Using a 7580B plotter to cut vinyl?

[TylerDurden]

Hello everyone.

I'm looking to create some vinyl lettering to stick on the side of an old uhaul truck, for advertising purposes.

I just bought an HP 7580B plotter at an auction, and learned that it can be used as a cutter, by seeing this thread:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39238

The plotter doesn't have a cable with it to connect to a pc, I currently have no paper or vinyl to use with it, or any software.

The working area is about 26" wide, so I'm guessing it is a 24" plotter.

It powers on, but because I don't have any material to put in it, I can't test it (at least I don't think so, as, I tried the confidence test thing, but nothing happened, hoping that is just because there's no material in it).

I see that mimaki bladeholders are listed on ebay for about $35, and the pens, $15 for 5.

Before I buy these things, I'm wondering if I should just go another route, if this plotter is not going to perform well, the cost of good enough software to use for creating letters, what things I need to be aware of, etc.

I bought the plotter just kind of hoping it would work for this, but wasn't sure at the time this it was.

Thanks for any response

[CalG]

The HP plotters are great cutters.

You will need:
a null modem serial cable to connect your computer to the plotter. Look at Chiplote.com for other serial port options as well as some plotter enthusiasm.
An art program that generates Vector graphics such as InkScape , There are many!
A way to export the Vector graphics to HPGL format. pstoeditl works well to convert files. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pstoedit
Corel Draw allows direct export of graphics in HPGL format. DWG TrueView will also export HPGL format.

READ the entire Literature offering regarding the 7580 downloaded from the HPMuseum site. You will need to set pen speed and down force, and might want to disable automatic pen selection to protect your cutter.

Search the web for "converting plotter cutter" there is at least one complex site on this subject in Europe.

WinLine, A commercial application, can make your cutting tasks relatively easy.

Keep us posted! Have fun!

[TylerDurden]

Thanks a lot for the information! You've probably saved me hours just with your post. It will take a little bit for it all to sink in.

I'll get started on the manual, and then try testing it again after getting some paper to use, and then move on to trying cutting if it does work.

I'm sure I'll have more questions, that is one thing I'm good for. I'll try to do the research before asking too many more .

Thanks again.

[TylerDurden]

I've been looking at the manual, but jumped ahead a bit and tried a confidence test.They tutorial that I looked at didn't mention that I had to press the 'chart load' ('reset') button, but the manual did, so I figured it out and the test worked. The pens are dried out, but it made a faint image and so it looks like it worked.

Now I guess I need a blade holder, blade, a cable, software and some vinyl to go forward and try cutting out some letters. I think I'll try the trial version of coreldraw to get going and see how it goes before spending $ on some. I looked at the winline site but it looks as though you have to contact them to get a price, so probably out of my range I'm guessing.

[CalG]

I thought Winline had a free trial aspect, perhaps they have changed. Inkscape is my choice for the art work, but I have my plotter/cutter connected to a Linux box.

Don't forget the "wear strip" directly under the knife, Multiple layers of plastic packing tape works, but there are Teflon tapes you can purchase from the sign making supplies outlets.

Don't get hung up on direct output to the plotter. Just get your art work (even letters) to a file in HPGL format. You might look into HPGLdistiller pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller/ to clean up and simplify any files generated by "complex" graphics software.
Files can be sent to the plotter via a terminal window. "Command prompt" from windows
(copy <directory directory file.name> com1 etc. This is all DOS technology remember ;-). Make sure of your handshake, use Xon/Xoff, depending on the serial cable you get. (Check the connections part of the manual).

The application, Realterm is a good one if not too "feature rich" for simple file transfer needs.

Fiber tip pens can be refreshed by refilling the pen body with liquid ink. The plastic caps just pry off, and snap back on. I use an eye dropper to transfer India ink to my pens. Works OK, but there might be better inks ;-) technical pens often need a good soaking in hot water and then alcohol to clean out old dry ink. Then refill and plot away.

[TylerDurden]

I thought Winline had a free trial aspect

They have a couple download links, I guess maybe they're how to start a free trial, there site is a bit funny.

Don't forget the "wear strip" directly under the knife, Multiple layers of plastic packing tape works, but there are Teflon tapes you can purchase from the sign making supplies outlets.

Ok, that is over my head, I don't know where that would go exactly, all along the line that the blade would be cutting along, or what. I'll research some more about that.

Don't get hung up on direct output to the plotter. Just get your art work (even letters) to a file in HPGL format. You might look into HPGLdistiller pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller/ to clean up and simplify any files generated by "complex" graphics software. Files can be sent to the plotter via a terminal window. "Command prompt" from windows (copy <directory directory file.name> com1 etc. This is all DOS technology remember ;-). Make sure of your handshake, use Xon/Xoff, depending on the serial cable you get. (Check the connections part of the manual).

Ok, over my head a bit, but I understand the part about getting the letters into the HPGL format.

Fiber tip pens can be refreshed by refilling the pen body with liquid ink. The plastic caps just pry off, and snap back on. I use an eye dropper to transfer India ink to my pens. Works OK, but there might be better inks ;-) technical pens often need a good soaking in hot water and then alcohol to clean out old dry ink. Then refill and plot away.

Ok, thanks for the tip.

I now see that someone else wrote that a roland blade fit their 7580b plotter, so now not sure if I should get a roland or mimaki, paralysis by analysis I guess.

I'll look for another forum or 2 for more info, but this forum showed at the top of Google when I searched for info about using a 7580 to cut vinyl.

Thanks again for the information

[CalG]

I have the Mimaki knife holder , Works fine,

Look at Sign Go for a demo cutting aid software.

[TylerDurden]

Ok, I just ordered a Mimaki knife holder and some blades through ebay. I guess the vinyl is next.

I just bought a Fargo ID maker at an auction this weekend, the cord it came with connects to the plotter and I assume the other end would connect to a pc, but I'm not sure if it would fry the plotter if I used it.

The holder and blades are coming from china, so I imagine I'm looking at a couple weeks for delivery. I'll update this thread when I try cutting.

[CalG]

If the cable from the marker doesn't work out,

Null modem serial cables can be purchased from Marlin P Jones (www.mpja.com)
Part number 14414-cb $3.25 each.

Do you have a computer with a 9 pin serial port? The more modern ones don't ;-(

A 9 pin by 25 pin adapter will be needed to connect to the plotter unless your cable is made up 9pin X 25 pin. A selection of "gender changers" can get you out of most cabling difficulties, but often, the correct cable can be purchased for the same $$.

search the net, these cables can be picked up for little money. Search "null modem cable".
Straight thru RS232 serial cables are not what is wanted.

[TylerDurden]

'If the cable from the marker doesn't work out'

It doesn't.

Do you have a computer with a 9 pin serial port? The more modern ones don't ;-(

I have one that has a 9 pin serial port with pins rather than holes (not sure if it would be considered male or female).

The plotter has a couple of different ports, the one labeled 'computer modem' is a 25 pin as you've mentioned.

I'm a bit confused now. If I get the null modem serial Part number 14414-cb cable from www.mpja.com, I'll then be good to go? It looks as though it has a 9 pin connector on each end? I need a 9 pin by 25 pin cable, correct?

Thanks again for the info and any response.

[CalG]

You can use a 9X 25 pin adapter, or a 9X 25 cable. I found many 9X25 cables on the net for small $. What ever it takes I guess.

Still, I have a box of adapters at hand, and use a 25 pin gender changer on my 7550 plotter /cutter.

Originally Posted by TylerDurden It doesn't. I have one that has a 9 pin serial port with pins rather than holes (not sure if it would be considered male or female). The plotter has a couple of different ports, the one labeled 'computer modem' is a 25 pin as you've mentioned. I'm a bit confused now. If I get the null modem serial Part number 14414-cb cable from www.mpja.com, I'll then be good to go? It looks as though it has a 9 pin connector on each end? I need a 9 pin by 25 pin cable, correct? Thanks again for the info and any response.

[TylerDurden]

Ok, so if I buy the cable from mpja, then I'll need a 25 pin x 9 pin adapter, is how I understand it now.

I'm kind of cheap I guess, and don't like the thought of waste when unnecessary. So, I have a question:

I understand that when you cut vinyl, you have to 'weed' off the vinyl that is not part of your design. Would there be/is there a relatively simple reliable way to use this weed material as a graphic as well?

I mean, say I have 15" wide vinyl, and the letters made are 12", if centered,
I should have about 1.5 inches of vinyl on each edge. I'd like to use that outline on the other side of my truck. I know that I would have to get the parts such as the center of letters like 'o' separately from the outline, but I think I could line those up good enough, with the outline already being on the truck as a guide.