Pen Plotters
05-01-2009 | 07:51 PM
#1
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Pen Plotters
Pen Plotters
Autocad will allow you to plug in multiple devices into the COM and LPT ports. So needed it once again and hit the button for the pen plotter.
Does anyone here still use a pen plotter for their model A/C plans?
I most often use a raster plotter, but recently had to step back and locate an older plan done ten years ago for plotting once more. I had to pull up the old project and I seemed to have bleeped out a bunch of lines that got plotted on to paper, and then...?
I have been using these pens for certain parts...
00- plywood guts, dimension arrowheads, small text (less than .075" tall).
0- top of ribs, centerlines, most dimensions, standard sized text (of 3/32" to 1/8" tall), detail drawings, laminations.
1- secondary lines like for doublers, larger text (up to about 3/8" tall).
2 or 3- Largest text (1/2" tall or larger), view outlines, title block.
5- plan border.
I never load up more than four different diameter pens and then schedule all lines on one drawing to be one of these intended sizes. Any other things? Or, what size of pens are you using?
Wm.
Autocad will allow you to plug in multiple devices into the COM and LPT ports. So needed it once again and hit the button for the pen plotter.
Does anyone here still use a pen plotter for their model A/C plans?
I most often use a raster plotter, but recently had to step back and locate an older plan done ten years ago for plotting once more. I had to pull up the old project and I seemed to have bleeped out a bunch of lines that got plotted on to paper, and then...?
I have been using these pens for certain parts...
00- plywood guts, dimension arrowheads, small text (less than .075" tall).
0- top of ribs, centerlines, most dimensions, standard sized text (of 3/32" to 1/8" tall), detail drawings, laminations.
1- secondary lines like for doublers, larger text (up to about 3/8" tall).
2 or 3- Largest text (1/2" tall or larger), view outlines, title block.
5- plan border.
I never load up more than four different diameter pens and then schedule all lines on one drawing to be one of these intended sizes. Any other things? Or, what size of pens are you using?
Wm.
05-01-2009 | 08:09 PM
#2
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From: Peoria, AZ
RE: Pen Plotters
I haven't used a pen plotter since 1984. I had a couple (one D-size and one E-size), but I sold them for $50 each.
I would venture to say that most people are using inkjet printers these days. If that is the case, you can set the linewidth to be equal to the diameter of the pen that was used originally. If you put each linewidth on a different layer with a different color, you can have several different linewidths in one drawing. I would check with Kinko's (or equal) to see what file format they require to plot drawings. It will probably be pdf since they are device independent.
I would venture to say that most people are using inkjet printers these days. If that is the case, you can set the linewidth to be equal to the diameter of the pen that was used originally. If you put each linewidth on a different layer with a different color, you can have several different linewidths in one drawing. I would check with Kinko's (or equal) to see what file format they require to plot drawings. It will probably be pdf since they are device independent.
05-01-2009 | 09:46 PM
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From: geneva,
IL
RE: Pen Plotters
I currently use a Houston Instruments DMP 162 plotter and I love it. Wouldn't trade it for the world.. The only thing that it won't print is and raster images and yes, that includes some parts of PDF files.
My pens are loaded up so
outlines and important lines are 0.5mm,
center lines, hidden lines, etc are .35mm (different colors)
text is .25.
I have used the Ricoh, Summa as well as the HP-GL/2 drivers. Each have their quirks but you get used to it.
My pens are loaded up so
outlines and important lines are 0.5mm,
center lines, hidden lines, etc are .35mm (different colors)
text is .25.
I have used the Ricoh, Summa as well as the HP-GL/2 drivers. Each have their quirks but you get used to it.
05-02-2009 | 09:23 AM
#4
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RE: Pen Plotters
I located a URL for a web site that was on plotters run by a lady and one topic was the H.I. type of drivers and plotters. I have a few Calcomp plotters here. All of which run on the PCI interface plotter language. Have been using the type since about 1979, and gotten used to em. I like the blinding speed at which it runs, such that I can plot out a full sized drawing (in their colored ink ball point pens) in less than two minutes. An ink plot of same may take an hour, as the pens have to move so much slower in order to flow. The Calcomp PCI drivers are reactive to Autocad pen colors, same as you found on the HP-GL2 system. The Calcomp pen holders will only permit a certain count, then the numbers tend to wrap around and repeat.
I do not like to use the .25 mm pens, as the resulting lines tend to fade off into the Universe when copied. They only get used for the occasional wood graining effects. I have numerous nibs here, but .30mm is about a thin as I go normally. Not too often, but I can hit an odd ball line width using the Polyline (multi-stroking) width option of Autocad, but is simplier and faster to just choose the correct pen diameter. Did many of the plans for House of Balsa years ago, using only one pen, for Don did not know how to adjust the widths according to colors at that time.
The pen plotted ink drawings when done on cheap Fade-out or junk paper make very good copies off a Xerox type map machine. They also cost far-far less for me than one via Kinkos or some place. The quality is better than a Raster type. So the older ink plotter has a need and use here. Most all of my work is only straight or curved lines and text so this fits the parameters of the plotter well. Had a local here want to do drawings using a Mutoh pen plotter that he got for free and took home. He found a driver, but then when running it, the pictutes he was thinking of adding only showed up as a big square. Nothing noted as to the twenty years difference in technology he had. There is a special Calcomp driver for raster images using a pen plotter, but have not seen what end results look like either.
Wm.
I do not like to use the .25 mm pens, as the resulting lines tend to fade off into the Universe when copied. They only get used for the occasional wood graining effects. I have numerous nibs here, but .30mm is about a thin as I go normally. Not too often, but I can hit an odd ball line width using the Polyline (multi-stroking) width option of Autocad, but is simplier and faster to just choose the correct pen diameter. Did many of the plans for House of Balsa years ago, using only one pen, for Don did not know how to adjust the widths according to colors at that time.
The pen plotted ink drawings when done on cheap Fade-out or junk paper make very good copies off a Xerox type map machine. They also cost far-far less for me than one via Kinkos or some place. The quality is better than a Raster type. So the older ink plotter has a need and use here. Most all of my work is only straight or curved lines and text so this fits the parameters of the plotter well. Had a local here want to do drawings using a Mutoh pen plotter that he got for free and took home. He found a driver, but then when running it, the pictutes he was thinking of adding only showed up as a big square. Nothing noted as to the twenty years difference in technology he had. There is a special Calcomp driver for raster images using a pen plotter, but have not seen what end results look like either.
Wm.
