How is a plotter connected to a computer

Or if you need technical support for your calculator visit: HP Calculators. This topic has been archived. Information and links in this thread may no longer be available or relevant. If you have a question create a new topic by clicking here and select the appropriate board. All forum topics Previous Topic Next Topic. Just joined. Message 1 of 7. HP Recommended. Thanks Axel P. Tags 3. Tags: Archived. Level Message 2 of 7. You will need to do 2 things.

First you need to assign a ip address to the plotter. You can do this thru the menu on the plotter. You go to the MIO menu and when it says configure card you change no to yes and enter and then go to configure ip and just follow the prompts to enter a manual ip address.

You will want to assign one that is compatible with your laptop. I assume the laptop attaches uses wireless to your network or internet. To attach the plotter to the wired port on the laptop you will need to obtain what is called a crossover cable.

Once connected to the computer you assign an address to the plotter of lets say You now go to add printer on the computer and choose local printer and uncheck autodetect and go to next and choose create port, standard ip, then next and follow the prompts to enter the ip address you gave the plotter or in my example Hope this helps. Tags 1. Flatbed plotters use a system where the paper is fixed, and the plotter moves a pen up and down, and left and right to draw the required marks on the paper.

Drum plotters move the pen up and down, and the paper left and right by rotating the drum. This enables drum plotters to have a footprint smaller than the final paper size. Plotters can use more than one pen, allowing different colors to be drawn. Plotters work in conjunction with CAD software on the computer, to output line drawings for plans, blueprints and other technical drawings.

Due to the mechanical actions involved in moving the pen, compared to other types of printers such as ink jet and laser printers, early plotters were slow to produce their output. Only a small number of pen plotters are still in use commercially, with many refurbished models available at low prices in online auctions.

Another type of plotter is the cutting plotter, which replaces the pen with a sharp blade. This allows the plotter to cut vinyl and other thin materials to produce graphics for signs, vehicles and advertising. Smaller cutting plotters that can fit on a desktop are available for the home market, for crafts and other hobbyist applications. You can use plotters in two ways: as a standalone gadget with its internal processor or as an external output device that you can connect to your computer.

Once it's set up and there is something that needs to be printed, a set of commands from the host computer is sent to the plotter and the pens and carriage begin to move according to those commands.

Based on what needs to be printed, the pens and carriage operate in unison. For instance, when it comes to printing something that involves more than a single color, hundreds of pens that carry wide ranges and combinations of color are instructed to work in sync on the selected media.

In flat-bed plotters, the paper is meant to remain stagnant and still as the pen moves from one point on the page to another, along with the carriage. For drum plotters, the paper is positioned over a cylindrical drum and the pen slides over the page as the cylinder rotates.