Mega FP?8000 XL Instruction Manual - page 5
3.4 Run photoplotter
Before you start plotting, make sure that drum is in its initial position (white arrow on the left side of the
drum should be aligned with white arrow on the top of the left holder of the drum). After you prepared your
data for plotting on connected PC using photoplotter software, start plotting ‐see further info. The
photoplotter drum starts slowly to rotate. After drum reaches its working speed, it rotates a while before
actual plotting starts. At this moment red (or yellow) LED labelled Laser starts to light as an indicator that
plotting is in progress. When photo‐plotting is finished or interrupted by STOP command, drum automatically
stops, laser head moves back to its outgoing position and LED labelled Laser stops light. Time needed for
photo‐plotting of given image is displayed on computer in dialog window of control software.
Do not start plotting again before the laser light head reaches completely its initial position (the left side of
the screw)!
Note
: Because various films used for photo‐plotting are differently sensitive to light, it is possible to adjust
intensity of laser light as needed in photoplotter software, also in respect to selected resolution. This setting
may also be needed to adjust time after time to reflect the status of chemicals used for film wet processing.
Open the lid (dark green light!!!) and remove film. Process film immediately.
Note: After removing film from drum surface, it may be necessary to clean the drum surface to remove sticky
areas caused by sticky tape. Use soft cloth and common liquid cleaner. Do not spray. Drum surface under
film must be kept clean and dry.
ATTENTION! During photo‐plotting is film (drum) lighted by laser light that is harmful to human eye. Do not
open photoplotter lid during photo‐plotting, nor during testing without film.
4. PHOTOPLOTTER SOFTWARE
4.1 Brief Description
Photoplotter software comes on one CD together with ViewMate program for viewing Gerber files and with
a brief manual in PDF format. It must be installed on PC under with Windows 98 or higher.
CD contains 5 directories – Install, Manual, Update, Util, Viewmate
Install directory contains photoplotter control software. This program can be installed on computer by
executing its own installation program SETUP.EXE. Installation creates a new directory (default FP‐8000
under Program Files) with two programs (Gerb2bitmap and Run_Photo_USB.
Gerb2bitmap.exe reads in Gerber files. It allows to view Gerber data as they appear on the film, edit D‐codes,
do film penalization, and converts Gerber file into photoplotter bitmap file (.FPF), which can be read into
plotter control program (Run_photo_USB) to be used for photo‐plotting. It can also convert various formats
of aperture files into Lavenir‘s format, which is used by this plotter.
Run_photo_USB.exe controls photo‐plotting. Reads in bitmap files like photoplotter FPF, regular BMP and
controls plotting process. It allows to set output resolution as well as to calibrate photoplotter in X and Y
coordinates.
Latest photoplotter software is located in Update directory. Please, copy the files into photoplotter directory
(default FP‐8000 under Program Files).
Manual directory contains this manual and Adobe Acrobat Reader program.
Util directory contains program MM2INCH.EXE (mm to mils converter).