PixelPusher

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Everything posted by PixelPusher

  1. PixelPusher

    Copam CP-2500

    I get this too, apparently this is quite common after reading these copam threads but there is no solution I have come across yet. I am using SignGo Pro FD 1.20 with dongle. I only have this problem with this software. I couldn't get the Copam CP-2500 driver to work no matter what I tried. The Generic HPGL driver would work and cut the design but then it does exactly what you're saying, never finishes cutting or powering down. The screen says "cutting" and all buttons are unresponsive. The only way to kill this is to hard power off the cutter. After extensive digging and learning HPGL (the language that the cutters speak) it became apparent that the commands tab of this program has an END input field of PU;IN; When I remove the IN; (which stands for initialize and the semi-colon is a line terminator after a command. PU stands for PEN UP) it would cut but then hang as described above. If I had the IN; command appended after the PU; command it wouldn't work at all but simply power up like it was going to cut but then essentially froze and nothing actually happened. Again freezing the control buttons on the cutter's panel. So it would seem to me that the HPGL commands that some software manufacturers are using, do not seem to work properly with the Copam CP2500 under USB connection. I'm not exactly sure if it's a WIndows 7 thing or if it affects XP or 8.1 or 10 or even 32bit vs 64bit. Anyhow, it's either a FTDI Virtual Com port driver problem or a problem with the cutting software itself. I am leaning towards the cutting software itself because I have successfully cut COMPLETELY using Sign Cut 1.96, SignBlazer Elements 7 (which is the UK patched version, really version 6), FlexiSign 8.6 and Sure Cuts A Lot Pro 4.036. So ya, long story short, I too feel your pain on this. I know this thread is old but there is definitely a problem with the Copam CP2500 and something on WIndows 7 64bit.
  2. PixelPusher

    COPAM DRIVER "THE REAL THING"

    Oh, I just tried this on Windows 7 64bit and it doesn't work. If pops up an error: The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device. If the folder contains a driver, make sure it is designed to work with WIndows for x64-based systems. So ya, no luck for us Windows 7 64 bit folks at least using that driver. If anyone can tell me where they found that 32 bit driver on XP I would be interested in finding out because by now (this many years later) there may be something for WIndows 7. XP has been deprecated as we all now now a days...
  3. Agreed, we need more feedback on how you managed to do this. I'm in the same boat unfortunately but I'm using SignGo Pro FD 1.20 with dongle. I have managed to make my copam 2500 actually work but it freezes up and never finishes. It's a long story and here is my thread on SignGo's website in case anyone is following this. http://www.signgo.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1452052124 Anyhow, I managed to make it cut by removing an extra IN; (initialize) command from signGo's commands tab for the Copam CP2500 driver but now I can't get it to finish or power down after. I had to learn how to speak HPGL (Hewlett Packard Graphics Language) which is what the cutters speak to move the knife or pen around. Still working on it but hey, Signcut for me works fine. Signblazer works fine. Sure Cuts A Lot Pro works fine. My two different USB cables both work too...so it's something to do with the commands the software is sending the copam over USB. Oh, fyi, I'm running Windows 7 64bit too.
  4. PixelPusher

    COPAM DRIVER "THE REAL THING"

    I have that installed too now. It looks very Windows XP like with the interface and colorscheme but it definitely has some serious "chops" in the end. For the price it is a steal. I did some research on this software and the wide following it has in these forums. I'm sorry to hear the original developer (Jerry Bonham) passed away and that it is essentially abandonware now. Too bad the original source code couldn't be donated to the open source community or a kickstarter fund started to purchase the rights and then open source it. It's interesting how people have hacked the serial number sequence in Ollydbg. I learned something new...It's also interesting to see how others have already patched it too. Makes me wonder how USCutters managed to rebrand their own version. Perhaps Jerry helped customize it for USCutters before he passed away? Who knows... Anyhow I'm rambling. I'm still trying to get my copam cp2500 to play nicely with SignGo Pro FD 1.20. I can make it cut but it never finishes and the screen says "cutting" but it's essentially frozen and accepts no input from the buttons. It requires a hard reboot by flipping the power switch and remeasuring the media. That's another thread I will reply to though...sigh! Anyhow thanks MzSkeeter for your reply.
  5. Though this is an old thread, I decided to add a third pinch roller to my Copam CP-2500. I bought the pinch roller from China and just received it today. Installing it was an incredibly easy process to do that takes literally 5 minutes. But don't do what I did and take all the covers off or else you'll be in for an hour waste of your life and a very frustrating time putting it all back together again. You need to simply remove three screws from the back of the cutter area and a small little black cover/door. SEE PHOTOS. Then you need to remove one of the old pinch rollers from the track WITH the small circular magnet still in it so you can then put on the new roller WITHOUT it's small circular magnet on it so the carriage sensor eye doesn't read the extra pinch roller when making measurements of the media (use a small screwdriver to force it out of the roller's magnet holder slot). Keep the magnet for future in a little Ziplock bag properly labeled in a safe place. When putting on the rollers, the trick is to align things carefully in the little area where the little black cover was. You have to line up the little white wheels in the track. It may take some finessing as well as toggling the pinch roller handle in an upright and down position. But it WILL work. Make sure that the outer two pinch rollers have the little circular magnets on them. The inner pinch roller will not have the magnet on it. Put the little black cover back in place and reattach the three screws in the proper slots. Done...
  6. PixelPusher

    Pen holder for Copam 2500

    I have the ballpoint pen holder but I didn't really like it. I suppose the intent was to be able to change the refill out from the pen. You can do this by unscrewing the tip of the pen holder and putting in a new ink with pentip refill. I have always wished you could use sometype of felt pen instead of ink - like Sharpie markers and I ended up going on eBay and finding a seller who 3D printed a custom design that enables one to use Sharpie markers with the Copam carriage and knife holder. I can't remember how much it cost me exactly now but it was like $10 CAD shipped for the two adapters (the yellow one has a smaller diameter circle than the black one which has a larger diameter circle). The Sharpie is held in there by friction (and is quite tight). It works very well but you have to take into account the Sharpie drawn design is created an inch or so to the left of the starting origin point on the plotter. This is important because it will draw all over your plotter if it reaches the outside of the printable area and you didn't deduct the additional measured length of the Jiffy adapter. A bit of trial and error was required to get it to work but it did work. I ended up drawing out a large multi-tiled (since we're limited in the printable area a 24" plotter can deal with) goalie image that my neighbour used as a template to cut out of wood so his kid could shoot pucks at it for practice. I have attached an image of these adapters. It may be useful to someone if they wish to 3D print their own. I could take measurements if anyone wants. I don't see why you can't use wood block too (and dowling for the holder piece). I might just do that in future if these should ever break or get lost. I might just whip up a CorelDraw file (CDR) to add to this thread someday or create a new one...
  7. PixelPusher

    COPAM DRIVER "THE REAL THING"

    I realize this is a very old thread, but I'm new to my Copam CP-2500 (though I have lots of experience with other plotters and software) but does this work in Windows 7 Home Premium as well as what version of CorelDraw does this work with (any limitations)? I'm using X7 on a Windows 7 64bit machine. I do have SignGo Pro 1.20 (with dongle) as backup but am curious to cut directly from CorelDraw X7. I will also be trying this via USB connection. I haven't messed around with this yet but I intend on doing it over the Christmas holidays coming up. We'll see what happens... If I can get this to work then I will be able to sell my SignGo Pro which would be nice... Thanks!