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From: patch@nscpdc.UUCP (Pat Chewning)
Newsgroups: net.graphics
Subject: Re: Re: Seen any nice small plotters lately?
Message-ID: <600@nscpdc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Sep-86 18:09:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: nscpdc.600
Posted: Tue Sep  9 18:09:31 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Sep-86 21:56:05 EDT
References: <289@sdchema.sdchem.UUCP> <3127@teddy.UUCP>
Organization: NSC Portland Development Center, Portland Oregon
Lines: 31

> In article <289@sdchema.sdchem.UUCP> sd@sdchem.UUCP (Steve Dempsey) writes:
> >We are in the market for a new small plotter.  Our requirements are:
		----- He describes a plotter

> In article <3127@teddy.UUCP>:
> The clear winner is HP. 
	... ... ...
> By the way, the worst line of plotters I encountered was that from Calcomp.

I can second his comments.  Be particularly wary of Calcomp's "HPGL"
emulation package.  It does NOT fully emulate an HP plotter.  For instance,
on our CAD system if we send text to the HP plotter, the zero "0" is plotted
as a circle with a line through it.  On the Calcomp with HPGL emulation the
zero "0" is plotted as a circle followed by the line:  "O/"

Needless to say, this creates unreadable dimensions on a CAD drawing.

Besides this software emulation problem, we have had numerous mechanical 
problems with pen alignment, etc.  We have found it impossible to plot on
mylar with the Calcomp.  The worst problem is related to the pen alignment
bracket.  This appears to be about a $1.50 part that the pen passes through
on its way to the paper.  The inside diameter of the hole that the pen
passes through is approx .157" , the pens are .156" .  There is no easy way
to adjust the location of the alignment bracket within .001" concentricity
with the pen holder.  The result is that oftentimes the pen never even
touches the paper as it gets stuck in the alignment bracket.  

Final evaluation:  Time wasted on Calcomp problems is more expensive than
			extra cost of HP plotter.

pen