Table of Contents
Troubleshooting
Related Manuals for Ioline SmarTrac I/S
Summary of Contents for Ioline SmarTrac I/S
- Page 1 USING YOUR SmarTrac Signcutter Copyright © 1999, Ioline Corporation, All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America Text Revision 1, PN 106844 November 1999 All Trademarks Are The Property Of Their Respective Owners...
- Page 2 Ioline Figure 1. The Ioline I/S Signcutter. Dust Cover Carriage Rail Drive Shaft Marker Platen Carriage Idler Wheel Pinchwheel Drive Shaft Segment Pinchwheel Lever Keypad...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Connect the Signcutter to the Computer ... 5 Troubleshooting the Parallel Port ....20 Power On ............5 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ........21 Installing the Ioline Control Center ..... 5 Replacing the Blade......... 21 OPERATION ............. 6 Cleaning the Drive Shaft ........21 Keypad Controls .......... -
Page 4: The I/S Signcutter
After you have used the design software to ter. The signcutter uses a very sharp blade when cutting. The parts can move create a sign, you will send it as a cut file to the Ioline signcutter. The signcut- quickly. Always observe the following safety precautions: ter will receive the file and cut the design. -
Page 5: Installation
3. Select the Start button. A parallel cable is provided in the accessory kit. Standard serial cables are available at a computer store or from Ioline if it is necessary to connect the 4. Choose Run. signcutter to a serial port on the computer. A serial connection to the signcut- 5. -
Page 6: Operation
Ioline OPERATION Set Origin The Set Origin key sets the initial origin or starting position for the sign. It is best to set a new origin before cutting each sign. If a KEYPAD CONTROLS new origin is not set before sending a file to the signcutter, the The keypad allows access to the main signcutter functions. -
Page 7: The Ioline Control Center
THE IOLINE CONTROL CENTER This button will cut a test pattern to help determine the proper The Ioline Control Center is a utility program that does three things: force (for knives or pens) and blade exposure for cutting signs. • It allows adjustment of settings to tailor output from the computer. -
Page 8: Changing System Settings
Menu Bar Features 1% to 999%. Note: Both X and Y axes are set independently. The Ioline Control Center provides comprehensive help files to explain the Autoloop functions of the software options. Below is a brief summary Menu Bar items. - Page 9 Ioline for tag board. The maximum is 4000 mils for pouncing and 5000 mils for tag Force board. The minimum is 40 mils for pouncing and 50 mils for tag board. The minimum and maximum force settings for the Force control knob on the Blank - The Blank value is the length, in thousands of an inch (mils), that the keypad is adjustable.
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Page 10: Cutting A Sign
2. Use the Paneling feature in the design software for long signs. Panel- ing will restrict the length of any X-axis move. Ioline suggests an X panel 3. Position the outer-pinchwheels on the material about one inch (2.5 cm) size of 10 to 20 inches with no panels greater than 40 inches. -
Page 11: Adjusting The Pinchwheels
Ioline Adjusting the Pinchwheels Locking the Pinchwheels Off of the Platen Signcutter models 80 cm and wider have pinchwheels with adjustable spring The idler pinchwheels have a locking feature* that will hold them off of the force*. This allows the user to use maximum force (24 lbs.) for holding vinyl platen during cutting or plotting. -
Page 12: Installing A Blade And The Blade Foot
Ioline Installing a Blade and the Blade Foot Adjusting Blade Exposure and Force Note: Using a hard surface to insert the blade may damage it. Properly adjust blade exposure and force to achieve good cutting results. A blade and a blade holder are included in the accessory kit. The blades are Adjusting Blade Exposure: sharp and brittle and the tips can chip or break. -
Page 13: Sending A Cut/Plot File To The Signcutter
Send the file directly from the design software following the directions in the documentation or; From the Ioline Control Center: 1. From the menu bar select File, Send Cut/Plot File. 2. Either enter the path and file name of the cut or select the correct location from the directory\file lists in the dialog box. -
Page 14: Suggested Settings
Ioline Suggested Settings There are many variables that determine signcutter output quality. Ioline rec- ommends using low force and speed settings when making the initial test cuts. Gradually increase these settings until the best values for the material are found. Refer to Table 1 below for settings for a variety of material types. -
Page 15: Guidelines For Plotting Pens
Guidelines for Plotting Pens Cutting Long Signs Ioline has determined guidelines for plotting with a plotter pen. Refer to the To cut long signs it is necessary for the signcutter to be properly calibrated table below for recommended settings for a variety of pen types. Use Test Cut and to make sure the pinchwheels are correctly spaced. -
Page 16: Cutting Small Characters (Under 1/4 In.)
3. Foot Adjustment. After setting the lowest cutting force, adjust the foot the length of any x-axis move. Ioline suggests a panel size of 10 to 20 downward until the cut is not complete, then back it up just enough to get inches. -
Page 17: How To Pounce
2. Slide the paper roll onto a media roller (use the roller as an axle). Ioline 2. Slide the paper roll onto a media roller (use the roller as an axle). Ioline does not recommend using two media rollers to cradle tag board rolls. -
Page 18: Communication Testing
3. Turn on the signcutter while holding down the Test Cut key on the key- the computer and signcutter serial (COM) ports. It is available from Ioline or pad. Hold down the Test Cut key until the signcutter beeps and the light an authorized dealer. -
Page 19: Troubleshooting
Ioline TROUBLESHOOTING l a i n i t If the system is not working correctly the problem could be with the com- puter, the cable, the design software, or with the signcutter. Changes to the computer operating system or the installation of new peripherals or software l l u might cause conflicts. -
Page 20: Led Codes
Remove button. Note: if any yellow lights are visible on the keypad, take note of how many times the light blinks and contact Ioline Customer Service immediately. Io- 4. Shut down Windows. line contact information is available at the end of this manual. -
Page 21: Routine Maintenance
0.05%. Note: The Scale command does not effect the calibration values. Prepare the signcutter: 1. Open the Ioline Control Center program. Put the signcutter in Start mode (green LED). 2. Load the signcutter with material that is greater than 22 inches wide (60 cm model) or greater than 30 inches wide (80 cm or larger models) and a minimum of 48 inches long. - Page 22 Ioline ~40 in. Figure 14. The Calibration Box and Measurements. 5. Take the average of the horizontal (Y) values by adding them together and dividing by 2. Repeat this procedure for the vertical (X) values. Example: If X1 = 39.750 in. and X2 = 39.700 in.
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Page 23: End Notes
Ioline or the dealer for technical support. Getting Help Name: Ioline is committed to providing the highest quality service and support to its Company Name: customers. If you need assistance with an Ioline signcutter, a number of re- sources are available:... -
Page 24: The Fcc Wants You To Know
User Guide. It is the responsibility of the opera- tor of the signcutter to follow all safety precautions and warnings that are described in this User Guide. Ioline is not responsible for injuries that may occur as a result of unsafe operating procedures. Ioline is not responsible for substandard operational performance as a result of failure to maintain the signcutter as described in this User Guide. -
Page 25: Glossary
Ioline GLOSSARY DM/PL - Programming instructions language used to connect a signcutter with a computer. DM/PL is used in the plotter drivers of some sign programs. Drive Shaft - The motor driven shaft that moves material through a friction Acceleration - The rate that a signcutter changes the velocity of the carriage feed signcutter. - Page 26 Ioline Minimum Angle - This is the minimum angle for which the ma- Serial Communications - Method of sending information from a computer to a signcutter by sending 1 bit at a time through a cable. The serial port on a chine will perform a blade steering arc.
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Page 27: Index
Ioline INDEX Calibration Box 22 Calibration window 22 Cam 11 Symbols Canceling a Cut 13 Carriage 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25 9 to 25 pin adapter 5 Carriage Jaw 12 Carriage Rail 2, 5, 10 Cast 14, 25 Abort 13... - Page 28 Idler Pinchwheels 11 Output quality 14 Idler Wheel 25 Overcut 9, 14, 16, 26 Idler wheels 10 Overflow 7 Install New Firmware 8 Overlap 26 Installing a Blade 12 Ioline Corporation 24 Panel 26 Panel Size 8 Jaw 12 Paneling 10, 16...
- Page 29 Ioline Paper 11, 17 Paper roll 10 Sandblast 9, 11, 14 Parallel 5 Save Settings As 8 Parallel cable 5 Scale 8 Parallel Communications 26 Scale command 21 Parallel Port 20 Scrap 10 Pausing Cutting 13 Screen Menu 8 PC BIOS 20...
- Page 30 Ioline Typewriter Method 10 Update Display 7, 8, 9 Vector 26 Vinyl 10, 11, 14, 17, 25, 26 Weeding 16, 26 Windows® 3.1 5 Windows® 95 5, 20 X - Axis 10, 26 Y - Axis 26...