#PenPlotter maintenance today. My HP 7585B stopped responding over RS-232. Diagnostics revealed a problem with the interface card. Luckily I have a spare machine that can donate a new working card!
And it works! Here’s a video of the HP 7585B #PenPlotter plotting a big arc Truchet tile design using three colors (yellow, cyan, and magenta) on 11x15 watercolor. Total time 1h15m.
Video montage of a HP 7585 #PenPlotter plotting a design of large concentric arcs broken up by squares in cyan, yellow, and magenta. It performs tool changes to swap pens automatically.
@paulrickards Wow... I was already impressed with the art... But when I read about that plotter... Blown away.... This model cost more than many new cars at the time... How long have you had these?
@tonymasiello Thanks! It's a beast of a machine. Extremely heavy, cast and extruded metal case and stand. First one I got in 2018 which I had to repair it (link to blog below). It developed a more serious issue that I haven't puzzled out yet so it's a parts machine for the moment. The second one I got a few years later.
@vga256 Yeah it howls! It's a single large fan. I've already had to replace the one in my EXL. I just got the exact replacement. Can it be replaced any any kind of fan? The plotter controls the speed.
@paulrickards oh interesting - i've never opened mine up before to see what was in there. i had noticed the fans slowed down during idle, so there must be some kind of controller handling the voltage. i'll have to take a look at the service manual and see what kinds of voltages it expects
@paulrickards That's astonishing engineering. Perhaps par for the course for plotters, alas I never got to use one, but the precision needed to return the paper to the exact location multiple times without drift. Brilliant.
@tehstu It is remarkable that it works so well, especially considering it will change pens automatically and continue with the same prevision. It can also draw much faster than is shown here as well (I slowed it down to get good sharp lines).
@paulrickards it was so satisfying watching it draw!
I was reminded of these Create-A-Card kiosks in some stores in the 90s that let you build your own greeting card, and then a plotter printer would draw the card at the end for you.
@harpaa01 It’s very mesmerizing to watch while it works. I’ve heard of those card kiosks but never seen one in person. Sounds like a good deal- you get a card plus entertainment! 😊
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