V3400 SOFTWARE

[CTGRAPHIC]

I have recently aquired a vanguard 3400. I am looking for better software than the DOS system that came with it. Anyone have any suggestions? We are a sign shop & getting into the engraving business as well.

Jim P
Ct digital Graphics
203-888-6509
jpetzold@ctdigitalgraphics.com

[jschmitt]

I believe V3400 we have uses the older hp plotter language for control. I have used acad 10 for doing special projects on our machine at work, but for what we generally do, it is clunkier than the software that came with the machine.
You can save to a hp plotter file, and redirect it to your parallel port. The two main problems are the machine hangs up on pen changes, and getting it to engrave where you want it to.

The bottom line is you can set up windows to print to an old hp plotter using HPGL or use a dos version of acad to control the V3400. If you want to persue this I believe I have the Instructions that the salesman gave me for doing this.

I think that New Hermes updated their software about 9 years ago. The version I have is is the DOS version update to work on win 95.

[aminear]

Jim,

I had the same problem, I ditched the software, and the computer it came on. Then I got a higher speed computer, rewired the EP controller and now I run Mach3 controlling the machine, Full 3d engraving and carving.

I also use Vectric's cut3d, photoVcarve and Vcarve 5.0

Arnie
www.amelectron.com

[seaboardiron]

Arnie,

Do you have any details on the conversion you made to the Vanguard 3400 for use with Mach 3?

Someone stole the computer with the program and now we have the engraver and EP controller sitting around and no way to drive it.

Thanks,
Chris

[aminear]

Chris,

The conversion uses the stepper driver board and the power supply in the EP controller. I remove the old motherboard & motion controller board.

Then I wire a conversion adapter to route the parallel port to the stepper driver board. I also rewire the stop switch to use for Estop.

Then all you do is start your Mach3 program on a computer with parallel port connected to the EP controller and go.

Contact me at aminear@amelectron.com or aminear@wyomingwireless.com for conversion services, or see my web page www.amelectron.com

Arnie

[oldtimer55]

Hello I also just acquired a New Hermes V3400 with EP module (Hpdl format.)
If you still have the instructions on this particular set up .Or an example of a hpdl file
Anything would would be helpful. I am running windows xp with parallel port.

[aminear]

It is rather complex from the simple description I did, this is a rather old post. I did determine you have to bypass several opto isolator chips because their speed is too slow.
I discovered this because after my conversion I kept missing steps. I now offer a conversion that I perform on your 3400 EP controller box. I charge $200, you pay shipping both ways, just on the EP controller.
I test the conversion on my 3400 bed before shipping and I include the Mach configuration file for you. Email and my web page (still under construction) have changed to arnie@wyomingwireless.com and www.minear.biz