Re: plotters

[Dan Brosemer <odin@cleannorth.org>]

On Wed, Apr 25, 2001 at 12:47:11AM +0000, Don McGorman wrote:
> You're amazing Dan!  But don't you sometimes also need interface software 
> and drivers to use with these devices?

Yep.  Or knowledge of the protocol they speak.  For example, #1 and #2 speak
HP/GL-2.  That's easy to generate.  In fact, #1 is the _reference_
implementation (HP7550A) of HP/GL-2.

(You can even look through your list of available printer drivers on any
Windows CD and you'll find the HP7550A, I'm sure).

> > > >More info:
> > > >
> > > >1 - HP DraftPro EXL
> >
> >Likely to get working.  If so, it's no older than our LaserJet II, and 5
> >times the size.  It's a pen plotter, so it does lines best.  It won't print
> >full-color images, but it'll do city maps, CAD drawings, etc.

Works beautifully... we even have a black pen for it.  If I put the legs on
it and we get some big paper, it'll be sweet.

It should be big enough to plot a drawing of the Eiffel Tower.

> > > >2 - HP DraftPro 4400
> >
> >Smaller version of above.

Haven't even attempted to get it working.  I'd be surprised if it takes more
than 20 minutes to get it going.

> > > >3 - Oce-Bruning ?
> >
> >Charge people to take a 40-pound sledge to this one?

heh. :)  I'd be happy if I never saw this one again.

> > > >4 - Houston Instruments DMP-60
> >
> >"reasonable"(TM) expectation of getting this working.  Same caveats as the
> >HPs above.
> >
> > > >5 - Houston Instruments LDS 400plus
> >
> >It's a _scanner_!  If I can find some info about it, we might be able to
> >scan 36" wide stuff!

Looked for a bit... didn't find much/anything.  If, given a little more
effort, I still can't find anything, it'll fit in the category with #3.

> > > >6 - VDAR 4220 ?
> >
> >Another scanner.  I can't find any info on it, so I don't know if I'll be
> >able to get it working.  The interface is 36-pin D-type, so I don't really
> >know what it'd plug into besides a specialty card... but it does have an
> >interface to plug directly into a plotter, so if it speaks HP-GL/2, we 
> >might
> >be able to duplicate stuff with it.  (After I take a hammer to it and
> >straighten the metal).

See #3

> > > >7 - CalComp Drawing Master 600
> >
> >See #4.

Jim pointed out that this looks like a thermal/wax printer... I've never
seen one in a 36"-wide form factor, but it's not unreasonable.  We might get
some excellent output out of it.

t/wax isn't known for reliability, but if they work, they're pretty.

> >"Reasonable" means I can find a little info about them, and their PC
> >interface isn't too evil.  This is without plugging them in even, so I 
> >don't
> >know if any PCBs are fried or not, but I consider it unlikely.  They
> >probably all just need a thorough cleaning.
> >
> >Some of it will be right on to the BOYD truck... some of it we might 
> >sell...
> >and if we decide it's useful, we might just get a pen-plotter and/or a 36"
> >wide scanner out of it.

Scanner's looking unlikely, but we have a nice pen-plotter if we want to get
some paper (and maybe some color pens) for it.

-Dan

-- 
Watch DVDs in Linux:
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