[billybird]

I have a perfectly good HP Draftmaster II pen plotter. It will produce good drawings on "E" sized paper (36x42 in.). I haven't used it for a few years and now with a new PC loaded with XP software I need a driver for it. A driver is not resident in the XP package and HP tech service cannot help me. Can anyone help me with this problem. It seems a pitty to toss it for want of a driver.
billybird

[CalG]

There is the application "WinLine" that has the driver for the HP printer/plotters.

A fee is required. but I think there is a demo.

CakG

[CalG]

OH!

The application "SignGO" has drivers for just about every device.
Check it out, There is a demo there for sure.

If it's a HP-GL2 driver ( very likely) There are many applications that have such drivers
CorelDraw? Eagle PCB software, or you can get a postscript converter PSTOEDIT etc.
Search the net.


CalG

[wadero]

Signgo has no driver for draftmaster and even when you can get one you can't add it because you can only choose of their own list

[CalG]

The HP 7596A uses the HP-GL language.

No "special drivers" are required. Only programs that output HP-GL. A search on "HP-GL" will find many solutions. Recent editions of Windoz makes it troublesome and requires conversion from some other file type to the required HP-GL .

Signgo has MANY HP-GL compatable settings. I have used it on my HP 7550

Presently, Under Linux, I use "Inkscape" and a conversion application.

Good luck! Keep trying

[CalG]

http://forum.uscutter.com/index.php?board=41.0

An interesting link regarding plotters. cutters, and software

[azskies200]

Have you tried AutoDesk's DWG TrueView Software?? Its a viewer/markup program that has a lot of plotter drivers including some for HPGL plotters like the 7475A and one for the Draftmaster 2 HPGL.
Its free and comes in versions for WinXP 32/64 bit and Win7 32/64 bit. I don't work for them, I just use the software for drawing review, but I did notice the plotter setup tab included HP plotters. I believe it handles dwg and dfx files but there may be some font incompatibilites.

[CalG]

AZSkies

Thank you for that link.

A perfect HP 7550A output file at the touch of a mouse button.

Well, I did need to set up a "save to file" location.

Progress with an old machine!

Should work just fine with the OP application.

Best regards

CalG

[azskies200]

Glad to be of some assistance. What, if I may ask, are you using for a cutter/holder, assuming you are cutting vinyl?? I made up a holder on my mini-lathe for an exacto swivel knife out of delrin that works ok but I am thinking there might be something better. The knife is a tight fit in the delrin and height adjustment is by friction. I also made up a Sharpie finepoint penholder out of delrin that works quite well and allows you to substitute any of the colors they have available if doing artwork on paper, pcbs, etc. I did have to trim the case to allow access to the carousel of the 7475a.

Next mod is to fit a hispeed spindle to allow engraving/milling of pcb directly. Probably won't be able to do tight spacings or tiny pads but basic boards should be possible.....

Just something about these old plotters just clicking and whirring away that a modern inkjet printer just doesn't have.