Win Plot for Al Got Ex Getting Started

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Getting Started


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Copyright 2001 by Gerber Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.This document may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part,without the written permission of the copyright owner.

This document is part of the proprietary articles furnished to document theGerber Technology, Inc. plotter systems. In consideration of the furnishingof the information contained in this document, the party to whom it is givenassumes its control and custody and agrees to the following:

1. The information contained herein is given in confidence and anypart thereof shall not be copied or reproduced without the writtenconsent of Gerber Technology, Inc.

2. This document or the contents herein under no circumstancesshall be used in the manufacture or reproduction of the articlesshown and the delivery of this document shall not constitute anyright or license to do so.

The information contained in this document is subject to change withoutnotice. Gerber Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates shall notbe liable for errors in this document or for incidental or consequentialdamages in connection with furnishing, or use of this material including, forexample, loss of profits, fabric and production time.

AccuPlot, AccuJet and AccuMark, Infinity, MicroMark, andWinPlot are trademarks of Gerber Technology, Inc. Algotex PowerJet

180 and Algotex PowerJet 240 are the trademarks of Algotex. All othertrademarks are the property of their respective companies.,

Printed in USA 10/01/01

Document No. 088961000


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CoCoCoContentsntentsntentsntents

Customer Support ................................................................................................. 2System Requirements ........................................................................................... 2Introduction to WinPlot .......................................................................................... 3Plot File Requirements .......................................................................................... 3

HPGL Plot Files (.plt) ......................................................................................... 3Gerber Plot Files (.gen, .ggt).............................................................................. 3DWG Plot Files (.dwg) ....................................................................................... 3DXF Plot Files (.dxf)........................................................................................... 3Gerber Cut Files (.nc, .cut)................................................................................. 4

System Setup........................................................................................................ 4Network Setup ................................................................................................... 4

Algotex Plotter Setup ......................................................................................... 5WinPlot CAD Computer Setup........................................................................... 9

Plotting A Sample File ......................................................................................... 12Introduction to the plotter menu........................................................................ 12To plot a file ..................................................................................................... 13Queue Manager............................................................................................... 15View Plot.......................................................................................................... 18Plotter Settings ................................................................................................ 18To Create a New Media ID From an Existing Media ID.................................... 19

WinPlot Configuration.......................................................................................... 20Opening the Winplot Configuration Screen ...................................................... 20

Algotex Interface ................................................................................................. 21


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Customer SupportCustomer SupportCustomer SupportCustomer Support

If you are inside the United States and have a question about WinPlot, callour toll free number at 1-800-321-2448. If you are outside the United States,call the sales office where you purchased WinPlot.

Make sure you have the following information available when you call:

Sales order number

Version numbers of your WinPlot software

Type of hardware you are using

Operating system you are using

Description of the problem

Exact wording of any messages that may have appeared on

your monitor

System RequirementsSystem RequirementsSystem RequirementsSystem Requirements

To install and operate WinPlot for Algotex Plotters, your system must meetthe following minimum standards:

Industry standard personal computer with:

Windows 95/98 or NT 4.0 operating systems

20 MB hard disk space

16 MB RAM (W95) or 32 MB RAM (98/NT)

CD-ROM Drive

Mouse pointing device


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Introduction to WinPlotIntroduction to WinPlotIntroduction to WinPlotIntroduction to WinPlot

WinPlot converts and formats plot files from AccuMark, MicroMark, andother non-Gerber CAD systems that generate plot files according to thespecified requirements. After converting for proper page limits, these files

can be submitted to a plot queue and plotted. In addition to formattingstandard plot files, WinPlot includes utilities to manage the plotter queue,view plot files, and set plotter media characteristics.

Plot File RequirementsPlot File RequirementsPlot File RequirementsPlot File Requirements

HPGL Plot Files (.plt)

WinPlot supports HPGL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language) plot files thatconform to HP 7475 plotter requirements. Generic HPGL format files canalso be converted. These include files exported as HPGL files (.plt) frompackages such as Micrografx Designer or CorelDraw. WinPlot does not

support the entire HPGL command set. For example, arc or circlecommands are not supported. Any unsupported command will be reportedin the log file window.

Gerber Plot Files (.gen, .ggt)

WinPlot will process and submit (to the plot queue) Gerber plot filesgenerated from AccuMark or MicroMark. These plots are submitted directlyto the plot queue, and no conversion is performed.DWG Plot Files (.dwg)

WinPlot supports .dwg files generated primarily from Autocad. This format isa binary file that allows plots to be generated full size so WinPlot canprocess the plot without having to apply scaling. Most .dwg commands aresupported. Unsupported commands in the file are reported in the log filewindow.

DXF Plot Files (.dxf)

WinPlot supports dxf plot files generated from Autocad and other CADsoftware programs. The format used by many CAD packages, dxf files aregenerally larger in size than the equivalent plot file in dwg format. Most dxfcommands are supported. Unsupported commands encountered in the filewill be reported in the log file window.


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Gerber Cut Files (.nc, .cut)

WinPlot supports Gerber cut files generated from AccuMark, MicroMark, orother CAD software. This allows a common cut file to be used to generatethe plotted marker and to cut the marker.

System SetupSystem SetupSystem SetupSystem Setup

Setting up an Algotex plotting system is a three-part process; NetworkSetup, Algotex Plotter Setup, and WinPlot (CAD computer) Setup. Refer tothe following Network Setup figure for a typical installation that consists of acomputer connected to an Algotex plotter.

Network Setup

Contact your computer network department for assistance in network setup.You can refer to the WinPlot Network Plotting in the online help (afterWinPlot for Algotex program installation) for examples of WinPlot Network

Plotting for Client/Server and Peer/Peer scenarios.

When the Algotex plotter computer and the WinPlot-equipped CADcomputer are connected to the network and have a common read/writedirectory, the CAD computer can pass plot jobs to the Algotex Plotter.

Network Setup

1. Create a common directory where each of the computers hasread/write capability. The common directory can be on a server,

the Algotex computer, or the CAD computer. This example has aC:\Shared common directory on the Algotex computer.


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Algotex Plotter Setup

The following settings are made using the Algotex Computer. You can referto your Algotex documentation for the complete plotter setup.

Note: The Algotex plotter provides a choice of displayingmeasurements in Metric or US-English. These settingscan be changed in Regional Settings on the ControlPanel. For complete instructions, refer to Changing theMeasurement System in the Algotex Power Jet PlotterReference Manual.

1. Click on the Algotex icon on the desktop to openEnvironment Settings.

2. Click Environment Settings on the Algotex Plotter Driver dialogbox to open Environment Settings.

Algotex Plotter Driver Dialog Box


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3. The following settings are important for operation with WinPlot.Make sure these settings are correct:

Manual Management Must notbe checked

Vector Files Folder- Must point to the common directory(C:\shared is used in this example)

Vector Format - Must be set to Hpgl

Vector Step - Must be set to 0.0254

Environment Settings Dialog Box

4. Click OK.

5. Click Plotter Settings on the Algotex Plotter Driver dialog box toopen the Power Plotter Settings dialog box.

Algotex Plotter Driver Dialog Box


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6. Click the Print tab on the Power Plotter Settings dialog box.

Power Plotter Settings Dialog Box Print Tab

Right Margin. Used to adjust distance between edge of plotand right edge of paper. This example uses a right margin of0.5 inch (1.27 cm).

Gap Between Markers. Regulates distance between jobssent to plotter. Plots processed as a group are considered a

single job.7. Click the Paper tab while the Plotter Settings dialog box is still

open.

8. Make sure the Paper Width is equal to, or greater than the valuein the Plotter Settings on the CAD computer. This assures thatonly markers that fit on the paper width will be processed orscissored correctly, as applicable. This setting is also importantwhen plotting pieces and STACKING = yes. This makes sure theentire paper width is being used.


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Power Plotter Settings Dialog Box Paper Tab

9. Enable the remote control on the Algotex Power Plotter dialogbox by using the Remote Control Disable/Enable Remote Controlbutton.

Note: This is a toggle function that switches between RemoteControl Disable and Enable Remote Control. Instead ofseeing the current status, you see the action you cantake. The plotter is enabledwhen the button readsRemote Control Disable, and isdisabledwhen thebutton reads Enable Remote Control.

Algotex Power Plotter Dialog Box

10. Make sure the Algotex is ready to plot by using the Plot/Stop

button.


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Note: This is a toggle function that switches between Plot andStop. Instead of seeing the current status, you see theaction you can take. The plotter is readyto plot when thebutton reads Stop, and is notready when the buttonreads Plot.

WinPlot CAD Computer Setup

Installation of WinPlot on your CAD computer also installs WinPlotConfiguration and Gerber Devices to the Control Panel. Queue Managerand Plotter Settings utilities are available from the plotter icon.

1. Install a plotter security key (Gerber PN 332501464) on the CADcomputer parallel port.

Note: If you are reinstallingWinPlot, right click on the plotter

icon in the bottom, right corner and select Exit. Thiswill close the program if it is running. If AccuMark isinstalled and running, it will be automatically closed by theWinPlot installation program.

2. Insert the WinPlot for Algotex Plotters CD into the CD drive.

3. From the Start menu, select Run.

4. Type e:\setup, where e is the CD-ROM drive letter.

5. Select OK. As the software installs, you will be prompted by aseries of screens in the following order in Table 1 (Steps Athrough H). Most screens require a response. Refer to Customer

Support on page 2 if you have installation problems.


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Table 1. WinPlot for Algotex Plotter Software Installation

Screen Description Required Response

A. Welcome Click Next.

B. Software LicenseAgreement

ClickYes to accept terms.

C. User Information Enter name and address,then click Next.

D. Warning Click OK to allow AccuMarkto be closed by the WinPlotinstall program.

E. WinPlot for Algotex

Setup

No response is required.

Program files are copied.

F. Information Click OK to acknowledgethat Adobe Acrobat Readermust be installed to readWinPlot Release Notes (.pdfformat on WinPlot CD).

G. Setup Complete Click Finish. WinPlot hasbeen installed.

H. Setup Complete Select the radio button

Yes, I want to restart mycomputer now.Click Finish.

6. On the CAD computer, click the Windows Start button, and thengo to Settings. Click Control Panel.


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7. Double-click the Gerber Devices icon.

8. Click the Plotter tab to open the PlotterConfiguration window, if necessary.

9. On the Plotter tab under Type, select the Algotex plotter you areusing: Algotex Powerjet 180 or Algotex Powerjet 240.

Gerber Device Configuration Dialog Box

10. In Settings, make sure the folder is the same as that set in theAlgotex computers Environment Settings dialog box under theVector Files Folder.

11. Click OK.

12. Look in the tool tray at the bottom right corner of the display for

the plotter icon. An enabled plotter will look like this . A plotterthat is not enabled has a red circle with an X over the plotter icon

. A plotter that is not enabled has no communication with theplotter. Make sure the plotter is on, cabling is secure, and that theremote control is enabled at the Algotex computer.


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Plotting A Sample FilePlotting A Sample FilePlotting A Sample FilePlotting A Sample File

This will familiarize you with the plotter menu and how to plot files.

Introduction to the plotter menu

The plotter menu provides easy access to plotter utilities available to yoursystem. Once installed, the plotter program automatically starts with yourcomputer. Right-click the plotter icon in the bottom right corner of thetaskbar to open the plotter menu.

From the plotter menu:

Display Algotex plotter status interface

Plot Files (WinPlot)

Open Queue Manager

Open Plotter Settings (*Media ID)

Restart Plotter

Exit (shut down) plotter program

*A set of parameters for a unique media type (paper, oaktag) on a specific

plotter. This is

more fully described later in the manual.

Plotter Menu


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To plot a file

1. Right click the plotter icon in the bottom right corner of thetaskbar, then left click on Plot Files.

2. Click Add, and then select Test_boxes.plt fromC:\winplot\samples.

WinPlot Dialog Box

3. Click Plot to submit the file to queue. The process is complete

when the file selected (Test_boxes.plt) disappears from thedialog box window.

Note: If the file from the CAD computer does not reach theshared directory and the shared directory is on the plotter,you may have a network problem. Confirm with yourcomputer network department that your shared folder hasread/write capabilities.


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4. Measure the two boxes in Test_boxes.plt plotted on the Alogtex.The small box should be 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm (10 in x 10 in). Thelarge box should be 40 cm x 40 cm (15.75 in x 15.75 in).

WinPlot Test Boxes (Test_Boxes.plt)

5. If your plot measurements are unsatisfactory, do the following:

CAD Computer: Go to Start/Settings/ControlPanel/WinPlot Config. Click on the HPGL Files tab andmake sure Input Units is set to 1016 units per inch.

Algotex Computer: Click Stop on the Algotex Power Plotterdialog box. Click Environment Settings on the AlgotexPlotter Driver dialog box to open Environment Settings. Makesure Vector Step is set to 0.0254.

Algotex Calibration Procedure: Refer to the calibrationprocedure in the documentation supplied with your Algotexplotter. Calibrate the plotter as necessary.


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Queue Manager

The Plot Queue Manager displays information about the plotter and eachjob in the queue. The Test_Boxes.plt plot file was processed and placed inthe plot queue.

1. To open Plot Queue Manger, right click on the plotter icon in thebottom right corner of the taskbar, then left click on QueueManager.

The Queue Manager utility allows you to:

View plotter queue status Delete jobs in the queue

Display the contents of aplot file using View Plot

Stop and restart the plotqueue

Plot Queue Manager

*See Table 2 for details on current Status display field.

**See Table 3 for details on job information display field.

*

**


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Table 2. Current Status Display (part of plot queue manager)

Online Operating or ableto accept and executecommands sent fromcontrolling system

Offline Plotter isprevented from acceptingcommands from controllingsystem. Servos are notdisabled.

Status: (Plotter Status)

Describes operating conditions ofplotter associated with selected plotqueue

Error Stopped due toplotter error.

Active Sending data fromqueue to plotter.

Waiting Waiting for plotterto finish current plot.

Stopped Queueinterrupted by StopImmediate, Stop After,Delete Active, or an error

condition.

Status: (Queue Status)

Describes operating condition ofopen queue.

Empty No data in queueand all jobs completed.

Owner:

On networks, this field identifies thesystem node that currently hasownership of the plot queue and theplotter. The field is empty if nosystem has locked the queue.

Media:

Displays the name of the media IDcurrently active for the plotter.


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Table 3. Job Information Headings (partof plot queue manager)

Heading Description

Job Job numbers are assigned sequentiallyas jobs are added to list.

Group If a job is one of several to be processedas a group, its group identifier (a letter)appears in the list entry.

Status Displays the current condition of the plotjob (Ready, Active).

Plot Name Displays the name of the plot file

Node On networked systems, name of thenode that processed the job.

Storage Displays name of device that containsthe source HPGL plot file

Media Displays the Media ID assigned to theplot job. Describes operating conditionsof plotter associated with selected plot

queue

Media is only displayed if plotted fromAccuMark

If plotted from WinPlot, the selectedmedia will be used


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View Plot

The View Plot program allows you to display a plot job within QueueManager. This gives you a means to validate the job before plotting. Youcan use the zoom function to examine details, take measurements, or print

a representative single-page plot.

To Open View Plot

1. Open the Queue Manager.

2. From the job list, select (click to highlight) the job you want todisplay.

3. From the Actions menu, choose View.

To use the View Plot Zoom function

1. Place the pointer at the top left corner of the section of thedisplay you want to examine.

2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag a box around thesection you want to examine, then release the button.

3. To zoom out, right-click the mouse.

Plotter Settings

If you work with different types of paper, the Plotter Settings program allowsyou to specify plotter and media characteristics, such as paper width andscissoring parameters. Save these settings as a Media ID for repeateduse.

Once defined, a Media ID can be applied to a plot queue or to individualjobs.

To open Plotter Settings from the taskbar

1. Right-click the plotter icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar.

2. Click Plotter Settings.


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To specify units of measure

1. From the Plotter Settings Viewmenu, choose Options.

2. In the Options dialog box, clickthe radio button that corresponds tothe units you want, then click. OK.

To Create a New Media ID From an Existing Media ID

1. Open Plotter Settings.

2. Click or choose Open from the File menu.

3. Select the Media ID to open, then click Open.

4. Make applicable changes.

5. Choose Save As from the File menu.

6. In the Save As dialog box, type a unique name for the Media ID.Click OK.

Options Dialog Box


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WinPlot ConfigurationWinPlot ConfigurationWinPlot ConfigurationWinPlot Configuration

The WinPlot Configuration screen is added to the Control Panel folderduring installation of WinPlot software. This is used to select parametersunder the following tabs: General, HPGL Files, DWG/DXF Files, Cut Files,

Remote Plotters, Log File, and Spooler.

Opening the Winplot Configuration Screen

1. Click the Windows Start button, go to Settings,and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the WinPlot Config icon.

3. With the WinPlot Configuration screen open, click on the tabsand select parameters, as desired. This screen is shown forreference only. Refer to the online help for complete informationon all tabs.

WinPlot Configuration - General Tab

4. Click OK when finished selecting parameters for all tabs, orcancel if no changes were made.


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Algotex InterfaceAlgotex InterfaceAlgotex InterfaceAlgotex Interface

A right-click on the plotter icon in the tool tray, and then a left click onAlgotex Interface, will select the Algotex interface dialog box. No choicescan be made here. The Algotex plotter status dialog box quickly shows:

Status What state plotter is in. (Remote commands denied,On-line, Paused by user, Rasterizing, or Plotting)

Last Plot If last plot was successful (OK, Aborted, BadData).

Alerts - If the plotter is ready to operate, and what reasonscould be responsible if it is not ready to operate. (Heartbeat -Blinks to show Algotex plotter is powered up and Algotexplotter driver is running, Warm Up, Paper is Running Low,Paper is out, Paper is jammed, Ink is running low, Ink is out,Inkjets/Pens require service, cover is open, or Emergency.

Refer to the documentation supplied with your Algotex Plotterfor information on specific error conditions.

Current Plot Current plot and whether plotting has ended.(Plot Name, File Name, and progress).

Algotex Plotter Status Dialog Box


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Win Plot for Al Got Ex Getting Started