Homebrew PCBs

--- Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:

> I have got to the end of the road with this plotter.
> 
> I have made a few test cables, I have bought a rs232
> dongle with LEDS
> in so I can see whats going on, and I can see the
> data light flash
> when I hold a key down in hyperterminal.
> 
> I have tried 3 wires, which is fine for pc, i have
> connected the
> handshake pins back to themselves (6,8,20) (4,5) at
> the plotter end.
> 
> It echos nothing back, I can drive the pen aorund
> with the arrow keys
> on the plotters front panel but I see nothing out
> the serial port,
> maybe I should, maybe I shouldnt.
> 
> I know it works as when I bought it I held down a
> key(or 2) and it was
> off drawing a self test on the bed without paper in,
> I cant do that
> now I cant remember how I did it!
> 
> But if I interrupt the travel of the pen, it stops
> and flashes the
> error light, so all self tests seem fine.
> 
> 
> So last thing I can think to do is to 'copy' a
> genuine 'cpgl' or
> 'ccgl' file to com1:
> 
> Has anyone got such a file, just to plot a square or
> triangle, nothing huge etc.
> 
> -- 
> 
> Lez
> 

You also need to set stuff like bitrate, parity and
stop-bit. Have you tried searching for the manual
on-line?

Your favourite PCB package should be able to output
HPGL. Then, once you find the correct protocol
settings, open a command window and type "copy
mypcb.hpg com1:" to see what happens.

Which reminds me, trying to access it via
hyperterminal may not be a good diagnostic. They're
simpleminded beasts and pretty much ignore any
commands they don't recognize.

If you can find the hpgl syntax on-line you may try to
type in some commands.

But the first thing is to find the correct protocol
settings.

- YD.



 
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