 01 ---- 01
TxD 02 ----> 02
RxD 03 <---- 03
RTS 04 ----> 04
CTS 05 <---- 05
DSR 06 <---- 06
Sig Gnd 07 ---- 07
DCD 08 <--- 08
09 09
through
19 19
DTR 20 ----> 20
21 ---- 21
RI 22 <--- 22
23 ---- 23
24 ---- 24
25 ----- 25

All 25 pins are wired through, although not all 25 pins are used.

RS-232C (SERIAL PORT) CABLES



Part Number

11772-0102*

11772-0250

16623-0029


Description

RS-232C interface cable for IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or equivalent (25-pin male to 25-pin female). May require 9-pin
to 25-pin adapter.

Same as above.

RS-232C interface cable for Apple Macintosh II. Macintosh 8-pin male to CalComp 25-pin male.



length
10 ft/3.05 m

25 ft/7.62 m

12 ft/3.66 m



CENTRONICS (PARALLEL PORT) CABLES



Part Number

18735-0129

717960-9


Description

Centronics interface cable for IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or equivalent (25-pin male to 36-pin male).

Same as above.



length
10 ft/3.05 m

25 ft/7.62 m





8


* This data cable is supplied with DesignMate Model 3036.

Lez:

I just noticed the what looks like a 7 in the pinout chart is actually a > as in ----> It looks like a standard serial cable with all of the pins wired straight through.

Steve

Ok I'l give that a go!

its down to its last chance before its off in the attic again......

Do you have a source for etch resist pens? I may try making boards with my HP plotter.

I was going to use a standard etch resist pen and some duct tape......

I did find a site, (pos up easy on google) of someoe who has done just that with a hp , but I dont think it was a true flatbed, I think the 'paper' is moved for the Y direction and the pen is moved for the X, but even so its a working model on his site.

If you give it a go, report back with a picture or two!

Well it went back in the attic and I bought a HP 7475, got that working, then I decieded to try the HP cable on the calcomp, nothing, sat their looking dead, as I turned the machine over to unplug it the thing started working!

What had I done, I had pressed something, I guessed.

Well after some more presssing I found that when you power it up, it defaults to 'offline' so it does not suddenly plot and rip off any body parts in its way, fingers etc...

To start the plot you have to press chart and view in that order........

Could have been ok from day one for all I know, hope this info helps anyone who finds this thread.

Edit, Only just noticed in first post I called it a model 30 and its really a model 83......

Also its so damn accurate!, you can plot a pcb, park it up, then restart the plot and it retraces it steps so accuratly I cant see the 2nd trace, why dont they build machines this good today, too much plastic and weight saving imho



dtr/dsr signalling is essential, xon/xoff etc does not work with it.

lez:

what os and driver are you useing to run the calcomp?

steve

Hi,

I'm using the 'signgo' software (signgolite) with its 'universal' plotter driver, under XP

I'm using a 25-9 pin cable that came with my ebay hp7475a.


Also I have tried others, and I like (signgo again) IoLine ArtPro LP3500 as it lets me set the line speed, it was going too fast before and on long lines the pen would run out of ink.

Also under XP I have used the roland dxy1200 driver, even 'plots' the windows test page text and all, takes a while though, and does it in a very odd fasion, ie first it plots all the letter C's in a sentance, then the E's, weird, but works fine.

I've got a Calcomp 3036 pen plotter. I've scoured the web for info with no luck. I think I have a cable issue, 9 pin at computer to 25 pin at plotter. It worked fine on a NT 4.0 system but I'm on xp and think it needs reconfigured. Anyone no what that is?

Also when it's plugged in a port tester won't even recognize the port. I'm using Winline's driver. If i can get the dang thing to print a test page I'll buy it. I don't have a manual for this unit and of course like most the scumbags at Calcomp can't even remmember they made it. No info there.

Thanks

my 3036 works fine with a 9 pin cable. it will run with hp driver in xp but not very well. make sure that all of the port configureations in your computer and your plotter match. if you need help with the plotter setup let me know.

steve jackson

on xp and think it needs reconfigured. Anyone no what that is?



Eh?

A serial port is a serial port, the 'operating system' change should make no difference.


Also when it's plugged in a port tester won't even recognize the port.

what kind of port tester, where are you plugging it in?

I'm using Winline's driver. did not work for mine, still does not work for mine, given up with that


If i can get the dang thing to print a test page I'll buy it. you will need a manual to print a test page, to get the button sequence right

I don't have a manual for this unit no test page for you then!

and of course like most the scumbags at Calcomp can't even remmember they made it. No info there.Thats problem I had.

I am using it with a hp cable, I will take the cable apart tonight and type up the pinout for anyone who finds this thread etc, and so you can check yours.

I'm using a 9 pin to 25 cable, so its been made by some previous owner.


You need to download signgo lite, and set the driver to universal, it wont work set to HP, well mine wont...........

Also remember when I turn mine on it's 'offline' not 'online' so wont plot unless you turn it on, wait for it test itself, then press 'chart' followed by 'view', then you can try to plot something.

To run setup (copied from 3036 users guide)

Set Up via the Set Up Menu
1. Turn DesignMate power on.
2. Install pen(s) in turret and place turret in DesignMate (page 13).
3. Load media (8.5" x 11", A4 or equivalent recommended) (page 9) and lower pinch rollers.
4. Press SET UP and follow the instructions on the plot.


steve jackson

Thanks all. Last night I took the cable to the shop and reconfigured the pins. I plugged it all back in and Presto! Test page printed perfectly.

And now... The only problem I have left is the
driver. I was using the trial version of winline. I went to the site to buy it..GULP! $200. Thats a bunch of crap that Calcomp doesn't support it products and we're forced to buy 3rd party. I'm not buying it. I've spent thousands upgrading my system and Cad programs and now I can't use the stuff.

If anyone has any workarounds or alternate drivers I love to hear from you.

Calcomp Designmate3036 running on XP Pro.

Is anyone successfully running this machine on XP?

Thanks

I stumbled across this thread. Funny how we find things!

Last Summer I bought a CalComp Designmate 3024 at a yard sale for $20. I thought I could do "something" with it even if I just tore it apart to see what makes it tick. I still haven't hooked it up, but I have all the manuals, pens and cables.

If any of this helps anyone, give me a shout and I'll see if I can get you any info.

Jim

I downloaded a demo of AutoCAD 2007, which has a Cal Comp 3036 driver. After the demo license expired I found that the plot manager still worked. By downloading DWG viewer, which is free from AutoCAD, you can save your cad files in DWG format and plot them from the DWG viewer.