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Table of Contents
Troubleshooting
Related Manuals for Ioline Supernova I/S Series
Summary of Contents for Ioline Supernova I/S Series
- Page 1 U ser Gu i de I/S Series SC Series Ioline SmarTrac™...
- Page 2 User Guide. Ioline is not responsible for injuries that may occur as a result of unsafe operating proce- dures. Ioline is not responsible for substandard operational performance as a result of failure to maintain the signcutter as described in this User Guide.
- Page 3 Ioline SmarTrac™ Us er G ui d e I/S Series SC Series...
- Page 4 Images & Illustrations Figure 1 The Ioline SmarTrac I/S cutter front view ............. x Figure 2 The Ioline SmarTrac Contour (SC) cutter front view ........xi Figure 3 The Ioline SmarTrac SC-72 cutter front view ............ xii Figure 4 The Ioline SmarTrac Contour SC-72 cutter rear view ........xiv Figure 5 Power and communications ports ................xiv...
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Page 5: Table Of Contents
Find the COM Port ......................18 Setup the Software to use USB ..................19 Manually configure the USB settings (optional) ............19 Power On ..........................20 Installing Ioline Software and Manuals ................20 Chapter 2 Operation Keypad Controls ........................21 START / STOP ........................ - Page 6 Options ..........................25 Calibrate ..........................25 Test ............................25 Help ............................25 Screen Menu Options ......................26 Measurement Units ......................26 Panel Size ..........................26 Scale ............................26 Autoloop ..........................26 Tangential Cutting ........................ 26 Special Features ........................26 Update Display ........................27 Send Settings to Cutter: Temporary ................
- Page 7 Troubleshooting the Parallel Port (for older machines) ..........47 Replacing the Blade ........................ 49 Chapter 5 Routine Maintenance Cleaning the Drive Shaft ....................50 Size Calibration ........................50 Prepare the signcutter: ......................50 Gather the Calibration Data: ..................... 50 Enter the Calibration Data: ....................51 Calibrating the Sensor for Contour Cutting ..............
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Page 9: Safety & Cautions
Using the Autoloop function (enabled in the Control Center) will create the required service loop by gently pulling a set amount of material from the roll before cutting. Ioline recommends using the Autoloop function when plotting on a roll of material. - Page 10 A. Dust Cover E. Idler Wheel B. Drive Shaft Marker Drive Shaft (beneath vinyl) C. Carriage G. Pinchwheel D. Blade Holder H. Pinchwheel Lever Figure 1. The Ioline SmarTrac I/S cutter front view.
- Page 11 Visual Reference Guide Keypad M. Media Roller N. Platen Stand Leg K. Stand Leveling Foot O. Traverse L. Cross-member LED Sensor Figure 2. The Ioline SmarTrac Contour (SC) cutter front view.
- Page 12 A. Dust Cover E. Blade Holder B. Drive Shaft Marker LED Sensor C. Idler Wheel G. Pinchwheel D. Carriage H. Drive Shaft See Detail 1 See Detail 2 See Detail 3 Figure 3. The Ioline SmarTrac SC-72 cutter front view.
- Page 13 K. Stand Leg O. Platen L. Platen Leveling Foot Traverse M. Stand Leveling Foot N. Cross-member Detail 1 Detail 2 Detail 3 xiii...
- Page 14 Q. Media Shaft (in rear) T. USB Port R. Power Switch U. Power Cord S. Serial (COM) Port Figure 4. The Ioline SmarTrac Contour SC-72 cutter rear view. Figure 5. Power and communications ports are located on the back of the right cover.
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Page 15: Getting Started
Most design software does not have a USB port. provides drivers for Ioline signcutters. If you need assistance with drivers, contact Ioline customer service. There is a specialized software program that comes with the signcutter called the Ioline Control Center. -
Page 16: Installation
The plotter will not function if a serial cable is connected to a cables are widely available at computer stores or from Ioline. parallel port on the PC. The SmarTrac has a 9-pin male serial port receptacle. If your com- puter has a 25-pin serial port, a 9- to 25-pin adapter is necessary. -
Page 17: Figure 6 Usb Connection
Figure 7. Ignore the Windows XP Warning. ® Install Drivers Turn on power to the Ioline equipment. The Add New Hardware Wizard window will appear. Click on Next. Click in the circle next to Search for a suitable driver for my device then click Next. -
Page 18: Find The Com Port
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide completed install- ing drivers for the Ioline Composite Device. Click the Finish button. Some versions of Windows may repeat this process a second time for the Ioline USB to UART Bridge Controller. Click the Finish button. -
Page 19: Setup The Software To Use Usb
Manager tab. Double click on the Ports (COM and LPT) item to expand the list. Right click on the Ioline USB to UART Bridge Control- ler (COMx) item in the list, then choose Properties. Click on the Port... -
Page 20: Power On
Control Center and IQ Plot programs, and electronic User Guides. Turn on the power to the computer and start Windows ® Insert the Ioline CD ROM into the CD ROM drive (usually D:) Select the Start button. Choose Run. Type D:\SETUP (substitute the correct letter if the CD ROM drive letter is not D:) and Click OK. -
Page 21: Figure 14 The Smartrac Keypad
Chapter 2 Operation Keypad Controls Note Unless otherwise stated, the The keypad allows access to the main signcutter functions. following information applies to both the I/S and SC SmarTrac lines. Figure 14. The SmarTrac keypad. START / STOP The START / STOP key connects or disconnects communication between the computer and the signcutter. -
Page 22: Figure 15 Origin Point
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Arrow Keys Pressing the Arrow keys moves the material back and forth or the carriage from side to side. The Arrow keys will not work unless the signcutter is in STOP mode (see START / STOP above). -
Page 23: Repeat
Your graphic will remain in memory until you reset the origin, send another file, or update settings with the Update Display function. (Update Display is described later in this chapter.) The Ioline Control Center The Ioline Control Center is a utility program that does three things: Note ... -
Page 24: Figure 17 The Control Center Main Menu
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Figure 17. The Control Center Main Menu. Changing System Settings You can adjust many settings with the Control Center to fit your needs: Put the signcutter in START mode (Green light mode) before changing system settings. To do so, press the START / STOP key and make sure the Green light is on before changing any settings. -
Page 25: Menu Bar Features
Chapter 2: Operation Menu Bar Features The Ioline Control Center provides comprehensive help files to ex- plain the functions of the software options. Below is a brief summary Menu Bar items. File Send Cut/Plot File Sends a cut (.PLT) file to the signcutter. -
Page 26: Screen Menu Options
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Screen Menu Options Measurement Units English or Metric units are available when adjusting settings. Panel Size The Panel Size is the maximum area the signcutter can use for cut- ting. The factory-set (and maximum) X-axis panel length is 838-in long (2129-cm). -
Page 27: Update Display
Chapter 2: Operation Tag Board Tag Board Cutout is for cutting stencil material (tag board). Cutout A standard blade holder and blade is required. An in- termittent cut is created so that the stencil stays in place during cutting. See Cut and Blank below for more details. The Cut value is the length, in thousands of an inch (mils.), that the blade will cut when plotting the segment- ed line for pouncing or tag board cutout. -
Page 28: Acceleration
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Acceleration The factory-set Acceleration is 1.0 g. The Acceleration setting deter- mines how quickly the pen or blade will reach full speed when start- ing or ending a cut line. Use the Control Center to change the setting within a range of 0.1 to 1.0 g. -
Page 29: Cutting A Sign
(These steps are outlined below.) In most cases the design files are sent directly from the design software to the plotter. If necessary, use the Ioline Control Center software to send design files, adjust settings and test sign- cutter communication. -
Page 30: Aligning The Material And Pinchwheels
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Aligning the Material and Pinchwheels Ioline recommends using the “Typewriter Method” to align the mate- rial to the platen. The drive shaft is optimized for most common mate- rial widths as well as scraps. When loading material, use the drive shaft markers on the traverse to find the drive shaft segments. -
Page 31: Figure 18 Adjusting Pinchwheel Presure
Chapter 2: Operation cates 8-lbs of force. On units equipped with inner pinchwheels, force can be set to 12 lbs. (vertical setting) or 4-lbs. (horizon- tal setting). The 12-lb. inner pinchwheel setting is useful for heavier materials such as heavy sandblast or reflective sheeting. High Force Position Low Force Position Cam Slot Vertical... -
Page 32: Installing A Blade And The Blade Foot
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Installing a Blade and the Blade Foot Note A blade and a blade holder are included in the Accessory Kit. To Be very careful when handling install the blade and blade foot in to the blade holder:... -
Page 33: Adjusting Blade Exposureand Force
Chapter 2: Operation Adjusting Blade Exposure Note and Force Successive test cuts will automati- cally be positioned to the left of the previous test cut. Properly adjust blade exposure and force to achieve good cutting results. Adjusting Blade Exposure: Figure 22. -
Page 34: Force Adjustment
Send the file directly from the design software following the direc- tions in the documentation or— From the Ioline Control Center: From the menu bar select File, Send Cut/Plot File. Either enter the path and file name of the cut or select the cor- rect location from the directory\file lists in the dialog box. -
Page 35: Figure 23 Suggested Settings For Different Materials
Suggested Settings There are many variables that determine signcutter output quality. Ioline recommends 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 Figure 23 for settings for a variety of material types. -
Page 36: Figure 24 Plotting Pen Guidelines
Before cutting, verify that the SmarTrac is properly cali- brated and that the pinchwheels are correctly spaced. For best re- sults, certain system settings should also be adjusted. Use the Ioline Control Center to make these changes. The following suggestions will help you produce fine quality long signs. -
Page 37: Cutting Small Characters
Also, some of the system settings should be adjusted to achieve more accurate detailed cut- ting. This is done by making changes in the Ioline Control Center and by adjusting the dial controls on the front panel. The following is a list of adjustments that should be made: Lower Force. -
Page 38: How To Pounce
flat. How to Pounce Use the pounce feature with high quality paper. Ioline recommends 20 lb. paper that lies flat. A pounce tool and a pounce blade (avail- able from Ioline) are also required. -
Page 39: Stencil Cutting
Chapter 2: Operation ages.) See the section describing the Ioline Control Center for more details on adjusting the cut and blank settings. Stencil Cutting Stencil material (Tag Board) is handled much the same as vinyl with the important exception of using much higher force. -
Page 40: Tangential Cutting
This process is useful for especially challenging materials like reflec- tive vinyl. Using tangential cutting will reduce throughput because of the extra alignment steps. Use the Ioline Control Center software to enable and adjust tangential cutting. Follow these steps to enable tangential cutting: Power on the Ioline cutter. -
Page 41: Contour Cutting
The registration marks are solid rectangular black squares with a minimum size of 0.275-in. (7-mm) and a maximum size of .59 in. (15 mm). Ioline recommends a 0.394-in. (1-cm) square. See Figure 27. Make sure there is a minimum margin of 3-in. between the registration marks and the edge of the vinyl on both sides and the top and bottom. -
Page 42: Figure 29 Registration Mark Locations On Plot
Contact the manufacturer of the design software to determine if Ioline contour drivers are available. An origin point should be set on the cutter so that the sensor light is positioned within the center of the first registration mark. -
Page 43: Communication Testing
Signcutter to the Computer in the Installation chapter for more details. Start the Ioline Control Center. Select Test, Communication Test from the menu bar at the top of the window. Turn on the signcutter while holding down the Test Cut key on the keypad. -
Page 44: Testing The Signcutter Serial Port
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Testing the Signcutter Serial Port The diagnostic module is required for this test. Connect the diagnostic module directly to the signcutter COM port. From the Control Center main menu, select Test, Plotter Port Test. Turn on the signcutter while holding down the Test Cut key on the keypad. -
Page 45: Troubleshooting Chart
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting If the system is not working correctly the problem could be with the computer, the cable, the design software, or with the signcutter. Changes to the computer operating system or the installation of new peripherals or software might cause conflicts. If the computer or the design software cause a problem, consult the computer or software manuals or call the manufacturer or dealer. - Page 46 Ioline SmarTrac User Guide Printing or cutting is erratic. Cause: Solution: The wrong plotter language is Make sure the correct driver set- assigned to the plot file. ting is selected (HPGL or DM/PL). The blade skips or tears the material.
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Page 47: Led Codes
The Green light on the front panel blinks once: keypad, make note of the number of times the light blinks and Cause: Solution: contact Ioline Customer Service The carriage is jammed Turn the SmarTrac off and clear immediately. Contact informa- away any debris or jammed tion is located in the End Notes material. - Page 48 Ioline SmarTrac User Guide BIOS settings can also have an effect on parallel port performance. The SmarTrac supports only SPP parallel port communication. ECP and EPP modes are not supported. These instructions include edit- ing the PC BIOS to ensure that the port is in the proper mode prior to staring Windows.
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Page 49: Replacing The Blade
Chapter 5 Routine Maintenance Replacing the Blade Caution The blade tip is sharp and If plot quality suddenly degrades the blade might be dull or broken. fragile. Be careful when The tip of the blade is very fragile and can chip or break if dropped. handling it. -
Page 50: Cleaning The Drive Shaft
Typically, the accuracy of a cut is within 0.2% overall. By using the calibration feature, the variance can be adjusted to within 0.05%. Prepare the signcutter: Open the Ioline Control Center program. Put the signcutter in START mode (green LED). Load the signcutter with material that is greater than 22-in wide (60-cm model) or greater than 30-in wide (80-cm or larger models) and a minimum of 48-in long. -
Page 51: Figure 32 The Calibration Box And Measurements
Chapter 5: Routine Maintenance Precisely measure both X-axis and Y-axis lines. Better accuracy in measurement equals better calibration. Measure both sides and the top and bottom of the box. ~40 in. Figure 32. The Calibration Box and measurements. Take the average of the horizontal (Y) values by adding them together and dividing by 2. -
Page 52: Calibrating The Sensor For Contour Cutting
Contour Cutting Sensor calibration is required if using any tool other than the The registration sen- Ioline blade holder (i.e. a ball sor is calibrated for point pen). Calibration is also the standard Ioline required to switch back to the... -
Page 53: Figure 36. The Control Center Calibration Window
Chapter 5: Routine Maintenance Insert the tool that is used during registration into the tool jaw on the carriage. If calibrating for the Ioline blade holder, insert the registration tool (Ioline PN 105745) included in the Accessory Kit. Move the carriage and material so that the tip of the tool is near the lower left corner of the black square. -
Page 54: Figure 37. The Small Sensor Calibration Window
Figure 37. The Small Sensor Calibration window. Perform test registration cuts to verify that alignment is correct. If it is not, check that the black box is exactly 1-cm then repeat the procedure again. Contact Ioline Customer Service if calibra- tion is unsuccessful. -
Page 55: Service & Support
Getting Help Ioline is committed to providing the highest quality service and sup- port to its customers. If you need assistance with an Ioline SmarTrac, a number of resources are available: First, refer to this SmarTrac User Guide for answers to your spe- cific questions. -
Page 56: Customer Service
All repairs are warranted for 90 days. Customer Service Ioline Corporation is committed to providing quality service and support to our customers. If you need assistance with an Ioline prod- uct, contact your local dealer or Ioline authorized service center. You may also contact:... -
Page 57: Before You Contact Support
Chapter 6: End Notes Before you contact Support… Please gather the following information about your printer before contacting Ioline or your dealer for technical support: Name: Company Name: Phone Number: Fax: E-mail: Model: Look for the serial number above Serial... -
Page 58: The Fcc Wants You To Know
Ioline SmarTrac User Guide The FCC Wants You to Know... This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used properly (in strict accordance with manufac- turer instructions), it may cause interference to radio and television reception. -
Page 59: Glossary
Glossary Cast - Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheeting formed by spreading a molten vinyl mixture on a carrier sheet or web, and then baking at high temperatures to re- Acceleration - The rate that a signcutter changes the move solvents and fuse the remaining material into velocity of the carriage or the vinyl. - Page 60 60 60 Ioline SmarTrac User Guide type, such as the vector and bitmap based Encapsu- lated Postscript (EPS) and the vector based Hewlett Packard Graphics Language (PLT). ® Flange - The projecting rim around the edge that holds the pen or blade holder to the tool carriage.
- Page 61 61 61 Glossary cutting feature carefully aligns the blade with a line Pinchwheel - Wheeled roller, tensioned by springs, segment before making each cut in the material, of- that clamps material between it and the drive shaft fering cleaner cuts on thicker materials. for transporting the material.
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Page 63: Index
Assembly 16. See also The SmarTrac Quick Start Guide Serial xiv Setup within the design software 16 Autoloop vi, ix, 26, 29, 37, 38–39, 50 Setup within the Ioline Control Center 16, 25 Axis 59 USB xiv Setup 19 Communication Testing 43, 43–44... - Page 64 Ioline SmarTrac Quick Start Guide High Force Position 31 Installing a blade 32 Loading material 29 HPGL 25, 46, 60 Long signs 36–37 HPGL Setting 60 Pausing 34 Quality 23, 35–36, 38, 49, 59 Replacing the blade 49 Scraps or short pieces 26, 29 Sending cut files 29, 34...
- Page 65 Index Media rollers xi, 16, 29, 30, 36, 38, 39 Blank value 27 Cut value 27 Media shaft xiv Pounce pattern 61 Memory 23, 25 Pouncing Cut 38 Mil 60 Power cord xiv Minimum Angle 28, 38, 60 Power switch xiv, 57 Offline 21 Radio frequency 58 Offset 60...
- Page 66 Ioline SmarTrac Quick Start Guide USB port v, xiv, 15–20 Media roller xiv Stand leg xiii Stand leg xi, xiii Stand leveling foot xi, xiii Vector 61 Start-up Procedure 29 Vinyl 61 START mode 21, 24, 38–39, 45, 50–51 Start point. See Origin...