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Gerber Edge Owner's Manual

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  • Page 2 GSP, GRAPHIX , and Signmaker are registered trademarks of Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. GERBER EDGE, GerberColor, Edge Ready, GS 15, HS 15, GSP SPRINT, and SuperSprint are trademarks of Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. Chemtronics and Ultrajet are registered trademarks of Chemtronics Inc.
  • Page 3 FCC NOTICE This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    In This Manual ................1 Customer Support ................2 Conventions ..................2 Safety ................... 3 Setting Up the GERBER EDGE ............3 Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE............9 Overview of the Printing Process............9 Printing a Sample Job ...............10 Printing Another Sample Job ...............18...
  • Page 5 GERBER EDGE by Gerber...

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Because an image can be a character, a shape, or a complete sign or design, the GERBER EDGE opens up a wide array of possibilities for your customers and your business. In This Manual This manual contains procedures for operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting the GERBER EDGE.

  • Page 7: Customer Support

    Troubleshooting contains a list of keypad display messages and your responses. Also included is the procedure for changing a fuse. Customer Support " If you require assistance, please contact your Gerber distributor or contact the Gerber Field Service Department at: 800-828-5406 (USA and Canada) 203-643-1515 (International)

  • Page 8: Safety

    EDGE chassis prior to handling electronic components. Setting Up the GERBER EDGE The GERBER EDGE packages contain the GERBER EDGE, accessories, a roll holder and tensioner, and a roll of Edge Ready vinyl. ACCESSORIES In the shipping container is the accessory tray containing the following:...
  • Page 9 2. Lift out the accessory tray, then remove the tri-wall inner sleeve. 3. Remove the double-wall outer sleeve. 4. Open the plastic bag covering the GERBER EDGE. Fold it down around the base so that the hold-down brackets are visible.
  • Page 10 The printer cable must be connected from the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE printer port LPT2 to the GERBER EDGE. Do not connect the GERBER EDGE to LPT1 through the block. No other printer, device, or switch box may be connected to the printer port you select or unacceptable print quality may result.
  • Page 11 1. Use the printer cable to connect the GERBER EDGE to GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE printer port LPT2. 2. Plug the power cord into the power cord receptacle. 3. Plug in and turn on the GERBER EDGE first, then the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE. To add the GERBER EDGE to your GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE 1.
  • Page 12 Introduction To add a plotter to your GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE 1. Double-click on the GSP Setup icon in the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE program group to open GSP Setup. 2. Click on Setup in the menu bar. 3. Click on Plotter. The Add or Delete Plotter(s) dialog box appears. 4.
  • Page 13 GERBER EDGE Owner’s Guide...

  • Page 14: Getting Started With The Gerber Edge

    GERBER EDGE accessory kit to align the knife with the registration mark. Note: A slow slew mode is a feature of newer Gerber plotters. Slow slew helps you align the knife with the print registration mark. GS 15  and HS 15 ...

  • Page 15: Printing A Sample Job

    Cutting the printed job on the plotter To set up the job 1. Plug in and turn on the GERBER EDGE first, then the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE and the plotter. Note: Use of the keypad and display are in the "Using the Keypad and Display"...
  • Page 16 11. Press F10 to send the job to the GERBER EDGE. To load the material 1. When the GERBER EDGE receives the job, it may go through a brief warmup cycle. If so, the GERBER EDGE display reads: WARMING UP 2.
  • Page 17 7. Clean the bail arm squeegees and platen using a clean, lint-free pad moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Allow to air dry before loading material. 8. Use the keypad slew keys to slew the GERBER EDGE drive sprockets so that the three closely-spaced teeth are facing up.
  • Page 18 Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE Loading the material into the GERBER EDGE. 9. Put the vinyl into the back of the GERBER EDGE and seat the three-hole pattern in the vinyl over the three closely-spaced teeth in each sprocket and close the bail arms.
  • Page 19 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide Cleaning the printhead and foil squeegee. 3. Clean both sides of the foil squeegee using a pad moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Allow to air dry. 4. Slide the three cartridge pins to the left and lock them.
  • Page 20 Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE 5. Remove and discard the core locks (foam donuts) from the color cartridge. Load the black color cartridge with the label on the top right of the cartridge and the dull side of the foil facing you.
  • Page 21 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide 8. Press the Foil Slew key to slew the foil slightly to ensure that the color cartridge has been properly loaded. 9. Close the cover. To print the job Note: There may be a pause after you press ONLINE before the printing starts.
  • Page 22 Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE Installing the eyepiece in the tool carriage. 8. Sight through the eyepiece and slow slew the material so that the registration mark is exactly centered in the eyepiece as shown. You may slow slew one step at a time by tapping the slew key, or continuously slow slew by pressing the slew key.

  • Page 23: Printing Another Sample Job

    GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE program. To set up the job 1. Plug in and turn on the GERBER EDGE first, then the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE and the plotter. Note: Use of the keypad and display are in the "Using the Keypad and Display"...
  • Page 24 7. Use the keypad slew keys to slew the GERBER EDGE drive sprockets so that the three closely-spaced teeth are facing up. 8. Put the vinyl into the back of the GERBER EDGE and seat the three-hole pattern in the vinyl over the three closely-spaced teeth in each sprocket and close the bail arms.
  • Page 25 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide To load the color cartridge 1. Press ONLINE on the keypad. The display shows: Foil: RUBY RED 2. If necessary, remove an installed color cartridge by sliding the top and bottom cartridge pins to the left and locking them. Slide the center cartridge pin to the left, lock it, and remove the cartridge from the printhead assembly.
  • Page 26 Note: There may be a pause after you press ONLINE before the printing starts. 1. Press ONLINE on the keypad. Printing starts. After the GERBER EDGE prints the first color, it rewinds the vinyl and the display shows: Foil: BLACK To change the color cartridge 1.
  • Page 27 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide 9. When the printing of the second color is complete, press RESET on the keypad. The display shows: OFFLINE 10. Slew the material out of the back of the machine toward the roll. Wind the job on the roll. Take the roll to the plotter.

  • Page 28: Additional Sample Jobs

    Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE 11. Press F8 on the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE keyboard to cut the job. 12. Press the plotter RUN SINGLE key when the plotter indicator light blinks. 13. When the job is done, slew the vinyl out of the machine and weed the job.
  • Page 29 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide...

  • Page 30: Procedures For Using The Gerber Edge

    Setting Up the Job Setting up the job involves turning on the equipment, opening the print file, and sending the job to the GERBER EDGE. When you send the job, the keypad display may show "WARMING UP." The printhead automatically warms to a temperature of 77 degrees F (25 degrees C).

  • Page 31: Loading The Material

    Note: Instructions for using the keypad and display are in the "Mechanical Description" section of this manual. 1. Make sure the GERBER EDGE is turned on first before you turn on the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE. The GERBER EDGE display shows "ONLINE." You must be in the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE Plot program and have the file open that you want to print.
  • Page 32 6. Clean the bail arm squeegees, sprocket pins, and platen using a pad moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Allow to air dry before loading material. 7. Use the keypad slew keys to slew the GERBER EDGE drive sprockets so that the three closely-spaced teeth are facing up.

  • Page 33: Loading The Color Cartridge

    GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide Loading the material into the GERBER EDGE. 8. Seat the three-hole pattern in the material over the three closely- spaced teeth in each sprocket and close the bail arms. 9. Slew the vinyl back and forth so that the squeegees clean the area to be printed.
  • Page 34 Procedures for using the GERBER EDGE The GERBER EDGE displays a prompt to load the foil color cartridge. If you selected a primer in the Composer program, the prompt is "Primer Foil: (color)". If you selected Abrasion Guard in the Plot program, the prompt is "Foil: Abrasion Guard."...
  • Page 35 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide 3. Clean the printhead and foil squeegee according to the cleaning "The Printhead and Foil Squeegee" procedure in the "Maintaining Print Quality" section of this manual. 4. Slide the three cartridge pins to the left and lock them (if not done at step 2).
  • Page 36 Procedures for using the GERBER EDGE The GerberColor Cartridge. 7. Rest the color cartridge on the support tabs below the printhead assembly. Align the center notches in the sides of the color cartridge with the center pins and seat the cartridge on the fixed pins in the right side of the printhead assembly.

  • Page 37: Printing The Job

    When all the colors are printed, the GERBER EDGE stops and a new job can be started or the job can be plotted. If you run out of foil while printing a job, the GERBER EDGE stops printing and the display shows "OUT OF FOIL." Raise the cover and load the same foil currently in the GERBER EDGE according to the "Loading the Color Cartridge"...

  • Page 38: Cutting The Printed Job On The Plotter

    Procedures for using the GERBER EDGE 2. When the printing of all colors is complete, press RESET on the keypad. The display shows: OFFLINE 3. When all jobs are done, slew the material out of the back of the machine toward the roll. Wind the jobs on the roll. Take the roll to the plotter.
  • Page 39 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide Installing the eyepiece in the tool carriage. 6. Sight through the eyepiece and slow slew the material so that the registration mark is exactly centered in the eyepiece as shown. You may slow slew one step at a time by tapping the slew key, or continuously slow slew by pressing the slew key.

  • Page 40: Maintaining Print Quality

    GERBER EDGE. Edge Ready materials are the only materials recommended for use with the GERBER EDGE. Edge Ready material is identified by an Edge Ready sticker inside the roll and on the outside of the box. To remove any surface dust or dirt, gently wipe the material with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth before printing and between colors.
  • Page 41 GERBER EDGE. Do not soak the foil -- just spray it enough to blow the dust off the foil. If the color cartridge is in the GERBER EDGE, use the foil slew key to advance the foil several inches so that the contamination buildup is rolled beyond the printhead and into the color cartridge.
  • Page 42 We suggest cleaning the printhead element weekly or as required. Use the Thermal Printhead Cleaning Kit provided with your GERBER EDGE. If you need additional cleaning kits, contact your Gerber distributor or the Gerber Field Service Department.
  • Page 43 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide THE PLATEN Wipe the platen with a clean, lint-free pad moistened with isopropyl alcohol to remove any debris. Allow to air dry before loading vinyl. Refer to the figure to locate the areas to clean. Cleaning the platen, bail arms, squeegees, and sprockets.

  • Page 44: Correcting Printing Problems

    Gerber Field Service Department. Light spots in a repeating pattern in the design. Clean the platen. If the problem persists, please call your distributor or the Gerber Field Service Department. Poor print registration. Do not butt colors in a design. Use traps, bleeds, chokes, and spreads as described in the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE Reference and Options manuals.
  • Page 45 A design printed on vinyl, film, or sheeting can be sensitive to transfer tape pressure. Wait at least 15 minutes before applying transfer tape to the printed vinyl, film, or sheeting. Use only Gerber Standard Tack Application Tape. Do not stack printed materials print-side to print-side.

  • Page 46: Mechanical Description

    Mechanical Description Parts and Their Functions The major parts of the GERBER EDGE are: the chassis the platen assembly the printhead assembly. THE CHASSIS The chassis.
  • Page 47 264 volts, on 50 to 60 Hz. The cover interlock sensor. The cover interlock sensor prevents GERBER EDGE operation if the cover is not completely closed. It is located in the top of the right side cover. The printhead down sensor. The printhead down sensor reads when the printhead is contacting the platen.
  • Page 48 The bail arms. The bail arms hold the material in contact with the drive sprockets. The bail arm squeegees clean the area to be printed. The out-of-vinyl sensor. The GERBER EDGE will not operate if vinyl is not loaded or if it runs out of vinyl during a job.
  • Page 49 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide THE PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY The printhead assembly. The printhead assembly consists of the following: The printhead. The thermal printhead heats the foil and presses it tightly against the platen. The foil squeegee. The foil squeegee cleans the back of the foil in the color cartridge.

  • Page 50: Using The Keypad And Display

    RS is the Reset key. This key is used for stopping a job and setting the GERBER EDGE offline, or to return to Offline from the Setup menu, Print Test, or "Paused" mode. It is also used to reset the GERBER EDGE to the original factory parameters (see the "Resetting...

  • Page 51: Firmware Overview

    GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide ON is the Online key. This key is used to set the GERBER EDGE online and acknowledging message prompts. It is also used to interrupt printing and enter the "Paused" mode, and to restart printing from the "Paused"...
  • Page 52 OFFLINE MODE When the GERBER EDGE is turned on (Power On), the GERBER EDGE is in the Offline mode. While offline, you can press keys to slew the vinyl (VS) or the foil (FS*). Slewing stops when the key is released.
  • Page 53 Pressing the Online (ON) key while printing puts the GERBER EDGE in the Online "Paused" mode. The job stops printing and you can: look at the job while it is still in the GERBER EDGE and before printing is complete rehome (RH*) the cam wheel if necessary slew the foil (FS*).
  • Page 54 Press the Online (ON) key to restart printing. Before pressing the Online key to restart printing, you can: look at the job while it is still in the GERBER EDGE and before printing is complete rehome (RH*) the cam wheel if necessary slew the foil (FS*).
  • Page 55 ON (You must change the setting.) If the GERBER EDGE checksum is not set correctly, you will not be able to print on the GERBER EDGE and you will get a "Data Error" message on the keypad display every time you send a job.
  • Page 56 If the checksum settings of the saved spool file and the GERBER EDGE are not the same, you will get a "Data Error" message on the keypad display every time you send one of these files for printing. You have two choices: rerender the Release 4.1 spool files in Release 4.3 or higher so that...
  • Page 57 4. Press either Vinyl Slew key so that the display reads "CHECKSUM ON" or "CHECKSUM OFF." 5. Press the Reset key. The display reads "OFFLINE." 6. Turn the GERBER EDGE off, then on. The GERBER EDGE display reads "OFFLINE." 7. Press the Online key. The display reads "ONLINE" and the...

  • Page 58: Troubleshooting

    The following is a list of messages which may appear on the keypad display and your response to each message. If your response does not solve the problem, or if a message appears which is not listed here, contact your distributor or the Gerber Field Service Department. Message Required Action...
  • Page 59 Service Department. OFFLINE None. ONLINE None. PAUSED This message appears when ONLINE is pressed while the GERBER EDGE is printing. Press ONLINE again to resume printing. Press RESET to return to OFFLINE status. PRINTING IMAGE None. PROCESSING Wait for printing to start.

  • Page 60: Fuse Replacement

    Removing the fuse carrier and fuses. 3. Remove the fuse(s) from the fuse carrier. Insert new fuse(s). 4. Insert the fuse carrier into the GERBER EDGE with the notch down and snap into place. 5. Reconnect the power cord.
  • Page 61 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide...
  • Page 62 Index Bail arms, squeegees, and sprockets, Foil slew key ......46 cleaning........38 Foil squeegee, cleaning ....36 Fuse replacement......55 Chassis, parts and functions ...41 Checksum Help ........2, 55 changing .......51 matching.......50 Cleaning Keypad bail arms, squeegees, and display messages .....53 sprockets.......38 keys ........45 foil........36 unlabeled keys ......45...
  • Page 63 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide Setting up........5 a job........25 Parts and their functions adding a plotter......7 chassis .........41 adding the GERBER EDGE..6 keypad and display....45 connecting......6 platen assembly.......43 Setup key .........46 printhead assembly....44 Setup menu.......50 Paused mode ......48 Platen cleaning........38...
  • Page 65 GERBER EDGE Owner’s Guide COMMENT CARD Please take a moment to complete this questionnaire and mail it to Gerber Scientific Products or fax it to 860-648-8214. We are working hard to produce documentation that will meet your needs. We value your comments.
  • Page 66 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 001 South Windsor, CT POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE ATTN: TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. 83 Gerber Road South Windsor, CT 06074-9864...

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