Calcomp Design Jet Printer on AIX

[drmyers208]

Can anyone help me setup a Calcomp Design Jet GT/PS 5336 printer on AIX 4.3.3? I have not found any useful infomation or drivers regarding this hardware so any input would be appreciated.

 

[victorv]

Hi,

I have found only information about
"Plotter - Calcomp 5336 GT PostScript( E-size)"

are you sure you device is named:
"Calcomp Design Jet GT/PS 5336 "

could I ask you some additoina info ?

1) Plotter/printer type : thermal, laser, pen, ink-jet, ...
2) How is it connected to RISC ? ( Serial,Parallel,LAN )
3) if you use a CAD, which is it ? (Catia,PRO-E,ccd,GBG,...)

bye

 

[drmyers208]

victorv,

Your description sounds close enough for me. As for your other questions:

1) the plotter is an inkjet model
2) communication is parallel port
3) I will be plotting primarily from CATIA V4

 

[victorv]

hi,
you are lucky : I suspected all of them, but I was not sure.
I am CATIA specialist .

I belive you don't need any driver.
In CATIA plotting (V4 on Unix), the OS don't partecipate
with driver as in Windows: is the application (Catia in
this case) that builds the final file :
HPGL/2, HPGL, Postscript, Calcomp, and few others.
The OS is "tasked" to transfer it on the device.

What follows previews that your plotter uses Calcomp
language: if it uses HPGL or PS, something is different.

Use smit to add a printer on parallel port, and
when AIX ask you model/type, enter "Other printer/plotter"
(I don't remeber exactly the item but sounds as Generic)

Put the name of the queue in tha Ascii field; or create
3 queues (when you'll find the right, delete the 2 wrong)

eg choose the names :

Ascii : calca
GL : calcg
PS : calcp

well: that's all at AIX level.

The rest of configuration have be done by Catia administration.

If you need some catia-plot-cofiguration-file, or
suggestion about how to add a catia-plotter,
send me your e-mail.

bye

 

[drmyers208]

victorv,

Thanks for the info. To shed a little more light on my situation I am the CAD Administrator here at my company. I maintain the hardware as well as the software (AIX, CATIA, UG and I-DEAS). I had the Calcomp printer working somewhat from CATIA by copying the plotcfg from our HP1055CM. What I am trying to do is:

1) configure this plotter correctly for CATIA
2) configure this plotter for generic AIX use
3) make this plotter availible to the Windows network
via Samba (already installed and working)

I have the plotter connected to the paralell port on my 44P-170 and I am able to do simple plots from CATIA. However I know this not an optimum installation so I was searching for more detailed information on the correct setup in AIX. Thanks a bunch for your help - I do appreciate it.

My email address is: dmyers@meaa.mea.com

 

[victorv]

Hi,
to use a printer from Windows applications,
you need install specific (or almost compatible)
Windows driver in each client.

Then you can use Samba-link using "Add printer" \ Network
and browse Calcomp queue under Netbios-Risc-Name.

You can also not use Samba, but LPR-LPD:

see : faq52-3563

Divide problems:

1) Right Windows Driver
2) Linking Windows - to AIX

using one of the following strategy:

a) Connect, temporary, plotter at a PC parallel port
b) at windows box use, the right driver, but send the spool
in a file (using the user interface option "print to file"
if available with the driver, or create a port in the
server menu in Printer folder;
Then FTP it (binary mode) to AIX, then print on local
queue.

When the draw comes out well, you can approach problem 2

bye