Gerber EDGE Owner's Manual

This document is furnished to support the GERBER EDGE. In consideration of the furnishing of the information contained in this document, the party to whom it is given assumes its custody and control and agrees to the following:

1. The information herein contained is given in confidence, and any part thereof shall not be copied or reproduced without written consent of Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.

2. This document or the contents herein under no circumstances shall be used in the manufacture or reproduction of the article shown and the delivery of this document shall not constitute any right or license to do so.

PRINTED IN USA

GSP, GRAPHIX 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.

ADVANTAGE

, and Signmaker are registered trademarks of Gerber Scientific

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. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own risk.

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le present appareil numerique n'emet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant les limites applicables aux appareils numeriques de la classe B prescrites dens le Reglements sur le brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le ministere des Communications du Canada.

Table of Contents

Introduction ......................................................................................... 1

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

Additional Sample Jobs .....................................................................23

Procedures for Using the GERBER EDGE...................................................25

Setting Up the Job............................................................................25

Loading the Material ........................................................................26

Loading the Color Cartridge ...............................................................28

Printing the Job............................................................................... 32

Cutting the Printed Job on the Plotter..................................................... 33

Maintaining Print Quality........................................................................35

Cleaning .......................................................................................35

Correcting Printing Problems ..............................................................39

Mechanical Description .......................................................................... 41

Parts and Their Functions...................................................................41

Using the Keypad and Display............................................................. 45

Firmware Overview .........................................................................46

Troubleshooting ...................................................................................53

Keypad Display Messages .................................................................. 53

Fuse Replacement............................................................................55

Assistance .....................................................................................55

GERBER EDGE

by Gerber

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the revolutionary GERBER EDGE. You now have the ability to print computer-generated images over vinyl and other materials. With the GERBER EDGE you can work with:

multicolor jobs

airbrush fades

halftones

small text

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. It is divided into the following sections:

intricate graphics

repeats

enhanced fonts

Introduction presents safety guidelines, a list of equipment and accessories, unpacking, and installation instructions.

Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE provides an overview of the printing process and instructions for printing sample jobs.

2 GERBER EDGE Owner’s Guide

Procedures for Using the GERBER EDGE presents background information and procedures for using the GERBER EDGE.

Maintaining Print Quality offers tips for keeping print quality high and material loss low.

Mechanical Description describes the GERBER EDGE parts and their functions.

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) 203-290-5568 (fax)

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

Note: A note contains important information which could affect successful completion of a task.

CAUTION: A caution statement contains information which, if not observed, could result in damage to the equipment.

WARNING: A warning statement contains information which, if not observed, could result in personal injury.

Safety

WARNING: Two people are required to lift or move the GERBER EDGE. It weighs approximately 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms) packaged for shipment and 90 pounds (40.8 kilograms) unpacked.

WARNING: Unplug the power cord before performing any maintenance. Voltage is present inside the system even after the power switch is turned off. All voltage is removed only when the power cord is unplugged.

CAUTION: Static electricity may damage electronic components. Ground yourself by touching any bare metal inside the GERBER 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.

Introduction 3

ACCESSORIES

In the shipping container is the accessory tray containing the following:

A power cable

A printer cable

A black GerberColor Cartridge

Thermal Printhead Cleaning Kit

An accessory package consisting of:

Two 10-Amp fuses

GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide

Lint-free cloth

Cutter registration mark eyepiece

Pen printhead cleaner

4 GERBER EDGE Owner’s Guide

UNPACKING THE GERBER EDGE

WARNING: Two people are required to lift or move the GERBER EDGE. It weights approximately 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms) packaged for shipment and 90 pounds (40.8 kilograms) unpacked.

The GERBER EDGE is shipped from the factory in reusable packaging materials. Save these packaging materials for future use in case you need to ship the GERBER EDGE. When repacking the GERBER EDGE, install the vibration dampers and secure the hold-down brackets to the mounting platform with bolts before putting the inner and outer sleeves around the GERBER EDGE.

To unpack the GERBER EDGE

1. Cut the strapping which holds the cardboard package to the shipping skid and remove the cover.

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.

5. Remove the two bolts securing each hold-down bracket.

6. Lift the GERBER EDGE off the mounting platform.

7. Slide the brackets out from the bottom of the GERBER EDGE.

8. Open the top cover and remove the vibration dampers from the left and right cam followers as shown in the following illustration.

SETTING UP THE GERBER EDGE

Introduction 5

Removing the vibration dampers.

The GERBER EDGE must be connected to a GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE system which uses software Release 4.1 or higher. Follow these rules:

Use the GSP-approved printer cable provided with the GERBER EDGE.

Press the cable connectors firmly into place, then tighten each thumbscrew one turn at a time until the connectors are completely seated.

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.

The power switch, power cord receptacle, and parallel printer connector are located on the left side of the GERBER EDGE.

6 GERBER EDGE Owner’s Guide

To connect the GERBER EDGE to the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE

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. 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 Vinyl Printer. The Add or Delete Vinyl Printer(s) dialog box appears.

4. In the Vinyl Printers list box, click on the GERBER EDGE.

5. In the Ports list box, click on LPT2.

6. Click on Add. The GERBER EDGE is added to the Installed Vinyl Printers list box.

7. Click on Continue. The GERBER EDGE is added to the system and you return to the GSP Setup menu.

Introduction 7

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. In the Plotters list box, click on the name of the plotter or console plotter you are installing on your system.

5. In the Ports list box, click on COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4.

6. Click on Add. The plotter is added to the Ready for Plotting list box.

7. Click on Continue. The plotter is added to the system and you return to the GSP Setup menu.

8 GERBER EDGE Owner’s Guide

Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE 9

Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE

Overview of the Printing Process

The GERBER EDGE prints designs created in the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE Composer program.

The Composer program provides the capability of assigning fill colors, to shapes. The Composer program also allows you choose other fill attributes, such as type of fill, percent of tint, number of lines per inch, the size of halftone dots, and the color of vinyl. This information is stored with the job and sent to the GERBER EDGE through the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE Plot program.

Using the Plot program, you open the design file and make your normal plot selections. These selections are for both the GERBER EDGE and the plotter. Be certain that you select the plotter you plan to cut on prior

to printing. If you change plotter selection after printing, cutting registration may be degraded.

Prompts appear on the GERBER EDGE display telling you when to load the material and which GerberColor cartridge to load. If more than one color is required for a design, the display prompts you to load each new color until the design is complete.

After a job is printed, it may be cut on a plotter. The only difference between cutting a printed job and cutting a plain vinyl job is that you must register the plotter knife exactly with the cutter registration mark printed on the material by the GERBER EDGE. Use the eyepiece provided in the 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

and HS 15

you align the knife with the print registration mark. GS 15 plotters and the SignmakerIVB, the GSP SPRINTII series, and the



10 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide

SuperSprint series may require a firmware upgrade. Please contact your Gerber distributor for details.

Printing a Sample Job

Why not explore some of the capabilities of your GERBER EDGE now? In the following sequence you will print a black job on white vinyl. The plot (.PLT) file is already loaded on your system as part of the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE program. Just follow the instructions to print your first GERBER EDGE job.

There are five operations to perform when using the GERBER EDGE:

Setting up the job

Loading the material

Loading the color cartridge

Printing the 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" paragraph in the "Mechanical Description" section of this manual.

2. The GERBER EDGE display reads:

OFFLINE

3. Press ONLINE on the GERBER EDGE keypad. The display reads:

ONLINE

Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE 11

4. Double-click on the Plot icon in the GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE program group. The Open dialog box appears.

5. Click on the C:\JOBS directory. Type EDGEOL.PLT in the File Name list box of the Open dialog box.

6. Click on OK.

7. Press F7 for the Plotter Select dialog box.

8. If necessary, click on the 15-inch plotter you plan to use for cutting the job to highlight and select it. Click on any other plotters to deselect them.

9. Click on GERBER EDGE to highlight and select it.

10. Click on OK.

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. After 1 to 2 minutes, the display shows the material loading prompt:

Vinyl: WHITE

12 GERBER EDGE Owner's Guide

3. Position the tensioner assembly behind the GERBER EDGE as shown in the illustration.

Positioning the tensioner assembly.

4. Slide the roll of white vinyl material onto the roll holder. Pull the end of the material away from the GERBER EDGE, then under and over the tension arm roller toward the back of the GERBER EDGE.

5. Raise the GERBER EDGE cover.

6. Open the bail arms by lifting them up from the platen.

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.

Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE 13

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.

10. Slew the vinyl back and forth so that the squeegees clean the area to be printed. Leave a leader of at least 2 inches beyond the front squeegee.

To load the color cartridge

1. Press ONLINE on the keypad. The display shows:

Foil: BLACK

2. Clean the printhead with the pen printhead cleaner or use a pad moistened with 91% isopropyl alcohol as shown in the following illustration. Gently rub the entire length and width of the printhead and the surrounding metal. Dry with a clean, lint-free pad.

14 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.

The cartridge pin locations.

Getting Started with the GERBER EDGE 15

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.

The GerberColor cartridge.

6. 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.

Installing the color cartridge.

7. Release the left center cartridge pin, then release the top and bottom cartridge pins.

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