GERBER TEMPO 600 Owner’s Guide
PREFACE Thank you for choosing a Gerber Tempo cutting plotter. The Gerber Tempo cutting plotter uses a digital servo drive system to achieve high-speed, high-precision cutting. In addition to cutting marking film and other media, a Tempo cutting plotter can also be used as a pen plotter. To ensure high cutting quality and optimal productivity, be sure to read this User’s Manual thoroughly prior to use.
Contents PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................................i Notes on this Manual .........................................................................................................................i Registered Trademarks .....................................................................................................................i Copyright ....................................................
3.8 3.9 Moving the Pen Carriage in +100 mm Steps ............................................................... 3-12 Test Cutting .................................................................................................................... 3-12 4. FUNCTION SETTINGS AND OPERATIONS 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 PAUSE Menu List ..........................................................................
5. Setting and Using the Special Functions 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Description of Special Functions A ............................................................................... 5-2 Enabling/Disabling the “:” and “;” Commands (when the COMMAND setting is GP-GL) .. 5-2 Moving the Pen While Raised or Lowered in Response to the “W” Command (when the COMMAND setting is GP-GL) ...........................................................................................
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1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 Checking the Accessories ......................................................1-2 Parts Names and Functions ...................................................
1.1 Checking the Accessories Check to confirm that all of the standard accessories listed below are present. If any item is missing, please contact your sales representative or nearest Gerber distributor promptly. AC power cord Quick Start Manual, Usage Precautions 1 1 each User Guide and Driver CD-ROM Cutter blade (CB09UA) 1 1 Cutter plunger Media cutter 1 1 Water-based fiber-tip pen Stand 1 1 USB cable 1 OMEGA 2.6.
1.2 Parts Names and Functions Front View Cutting mat Pen carriage Grit roller Pen holder Media set lever Control panel Push rollers Serial (RS-232C) interface connector USB interface connector Cutting mat Grit roller Push rollers Pen carriage Pen holder Media set lever Control panel USB interface connector Serial (RS-232C) interface connector ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Cutting or plotting is performed on this mat.
Rear View Power switch AC power inlet Stock rollers Stoppers AC power inlet Power switch Stand Stock rollers Stoppers : : : : : Stand Connects the power cord to the cutting plotter Turns the power supply to the cutting plotter on or off Supports the cutting-plotter unit Holds the roll media Used to determine the position of the roll media loaded 1–4
■ Control Panel Indicator Lamp STATUS: Lights (green) while the power to the cutting plotter is turned on, and is not lit when the cutting plotter is in PAUSE status. This lamp flashes when data is being received from an interface, regardless of whether or not the cutting plotter is in PAUSE status. Panel Keys TEST: PREV.: NEXT: COND.: PAUSE: ENTER: ORIGIN: 1–5 Press this function key to conduct a cutting test and check the cutting conditions.
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2 SETTING UP THE CUTTER PLOTTER 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Connecting to Your Computer................................................2-2 Turning on the Power ................................................................2-3 Loading the Medium ..................................................................2-4 Upon detection of no medium during roll media cutting ..........................................................................................2-11 Adjusting and Mounting the Cutter Pen .............
2.1 Connecting to Your Computer The cutting plotter can be connected to a computer via the serial (RS-232C) port or USB port. Select which port to use according to the requirements of your application software and/or which of your computer’s interface ports are available for use. Use a serial cable or USB cable in accordance with the connection method chosen.
2.2 Turning on the Power Connect the cutting plotter to the AC electrical socket using the power cord provided, and turn on the power. Step 1 Check to confirm that the Power switch is turned off (the “O” side is down). Step 2 Connect the cutting-plotter AC power inlet to a correctly rated electrical socket using the power cord provided. Step 3 Turn on the cutting plotter by pressing the “|” side of the Power switch. The STATUS lamp on the control panel will light up.
Step 4 If no medium has been loaded, the message below appears on the display, prompting the loading of a medium. LOAD MEDIA!! If a medium has already been loaded, the current media setting is displayed as shown below. ROLL2 PRESS ENTR Select the media mode to suit the medium used. For instructions on loading media and selecting the media mode, see “2.3 Loading the Medium.” 2.
Step 2 Position the stock roller with the stoppers towards the front, and place the other stock roller toward the rear to suit the roll-medium size. Step 3 Place the roll medium on the stock rollers, and clamp it between the stoppers. Once the position is fixed, tighten the screws on the stoppers. Loading the Roll Medium Step 1 Lower the media set lever to raise the push rollers.
Step 2 Place the roll medium on the stand stock rollers, and then pass the leading edge of the medium from the back of the cutting plotter so it emerges from the front, while making sure to remove any slack in the medium conveyance path. Step 3 Pull the leading edge out of the front of the cutting plotter so that it completely covers the media sensor. If the leading edge has been pulled out too far, turn the roll to adjust the length of the medium that is protruding.
Step 5 After ensuring that there is no slack in the medium’s conveyance path, raise the media set lever to lower the push rollers and provide slack in the medium for a length corresponding to the length of the medium to be used. Raise media set lever to clamp medium Provide slack Step 6 Raising the media set lever displays a menu for selection of the media mode. Select the media mode.
Loading Sheet Media Step 1 Lower the media set lever to raise the push rollers. Step 2 Adjust the position of the left- and right-hand push rollers to suit the medium width. CHECKPOINT Step Load the medium so that it passes over the media sensor. 3 Raising the media set lever displays a menu for selecting the media mode. Select the media mode.
Step 4 Pressing the or key displays “ROLL1 PRESS ENTR”, “ROLL2 PRESS ENTR”, and “SHEET PRESS ENTR”. Select “SHEET PRESS ENTR” and then press the (ENTER) key to confirm the selection. When “SHEET PRESS ENTR” is selected, the front and rear edges are detected. Step 5 After the medium size has been detected, the pen carriage returns to the origin point and the cutting plotter awaits cutting data. If the INTERFACE conditions or COMMAND mode have not yet been set, they should be set.
CAUTION CHECKPOINT To move the push rollers, the media set lever must be in the lowered position. If the “REALIGN ROLLERS” message is displayed when the medium is loaded and the media set lever is raised, either the right-hand push roller is not positioned over the right-hand wide grit roller, or the left-hand push roller is not positioned over the grit roller. Check to confirm that they are positioned correctly.
CAUTION • Push roller (1) must be positioned over the right-hand wide grit roller. • The medium must always be positioned over the media sensor. For Minimum-Size Media Position all of the rollers over the right-hand wide grit roller. Position the medium with the left-hand edge aligned with the left-hand edge of the grit roller, and position the push rollers over both edges. The minimum width of the medium that can be set is 50 mm. Grit roller Push roller (2) Push roller (1) Media sensor OK CAUTION 2.
■ Types and Features of Cutter Blades Part No. and profile Blade diameter and offset Compatible plunger Use and features CB 09UA ø0.9 mm 0.45 PHP32-CB09N The standard blade for cutting color adhesivebacked media. Suitable for cutting media up to 0.25 mm in thickness. Max. cutting distance: Approx. 4,000 m CB 15U ø1.5 mm 0.75 PHP32-CB15N Capable of cutting thicker media than possible with the CB09UA blade. Suitable for cutting media 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm in thickness. CB 15UB ø1.5 mm 0.
Step 1 Turn the blade-length adjustment knob to retract the blade into the plunger. Step 2 Turn the plunger cap in the counter-clockwise direction to remove it from the plunger. Step 3 Remove the blade from inside the plunger cap. Step 4 Insert the new blade into the hole provided in the plunger cap. Step 5 With the blade inserted into the plunger cap, screw on the plunger from above.
Step 3 r” should be Assuming that the medium thickness is “t,” as shown in the figure below, the blade length “r r” is never greater than the combined thickness of the equal to or slightly greater than “t.” Make sure “r medium and its backing sheet. If it is not possible to accurately determine the medium thickness, adjust the blade length by gradually increasing it until only traces of the blade appear on the backing sheet after a cutting test is conducted.
Step 2 While pushing the pen holder in the upward direction, push the pen all the way into the holder until its flange contacts the upper part of the holder. Make sure that the pen bracket is engaged on the pen’s flange. Flange Pen bracket CAUTION Step When you push the pen holder up with your fingers, take care not to cut your fingers on the cutter blade. 3 When the cutter pen has been mounted, tighten the screw to hold it in place.
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3 BASIC SETTINGS AND OPERATIONS 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Setting the Format of Data to be Received .......................3-2 Setting the Interface Conditions ...........................................3-4 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions .......................................3-5 Displaying the Effective Cutting Area .................................3-9 Moving the Pen ............................................................................
3.1 Setting the Format of Data to be Received Before data is sent from the computer, the format (command mode) of the data sent by the application software must be checked. The cutting plotter accepts two data formats (command modes): GP-GL (Graphtec) and HP-GL commands. Set the command mode to suit the application used. ■ Setting the Command Mode Step 1 Check to confirm that the cutting plotter is in READY mode (displaying the current pen settings).
■ Setting the STEP SIZE If the GP-GL command mode is set, it is possible to change the minimum unit of distance that the cutter pen or pen can travel to one of four settings: 0.01 mm, 0.025 mm, 0.05 mm, or 0.1 mm. The default setting is 0.1 mm, so this setting should be changed if your application specifies a different step size. Step 1 Set the command setting to “GP-GL.” COMMAND Step GP-GL 2 Press the (ENTER) key to display the step-size setting. STEP SIZE 0.
3.2 Setting the Interface Conditions The interface conditions must be set if the RS-232C serial interface is being used. The data transfer rate (baud rate), data length, parity settings, and the handshaking mode for the cutting plotter must be set to match those of the computer operating system. This section describes the cutting-plotter interface conditions.
3.3 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions Before starting cutting, set the TOOL (cutter blade or pen), cutter-blade length, OFFSET, FORCE, SPEED, and QUALITY settings to ensure the optimal cutting conditions. (1) TOOL (cutter blade or pen): Set to suit the material to be cut. (2) Cutter-blade length: Adjust the blade length by referring to the media thickness table below. For details on adjusting the blade length, see “2.5 Adjusting and Mounting the Cutter Pen.
To preserve the pen life, set the FORCE to the lowest setting, and set the SPEED after checking to confirm that there are no faint lines or other problems during plotting. CHECKPOINT • If the SPEED and QUALITY settings are set to high values, the cut/plotted results will have a coarser finish, but the overall cutting/plotting time will be reduced.
■ Setting TOOL (cutter blade or pen) Set the type of pen (cutter blade) to be used. Step 1 To display the cutter-pen conditions, either press the (COND.) key when the cutting plotter is in READY mode, or when the media set lever is lowered and the buffer is in the empty (cleared) status. Step 2 Select the setting area (condition number) to be set, and then press the bol to the position shown below.
Setting FORCE Sets the pressure applied by the cutter pen during cutting. Set the FORCE value based on the guidelines in the table entitled “Optimal Cutting Conditions for Each Media Type” on page 3-5. Step 1 Press the Step (COND.) key in READY mode to display the cutter-pen conditions. 2 Select the setting area (condition number) to be set, and then use the to the position shown below.
Setting QUALITY Sets the acceleration used in cutting. Step 1 Press the Step (COND.) key in READY mode to display the cutter-pen conditions. 2 Select the setting area (condition number) to be set, and then use the to the position shown below. 2 09U +1 23 30 Step or key to move the symbol 2 3 Press the or key to select the value to be changed in the range specified below Tempo 600: “1”, “2”, “3” Press the (ENTER) key to confirm the selection.
3.6 Setting the Initial Cutting Position (Origin Point) This function allows the starting position for cutting or plotting to be moved to the desired position. New origin Y Original origin X Step 1 In READY mode, use the point. Step , , , and (POSITION) keys to move the cutter pen to the new origin 2 Press the ORIGIN (ORIGIN) key. The following menu is displayed and the new origin is set.
When it is necessary to both move the origin and rotate the coordinate axes, be sure to rotate the coordinate axes first. CHECKPOINT 3.7 After a new origin point is set, the displayed coordinate values of X= and Y= represent the respective distances from the new origin. Stop Function Cutting or plotting can be stopped by pressing the (PAUSE) key while cutting or plotting is in progress.
If the Special Function "PAUSE KEY" is set to "MENU" * This is set by default when shipped from the factory. The Pause menu is displayed after the cutting plotter has stopped, allowing you to alter the settings. Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key while cutting or plotting is in progress to stop cutting or plotting and display the screen shown below. Step 2 In the Pause menu, alter settings as necessary. Step 3 Pressing the 3.8 (PAUSE) key cancels the pause function and restarts cutting or plotting.
Step 1 Load the medium for test cutting on the cutting plotter. Step 2 Use the Step , , , and (POSITION) keys to move the pen carriage to the position for test cutting. 3 Switch to READY mode, and then press the Step (TEST) key. 4 When test cutting has been completed, the pen carriage moves to the standby position and the following menu is displayed.
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4 FUNCTION SETTINGS AND OPERATIONS 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 PAUSE Menu List ........................................................................4-2 Reading the Auto Registration Marks.............................4-3 Setting the FEED function .......................................................4-4 Setting AUTO PRE-FEED .........................................................4-5 Setting TANGENTIAL Mode .....................................................
4.1 PAUSE Menu List Pressing the (PAUSE) key in READY mode displays the PAUSE menu, enabling the various settings to be made. Select the required menu by scrolling through the list using the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key. COPY MOVE TO R. MARK 4.2 Reading the Auto Registration Marks FEED 4.3 Setting the FEED function AUTO PRE FEED 4.4 Setting the AUTO PRE-FEED TANGENTIAL 4.5 Setting TANGENTIAL Mode AUTO REG. MARK 4.6 Auto-Registration-Mark-Reading Settings CLEAR BUFFER 4.
4.2 Reading the Auto Registration Marks MOVE TO R. MARK FEED AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK Step 1 When “2 POINT,” “3 POINT,” or “4 POINT” has been set (see “4.6 Auto-Registration-Mark-Reading Settings”), press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode and display the following menu. MOVE TO R.
4.3 Setting the FEED function The FEED function feeds the medium forward and backward to leave faint tracks of the grit rollers on it and prevent the media from slipping during a cutting or plotting operation. MOVE TO R. MARK FEED 1 Step Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER 2 Step Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
4.4 Setting AUTO PRE-FEED When the AUTO PRE-FEED function is set to “ON,” the medium is automatically fed forward and backward by the preset length when data is received. This operation leaves traces of the grit rollers on the media and prevents it from slipping during a cutting or plotting operation. Similarly, if roll media is used, the medium is automatically pulled out by the cutting plotter. MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode.
4.5 Setting TANGENTIAL Mode This function should be used for the cutting of thick media (more than 0.3 mm in thickness) and when the cutter blade is not able to turn properly due to the cutting depth, resulting in discrepancies between the start and finish point and the inability to cut sharp corners. This function can be set on or off individually for each of the eight cutter-pen setting areas, and it should be set to suit the media used.
Step 6 Press the (ENTER) key or use the key to move the cursor to the right-hand side, and then press the key again to display the menu shown below. If the distance adjustment is set for the setting area selected, the distance adjustment will be displayed here. Either press the (ENTER) key or move the cursor to the right-hand side and press the key. TANGENTIAL MODE 1 Step 7 Press the or key to select “Mode 1” or “Mode 2,” and then press the cut setting is displayed. STR=0.2 Step (ENTER) key.
4.6 Auto-Registration-Mark-Reading Settings These settings enable pre-plotted media to be cut without any offset by reading the registration marks using the cutting-plotter sensor and adjusting the axes to suit the coordinate data. CHECKPOINT Registration-mark reading accuracy *: Within 0.3 mm * Accuracy when using pens provided with the cutting plotter, high-grade media, and reading the specified pattern.
Registration-Mark Pattern The cutting plotter is capable of reading the following registration-mark patterns. Registration-mark pattern 2 Medium feed direction Registration-mark pattern 1 X Y Reading Range Required for the Detection of Registration Marks The range required for the detection of registration marks is as shown below.
Drawing Origin Point The drawing origin point following reading of the registration marks will be at the bottom-right registration mark, as shown below. Medium feed direction Registration-mark pattern 1 Registration-mark pattern 2 Origin point Origin point X Y ■ Registration-Mark Menu Tree MOVE TO R. MARK FEED AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL Key AUTO REG.
■ Setting the Registration-Mark Mode MARK MODE MARK POSITION MARK TYPE For 2-point alignment, the origin and X-axis registration marks are read; for 3-point alignment, the origin, X-axis, and Y-axis registration marks are read; and for 4-point alignment, all four registration marks are read. Axis alignment (correction of any tilt) and distance adjustment are then performed. Registration-mark pattern 1 MARK SIZE Registration-mark pattern 2 MARK DIST. ADJ.
Setting the Registration-Mark Detection Movement Distance This sets the distance between the registration marks and changes the initial registration-mark scanning position. Avoiding reading areas that obviously do not include registration marks increases the registrationmark reading speed and minimizes the possibility of incorrect reading due to other marks on the medium .
Step 6 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. CHECKPOINT • This setting is retained in the memory even when the power is turned off. • If the detection movement distance is set to 0 mm, the sensor continues detecting between the registration marks without skipping until it detects the next mark. • For 2-point alignment, the Y value is ignored. • The medium will be ejected if the detection movement distance is set to a value greater than the medium length.
Step 5 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. CHECKPOINT The registration-mark conditions that can be read by the cutting plotter are as follows. • Registration-mark line width: 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm (The registration-mark center lines are used as the data.) • Registration-mark size: 5 mm to 20 mm (See “Setting the Registration-Mark Size.”) • Registration-mark pattern: Pattern 1 or 2 • Registration marks must be formed of single lines. • Registration marks must be drawn in black.
Step 5 Use the or key to set the value within the range “5 mm” to “20 mm,” and then press the (ENTER) key to confirm. To cancel the selection, press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key. Step 6 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. Setting the Registration-Mark Distance Adjustment MARK MODE MARK POSITION MARK TYPE MARK SIZE MARK DIST. ADJ. This adjusts the distance between registration marks automatically, rounding up or down to the nearest 5 mm, 10 mm, or 50 mm as specified. If STD.
If “inch” is the unit displayed, select from among “OFF,” “0.25,” “0.5,” “0.75,” “1.0,” “1.5” and “STD.” Step 6 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. Setting the Registration-Mark Origin Point If the registration-mark origin point is not set, it will be positioned as shown in the figures below. This function should be set when it is required to move the origin point from this position. Registration-mark pattern 1 MARK MODE Registration-mark pattern 2 MARK SIZE MARK DIST. ADJ.
Step 6 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. Adjusting the Registration-Mark Reading Sensor (1) This adjusts the position of the sensor for the reading of registration marks. The adjustment crosshairs are plotted after crosshairs already plotted have been read, and the difference between the two is input to adjust the position. MARK TYPE Move the pen within this area X Y MARK SIZE MARK DIST. ADJ.
Step 8 Measure the offset of the crosshairs in the X-axis, and enter the distance adjustment. Using the already plotted crosshairs as the point of reference, enter the actual amount of the offset between these crosshairs and the crosshairs that were plotted on top of them after the already plotted crosshairs were read by the sensor. (For example, for the figure at the above right, since there is an offset in both the –X and –Y directions, enter the [X= –**mm] and [Y= –**mm] corrective values.
Step 5 Press the (ENTER) key to display the Auto Reg. Mark submenu, and then press the (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. (NEXT) or MARK SENSOR ADJ2 Step 6 Press the (ENTER) key. The following menu is displayed. MARK ADJ2 Step SCAN 7 Use the , , , and (POSITION) keys to move the cutter pen to the position for plotting of the crosshairs, and then press the (ENTER) key. The crosshairs are plotted and the following is displayed.
Setting the Registration-Mark Auto-Scan Mode If the registration marks are at pre-determined positions on the medium, they can be scanned automatically. When ON was selected MARK MODE Registration-mark pattern 1 Point 4 Medium feed direction MARK POSITION MARK TYPE MARK SIZE 100mm MARK DIST. ADJ.
Step 6 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. Adjusting the Sensitivity of the Registration-Mark Sensor MARK MODE MARK POSITION There may be instances when the registration-mark sensor does not function correctly, depending on how it is moved. If this happens, adjusting the sensitivity will enable the sensor to perform detection correctly in most cases. MARK TYPE MARK SIZE MARK DIST. ADJ. Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode.
4.7 Clearing the Buffer Memory This function deletes the data sent to the cutting plotter. It is used to abort cutting while it is in progress. MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK Step 2 Stop the transmission of data from the computer if this is in progress. CLEAR BUFFER AXIS ALIGNMENT DISTANCE ADJUST PAGE LENGTH Step 3 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
4.8 Aligning the Coordinate Axes This function is used to compensate for any offset in the origin or angular deviation in the coordinate axes that occurs when a medium plotted in another plotter is loaded or when a previously plotted medium is reloaded. This function enables the cutting of outlines plotted using a different plotter, or drawings previously plotted to be recut. Plotting the origin and X-axis line before the coordinate axes are aligned makes it easier to adjust the axes.
Step 5 Use the , , , and (POSITION) keys to move the cutter pen to alignment point 2 (any point on the X-axis for the previously plotted medium). The coordinates displayed here indicate the distance from alignment point 1. PT2 Step 0, 6 Press the Step 0 (ENTER) key to calculate the X-axis angle of inclination and align the axes. 7 Press the (PAUSE) key to cancel PAUSE mode. CHECKPOINT After the axes are aligned, the settings will be reset if any of the following are performed.
4.9 Distance Adjustment This function corrects any deviation in the length of cut or the plotted line segments, which occurs depending on the medium being used. The adjustment value for the deviation is specified as a percentage of the total distance. For example, a setting of 0.05% adjusts a distance of 2 m (2,000 mm) by +1 mm (2000 x 0.05% = 1 mm), to become 2,001 mm.
Step 7 Select “X” or “Y” using the or key. Use the or the range of “-2.00%” to “+2.00%,” and then press the key to increase or decrease the setting within (ENTER) key to confirm. If the condition-setting area is set for TANGENTIAL mode, the TANGENTIAL-mode setting will be displayed. Press again. To cancel the selection(s), press the CHECKPOINT (NEXT) or (PREV.) key. This setting is retained in the memory even when the power is turned off.
4.10 Setting the PAGE LENGTH This function sets the length of each page when long-axis cutting or plotting is performed using a roll medium. This should be set for long-axis cutting or plotting exceeding 5 m in length. The default setting is “5000 mm.“ Step MOVE TO R. MARK 1 Press the FEED (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED Step TANGENTIAL 2 Press the AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
4.11 Setting the Cutting/Plotting Area This function allows the area in which cutting/plotting will be performed to be specified, thereby preventing cutting/plotting outside the specified area. This function enables more efficient use of the film through the specification of uncut portions of a film that have already been cut, to avoid the previously cut areas. Note that setting of the cutting/plotting area also repositions the origin point in accordance with the movement of the cutting area.
CHECKPOINT The following message is displayed if the lower-left and upper-right settings are not separated by a distance of at least 5 mm. If this message appears, reset the lowerleft and upper-right positions. WRONG PLOT AREA 4.12 Expanding the Cutting/Plotting Area This function allows the width of the cutting/plotting area to be extended by 9.5 mm on both sides, for a total increase of 19 mm, enabling cutting to be performed up to the area in which the pinch rollers are positioned. MOVE TO R.
4.13 Rotating the Coordinate Axes This function allows the cutting/plotting origin and coordinate axes to be rotated as shown below. New origin When axis-coordinate rotation is “on” When axiscoordinate rotation is “off” Origin MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER Step 2 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
4.14 Mirroring This function allows the cutting/plotting origin and coordinate axes to be changed, as shown below. The origin when MIRROR is “on” X Y Y X The origin when MIRROR is “off” MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER Step 2 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
4.15 Cutting/Plotting Using the Buffer Memory (COPY Function) This function is used to make duplicate copies of cutting or plotting data that has been sent from the computer and is retained in the cutting plotter’s internal memory. 3rd copy 6th copy 2nd copy 5th copy 1st copy Y Origin X MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 4th copy Copy origin (Initial position for plotting copy) 1 Send the data to be copied to the cutting plotter, and cut or plot the data once. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG.
If the data to be copied does not fit within the cutting/plotting area, the following message is displayed in step 5. CANNOT COPY Use the , , , and (POSITION) keys to change the initial copying position or load a medium with an area of sufficient size to fit the copied data. CHECKPOINT • If the initial cutting/plotting position was moved from the original origin, the new origin will also apply during the copying operation.
4.16 Sorting Settings This function sorts and cuts or plots the cutting/plotting data stored in the buffer memory to minimize the amount of medium feed required. This is useful for data requiring a large number of movements on the drawing with the pen raised. If the data received has been sorted using the application software, sorting the data using the cutting plotter may require additional time. Turning this function off may speed up the process. MOVE TO R.
4.17 Interface Settings If the RS-232C serial interface is used, the interface conditions must be set to ensure that the data-transfer rate (baud rate), parity, data length and handshake settings for the cutting plotter match those set in the application software or computer operating system. This section describes the interface conditions for the cutting plotter.
4.18 Setting the Format of Data to be Received Before data is sent from the computer, the format (command mode) of data sent by the application software must be checked. The cutting plotter accepts two data formats (command modes): GP-GL (Graphtec) and HP-GL commands. Set the command mode to suit the application used. ■Setting the Command Mode MOVE TO R. MARK FEED AUTO PRE FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. TANGENTIAL AUTO REG.
■ Setting the STEP SIZE If the GP-GL command mode is set, the minimum unit of distance that the pen can travel can be changed to one of four settings: 0.01 mm, 0.025 mm, 0.05 mm, or 0.1 mm. The default setting is 0.1 mm, so change this setting if your application specifies a different step size. Step 1 Set the command setting to “GP-GL.” COMMAND Step GP-GL 2 Press the (ENTER) key to display the step-size setting menu. STEP SIZE 0.100mm Step 3 Press the or key to select “0.100 mm,” “0.
4.19 Blade Wear Detection (When Blade Wear Setup is On) This function calculates the total cutting distance of the cutter blade to indicate when it requires replacement. This should be used purely as a guide, as the actual cutter-blade wear will vary depending on the material cut and the cutting conditions (e.g., force) used. The pen setting areas are grouped together, and the total distances are calculated for each group.
■Setting Wear-Rate Groups MOVE TO R. MARK This registers setting areas in groups. FEED AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER AXIS ALIGNMENT DISTANCE ADJUST Step 2 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. BLADE WEAR SETUP PAGE LENGTH PLOT AREA EXPAND ROTATE Step 3 Press the (ENTER) key to display the wear-rate setting submenu.
■ Setting Wear-Rate Factors This sets factors corresponding to the differences in wear rates due to different materials and cutting conditions. Step 1 Press the Step (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. 2 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. BLADE WEAR SETUP Step 3 Press the (ENTER) key to display the wear-rate setting submenu, and then press the (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
Step 3 Press the (ENTER) key to display the wear-rate setting submenu, and then press the (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. CLEAR Step (NEXT) or GROUP 4 Press the (ENTER) key to display the wear-rate clear menu. CLEAR GROUP1 Step 5 The number to the right of “CLEAR GROUP” is the group number. Use the decrease the group number, and press the group number to be cleared, and press the selection(s), press the Step (NEXT) or or key to increase or key to select “YES” or “NO.
4.20 Raising and Lowering the Pen This function raises and lowers the pen. MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER Step 2 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. PEN UP/DOWN AXIS ALIGNMENT DISTANCE ADJUST PAGE LENGTH PLOT AREA Step 3 Press the (ENTER) key to lower the pen, and press the again to raise it.
4.21 TEST Mode The cutting plotter has five test modes: “Condition print (COND. PAT.)” for the printing of setting details, “Self-test” for checking accuracy, “Dump mode” for checking data transfers from the computer, “Cutting demo (CUT. DEMO)” for the cutting of a demo pattern, and “Cutting force test cutting (PRESS TEST CUT)” for performing five test cuts. These should be used to check the various settings and to check for problems. ■Condition-List Printing MOVE TO R.
■ Self-Test-Pattern Printing This function prints out a self-test pattern to check the accuracy of the cutting plotter. Step 1 Mount a plotting pen in the pen carriage, and set the conditions to suit the pen used (e.g., force, pen speed settings) (see “3.3 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions”). Step 2 Load an A3-size or larger medium. Step 3 Press the Step (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. 4 Press the TEST Step (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed.
Step 2 Load an A4-size or larger medium. Step 3 Press the Step (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. 4 Press the TEST Step (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. MODE 5 Press the (ENTER) key to display the test-mode submenu, and then press the (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. (NEXT) or DUMP Step 6 Press the CHAR Step (ENTER) key to switch to dump mode. DUMP MODE 7 When data is sent to the cutting plotter in this mode, a dump list is printed out.
Step 3 Press the Step (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. 4 Press the TEST Step (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. MODE 5 Press the (ENTER) key to display the test-mode submenu, and then press the (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. CUT DEMO Step 6 Press the (NEXT) or (ENTER) key to start cutting the demo pattern. CAUTION The pen carriage begins moving as soon as this function is set.
Step 5 Press the (ENTER) key to display the Test Mode submenu, and then press the (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. PRESS Step (NEXT) or TEST CUT 6 To change the cutting conditions, press the (COND.) key to display the conditions setting menu. When you exit the conditions setting menu, the display returns to the menu shown in Step 5. For more information on the conditions setting menu, see “3.3 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions.
4.22 Setting the PEN UP SPEED This function sets the travel speed of the pen when it is raised. It can be specified independently of the cutting SPEED function. When the PEN UP SPEED is high, the pen travels faster when it is raised, thereby reducing the overall cutting time. Your cutting plotter comes with its PEN UP SPEED set to AUTO, which selects the same speed as the cutting SPEED function (pen lowered).
4.23 Setting the OFFSET FORCE (Initial Cutting Force) This function specifies the cutting force to be applied during initial blade control for checking the cutterblade direction at the start of operation. This is used to control the rotation of the cutter-blade tip during initial blade control when thick media is cut, and is therefore not necessary to specify for media of regular thickness. The initial setting is “4.” Increasing this setting increases the cutting force. MOVE TO R.
4.24 Setting the OFFSET ANGLE This function sets the reference value used to adjust the cutter-blade offset angle to correspond to the displacement of the traveling angle as defined by the coordinate movement data received. The cutter blade is controlled above the angle specified. Setting a high value will reduce the total cutting time, but the corners of drawings cut will become rounded and may not be cut precisely. The initial setting is “30.” MOVE TO R.
4.25 Setting the STEP PASS Reducing this setting increases image quality by enabling smooth cutter-blade tip control when arcs are cut. The STEP PASS setting specified is used as the unit for blade tip control, with blade tip control omitted for any data below the STEP PASS setting. If the STEP PASS setting is too high, the image cut may not be faithfully reproduced. Normally, the STEP PASS setting should be set to “1.” MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode.
4.26 Setting the Initial Down Force The initial down-force setting is useful when TANGENTIAL mode is selected (for the cutting of thick media). With thick film, additional time is required for the cutter blade to penetrate the film fully, even when the necessary cutting force is applied. The cutting operation starts before the cutter blade has fully penetrated the film, causing uncut sections to be left.
4.27 Setting the LENGTH UNIT This function specifies the units for coordinates displayed in millimeters or inches. MOVE TO R. MARK FEED Step 1 Press the (PAUSE) key to switch to PAUSE mode. AUTO PRE FEED TANGENTIAL AUTO REG. MARK CLEAR BUFFER Step 2 Press the (NEXT) or (PREV.) key until the following menu is displayed. LENGTH UNIT AXIS ALIGNMENT DISTANCE ADJUST PAGE LENGTH Step 3 Press the (ENTER) key to display the length-unit menu.
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5 Setting and Using the Special Functions 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Description of Special Functions A .....................................5-2 Setting Special Functions A ...................................................5-4 Description of Special Functions B .....................................5-5 Setting Special Functions B ...................................................
5.1 Description of Special Functions A The cutting plotter is provided with the special functions described below. These functions are specified only in special situations, and are not normally used. ■ Enabling/Disabling the “:” and “;” Commands (when the COMMAND setting is GP-GL) This function enables or disables the “:” and “;” commands when the COMMAND setting is GP-GL. If the first part of the data is lost, these commands may be having an adverse effect.
■ Enabling/Disabling PEN UP MOVE This function sets whether the pen will travel to each point specified or only from the initially specified point to the last specified point when consecutive commands are received specifying pen movement while it is raised. When ENABLED is selected, the pen travels consecutively to each coordinate specified by the data received. When DISABLED is selected, the pen travels directly from the initially specified point to the last specified point.
CAUTION 5.2 Step If the media or home sensors have been disabled (set to DISABLED), be sure to specify the cutting/plotting area (see “4.11 Setting the Cutting/Plotting Area”). If the cutting/plotting area is not specified, the cutting mat may be damaged. Setting Special Functions A 1 Turn on the cutting plotter while holding down the displayed. key. The menus for setting the special functions are In GP-GL command mode ":", ";" ENABLED MODEL "W" PRIORITY PEN DOWN PRIORITY MANUAL INIT.
5.3 Description of Special Functions B These functions are specified only in the special situations described below, and are not normally used. ■ Display Language Setting (MENU LANGUAGE SELECTION) This function sets the language used on the display. One of six languages can be selected: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Japanese. 5.4 Step Setting Special Functions B 1 Turn the cutting plotter on while holding down the The special functions B setting menu is displayed.
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6 TROUBLESHOOTING 6.1 The Cutting Plotter Does Not Operate When Turned On ...........................................................................................................6-2 6.2 6.3 6.4 The Cutting Plotter Does Not Operate Correctly .............6-2 The Cutting Results Are Unsatisfactory ............................6-3 An Error Message Was Displayed.........................................
6.1 The Cutting Plotter Does Not Operate When Turned On Symptom Cause Solution The STATUS lamp on the control panel does not light up. Power is not being fed to the cutting plotter. Check to confirm that the power cord is securely connected to the cuttingplotter AC line inlet and the electrical outlet. The STATUS lamp on the control panel lights up, but nothing appears on the display panel. The cutting plotter is defective. Contact your sales representative or Gerber Service. 6.
Symptom Cause Solution Abnormal noise is generated by the cutter during cutting. The cutter plunger tip is in contact with the medium. Adjust the cutter-blade extension (see “2.5 Adjusting and Mounting the Cutter Pen”). Reduce the cutting force (see “3.3 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions”). The “NO MEDIA” error message is displayed during a cutting/plotting operation and operation is halted. “Paper End” was detected erroneously.
Symptom The cutting start and end points for figures do not match. Cause Solution The data is not connected. Check by plotting using a pen, and correct the data. The offset force is too low. Increase the offset force (see “4.23 Setting the OFFSET FORCE”). The film is too flimsy. Use a stiffer film. The cutter blade is not rotating smoothly in the holder. Clean inside the holder. The step size for the software and the cutting plotter do not match.
6.4 An Error Message Was Displayed Symptom CURRENT LIMIT or POSITION ALARM is displayed. The STATUS lamp flickers. Cause Solution The cutting conditions are not suitable for the medium being cut. Reduce the cutting speed. Reduce the cutting force (see “3.3 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions”). Excessive load is causing the current to the motor to exceed the rated value. Remove the obstruction and turn the cutting plotter back on. The pen carriage movement is being obstructed.
If any of the following command error messages appear, they are nearly always caused by one of the following two reasons: • The software or host-computer settings have been changed. • The cutting-plotter interface settings have been changed. Solutions • Configure the settings in the software menu so that the menu can control the cutting plotter. • Set the host-computer interface conditions correctly. • Set the cutting-plotter interface conditions correctly (see “3.
Error messages in HP-GL command mode Error message HP-GL ERROR 1 HP-GL ERROR 2 HP-GL ERROR 3 Cause Solution An unrecognizable command was received. Noise was received when the computer was turned on. Press the ENTER key to cancel the error. The software command settings for controlling the cutting plotter have been changed. Set the software command settings for controlling the cutting plotter. The data-transmission settings have been changed in the interface settings.
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APPENDIX Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Main Specifications .................................................. A-2 Options and Supplies .............................................. A-3 External Dimensions ................................................ A-4 Menu Tree .....................................................................
Appendix A Main Specifications Item Tempo 600 CP U 32-bit CPU Configuration Grit rolling Drive system Digital servo Maximum cutting area 603 mm x 50 m Range of guaranteed precision 584 mm x 5 m*1 Compatible media widths Minimum: 50 mm Maximum: 712 mm (28 inches) Maximum media thickness 0.25 mm Maximum cutting speed 60 cm/s (in all directions) Specifiable cutting speeds 1–10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 cm/s Cutting force 0.2–2.
Appendix B Options and Supplies Options Designation Part No. Description Basket PG0016 Basket for Tempo 600 Loupe PHP-61LOUPE Loupe with 6x magnification Supplies Designation Cutter holder Cutter blade Water-based fiber-tip pen Part No. Description PHP32-CB09N 1 holder for the 0.9-mm-diameter supersteel blade PHP32-CB15N 1 holder for the 1.5-mm-diameter supersteel blade CB09UA-5 Set of 5 0.9-mm-diameter supersteel blades CB15U-5 Set of 5 1.
Appendix C External Dimensions 585 1004 851 Units: mm Dimensional accuracy: ±5 mm A–4
Appendix D Menu Tree COPY MOVE TO R. MARK FEED AUTO PRE FEED MARK MODE TANGENTIAL MARK POSITION AUTO REG. MARK MARK TYPE CLEAR BUFFER MARK SIZE AXIS ALIGNMENT MARK DIST. ADJ. DISTANCE ADJUST MARK OFFSET PAGE LENGTH MARK SENSOR ADJ1 PLOT AREA MARK SENSOR ADJ2 EXPAND MARK AUTO SCAN ROTATE MARK SENSOR ADJ MIRROR COPY SORT RS-232C *Displayed on the first page when you select "TOP" on the "COPY" menu of Special Functions.
A–6
INDEX A Dump mode ...................................................4-44 AC power cord ................................................ 1-2 AC power inlet................................................. 1-4 Accessories..................................................... 1-2 Adjusting the blade length............................. 2-13 Adjusting the registration-mark reading sensor (1) 4-17 Adjusting the registration-mark reading sensor (2) 4-18 Adjusting the Sensitivity of the Registration-Mark Sensor..
N Setting the cutter-pen ......................................3-5 Setting the cutting/plotting area .....................4-28 Setting the FEED function ...............................4-4 Setting the format of data to be received3-2, 4-36 Setting the initial cutting position (origin point) ..... 3-10 Setting the interface conditions........................3-4 Setting the LENGTH UNIT.............................4-53 Setting the OFFSET ANGLE .........................
Types and features of cutter blades.............. 2-12 U USB interface connector ................................. 1-3 User Guide CD-ROM ...................................... 1-2 W Water-based fiber-tip pen ............................... 1-2 Wear detection.............................................. 4-38 Wear-rate groups ..........................................
The specifications, etc., in this manual are subject to change without notice.
