Gerber P2C 1200 Owner's Manual
Gerber P2C™ 1200
User’s Manual
IMPORTANT
Before you begin...
Please complete the attached Warranty Registration Card and
return it to Gerber today, or go through the online registration at
http://www.gspinc/products/registration/index.html.
Failure to register may result in delayed responses to your warranty
and service inquiries.
FCC NOTICE
Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Note: 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 expense.
RS-232 shielded cables must be used with this unit to ensure compliance with
the Class A FCC limits.
This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du
Canada.
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
NOTICE
Gerber reserves the right to modify the information contained in this User
Manual at any time without prior notice. Unauthorised copying, modification,
distribution or display is prohibited. All rights reserved. All queries, comments or
suggestions concerning this and other Gerber manuals should be directed to:
Gerber Scientific Products
83 Gerber Road
South Windsor, CT 06074 USA
860-643-1515
Customer Service: (800) 222-7446
Technical Support: 800-828-5406 / 860-644-6971
Fax 800-227-6228 / 860-871-3862
www.gspinc.com
Copyright 2004, Gerber Scientific International, Inc.
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GERBER EDGE, EDGE and Gerber Scientific Products are registered trademarks
and Gerber P2C and FastFacts are trademarks of Gerber Scientific Products.
3M, Scotchcal, Scotchlite, Controltac, Comply and Panaflex are trademarks of
the 3M Corporation.
DM/PL and Houston Instrument are trademarks of Summagraphics Corporation.
HP-GL is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company.
IBM PC, IBM PC/XT, and IBM AT are trademarks of International Business
Machines Corp.
Macintosh, Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II are trademarks of
Apple Computer.
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................ 5
1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................. 5
1.1.1 PRODUCT FEATURES ..................................................................................... 5
1.1.2 GERBER P2C 1200 USER’S MANUAL ............................................................ 7
1.2 SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................................... 8
1.2.1 GERBER P2C 1200........................................................................................ 8
1.2.2 MEDIA ........................................................................................................... 8
1.2.3 KNIFE, PEN, AND POUNCING TOOL ............................................................ 9
1.2.4 INTERFACE .................................................................................................. 10
1.2.5 FIRMWARE .................................................................................................. 10
1.2.6 PERFORMANCE.......................................................................................... 10
1.2.7 CERTIFICATIONS.......................................................................................... 11
1.2.8 ENVIRONMENTAL ....................................................................................... 11
1.2.9 ELECTRICAL................................................................................................. 11
1.3 GERBER P2C 1200 ACCESSORIES AND CONSUMABLES........................... 12
1.4 GERBER P2C 1200 COMPONENTS ............................................................. 13
1.4.1 REAR PANEL CONTROLS ............................................................................ 13
1.4.2 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS.......................................................................... 15
1.5 POWERING UP THE GERBER P2C 1200....................................................... 17
1.5.1 GROUNDING (“EARTHING”) ...................................................................... 17
1.5.2 POWER-UP PROCEDURE ............................................................................ 18
1.6 LOADING MEDIA........................................................................................ 19
1.6.1 LOADING MEDIA........................................................................................ 19
1.6.2 ALIGNING THE MEDIA AND POSITIONING THE PINCH ROLLERS .............. 22
1.7 INSTALLATION OF A KNIFE, PEN OR POUNCING TOOL............................. 26
1.7.1 KNIFE INSTALLATION ................................................................................... 26
1.7.2 PEN INSTALLATION...................................................................................... 28
1.7.3 POUNCING TOOL INSTALLATION............................................................... 29
2 OPERATION ............................................................................................... 31
2.1 THE CONTROL PANEL.................................................................................. 31
2.1.1 THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD).......................................................... 31
2.1.2 THE MENU KEY ............................................................................................ 32
2.1.3 THE EXIT KEY ................................................................................................ 34
2.1.4 THE ENTER KEY ............................................................................................ 34
2.1.5 THE TEST KEY ................................................................................................ 34
2.1.6 THE JOGGING KEYS ................................................................................... 34
2.2 COMMON MENU ITEMS ............................................................................. 35
Table of Contents TOC-i
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
2.2.1 VELOCITY.................................................................................................... 35
2.2.2 PEN PRESSURE............................................................................................. 35
2.2.3 KNIFE PRESSURE .......................................................................................... 37
2.2.4 KNIFE OFFSET............................................................................................... 39
2.2.5 POUNCE PRESSURE..................................................................................... 40
2.2.6 POUNCE GAP............................................................................................. 41
2.2.7 USER CONFIGURATIONS (“USER CONFIG”) .............................................. 42
2.2.8 RESET ........................................................................................................... 43
2.2.9 RECUT.......................................................................................................... 43
2.2.10 LOAD .......................................................................................................... 44
2.2.11 ALIGN LOAD............................................................................................... 44
2.2.12 SYSTEM SETUP.............................................................................................. 45
2.3 SYSTEM SETUP.............................................................................................. 45
2.3.1 CONFIDENCE ............................................................................................. 47
2.3.2 DIN CUT....................................................................................................... 47
2.3.3 TOOL........................................................................................................... 48
2.3.4 FLEX-CUT ..................................................................................................... 48
2.3.5 OVERCUT.................................................................................................... 50
2.3.6 OPTICUT ...................................................................................................... 51
2.3.7 EMULATE ..................................................................................................... 52
2.3.8 BAUD RATE.................................................................................................. 53
2.3.9 PARITY ......................................................................................................... 54
2.3.10 RTS/DTR ....................................................................................................... 55
2.3.11 RS 232 TEST.................................................................................................. 55
2.3.12 ALIGN MODE.............................................................................................. 56
2.3.13 AUTOLOAD ................................................................................................. 57
2.3.14 LANGUAGE................................................................................................. 57
2.3.15 DEFAULT MENU ........................................................................................... 58
2.3.16 MENU UNITS ................................................................................................ 59
2.3.17 ROM REVISION ........................................................................................... 59
2.3.18 MEDIA SENSOR........................................................................................... 60
2.3.19 SENSOR SETUP............................................................................................. 60
2.3.20 CALIBRATE X/Y............................................................................................ 62
2.3.21 COIL SETUP.................................................................................................. 64
2.3.22 CAL. MEDIA................................................................................................ 65
2.3.23 CAL. OPOS ................................................................................................. 65
2.3.24 OPOS SETTINGS........................................................................................... 65
3 CONTOUR CUTTING WITH THE GERBER P2C 1200..................................... 67
3.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 67
3.2 GENERAL..................................................................................................... 69
3.3 CREATING THE DESIGN .............................................................................. 70
3.4 PLACING THE MARKERS ............................................................................. 71
3.4.1 USING OPOS WITH GERBER OMEGA SOFTWARE...................................... 71
Table of Contents TOC-ii
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
3.4.2 PLACING THE CROSS-MARKS (WITHOUT OMEGA SOFTWARE) ................ 73
3.5 PRINTING THE DESIGN ................................................................................ 74
3.6 LOADING THE GERBER P2C 1200 AND SETTING THE PARAMETERS........... 75
3.7 REGISTERING THE CROSS-MARKS.............................................................. 75
3.8 CUTTING THE CONTOUR............................................................................. 77
3.8.1 CONTOUR CUTTING GERBER EDGE® GRAPHICS FROM OMEGA ON A
GERBER P2C PLOTTER USING OPOS............................................................. 78
3.8.2 CONTOUR CUTTING GERBER MAXX 2™ GRAPHICS FROM OMEGA
ON THE P2C PLOTTER USING OPOS.............................................................. 80
3.8.3 CONTOUR CUTTING GERBER JETSTER™ GRAPHICS FROM OMEGA
IMAGERIP ON THE GERBER P2C PLOTTER USING OPOS.............................. 81
3.8.4 CONTOUR CUTTING GERBER ELAN XL™ GRAPHICS PRINTED IN
IMAGERIP PRO™ BY ONYX AND CUT THROUGH A CUT-SERVER ON THE
GERBER P2C PLOTTER USING OPOS............................................................. 82
4 GENERAL INFORMATION .......................................................................... 86
4.1 MAINTENANCE & CLEANING..................................................................... 86
4.1.1 CLEANING THE DRIVE SYSTEM................................................................... 86
4.1.2 CLEANING THE SENSOR ............................................................................. 87
4.2 OPERATING VOLTAGE................................................................................ 88
5 INTERFACE................................................................................................. 89
5.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 89
5.2 RS232 INTERFACE NOTES............................................................................ 90
5.2.1 SYSTEM SETUP.............................................................................................. 90
5.2.2 SERIAL INTERFACE CONNECTOR ON THE GERBER P2C 1200 .................. 90
5.2.3 AVAILABLE SERIAL SIGNALS....................................................................... 91
5.3 USB INTERFACE NOTES ............................................................................... 92
5.3.1 USB SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................. 92
5.3.2 INSTALLING THE USB SOFTWARE ON A WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM.. 92
5.3.3 INSTALLING THE USB SOFTWARE ON A MACINTOSH COMPUTER............. 93
6 APPENDIX A............................................................................................... 94
6.1 MEDIA CERTIFICATION............................................................................... 94
Table of Contents TOC-iii
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
ILLUSTRATIONS
GERBER P2C 1200, REAR VIEW................................................................................. 13
GERBER P2C 1200, FRONT VIEW............................................................................... 15
GROUND (“EARTH”) CONNECTION ......................................................................... 18
FEEDING ROLL MEDIA USING MEDIA FLANGES....................................................... 20
FEEDING ROLL MEDIA WITHOUT USING MEDIA FLANGES ....................................... 20
PINCH ROLLER POSITIONING ................................................................................... 23
MEDIA POSITIONING ................................................................................................ 24
BLADE INSERTION...................................................................................................... 26
BLADE LENGTH ADJUSTMENT.................................................................................... 27
SETTING KNIFE DEPTH................................................................................................ 28
GERBER P2C 1200 CONTROL PANEL........................................................................ 31
GERBER P2C 1200 MAIN MENU................................................................................ 33
PEN PRESSURE TEST PATTERN..................................................................................... 36
KNIFE DEPTH TEST PATTERN........................................................................................ 37
KNIFE OFFSET TEST ..................................................................................................... 39
POUNCE DEPTH TEST PATTERN .................................................................................. 41
GERBER P2C 1200 SYSTEM SETUP ............................................................................. 46
SELECTING “TOOL PROPERTIES” ............................................................................... 68
SETTING “SPECIAL LOAD”......................................................................................... 68
SETTING X-AXIS ALIGN PARAMETERS....................................................................... 75
CLEANING THE DRIVE SLEEVES................................................................................. 87
TABLES
GERBER P2C 1200 SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................... 8
GERBER P2C 1200 MEDIA SPECIFICATIONS............................................................... 8
GERBER P2C 1200 KNIVES, PENS, AND POUNCING TOOLS ...................................... 9
GERBER P2C 1200 INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS...................................................... 10
GERBER P2C 1200 FIRMWARE .................................................................................. 10
GERBER P2C 1200 PERFORMANCE .......................................................................... 10
GERBER P2C 1200 ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS........................................... 11
GERBER P2C 1200 ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS .................................................... 11
GERBER P2C 1200 ACCESSORIES AND CONSUMABLES ......................................... 12
Table of Contents TOC-iv
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1 GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The Gerber P2C 1200 has been designed to reproduce computer-generated
graphic images on sheets or rolls of vinyl media. By replacing the knife with a
fibre tip pen, the Gerber P2C 1200 can also be used to render previews of new
designs on inexpensive paper.
This manual covers the Gerber P2C 1200, which can accommodate media
widths from 120mm up to 1375mm (4.7” to 54”).
1.1.1 PRODUCT FEATURES
The following are some of the main features of the Gerber P2C 1200:
• The ability to accommodate various media widths
• An interchangeable pen for producing preview plots of designs on
paper
• An interchangeable pouncing tool
• Adjustable knife pressure and offset settings that are microprocessor-
controlled
• Communication with the host computer via Universal Serial Bus (USB) or
standard serial RS-232-C
• Plug-and-play compatibility for Windows and Mac
• An 8-key control panel
• A convenient 16-character liquid crystal display (LCD)
• Metric or English units of measurement
• Microprocessor-controlled menu mode that allows for the selection of a
standard start-up configuration
General Information 5
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
• A wide variety of axial cutting speeds (in metric or English units)
• Up to four separate user configurations that are stored in the non-volatile
memory
• Automatic pull from the media roll
• A sensor that detects the end of the media
• Adjustable origin
• Concatenation and curve smoothing that result in better cuts
• A slitter knife for cutting the finished graphic off the media roll
• Knife depth and offset tests
• An adjustable overcut for easy weeding
• User-selected DM/PL, HP-GL,
• The ability to recut a graphic multiple times
• An Optical Positioning System (OPOS) for die cutting printed vinyl
graphics
and HP-GL/2 software protocols
General Information 6
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.1.2 GERBER P2C 1200 USER’S MANUAL
The Gerber P2C 1200 User’s Manual contains the following information:
• Complete technical specifications for the Gerber P2C 1200 and
compatible media
• A complete description of the Gerber P2C 1200’s main components
• Step-by-step instructions for knife, pen, and pouncing tool installation
and the loading of media
• Information about control panel operation and how to use it to set the
Gerber P2C 1200’s parameters
• Information about the interface cables used to connect the Gerber P2C
1200 to IBM, IBM-compatible, Macintosh, and Macintosh-compatible
host computers
• Maintenance and cleaning instructions
General Information 7
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.2 SPECIFICATIONS
1.2.1 GERBER P2C 1200
Height 1120 44.1
Width 1600 63.0
Depth 680 26.8
Weight 42 kg 92 lbs
1.2.2 MEDIA
Width Roll 120 to 1280 4.7 to 50.4
Sheet 120 to 1375 4.7 to 54.1
Tracking
performance
Thickness
Max.Cutting/
Plotting area
Minimum
Margins**
Front margin
Gerber P2C 1200
mm inch
TABLE 1-1:
GERBER P2C 1200 SPECIFICATIONS
Gerber P2C 1200
mm inch
8m (26 feet) max. within guaranteed specifications* for
media less than 750mm (30” wide).
4m (13 feet) max. within guaranteed specifications** for
media larger than 750 mm (30”).
0.05 to 0.25
0.8mm with optional
sandblast knife
1200mm x 50 m 47.2” x 164 ft.
25 1
18 0.7
0.002 to 0.01
0.03 inch with optional
sandblast knife
Rear margin Sensor on 42 1.7
* Media lengths larger than 8m (26 feet) can be accommodated, but adherence to
specifications is not guaranteed. Rather, performance will depend on the type and size of the
media used in addition to other parameters not mentioned here.
** For positioning of the pinch rollers (see Section 1.7)
Sensor off 25 1
TABLE 1-2:
GERBER P2C 1200 MEDIA SPECIFICATIONS
General Information 8
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
Vinyl Types
Different types of vinyl have been evaluated and tested on the Gerber P2C
1200. When using duly certified media, operation in accordance with the
functional specifications of the model is warranted. Contact Gerber before
using uncertified media to ensure performance in compliance with
specifications.
See Appendix A for a complete list of duly certified media suitable for friction
drive operation.
Plotting Paper
Bond paper (120g/m² recommended)
1.2.3 KNIFE, PEN, AND POUNCING TOOL
The Gerber P2C 1200 is shipped with two standard knife blades for vinyl media
and a black fibre tip pen.
Knife
Standard knife Standard, reflective,
Knife for masking stencil Masking stencil &
Pen
Fibre tip pen Black 1 included
Pouncing tool
GERBER P2C 1200 KNIVES, PENS, AND POUNCI NG TOOLS
To order replacement knives, pens, and/or pouncing tools, contact your local
dealer. Provide the part number(s) as listed in Table 1-9.
The Gerber P2C 1200 is only warranted to perform in accordance with specifications if a genuine Gerber knife, pen or pouncing tool is installed. Do not
replace any of these tools with products from other manufacturers.
Medium Quantity
2 included
& fluorescent vinyl
types
Optional
thick material
Colour Quantity
Paper Optional
TABLE 1-3:
General Information 9
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.2.4 INTERFACE
Communication
Serial : I/O Port connector
Mating connector
Byte format
Baud rate
USB : I/O Port connector
Mating connector
GERBER P2C 1200 INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS
1.2.5 FIRMWARE
Languages
Supported character sets
Supported fonts
ROM-based plots
GERBER P2C 1200 FIRMWARE
1.2.6 PERFORMANCE
Cutting specifications for 0.05mm (0.002") wax-backed vinyl where the total
media thickness does not exceed 0.25mm (0.01").
Axial speed
Default speed
50 to 800 mm/s 2 to 32 ips
700 mm/s 28 ips
Acceleration
Addressable resolution
Default resolution
Mechanical resolution
Accuracy
0.025 mm, 0.1 mm 0.001", 0.005"
0.025 mm 0.001"
0.0127 mm 0.0005"
0.2% of move or 0.25 mm,
whichever is greater*
Knife pressure
Pen pressure
Pouncing pressure
*
Excludes differences due to media expansion, stretching, etc.
GERBER P2C 1200 PERFORMANCE
Standard asynchronous RS-232-C and
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
DB-9P
DB-9S
8 data bits, 2 stop bits, no parity
38400, 19200, 9600, 4800, 2400 bps
USB series “B” receptacle
USB series “B” plug
TABLE 1-4:
DM/PL, HP-GL (758x emulation), HP-GL/2
Standard ASCII
Sans serif (single stroke & medium)
Confidence plot, DIN plot
TABLE 1-5:
Up to 2 G
0.2% of move or 0.01",
whichever is greater*
0 to 400 gr.
0 to 400 gr.
0 to 250 gr.
TABLE 1- 6:
General Information 10
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.2.7 CERTIFICATIONS
CE-Certification for electrical light industrial environment
FCC Class A
Comply with UL1950, CSA 950
1.2.8 ENVIRONMENTAL
(Gerber P2C 1200 without media)
Operating Temperature
Storage temperature
Relative humidity
GERBER P2C 1200 ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS
15 to 35° C 59 to 95° F
-30 to 70° C -22 to 158° F
35 - 85 %, non
condensing
TABLE 1-7:
35 - 85 %, non
condensing
IMPORTANT HINT
The use of dimensionally stable media is essential for obtaining high
quality cuts. Additionally, media expansion or contraction may occur as a
result of temperature variations.
To improve the dimensional stability of media, allow it to acclimate to the
environment in which it will be used for at least 24 hours prior to use.
1.2.9 ELECTRICAL
The power entry module detects the line voltage and alternates automatically
between 110V and 230V.
Main Supply: 48-62 Hz, single phase.
Nominal line Min./Max. line Fuse
110 V AC 88 - 132 V AC 2.0 A, Slo-Blo
230 V AC 176 - 264 V AC 2.0 A, Slo-Blo
TABLE 1-8:
GERBER P2C 1200 ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
General Information 11
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.3 GERBER P2C 1200 ACCESSORIES AND CONSUMABLES
The following accessories and consumables are available for your Gerber P2C
1200:
ITEM
User’s Manual
Power Supply Cables
Serial Cable
USB Cable
Standard knife
Standard knife holder
Sandblast knife
Sandblast knife holder
Flanges for roll media
Manual cut-off razor
blades (set of 10)
Razor blade & holder
Pouncing tool
TABLE 1-9:
GERBER P2C 1200 ACCESSORIES AND CONSUMABLES
General Information 12
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.4 GERBER P2C 1200 COMPONENTS
In order to get better acquainted with your Gerber P2C 1200, examine the
following illustrations and read the accompanying descriptions of its
components.
1.4.1 REAR PANEL CONTROLS
Figure 1-2 shows the location of the main components.
FIGURE 1-2
GERBER P2C 1200, REAR VIEW
General Information 13
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1. USB interface: This interface is based on the standards specified in Universal
Serial Bus Specifications Revision 1.1. USB connectivity can be used to
establish high-speed bi-directional communication serially between the
host computer and the Gerber P2C 1200. (Use either the USB cable or the 9pin serial cable, but do not use both simultaneously.)
2. RS-232-C port: This DB-9P connector uses a 9-pin serial cable to establish bidirectional communication between the Gerber P2C 1200 and a host
computer. (Use either the 9-pin serial cable or the USB cable, but do not use
both simultaneously.)
3. Power ON/OFF switch: This rocker switch sets the Gerber P2C 1200’s power
to ON or OFF. To switch the power ON, press the “I” side of the rocker switch.
To switch the power OFF, press the “O” side of the rocker switch.
4. Power entry module: The fuse box and the AC power cord receptacle are
located in the power entry module.
The power-up procedure is explained in detail in Section 1.6.
5. Fuse box: For information about changing the fuse, see Section 4.2.
6. Roll media guides: The two guides keep the media roll in place as the
Gerber P2C 1200 pulls media from the roll.
7. Media flanges: The media flanges ensure proper routing of the media as it
is pulled from the roll.
8. Media support roller: The rotating rollers support the media roll.
9. Alignment strip: The rear alignment strip facilitates proper media loading
and should be used in conjunction with the front alignment strip.
General Information 14
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.4.2 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
Figure 1-3 shows the location of the main components.
FIGURE 1-3
GERBER P2C 1200, FRONT VIEW
1. Pinch roller lever: This lever is used to raise and lower the pinch rollers
during media loading (media loading is discussed in Section 1.7).
2. Media drive sleeves: The media drive sleeves move the media only when
the pinch rollers are in the “down” position.
3. Tool carriage: The tool carriage holds the knife holder, the pen or the
pouncing tool. The OPOS sensor is attached to the tool carriage.
4. Control panel: The control panel consists of 8 keys and can be used to
initiate all Gerber P2C 1200 activity. Each control panel function is
explained in Section 2.1.
5. Display: The 16-character display informs the user of the Gerber P2C 1200’s
current status as well as any actions that need to be taken.
General Information 15
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
6. Sensor: The sensor detects the end of the media to prevent the knife from
damaging the cutting strip.
7. Pinch rollers: The pinch rollers (one at each side) press the media onto the
drive sleeves.
8. Cutting strip: The cutting strip prevents damage to the knife tip when the
Gerber P2C 1200 is turned on and no media has been loaded. Because
cutting takes place on the cutting strip, it is essential that it remain in good
condition.
9. Alignment strip: The front alignment strip facilitates proper media loading
and should be used in conjunction with the rear alignment strip.
10. Media deflection flap: This extra guide prevents curled media from getting
jammed underneath the cutter.
General Information 16
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.5 POWERING UP THE GERBER P2C 1200
1.5.1 GROUNDING (“EARTHING”)
!
SAFETY WARNING
An insulated ground conductor must be installed as part of the branch
circuit that supplies power to the wall outlet to which the Gerber P2C
1200 is connected. The ground conductor must have the same size,
insulation material, and thickness as the grounded and ungrounded
branch-circuit supply conductors, but the insulating sheath should be
green, or green with yellow striping.
The ground conductor described above must be grounded at the
electrical distribution board or, if power is supplied by a separate
system, at the power supply transformer/motor generator set.
The wall socket into which the Gerber P2C 1200 is plugged must be of
the grounded type. The grounded conductors serving the wall sockets
must be properly connected to ground.
For emergency access, the machine should be installed near the
socket-outlet and be easily accessible.
See Table 1-8 for the minimum and maximum operating voltages for the
different voltage ratings.
For information about operating voltage and the exact fuse ratings, see Section
4.2.
General Information 17
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
A
:
US
THREE-PIN
OUTLET
MAKE SURE THIS
IS CONNECTED TO A
KNOWN EARTH
THREE-PIN
PLUG
GROUND (“EARTH”) CONNECTION
!
IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL TIP
The Gerber P2C 1200 must only be used with a power outlet that is
properly grounded. The use of an ungrounded outlet exposes the
operator to the risk of electric shock and will also cause the Gerber
P2C 1200 to malfunction.
1.5.2 POWER-UP PROCEDURE
!!!! To power up the Gerber P2C 1200:
1. Make sure the Gerber P2C 1200 is placed on a flat, level, and sturdy
surface.
2. Plug one end of the AC power cord into the AC power cord receptacle
on the Gerber P2C 1200’s rear panel.
3. Plug the other end of the AC power cord into the wall socket.
4. Turn the Gerber P2C 1200 on by pressing the "I" side of the ON/OFF
rocker switch located next to the power inlet.
5. The LCD screen will activate. If there is media loaded, the standard
loading procedure will take place.
EUROPE:
MAKE SURE THIS IS
CONNECTED TO A
KNOWN EARTH
FIGURE 1-4
General Information 18
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.6 LOADING MEDIA
The traction that results from the pressure exerted by the pinch rollers upon the
drive sleeves allows the drive sleeves to move the media in the direction of the
X-axis (forward/backward). Therefore, proper movement of the media will only
occur if the pinch rollers are correctly positioned over separate drive sleeves.
CAUTION
Always make sure that the pinch rollers are fully raised before sliding
them left or right.
1.6.1 LOADING MEDIA
The following procedures apply mainly when roll media is being used.
!!!! To load roll media:
1. Raise the pinch rollers by lowering the pinch roller lever located at the
back of the Gerber P2C 1200. The message “INSERT MEDIA” appears on
the LCD.
2. When working with roll media, insert a media flange at each end of the
roll. Make sure the flanges are pressed firmly against the roll. Then,
tighten the thumbscrews until the flanges are secure.
3. Place the flanges on the media support rollers at the rear of the Gerber
P2C 1200.
4. Position the two black media guides under the media roll so that the
flanges rest in the grooves in the guides. The media roll and guides can
be shifted left or right as necessary.
5. Feed the media from the rear of the Gerber P2C 1200 (see Figures 1-5
and 1-6).
• Long sheets can be rolled up and loaded like roll media to make
alignment easier.
General Information 19
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
• Alignment is less critical when short sheets are being used. If a short
sheet is cut off perpendicularly, its front edge can be aligned with
the front of the Gerber P2C 1200.
FIGURE 1-5
FEEDING ROLL MEDI A USI NG MEDIA FLANGES
FIGURE 1-6
FEEDING ROLL MEDI A WI THOUT USING MEDIA FLANGES
General Information 20
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
General Information 21
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.6.2 ALIGNING THE MEDIA AND POSITIONING THE PINCH ROLLERS
The alignment strips on the front and back of the Gerber P2C 1200 can be used
for quick reference if the vinyl is of a standard width: 50cm, 15”/38CM,
16”/41CM, and 24”/61CM (see Figure 1-8).
It is very important that the edges of the media always rest on the sleeves so
that the two pinch rollers are 3 to 15 mm (0.1" to 0.6") in from the edges of the
media.
When raised, the pinch rollers can be moved manually left or right along the
pinch roller shaft. Each roller must be positioned over a drive sleeve before
being lowered on top of the media to ensure optimal tracking.
The right pinch roller can be located anywhere between the two outer detent
positions above the wide drive sleeve. This flexibility allows the Gerber P2C 1200
to accommodate various media widths (see Figure 1-7).
When using wide media on the GERBER P2C 1200, position the middle lowpressure roller above one of the drive sleeves. If possible, select a drive sleeve
that is halfway between the two outer pinch rollers.
The middle low-pressure roller on the GERBER P2C 1200 must be raised and
therefore disabled when narrow media is being used. This can be done by
turning the knob at the back of the roller.
!!!! To align the media and position the pinch rollers (continued from 1.7.1):
1. Align the media in the Gerber P2C 1200:
A. Position the left edge of the media on the leftmost drive sleeve.
B. If the right edge of the media is located over the wide drive sleeve,
position the left pinch roller in the detent above the leftmost sleeve.
C. Position the right pinch roller over the wide drive sleeve according to
the media width.
General Information 22
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
If the media is too narrow to reach the wide drive sleeve:
1) Position the left edge of the media on the second drive sleeve.
2) If the right edge of the media is located over the wide drive
sleeve, position the left pinch roller in the detent above the
second sleeve.
3) Position the right pinch roller over the wide drive sleeve
according to the media width.
If the media is still too narrow:
1) Position the left edge
closest to the wide sleeve.
2) Reposition the right edge of the media somewhere on the wide
drive sleeve.
3) Position the right pinch roller
according to the media width.
of the media over the drive sleeve that is
over the wide drive sleeve
FIGURE 1-7
PINCH ROLLER POSITIONING
2. Make sure that the media follows a straight path from the roll to the
cutting area. This can be accomplished by sliding the media guides left
or right as needed along the media support rollers.
General Information 23
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
FIGURE 1-8
MEDIA POSITI ONING
With the media aligned and the pinch rollers positioned over drive sleeves, the
Gerber P2C 1200 is now ready for the actual load procedure:
3. Raise the pinch roller lever to lower the rollers onto the media and drive
sleeves.
If the Gerber P2C 1200 is not already turned on, press the power switch located
next to the power entry module at the rear of the machine. The following
message will appear on the LCD screen:
.. . .... . .
If there is media loaded and the pinch rollers are down, the Gerber P2C 1200
will automatically start executing a minimal loading procedure consisting of:
• A media width measurement
• A 45° test
• The unrolling of media equal to the width of the pinch rollers
When the LCD displays the cutting velocity and knife pressure, the Gerber P2C
1200 is ready to receive a file (the velocity and pressure may vary):
General Information 24
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
For a manual loading procedure, refer to 2.2.10.
When receiving a cut file, the Gerber P2C 1200 will automatically pull a length
of media from the roll that is equal to the width of the pinch rollers. Media is
then pulled from the roll in increments equal to the width of the pinch rollers.
The tool carriage will automatically begin moving left and right to sense the
usable media width.
NOTE
It is not necessary to pull the media manually from the roll. The
Gerber P2C 1200 will unroll the media automatically during the load
sequence.
The positioning and routing of sheet media is identical to that of roll media.
With sheet media, the front and back alignment strips must be used to ensure
that the media is properly oriented.
SAFE OPERATION
Do not place any objects in front of, or behind, the Gerber P2C 1200
that could interfere with its operation. Make sure the media is free to
move forward and backward. Keep hands, hair, clothing, and
jewellery away from moving parts.
General Information 25
Gerber P2C™ 1200 User’s Manual
1.7 INSTALLATION OF A KNIFE, PEN OR POUNCING TOOL
1.7.1 KNIFE INSTALLATION
!
SAFETY WARNING
The Gerber P2C 1200 uses razor-sharp knives. The knife blades may
cause serious personal injury if handled without proper care. Exercise
caution when operating the Gerber P2C 1200 and when installing,
removing or handling the knife!
!!!! To install a knife:
Insert the conical, non-cutting end of the knife completely into the opening
in the narrow end of the holder, as shown in Figure 1-9. Then, slowly turn
the knurled adjustment knob clockwise until the tip of the blade is even
with the narrow end of the holder.
adjustment
knob
FIGURE 1-9
BLADE INSERTION
Extend the tip of the blade beyond the end of the holder according to the
exact depth needed to cut the selected vinyl, as shown in Figure 1-10.
The blade should extend beyond the end of the holder only as far as is
needed to completely cut through the film and adhesive layers. To
prevent damage to the blade and cutting strip, the blade must not
penetrate the polyester liner (“backing”) material.
General Information 26
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