Amiga and HP plotter

[gurth]

Hello any suggestions on what I could use to programmy HP pen plotter with? So far I am using BASIC on 1.3 and the IDE feels like it’s from the 80s

Plotter is on COM1 / RS232.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amiga/comme...plotter_basic/

[torsti76]

Originally Posted by gurth

Hello any suggestions on what I could use to programmy HP pen plotter with? So far I am using BASIC on 1.3 and the IDE feels like it’s from the 80s



Plotter is on COM1 / RS232.



https://www.reddit.com/r/amiga/comme...plotter_basic/

Hmm, I always liked Kickpascal on the Amiga for all "serious" programming. However, I wouldn't know where to get it nowadays...

[redblade]

Is it GCode? If it's a terminal product use NComm?

Maybe you can use AREXX?

If you just have a A500 maybe blitz basic 2.1?

IntroCAD had some CAD plotter support I think also with source to the drivers

[gurth]

It uses a language named HPGL. The commands are like PU (pen up)...

PD100,0,100,100,0,100,0,0; (draw a square)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP-GL

Eventually I’d like to write some generative art in code and output via the Amiga + plotter.

[redblade]

Fred Fish disks contents If you search for HPGL, it has 5 hits and one of the program comes with source.

Hope that is enough to get you started.

[gurth]

IntroCAD and ProVector appear to have support - right that is a start.

Thank you.

[redblade]

I'm also interested in the RepRap scene so keep me updated with your progress with the plotter. Also what Amiga's do you have access too?

Thanks

[gurth]

Update from me.

I have purchased a boxed copy of IntroCAD which has arrived with disks and manual - to add to my Amiga shelf. All installed on my Workbench 1.3 setup (A500 in Checkmate 1500 case + ACA500+ + ACA123n 25Mhz 030 + 128mb).

There is an option to use a plotter driver for a HP 7470a (which is an A4 plotter) and a generic HPGL driver. Both work briefly with my HP7475a before throwing an I/O error...

hmm.

There is an option to output directly to a file. I think that is my best bet at the moment, if I can eyeball the HPGL it is sending then I may be able to spot the duff command. I can also move the file to my Mac and send it to the plotter that was to check if it has the same effect. Also I can try an HPGL image viewer programme I have on the Mac.

My second option is to force the error state via the Amiga then query the plotter from my Amiga with a terminal programme to extract the error code, then look that up. Buffer overflow, handshaking etc?

[gurth]

Example plots from the Amiga that have failed:

IntroCad demo drawing of a Vice (2 different scales)
IntroCAD demo drawing of an Amiga A1000 bottom left.
IntroCAD demo drawing circuit board bottom.

IntroCAD v3.

[gurth]

After a terminal programme for Workbench 1.3?
JRComm seems hell bent on listening for a dial tone / seeking a modem when I want it to skip all of that.

[Matt_H]

I think NComm and Terminus support 1.3.

[redblade]

Hi.

I'm having trouble finding an online copy of the IntroCAD manual. Would it be possible to scan the scripting and AREXX commands please?

Thanks

[gurth]

Yes of course. May have to be photos as I do not have a scanner.

[gurth]

Originally Posted by redblade

Hi.

I'm having trouble finding an online copy of the IntroCAD manual. Would it be possible to scan the scripting and AREXX commands please?

Thanks

PM sent - chapter 10 AREXX

[gurth]

Originally Posted by redblade

Hi.

I'm having trouble finding an online copy of the IntroCAD manual. Would it be possible to scan the scripting and AREXX commands please?

Thanks

IntroCAD - Chapter 9 Script Console sent

[was via send email function from eab not a PM]

[gurth]

I have exported the HPGL output that would be sent to the plotter to a file.

Transferred that file to my Mac an uploaded to an online HPGL viewer - seems to work in a fashion, the image I see kinda resembles what I had on the Amiga at the time.

Struggling to setup Terminus or NComm to function as a pure terminal over RS232 / COM1. Bother appear very "modem" orientated...

I might try sending the same HPGL file to the plotter from my Mac...

[gurth]

Sent the file from Mac to the plotter. With a little persuading by adding additional "ms" delay between characters / commands (using CoolTerm) it plots without an error.



Suggests the HPGL itself is good but an issue between Amiga / IntroCAD and Plotter.

[gurth]

So. Empty IntroCAD drawing, draw a circle. Plot. Works.

Empty IntroCAD drawing, draw 2 circles. Plot. Works.

Empty IntroCAD drawing, draw 3 circles. Plot. Fails.

I am wondering if this is a communication issue, perhaps with my A500 having a 030 accelerator. I have the serial and plotter both set to 9600 baud but I wonder if I'm firing commands a little to quick for the plotter.

I had to add a delay between commands on the Mac previously.

[gurth]

Exactly the same behaviour on Workbench 3.1 / Kickstart 3.1.

[gurth]

Managed it