Test page output; Pens are skipping, dragging, or not touching media.
Test page output; Pens are skipping, dragging, or not touching media.
A. Verify that CalComp pens are being used.
1. CalComp pens and media are designed to provide optimal pen life,
plot quality, and plotter performance. CalComp cannot guarantee
quality with other brands of pens and media.
2. All CalComp pens are labeled on the bottom of the pen (e.g., WLB,
WPP, WFP, WL, WT, 7L, 7T). For a more detailed description of pen
types, refer to the Pens Table, later in this document.
B. If using the CalComp Liquid Ink pens, ensure that the pen tip has been
tightly pressed into the pen body, forming a good seal.
C. Examine the pen caps in the bottom of the turret. Pen caps prevent the
ink in the pens from drying out or evaporate when the plotter is not in
use.
1. The type of pen cap in the turret must match the pen type being
used. The pen caps are color-coded:
a. If using the CalComp Liquid Ink pens, the black caps are to
be installed in the turret.
b. For all other CalComp pens, the beige caps are to be
installed in the turret.
2. If the pen caps are contaminated with dried ink, then clean them
with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. If they are torn, then they
need to be replaced. (CalComp part #11319-0011, beige caps for
standard pens 12/pkg; CalComp part #11320-0018, black caps for
Liquid ink pens, 12/pkg).
D. Even though the pen caps in the bottom of the turret are designed to
seal the tip of the pen and prevent the pen from drying out, it is
recommended that the pens be removed from the turret when finished
plotting for the day and capped with the white plastic tops that came
with the pens. Store the pens in an upright position (with the tip of
the pen up).
E. Clean the pen tips.
1. Bond and Vellum paper contain cotton fibers. As the pen moves
across the surface of the paper it may collect fibers that can
clog the tip. Clean the tip of the pen with a cotton swab and
rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol.
2. Before the pens are to be used, hand draw with the pen on a clean,
scrap of media to verify that the ink flows.
F. Load the pens in a clean turret with clean pen caps. The tip of the pen
should fit into the center of the pen cap, not off to one side. The pen
caps should be seated flat, not cocked to one side which would put
pressure on the tip of the pen instead of sealing the pen tip.
G. The Demonstration (Demo) plot is an internally stored program in the
plotter that is performed to demonstrate that the plotter is properly
functioning. Perform the following:
1. Load a D-size (24 x 36) sheet of paper in the plotter.
2. Take the plotter off-line by pressing the key marked AUTO/MANUAL.
3. Press the yellow key marked SAVE/TEST.
4. The plotter will display:
Routine #:
Press next for menu:
5. Press the 0 key (located on the bottom row, says MAP at the top of
the key).
6. Press the ENTER key.
7. The plotter displays:
Demo Plot
Press AUTO to plot
8. Press the AUTO/MANUAL key. The plotter will perform the
Demonstration Plot.
H. Examine the Demonstration Plot. If the pens skipped or dragged when the
Demo Plot was being performed, then either slow the pen speed down or
decrease the pen force, as needed.
1. Pen Speed: The speed with which the pens move across the paper is
in inches per second (IPS). The higher the pen speed, the quicker
the plot time. The limiting factor is directly related to the pen
type being used, and how well that pen type can lay ink on the
media. Generally, a slower pen speed results in better plot
quality and longer pen life.
a. When the 104X Series plotter was being manufactured (1985 to
1989), it was available in two speeds. 14 Inches Per
Second and 24 Inches Per Second. To verify the plotter
speed, perform the following:
i. Take the plotter off-line by pressing the key marked
AUTO/MANUAL.
ii. Press the yellow key marked SAVE/TEST.
iii. The plotter will display:
Routine #:
Press next for menu:
iv. Using the plotter keypad, choose 11.
v. Press the ENTER key.
vi. The plotter will display either 14 IPS or 24 IPS.
vii. If using a 14 IPS model, substitute 14 IPS when the
table indicates 24 IPS.
2. Pen Force: The amount of force that is applied to hold the pen
point onto the surface of the media. The higher the numerical
number, the greater the force. Within reason, a greater force
results in a better line quality but a shorter pen life. Too
little force can cause line skipping.
a. The allowable range of pen force is 0 through 10. A zero
automatically indicates the default pen force is being used
by the plotter. If a number 1 through 10 is keyed in, that
value will be used for the pen force unless it is greater
than the maximum allowable force for that particular pen
type.
b. To examine or change the pen speed and force, perform the
following:
i. Press the SETUP key.
ii. The plotter will display:
Setup Number:
Press NEXT for MENU:
iii. Press the number 5 key.
iv. Press the ENTER key.
v. Press the ENTER key to move the cursor to the desired
field. Use the following table for reference.
Pen Type; Speed (Default, Max); Force (Default, Max)
______________________________________________________
Plastic/Fiber; ( 6, 14); ( 3, 5).
Tip Pens
WPP,WFF
Liquid Ball Pens; (24, 24); (10, 10).
WLB
Liquid Ink Pens; ( 8, 14); ( 2, 4).
WL, WT, 7L, 7T
vi. Press the SAVE key.
vii. To save the changes, press 1, 2, 3, or 4 and
press the ENTER key.
F. If the pen tip does not touch the media at all, then the pen guide may
be dirty.
1. The pen guide is the circular guide that the tip goes through as
it moves across the media. Ink residue can collect in the pen
guide and obstruct the pens movement down to the paper.
2. Clean the pen guide with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol.
3. Verify that pen will touch media. Perform the following:
a. Turn the plotter power on.
b. Verify that the pen is functioning by manually hand drawing
with it on a scrap of media.
c. Place the pen in position one of the turret.
d. Load and size the media.
e. Press the SELECT button.
f. Press the numeric key 1.
g. Press the ENTER key.
h. The pen holder will manually select pen 1 and position it
over the media.
i. Press the UP/DOWN key, to bring the tip of the pen down to
the media.
j. Visually observe the pen tip to see if it is making contact
with the media.
k. Return the pen to the turret by pressing the SELECT key,
followed by the 0 Key, then the ENTER key.
l. If the pen tip did not touch the media, try a new CalComp
pen. The pen tip may have worn down.
m. If the media guide was cleaned, the pen force was correctly
adjusted, a new CalComp pen was used, and pen tip still does
not touch the media, then the plotter requires service.
P E N S T A B L E
Pen Type/ L i n e W i d t h s
Characteristics inches millimeters
______________________________________
Liquid Ball, .012 .30
WLB Series
Disposable, Inexpensive, Dense Line,
Good Reproduction Quality, High Speed
Plastic Tip, .012 .30
WPP Series, Medium tip
Disposable, Medium Lines, Vivid Colors, Excellent Business
Graphics
Plastic Tip, .025 .64
WFP Series, Broad Tip
Disposable, Broad lines, Vivid Colors, Excellent Business Graphics
Liquid Ink,
WL Series
Extra Fine .010 0.25
Fine .014 0.35
Medium .020 0.50
Broad .028 0.70
Disposable, For Paper and Vellum only, Different widths to choose
from.
Liquid Ink,
WT Series
Extra Fine .010 0.25
Fine .014 0.35
Medium .020 0.50
Broad .028 0.70
Disposable, For polyester film only (Mylar), Different widths to
choose from.
Liquid Ink,
7L Series, (stainless steel)
Extra extra fine .010 0.25
Extra fine .011 0.28
Fine .015 0.38
Medium .018 0.46
Medium Broad .022 0.56
Broad .027 0.69
Reusable, General Plotting, Excellent blueline & photo
reproduction.
Long Life, For Paper and Vellum Only.
Liquid Ink,
Tungsten Tip, 7T Series
Extra extra fine .010 0.25
Extra fine .011 0.28
Fine .015 0.38
Medium .018 0.46
Medium Broad .022 0.56
Broad .027 0.69
Reusable, General plotting, Excellent blueline & photo
reproduction.
Long Life, For Polyester Film Only.
Questions regarding pen colors, can be answered by
CalComp's Supplies department at (800) 225-2667.