Equipment/VinylCutterOld: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Roland (Large).jpg|thumb|right]]
[[File:Roland (Large).jpg|thumb|right]]
==Status==
==Status==
I have had a certain amount of success running the cutter with a serial connection from Inkscape under Linux.  More messing around is needed.--[[User:Artag|Artag]] 13:32, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
* I have had a certain amount of success running the cutter with a serial connection from Inkscape under Linux.  More messing around is needed.--[[User:Artag|Artag]] 13:32, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
* I have gotten the cutter to reliably cut reasonably complex shapes (see image to the right). See http://github.com/muz/Ruby-PNC950. Looks like the serial port needed negotiating correctly.--[[User:Muz|Muz]] 20 August 2010.
==Model==
==Model==
* Roland CAMM-1 PNC-950. [http://www.signcutpro.com/files/man/roland/pnc950.pdf PDF manual], [http://support.rolanddga.com/Docs/Documents/departments/Product%20Management/Product%20Information/Specialty%20Products/PNC950_FAQ.pdf FAQ].
* Roland CAMM-1 PNC-950. [http://www.signcutpro.com/files/man/roland/pnc950.pdf PDF manual], [http://support.rolanddga.com/Docs/Documents/departments/Product%20Management/Product%20Information/Specialty%20Products/PNC950_FAQ.pdf FAQ].
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==Instructions==
==Instructions==
====Quick setup guide====
====Quick setup guide====
* Set inkscape to hpgl output
* Set inkscape to HPGL output. File > Save As > HPGL format.
* draw figure and print to a file
* Draw your figure.
* set serial port to 9600 8n1, crtscts.
* Connect the cutter via USB to Lovelace. This is done with a serial port converter from 25-pins -> 9-pins -> USB.
* connect blue cable (a 9-pin gender-changer is needed at the PC end)
* Load vinyl, making sure that it is flush with the left edge and has some slack for being pulled to and fro.
* load vinyl, switch cutter on. cutter should park at right hand side
* Turn on the cutter, the cutter head should fly to the right edge.
* press Setup, cutter parks at left. Move cutter if necessary with cursor buttons, press Origin Set to mark lower right corner of drawing
* Press Setup, cutter parks at left.  
* cat the inkscape output file to the serial port
* Move cutter if necessary with cursor buttons, press Origin Set to mark lower right corner of drawing
* Run '~/serialshite.rb <HPGL filename>' from a Terminal.


It should be possible to enable the serial port as a printer and print direct to it, but I found this produced cutter errors (flashing power light) and no cut.
It should be possible to enable the serial port as a printer and print direct to it, but I found this produced cutter errors (flashing power light) and no cut.


The following file was generated by inkscape for a star shape. This almost works : the first leg is replaced by a poorly cut arc. May imply a need for some sort of initialisation data.
The following file was generated by inkskape for a star shape. This works.


  IN;
  IN;
Line 36: Line 38:
  PD3999,6429;
  PD3999,6429;
  PD3999,6429;
  PD3999,6429;
====Creating Images for Cutting====
'''Converting an existing SVG'''
For some reason, Inkscape doesn't like going straight from SVG to HPGL. This can be fixed by:
* Open up the SVG file
* File > Save As > select the DXF file format.
* Open the DXF
* File > Save As > HPGL
'''Creating your own image in Inkscape'''
Inkscape seems to play nicely if you just create a new image and lay down some paths or polygons of your own. You can save this data for the cutter by just going to File > Save As > HPGL
'''Avoiding overloading the cutter with TOO MUCH DATA'''
The cutter doesn't seem to happy when it recieves a large set of instructions in one fell swoop. As such, it is highly recommended that you format your HPGL files nicely.
* vim yourhpglfile.hpgl
* <Esc>
* :% s/;/;<C-x><C-m>/g
* <Return>
* :wq
This will place each command on its own line, and in the case of more complex drawing patterns, avoid having the cutter throw a hissy fit and get confused.


==Tips==
==Tips==
Line 62: Line 88:
==Consumables==
==Consumables==
There is a [[Pledges/Vinyl|pledge]] running for the purchase of more vinyl.
There is a [[Pledges/Vinyl|pledge]] running for the purchase of more vinyl.
==Example code==
require "rubygems"
require "serialport"
if (!ARGV[0])
puts "Yo dawg, I need a file."
exit
end
plotter = SerialPort.new("/dev/ttyUSB2")
plotter.baud=(9600)
plotter.flow_control=(SerialPort::HARD)
plotter.rts=(1)
plotter.data_bits=(8)
plotter.stop_bits=(1)
begin
        File.open(ARGV[0], "r") do |inFile|
                while (line = inFile.gets)
                        puts line
                        plotter.write(line)
                        # sleep(1)
                end
        end
rescue
        puts "Failed to open #{ARGV[0]}"
        exit
end

Revision as of 11:06, 21 August 2010

Roland (Large).jpg

Status

  • I have had a certain amount of success running the cutter with a serial connection from Inkscape under Linux. More messing around is needed.--Artag 13:32, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
  • I have gotten the cutter to reliably cut reasonably complex shapes (see image to the right). See http://github.com/muz/Ruby-PNC950. Looks like the serial port needed negotiating correctly.--Muz 20 August 2010.

Model

Specifications

  • It holds up to 610mm (24") media and cuts up to 584mm ( ~23").
  • Length is essentially unlimited as it can use roll-feed media but seems to be restricted to 25m.
Vinylcut.jpg

Instructions

Quick setup guide

  • Set inkscape to HPGL output. File > Save As > HPGL format.
  • Draw your figure.
  • Connect the cutter via USB to Lovelace. This is done with a serial port converter from 25-pins -> 9-pins -> USB.
  • Load vinyl, making sure that it is flush with the left edge and has some slack for being pulled to and fro.
  • Turn on the cutter, the cutter head should fly to the right edge.
  • Press Setup, cutter parks at left.
  • Move cutter if necessary with cursor buttons, press Origin Set to mark lower right corner of drawing
  • Run '~/serialshite.rb <HPGL filename>' from a Terminal.

It should be possible to enable the serial port as a printer and print direct to it, but I found this produced cutter errors (flashing power light) and no cut.

The following file was generated by inkskape for a star shape. This works. 

IN;
SP1;
PU3999,6429;
PD2693,5186;
PD929,5557;
PD1707,3932;
PD809,2369;
PD2596,2606;
PD3805,1269;
PD4131,3042;
PD5776,3778;
PD4191,4636;
PD3999,6429;
PD3999,6429;

Creating Images for Cutting

Converting an existing SVG

For some reason, Inkscape doesn't like going straight from SVG to HPGL. This can be fixed by:

  • Open up the SVG file
  • File > Save As > select the DXF file format.
  • Open the DXF
  • File > Save As > HPGL

Creating your own image in Inkscape

Inkscape seems to play nicely if you just create a new image and lay down some paths or polygons of your own. You can save this data for the cutter by just going to File > Save As > HPGL

Avoiding overloading the cutter with TOO MUCH DATA

The cutter doesn't seem to happy when it recieves a large set of instructions in one fell swoop. As such, it is highly recommended that you format your HPGL files nicely.

  • vim yourhpglfile.hpgl
  • <Esc>
  • :% s/;/;<C-x><C-m>/g
  • <Return>
  • :wq

This will place each command on its own line, and in the case of more complex drawing patterns, avoid having the cutter throw a hissy fit and get confused.

Tips

  • Sometimes the cutter refuses to print or respond to any buttons. This hasn't happened since I opened a door in the bottom of the printer and poked an EPROM there, so may be due to some poor internal connection.

Serial cable

The serial cable (blue, with a 25WD at one end and a 9WD at the other) is connected as follows :

Cutter, 25 pin male D PC, 9 pin female D Use
pin 2 pin 2 PC RXD from cutter
3 3 PC TXD to cutter
4 n/c cutter pin 5, RTS CTS loopback
5 n/c cutter pin 4, RTS CTS loopback
7 5 ground
20 8 cutter DTR to PC CTS, flowcontrol

This provides for hardware (rts/cts) handshake. Software flowcontrol may be OK but the cutter manual suggests overrun may occur.

Consumables

There is a pledge running for the purchase of more vinyl.

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