Vinyl Express Qe60 User manual

Vinyl Express Qe60
USER’S MANUAL
MANUAL NO. VEXQe06-UM-151
CUTTING PLOTTER
Signwarehouse.com

i
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Checking the Accessories ..............................................................................................1-2
1.2 Parts Names and Functions ...........................................................................................1-3
Front View .........................................................................................................................1-3
Rear View..........................................................................................................................1-3
Control Panel.....................................................................................................................1-4
1.3 Assembling the Stand .....................................................................................................1-5
Stand Construction............................................................................................................1-5
Stand Assembly Instructions.............................................................................................1-5
1.4 Attaching the Basket .......................................................................................................1-7
Basket Construction ..........................................................................................................1-7
Basket Attachment Instructions.........................................................................................1-7
2. SETTING UP THE CUTTER PLOTTER
2.1 Connecting to Your Computer .......................................................................................2-2
2.2 Turning on the Power ......................................................................................................2-3
2.3 Loading the Medium ........................................................................................................2-4
Loading a Roll Medium......................................................................................................2-4
Loading Sheet Media.........................................................................................................2-7
Aligning the Push Rollers ..................................................................................................2-8
2.4 Adjusting and Mounting the Cutter Pen ......................................................................2-10
Types and Features of Cutter Blades..............................................................................2-10
Cutter-Pen Construction..................................................................................................2-11
Replacing the Cutter Blade..............................................................................................2-11
Adjusting the Blade Length..............................................................................................2-12
Mounting the Cutter Pen..................................................................................................2-12
3. BASIC SETTINGS AND OPERATIONS
3.1 Setting the Format of Data to be Received ...................................................................3-2
Setting the Command Mode..............................................................................................3-2
Setting the STEP SIZE......................................................................................................3-3
Setting the ORIGIN POINT................................................................................................3-3
3.2 Setting the Interface Conditions ....................................................................................3-4
3.3 Setting the Cutter-Pen Conditions .................................................................................3-5
Selecting Cutter-Pen-Condition Setting Areas ..................................................................3-6
Storing Cutter-Pen-Condition Setting Areas......................................................................3-6
Setting TOOL (cutter blade or pen)...................................................................................3-7
Setting OFFSET................................................................................................................3-7
Setting FORCE..................................................................................................................3-8
Setting SPEED..................................................................................................................3-8
Setting QUALITY...............................................................................................................3-9
3.4 Displaying the Effective Cutting Area ...........................................................................3-9
3.5 Moving the Pen ................................................................................................................3-9
3.6 Setting the Initial Cutting Position ...............................................................................3-10
3.7 Stop Function ................................................................................................................3-11
3.8 Moving the Pen Carriage in +100 mm Steps ...............................................................3-12
3.9 Test Cutting ....................................................................................................................3-12

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4. FUNCTION SETTINGS AND OPERATIONS
4.1 PAUSE Menu List ............................................................................................................4-2
4.2 Reading the Auto Registration Marks (Option) ............................................................4-3
4.3 Setting the FEED function ..............................................................................................4-4
4.4 Setting AUTO PRE-FEED ................................................................................................4-5
4.5 Setting TANGENTIAL Mode ............................................................................................4-6
4.6 Auto-Registration-Mark-Reading Settings (Option) .....................................................4-8
Setting the Registration-Mark Mode................................................................................4-10
4.7 Clearing the Buffer Memory .........................................................................................4-21
4.8 Aligning the Coordinate Axes ......................................................................................4-22
4.9 Distance Adjustment .....................................................................................................4-24
4.10 Setting the PAGE LENGTH ...........................................................................................4-26
4.11 Setting the Cutting/Plotting Area .................................................................................4-27
4.12 Expanding the Cutting/Plotting Area ...........................................................................4-28
4.13 Rotating the Coordinate Axes ......................................................................................4-29
4.14 Mirroring .........................................................................................................................4-30
4.15 Cutting/Plotting Using the Buffer Memory ..................................................................4-31
4.16 Sorting Settings .............................................................................................................4-33
4.17 Interface Settings ..........................................................................................................4-34
4.18 Setting the Format of Data to be Received .................................................................4-35
Setting the Command Mode............................................................................................4-35
Setting the STEP SIZE....................................................................................................4-36
Setting the ORIGIN POINT..............................................................................................4-36
4.19 Blade Wear Detection ....................................................................................................4-37
Checking the Wear Rate .................................................................................................4-37
Setting Wear-Rate Groups..............................................................................................4-38
Setting Wear-Rate Factors..............................................................................................4-39
Clearing the Total Distance (Wear Rate).........................................................................4-39
4.20 Raising and Lowering the Pen .....................................................................................4-41
4.21 TEST Mode .....................................................................................................................4-42
Condition-List Printing .....................................................................................................4-42
Dump Mode.....................................................................................................................4-43
Cutting Force Test Cutting...............................................................................................4-44
4.22 Setting the PEN UP SPEED ..........................................................................................4-46
4.23 Setting the OFFSET FORCE .........................................................................................4-47
4.24 Setting the OFFSET ANGLE .........................................................................................4-48
4.25 Setting the STEP PASS .................................................................................................4-49
4.26 Setting the Initial Down Force ......................................................................................4-50
4.27 Setting the LENGTH UNIT .............................................................................................4-51
5. Setting and Using the Special Functions
5.1 Description of Special Functions A ...............................................................................5-2
Enabling/Disabling the “:” and “;” Commands (when the COMMAND setting is GP-GL)..5-2
Moving the Pen While Raised or Lowered in Response to the “W” Command (when the
COMMAND setting is GP-GL)...........................................................................................5-2
Model ID Response (when the COMMAND setting is HP-GL)..........................................5-2
SETTING PRIORITY.........................................................................................................5-2
Blade-Tip Initial Position Setting........................................................................................5-2
Enabling/Disabling PEN UP MOVE...................................................................................5-3
Enabling/Disabling the Media Sensors..............................................................................5-3

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Enabling/Disabling the Home Sensors..............................................................................5-3
Setting the PARALLEL I/F Mode.......................................................................................5-3
Circle-Command Resolution Setting (when the COMMAND setting is HP-GL)................5-3
Enabling/Disabling Blade Wear Detection.........................................................................5-3
5.2 Setting Special Functions A ...........................................................................................5-4
5.3 Description of Special Functions B ...............................................................................5-4
Display Language Setting (MENU LANGUAGE SELECTION).........................................5-4
5.4 Setting Special Functions B ...........................................................................................5-5
6. TROUBLESHOOTING
6.1 The Cutting Plotter Does Not Operate When Turned On .............................................6-2
6.2 The Cutting Plotter Does Not Operate Correctly ..........................................................6-2
6.3 The Cutting Results Are Unsatisfactory ........................................................................6-3
6.4 An Error Message Was Displayed .................................................................................6-4
APPENDIX
Appendix A Main Specifications .........................................................................................................A-2
Appendix B Options and Supplies ......................................................................................................A-3
Appendix C External Dimensions .......................................................................................................A-4
Appendix D Menu Tree .........................................................................................................................A-5
INDEX

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1
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Checking the Accessories
......................................................1-2
1.2 Parts Names and Functions
...................................................1-3
1.3 Assembling the Stand
...............................................................1-5
1.4 Attaching the Basket .................................................................1-7

1 – 2
1.1 Checking the Accessories
Check to confirm that all of the standard accessories listed below are present. If any item is missing,
please contact your sales representative or nearest Signwarehouse vendor promptly.
AC power cord Quick Start Manual, Usage Precautions
User Guide CD-ROM
Stand
Cutter blade (CB09UA)
Water-based fiber-tip pen
1 1 each
1
1
1
1
Cutter plunger
1USB cable
1

1 – 3
1.2 Parts Names and Functions
■ FrontView
Cutting mat : Cutting or plotting is performed on this mat.
Grit roller : Feeds the medium backward or forward
Push rollers : Pushes the medium against the grit rollers
Pen carriage : Moves the cutter pen to the left and right
Pen holder : Holds the cutter pen and moves it up and down
Media set lever : Raises or lowers the push rollers during loading of a medium
Control panel : Used to operate the cutting plotter and set functions
Parallel (Centronics) interface connector : Used to connect a Centronics-compatible parallel interface cable
USB interface connector : Used to connect a USB cable
Serial (RS-232C) interface connector : Used to connect an RS-232C serial interface cable
■ RearView
AC power inlet : Connects the power cord to the cutting plotter
Power switch : Turns the power supply to the cutting plotter on or off
Cutting mat Grit roller Pen carriage
Push rollers
Media set leverPen holder
USB interface
connector
Serial (RS-232C)
interface connector
Control panel
Parallel (Centronics)
interface connector
AC power inlet
Power switch

1 – 4
■ Control Panel
STATUS: Illuminates while the power to the cut-
ting plotter is turned on, and goes out
when the cutting plotter is in PAUSE
status. This lamp flashes when data is
being received from an interface,
regardless of whether or not the cutting
plotter is in PAUSE status.
TEST: Press this function key to conduct a cut-
ting test and check the cutting condi-
tions.
PREV.: Press this function key to view the previ-
ous display on the LCD when in PAUSE
status.
NEXT: Press this function key to view the next
display on the LCD when in PAUSE sta-
tus.
COND.: Press this function key to view the cut-
ter-pen condition settings.
PAUSE: Press this function key once in READY
status to switch to PAUSE status in
order to change the various settings.
Press it again to cancel the PAUSE sta-
tus. Pressing this key while cutting or
plotting is in progress stops the cutting
or plotting.
ENTER: Pressing this function key registers the
cutting or plotting conditions set.
POSITION:
These keys are used to move the cursor
or change the settings on the LCD dis-
play on the function setting screens.
Press these keys when in PAUSE status
to move the pen carriage or the
medium.
ORIGIN: Press this function key to set the origin
point.The pen position is set as the ori-
gin point when this key is pressed.
Indicator Lamp
Panel Keys

1 – 5
1.3 Assembling the Stand
■Stand Construction
The stand is made up of the following parts.
■Stand Assembly Instructions
Fasten the stand feet (L/R) to the stand side bars (L/R) with the hexagonal socket bolts (M5), using the
Allen wrench.
Fasten the stand tops (L/R) to the stand side bars (L/R) with the hexagonal socket bolts (M5), using the
Allen wrench.
Step 1
Step 2
Stand feet (L/R)
Hexagonal socket bolt
(M5) x 12 Coin screw x 4 Allen wrench (M5)
Center barStand side bars (L/R)
Hexagonal
socket bolt (M5)
Stand side bar
Stand foot
Front
* There are three
bolt holes, but
the center one
is not used.
Hexagonal
socket bolt (M5)
Stand side bar
Stand top

1 – 6
Loosely fasten the stand side bars (L/R) to the center bar with the hexagonal socket bolts (M5), using the
Allen wrench.
Mount the Vinyl Express cutting plotter on the stand by inserting the positioning pins on the stand into the
positioning holes on the underside of the cutting plotter. Fasten using the four coin screws.
Tighten the hexagonal socket bolts loosely fastened in step 3.
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Hexagonal
socket bolt (M5)
Center bar
Stand side bar
Coin screws
Stand
cutting plotter
Positioning pins

1 – 7
1.4 Attaching the Basket (Optional)
■Basket Construction
The basket is made up of the following parts.
■Basket Attachment Instructions
Detach the four coin screws or hexagonal socket bolts (M6), and separate the cutting plotter from the stand
(see “1.3 Assembling the Stand”).
Attach the sheet support pipe to the stand tops, and fasten using the hexagonal socket bolts.
At least two people are required for assembly of the basket.
Step 1
Step 2
Sheet support pipe Sheet Hexagonal socket bolts (M6) x 4
CHECKPOINT
Sheet support pipe
Stand top
Hexagonal socket bolts (M6)

1 – 8
Mount the Vinyl Express cutting plotter on the stand by inserting the positioning pins on the stand into the
positioning holes on the underside of the cutting plotter. Fasten using the four coin screws or hexagonal
socket bolts (M6).
Pull out the sheet support pipe and attach the sheet. Divide the sheet over the center bar, and then fasten
the sheet to the sheet support pipe using the press-studs.
Step 3
Step 4
Coin screws
Stand
cutting plotter
Positioning pins
Sheet
Press-studs
Sheet support pipe
Divide over
the center bar

2
2
SETTING UPTHE CUTTER PLOTTER
2.1 Connecting toYour Computer................................................2-2
2.2 Turning on the Power................................................................2-3
2.3 Loading the Medium..................................................................2-4
2.4 Adjusting and Mounting the Cutter Pen...........................2-10

2 – 2
2.1 Connecting toYour Computer
The cutting plotter can be connected to a computer via the parallel (Centronics-compatible) port, serial
(RS-232C) port, or USB port. Select which port to use according to the requirements of your application
software and/or which of your computer’s interface ports are available for use.
Use a Centronics-compatible parallel cable, serial cable, or USB cable in accordance with the connection
method chosen. Obtain a Signwarehouse approved interface cable that is compatible with the interface
ports (the interface cables are available separately).
Check to confirm that the Power switch is turned off (the“O” side is down).
Connect the cable between the cutting plotter and the computer. Make sure the connectors at the cutting
plotter and computer ends are correctly oriented.
Step 1
Step 2

2 – 3
2.2 Turning on the Power
Connect the cutting plotter to the AC electrical socket using the power cord provided, and turn on the
power.
Check to confirm that the Power switch is turned off (the“O” side is down).
Connect the cutting-plotter AC power inlet to a correctly rated electrical socket using the power cord pro-
vided.
Turn on the cutting plotter by pressing the “|” side of the Power switch.The STATUS lamp on the control
panel will light up.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3

2 – 4
If no medium has been loaded, the message below appears on the display, prompting the loading of a
medium.
If a medium has already been loaded, the current media setting is displayed as shown below.
Select the media mode to suit the medium used.For instructions on loading media and selecting the media
mode, see “2.3 Loading the Medium.”
2.3 Loading the Medium
Load the medium, aligning it with the right-hand grit roller when viewed from the front so that it registers
with the media sensor.Then, adjust the push-roller position to match the width of the medium.The cutting
plotter can use media in roll or sheet form. Load the desired medium type by following the appropriate
instructions.
■Loading a Roll Medium
Load the roll medium onto the stand stock rollers.
Fit the stoppers to one of the stock rollers (loosen the screws on the stoppers first).
Position the stock roller with the stoppers towards the front, and place the other stock roller toward the rear
to suit the roll-medium size.
Step 4
Placing on the Stand
Step 1
Step 2
LOAD MEDIA!!
ROLL2 PRESS ENTR
Stoppers
Stock roller

2 – 5
Place the roll medium on the stock rollers, and clamp it between the stoppers. Once the position is fixed,
tighten the screws on the stoppers.
Lower the media set lever to raise the push rollers.
Place the roll medium on the stand stock rollers, and then pass the leading edge of the medium from the
back of the cutting plotter so it emerges from the front, while making sure to remove any slack in the
medium conveyance path.
Step 3
Loading the Roll Medium
Step 1
Step 2

2 – 6
Pull the leading edge out of the front of the cutting plotter so that it completely covers the media sensor. If
the leading edge has been pulled out too far, turn the roll to adjust the length of the medium that is protrud-
ing.
Adjust the position of the left- and right-hand push rollers to suit the width of the roll medium.
After ensuring that there is no slack in the medium’s conveyance path, raise the media set lever to lower
the push rollers and provide slack in the medium for a length corresponding to the length of the medium to
be used.
Raising the media set lever displays a menu for selection of the media mode. Select the media mode.
Step 3
Load the medium so that it passes over the media sensor.
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
If the “REALIGN ROLLERS” message is displayed when the medium is loaded
and the media set lever is raised, either the right-hand push roller is not positioned
over the right-hand wide grit roller or the left-hand push roller is not positioned over
the grit roller. Check to confirm that they are positioned correctly.
Media sensor
CHECKPOINT
Raise media set lever to
clamp medium
Provide slack
ROLL2 PRESS ENTR
CHECKPOINT