Old pen plotter converted to vinyl cutter

posted Apr 26th 2006 12:15am by Eliot Phillips
filed under: peripherals hacks

vinyle cutting plotter

Vinyl cutters can be very expensive, so [vinyl hacker] decided to share with us the alternate route some people have taken. Here is what you need to get started: An old HP pen plotter with a serial connection. A compatible serial cable. A blade holder (Roland blade holders don’t fit). Some Roland vinyl blades. Cutting software like SignGo of DAHEDIsign. Vinyl (found in sign shop dumpsters). The main resource for these plotter/cutters seems to be luberth.com. It’s hard to navigate, but all of the info you need should be there. Now you can cut stickers, stencils, small signs for very little money.

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Comments [28]

Reader Comments

I love how this works, and the dragon on my car is proof. I didn’t do this, but a friend used an old pen plotter for it.

–KurtRoedeger

Posted at 12:29 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by Kurtroedeger

Old pen plotters are probably being dumped all the time from engineering companies and schools. They’re cool to play with because they usually have a serial or parallel port interface with a simple protocol (like HPGL).

Posted at 12:55 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by Yan

this is very awesome. i was just helping a buddy in a design class try to make some decals and was thinking about how hard it would be to do this very thing

Posted at 6:23 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by carpespasm

What’s the purpose of a vinyl cutter? I rather turn that thing into a music machine like that hp scanner.

Posted at 6:50 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by funny commercials

Thats sweet, I have been lusting after a vinyl cutter for some time and I’d rather build one rather than buying one.

Posted at 8:26 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by John

way cool, now I just have to find a pen plotter.

Posted at 10:12 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by INPUT NAME

it bruises the ego knowing that such an obvious mod never occurred to me… But it’s a downright kick to the stomach knowing I’m responsible for tossing more than 40 “obsolete” plotters that would have been perfect for this mod into the dumpster about 6 weeks ago…

Posted at 10:56 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by Captain Obvious

I guess somebody’s beat me to it, but I’m working on a vinyl cutter myself using an old broken dot matrix printer as the body.

has anybody thought about using a flatbed scanner? i just opened one up and it has a very nice long toothed belt pulley and carriage. you’d just need to build a pinch roller to move the vinyl sheets.

Posted at 11:26 pm on Apr 26th, 2006 by Khoa

Captain Obvious, where all do you think these “obsolete” plotters would be likely obtained, not nessisarily those specific ones, but in general.

Posted at 4:05 am on Apr 27th, 2006 by carpespasm

With regards to which software to use. I did this many years ago. Any CAD software that cut run a ploter, IE: AutoCAD, can be used as well.

Posted at 8:30 am on Apr 27th, 2006 by arrakisman

first post whoho!

Posted at 10:56 am on Apr 27th, 2006 by k lol hax m8 ^^ omfg teh hax ams on k?

I’ve been looking for an old pen plotter to make these scratch holograms:

http://www.amasci.com/amateur/holo1.html

You can make a fair approximation with a compass and a scribe tip, but in the derivation, the author of the above site notes that the ideal shape of the curves would be a parabola.

P.S. This site is so 31337 for forcing my text all to low3rc4se!!!!!!11one It makes me look uber-lit3rate!

Posted at 4:28 pm on Apr 27th, 2006 by Alan eliasen

Does anyone know where to purchase the knife holders from? The guy who owns the website seems to be out of the ones he usually carries. I have had no lucking finding them elsewhere.

Posted at 5:04 pm on Apr 27th, 2006 by andy

Several people have tried making scratch-holos with various plotters. They fail because the scratch must be perfectly straight at the millimeter level, and mirror smooth. The jaggies from the stepper motors are far worse than “needle chatter” which normally ruins the scratches. Or another way to say it: if we were trying to record some sound on a wax master of a vinyl record, normal music is the “needle chatter” which optically ruins the mirror smooth record grooves. And stepper motor steps are far worse. The challange with motorized-writing of scratch holograms is to make a “vinyl record” with no audible sound recorded in the grooves! This should be possible, but you’ll have to use a smoothly rotating arm, and probably need some sort of vibration damping so the arm travels silently.

Posted at 1:35 pm on Apr 28th, 2006 by bill beaty

carpespasm- I work for a large company in New Orleans… Everything 5ft and below was destroyed and had to be trashed, the plotters were up on desks and salvaged. However, when the insurance settlement came thru it showed the plotters on the claim sheet. The co has several facilities utterly wiped out all over the gulf coast, so the insurance company decided it would cost them more to do all the req’d paperwork necessary to have the claim changed and get a refund from us, so they said not to sweat it. That being said, the CEO concluded that they had to be disposed of for SOX-compliance reasons…

Posted at 8:24 pm on Apr 28th, 2006 by Captain Obvious

I love this. Where did you get your old plotter? I have been trying to find an old flatbed plotter to no avail. Any help on this front really appreciated.

Posted at 10:15 am on May 10th, 2006 by sheila gallagher

look for old pen plotters at your local blue print, drafting supplier. Or arch/draftsman with old equipment, ebay…….just make sure you get
one with (rs 232 connector). Blade holders go here…….http://www.cuki-messerhalter.com/messerhalter/index.html
or search Ebay in german…..http://search.ebay.de/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=plotter+messerhalter&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Finden&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=Postleitza&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=

Posted at 9:21 pm on May 16th, 2006 by fido

I got an old HP7475A plotter running fine with AutoCad. But is there anyway to control the knife up/down without buying a signmaking program? Thanks.

Posted at 7:52 am on Jul 22nd, 2006 by shannon

I work in a sign shop. Plotters are expensive. working on using a HP 7576A 40″ plotter. use a mimaki or gerber envision blade (will need extra weight)(pressure is usually 130-180 grams. using autocad to cut (also have old casmate with modified cutter driver…if interested on process…leave email in comments..i’ll contact.

Posted at 3:41 pm on Jul 24th, 2006 by Mike

I downloaded the free demo from DahediSign. Works fine – I’m just used to working with AutoCad. I’ll be making a toolholder for exacto-type blades tomorrow. Do you think the blades will work? If not, I’ll stick with the carbide cutter I made last week. Just a little inconvenient to make – and I haven’t perfected the design yet. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Posted at 7:15 pm on Jul 30th, 2006 by Shannon

PLOTOTECH INDUSTRIES
Manufacturers of : Plotter cutting Accessories and All kinds of alloy and metal parts.
348/9,G.I.D.C., Shanker Tekri Udhyognagar, JAMNAGAR â 361004. Phone: (O) (0288)2563214, Â® (0288) 2563279 / 2568749. Cal: 09375395552 http://www.jayashapurabrass.com/

Dear Sir,

We manufacture Plotter Cutting Machineâs accessories like Blades, Rollers, Grit, Holders, etc.

The Plotter Cutting Machines are used for cutting various papers such as vinyl, velvet, sticker papers etc. The machine works like a computer printer. The Printer prints on the paper and The Plotter cuts the paper.This machine is attached to a computer and is functioned by the computer. There are special programs for this function. There is a part called âHolderâ attached. Inside the Holder there is a âBladeâ. The function of the blade is to cut the respective paper in shapes or sizes as given in computer. One can cut any shape or design as desired with the help of the computer.
These machines are used for cutting bindis, stickers, tattoos, etc.

There are various companies who manufacture these Plotter Cutting Machines. Some of them are GRAPHTECH, ROLLAND, SUMA, etc. None of these machines are manufactured in India. Every company has its own design of machine but it functions the same way. Every company has its own design of accessories like blades, holders etc.
For Example:- Graphtech blade cannot be used in Rolland machines. Same way Rolland blades cannot be used in Graphtech machines.

We manufacture the following items :
â¢ Graphtech Blade
â¢ GCC Blade
â¢ Rolland Blade
â¢ Suma Blade
â¢ Suma Blade with Brass Cap
â¢ Roller 16mm (Rubber)
â¢ Rod/Grit 13mm O.D. 749mm length (S.S.)
â¢ Graphtech Holder
â¢ Rolland Holder
â¢ Pen Holder

Plototech Industries

Vijay .T.Amrania

Posted at 12:42 am on Oct 26th, 2007 by vijay

If you’re looking for information on cutting software, vector graphic creation, and sourcing supplies, I’ve put together a small page about http://www.CheapVinylCutters.com

Posted at 7:12 pm on Nov 5th, 2007 by Josh Z

Dear Sir,

We require 100,000 fts. of white radium. Please quote
your best rates for the same. Also, furnish other
terms and conditions. The rates should be FOB Kandla
Port (India).
Your prompt reply will be highly appreciated.

Regards,
vijay

Re; inquiry for radium vinyl

Posted at 4:56 am on Nov 18th, 2007 by vijay

for sale: HP DraftMaster I 7595A
A0 plotter for 300 Euro
Belgium, Lommel

Posted at 2:31 pm on Jul 16th, 2008 by jos ulenaers

for sale: HP DraftMaster I 7595A
A0 plotter for 300 Euro
Belgium, Lommel
uljo@fulladsl.be

Posted at 2:43 pm on Jul 16th, 2008 by jos ulenaers

Hey guys, I have to share this. At least I am german, but I try my best to translate this requirement from our Website lately. By the way: Our only and significant service is to connect supplier and demander. there we got the focus on.

Dear sir or madam,
in searching the Internet for a plotter, I found your Website. Because it’s impossible to find the onlineshop, I decided to write my requirement via email. I hope, you can deliver the HP Designjet 1055CM Plus to the upper adress. If not, leave it be.

he came in right here : http://www.kaeuferportal.de/plotter-kaufberatung/plotter-165 . over 10.000€, but the even if he’d bought the plotter via us, I#d like to kick his *** – sillyness should be punished. greetz.
anonymoused sentenz ;)

Posted at 7:57 am on Feb 10th, 2009 by sentenz

I can’t see the photo.

Posted at 12:32 pm on Mar 29th, 2009 by Dan

i also can´t see the pic…

Posted at 5:22 am on Jul 18th, 2009 by Alex