--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "w7pup" <woods@g...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi, I just discovered this group. I am interested in using a plotter
> to directly lay down resist for pcb boards. I picked up an HP 7475A
> plotter a few years ago and modified it to accept a pin according to
> plans I got from someone in Australia, I think. The plotter appears
> to work OK. I say this based on the self test. Also I hooked it up
> to my old PC and it printed at least one sheet OK. But now I have a
> newer PC that runs XP. It does have one serial port but I have not
> been able to get it to respond. I have the owner's manuals for the
> plotter. I also use a cheap windows-based CAD program called Key
> Cad. I have been able to draw pcb layouts manually but would like to
> output to the plotter.
>
> Any suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim, W7PUP
Isn't that a plotter that slides the paper past a one-axis pen?
If so, you're gonna have a terrible time keeping registration.
I use a flatbed with stationary media and it works fine.
Only problem is finding a pen fine enough to do tracks on
20 mil centers.
As for your serial ports, some older programs bit banged the port
directly. XP won't let you do that. First thing I'd try is to
plot to a file, copy the file to a bootable win98 floppy and try
to copy the file to the plotter with DOS. If that works, you'll know
what the problem is.
mike