Gerber Edge User manual

COPYRIGHT
COPYRIGHT 1995 Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This
document may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without written
permission of the copyright owner.
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 ADVANTAGE, and Signmaker are registered trademarks of Gerber Scientific
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.

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

1
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
!intricate graphics
!repeats
!enhanced fonts
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:
!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.

Introduction 3
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.
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.

Introduction 5
Removing the vibration dampers.
SETTING UP THE GERBER EDGE
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.