What combo of machine, OS and USB cable length do you use?

[Andy Gorman]

Welcome matey. What specific problems are you having? I don’t use Mac but had some serious hair pulling moments when I set up my Graphtec. It turned out the plotter was set to hpgl, when I changed it to gpgl it worked instantly. Tell us more……..

[Jayne Marsh]

Just had a chat with Jeff my other half and he said that the Graphtec wont work with Illustrator CS2 as there is a new update for that coming out soon. He said that if the Graphtec cutter was bought new that there should be a disc that came with it with a piece of software on it called Cutting Master which acts as a plug in for Illustrator. As you install the software it will prompt you to select the version of illustrator that you are using. You should then be able to cut. As for USB cable he said not more than 5m long but 2m is best.
Oh and welcome to the boards, what sort of work do you do? 😀

[kzwheats]

Thanks for the quick responses! A few more details:

Macs tried: iMac 333(Graphtec techie thought it “might be too old”); eMac (“won’t work with eMacs”); and a G4 (wouldn’t work with OS 10.4, tried in Classic 9.2 mode–still no go)

Software tried: Illustrator 8.0, 9.0.1, 10.0.3, CS

Cutting Master versions: 3.0, 3.3

USB Cables: 2m, 5m

My aspirations for vinyl work are limited–mostly window decals at sporting tournaments (big soccer–er football–area in Southwest Ohio), then some vehicle lettering. Who knows from there? I have been in graphic design & production since ’81, and have been thinking about doing this is a ‘nights & weekends’ side business for several years.

Pat

[kzwheats]

Oh, yes; tried GPGL and HPGL, and various combinations of restarting both devices. . . .

Pat

[John Childs]

Hi Pat, and welcome.

I don’t think your problem is hardware as I am happily running a Roland PC900 and a Summagraphics T1010+ via Keyspan USB/serial adaptors from a pair of 333MHz iMacs running OS9.2. We have used a Graphtec in the past, although not your model, and it was not a problem, as indeed it shouldn’t be because as long as the right commands are getting to your cutter it doesn’t matter how they get there.

Other than that I’m afraid I can’t be of more help other than to suggest that you double check your settings (baud rate, stop bits etc)

[kzwheats]

I am probably going to pick up the Keyspan adaptor tonight and give that a go. I hope the upgraded adapter works (since the “recommended” one is no longer available. . . ).

Pat

[John Childs]

Yes it does. I am running one old Keyspan and one new.

Don’t ask what happened to my second old one. 😳

John

[kzwheats]

Thanks, John! And I won’t ask. . . .

[Bryan Cabrera]

quote kzwheats:

Greetings, all! I am new here, and American–hope that neither will counted against me ;-).
Pat

Welcome Pat. I am American and joined recently and it hasn’t counted against me, YET 😀 This is by far the best place for sign people I have found and everyone has been great. You should consider a membership, the demos are great!

Bryan

[kzwheats]

Thanks, Bryan. I better get a few actual jobs done (or at least get my cutter running) before ‘investing’ (and it does look like a great investment)!

Pat

[Neil Roberts – Graphtec]

Hi Pat,

I’ve used this many a time without any problems. Will the software not load or is the cutter just ignoring anything you send to it?

[kzwheats]

I installed the Keyspan last night. It seems to get all the way to sending something to the cutter, but there is no response at the cutter. I went through every screen, checking settings, trying different ones, etc., to no avail. I did switch, in the serial settings, from Xon/Xoff to Hardwire on both ends, and that froze everything up real well. I think I’m a step closer–but I’m not sure, and I haven’t reached my goal of actually cutting something. Still open to any and all ideas/suggestions. Thanks.

Pat

[kzwheats]

I spoke with GraphtecUSA again, and they reminded me that, to use the Keyspan serial adaptor, I will need to use their DB9-DB25 serial cable, because they did not pin it the same as a normal serial cable. I have ordered one, armed with the hopes that sometime tomorrow night I will actually see it work. Will keep you posted. . . .

[kzwheats]

Okay, shipping was delayed, but I have got everything working, and am quite happy to see my “old” Mac (gee, calling an iMac ‘old’!) being productive. Let’s see how it does on the road. . . .

Pat

[John Childs]

I’m pleased to hear it Pat, and I’m sure your “old” Mac will give much good service.

In fact, your problems have been caused by trying to use too new a one!
Before iMacs, and therefore USB, you could plug a cutter directy into the computer serial port and be in business straight away. Running a cutter is such a simple and basic task that practically any Mac from their introduction over twenty years ago is capable of doing it. I keep an old IIci in the cupboard as a backup.