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| openbuilds_acro:workflow_-_how_to_plot [2024/08/02 02:15] – [Start the plot] formlab | openbuilds_acro:workflow_-_how_to_plot [2025/02/28 04:54] (current) – [Generate Gcode] formlab |
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| Formlab todo: Add simplify steps | <wrap hi>Formlab todo: Add simplify steps |
| * remove double lines | * remove double lines |
| * interpret fills | * interpret fills |
| * ... | * ...</wrap> |
| ==== Turn on the Pen Plotter ==== | ==== Turn on the Pen Plotter ==== |
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| |< 100% 300px >| | |< 100% 300px >| |
| ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_controller_usb_02.jpg?300|}}| Connect the USB cable from the controller to the computer.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_controller_usb_02.jpg?300|}}|Check if the USB cable from the plotter controller to the computer is connected.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_power_02.jpg?300|}}|Plug in the power supply for the controller.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_controller_power_02.jpg?300|}}|Check if the plotter controller is switched on.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_controller_power_02.jpg?300|}}|Turn on the controller.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_remote.jpg|}}|Press the "ON" button on the remote. This turns on the power socket to the machine, giving everything electricity.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_openbuilds_logo_01.png|}}|On the computer, open the 'OpenBuilds CONTROL' application.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_openbuilds_logo_01.png|}}|On the computer, open the 'OpenBuilds CONTROL' application.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_serial_connection_01.png?300|}}|**Open the serial connection**: select a USB to serial port and click connect. Look at the serial console to see if the connection worked or not. You'll see connect Firmware Detected if the connection was successful. Try another one if it fails to connect. If the menu doesn't list any good ports, close any applications that might have a serial connection. If that didn't work, restart the Openbuilds controller application or restart the computer.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_serial_connection_01.png?300|}}|**Open the serial connection**: select a USB to serial port and click connect. Look at the serial console to see if the connection worked or not. You'll see connect Firmware Detected if the connection was successful. Try another one if it fails to connect.\\ |
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| | If the menu doesn't list any good ports, close any applications that might have a serial connection and check if the USB cable to the plotter controller is connected. If that didn't work, restart the computer.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_unlock_alarm_01.png|}}|The unlock alarm flickers. Click on it do disable the safety lock.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_unlock_alarm_01.png|}}|The unlock alarm flickers. Click on it do disable the safety lock.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_pen_up_01.png|}}|Click on 'Pen Up'| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_pen_up_01.png|}}|Click on 'Pen Up'| |
| * <wrap lo>Only a few short sections of tape are necessary.</wrap> | * <wrap lo>Only a few short sections of tape are necessary.</wrap> |
| * <wrap lo>Try to keep the page reasonably flat.</wrap> | * <wrap lo>Try to keep the page reasonably flat.</wrap> |
| | No tape at all might work well too. |
| </WRAP>| | </WRAP>| |
| |{{:prepare_your_drawing:workspace_origin.png|}}|<WRAP> | |{{:prepare_your_drawing:workspace_origin.png|}}|<WRAP> |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_svg2gcode_settings_02.png|}}|<WRAP> | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_svg2gcode_settings_02.png|}}|<WRAP> |
| * **Load the plotter settings** | * **Load the plotter settings** |
| * Download this {{ :openbuilds_acro:settings_v2.json.zip |settings-file}} and unzip it. | * Download this {{ :openbuilds_acro:settings_v2.1.json.zip |settings-file}} (v2.1) and unzip it. |
| * On the svg2gcode-website, click 'Settings', then 'Import/Export'. Select the JSON-file you just downloaded and click Save | * On the svg2gcode-website, click 'Settings', then 'Import/Export'. Select the JSON-file you just downloaded and click Save |
| </WRAP>| | </WRAP>| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_gcode_file_01.png|}}|Select the Gcode file that was downloaded by the svg2gcode website.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_gcode_file_01.png|}}|Select the Gcode file that was downloaded by the svg2gcode website.| |
| |<wrap hi>image needed</wrap>|Click on the Gcode editor-tab and scroll all the way down and remove the line containing 'M2'. This gcode command results in a glitch that puts the pen back on the paper after the whole plot has finished. It's better that the pen stays up after plotting. No need to save the gcode file. The changes are already active.| | |<wrap hi>image needed</wrap>|Click on the Gcode editor-tab and scroll all the way down and remove the line containing 'M2'. This gcode command results in a glitch that puts the pen back on the paper after the whole plot has finished. It's better that the pen stays up after plotting. No need to save the gcode file. The changes are already active.| |
| |<wrap hi>image needed</wrap>|Click again on the '3D-view' tab and double check the dimensions on the X and Y axis. <wrap lo>Pan with CTRL pressed to pan the view around and use the scroll wheel to zoom.</wrap>| | |<wrap hi>image needed</wrap>|<WRAP> |
| | To prevent a **CRASH**: click on the '3D-view' tab and double check the dimensions on the X and Y axis. |
| | * **Pan**: right mouse button |
| | * **Zoom** scroll wheel |
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| | * **Y** axis: no higher than **1250**mm |
| | * **X** axis: no wider than **820**mm |
| | </WRAP>| |
| ==== Start the plot ==== | ==== Start the plot ==== |
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| * Click 'Abort' (or escape) to stop plotting. | * Click 'Abort' (or escape) to stop plotting. |
| </WRAP>| | </WRAP>| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_disarmed.jpg|}}|If it's a short job, flip the auto shutoff switch to the disarmed state. The machine will stay on after finishing.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_disarmed.jpg|}}|If it's a short job, flip the auto shutoff switch at the back of the plotter to the **disarmed** state. The machine will stay on after finishing.| |
| |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_armed.jpg|}}|If it's a long job that will run past the Formlab closing time, then flip the switch to 'Armed'. Then the plotter will shut itself down after the plot has completed.| | |{{:openbuilds_acro:acro_armed.jpg|}}|If it's a long job that will run past the Formlab closing time, then flip the switch to '**Armed**'. Then the plotter will shut itself down after the plot has completed.| |
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| <wrap lo>After the plot, close the Openbuilds Control software, turn off the driver and unplug the power.</wrap> | |