wireless networking

[melissab 0]

I have a wireless network and currently have my cutter connected via usb to the pc that I use for design.  I would like to put the cutter a little further away from the pc--I use a usb wireless adapter for my older pc and was wondering if I could make the cutter wireless like my printers and the rest of my computers.  Anyone know if I should try the same type as the pc adapter or a printer wireless adapter?  Thanks!

[darkdan 3]

You can try a wireless print server, but I think you'd have much better luck with purchasing a cheap old used computer and set it up specifically for cutting.  Do your design on your nice computer and then just grab the file off the network.

[melissab 0]

Thanks.  I'm so spoiled having all my printers and pc's wireless--was hoping to move the cutter to the other side of the room.  Don't need another computer--have 6 already.  I'm sure it will be available at some time. 

[darkdan 3]

Which cutter do you have?  They claim the copam will do it:

http://www.uscutter.com/Copam-24quot-48quot-or-54quot-Vinyl-Cutter--Professional-model-w-2-year-Warranty_p_28.html

Cutters aren't very tolerant of I/O errors, so I'm willing to bet wireless could be a headache.  It's worth a shot.

[Benr98 40]

Hmmm..I didn't know it would work on the Copam....but I don't think I'll try it.

But it was an interesting read.

[BannerJohn 1,324]

There have been several posts about this and some suggestions...but yet to hear from anyone who made it work. Just before he died, I talked to jerry Bonham about it. As far as I am concerned, jerry knew more about cutters than anyone I ever knew...and he told me flat out that as of Feb 2008, the technology didn't exist to do this successfully on the sub-$1000 cutters and would not be available for years.

Like DarkDan said...it would be a headache. One dropped signal for a  second and you are out of luck.

[Jay2703 704]

Hook up a computer to it to use as a remote connection. You wouldn't even need a monitor or keyboard. Do a Remote Desktop Connection to that computer and cut from any other computer on your network.

[haumana 1,220]

all you can do is try. give it a go, and let us know what the results are 

[CCGraphics 0]

I bought a 20 foot serial cable from Tigerdirect for $15 to move mine across the room.

[MonkeyMeMe 8]

did the 20 ft serial work?

Has anyone tried a longer usb, ?

Is this a special usb, of some kind? yeah mine is real short .I would love a longer one,, to push the cutter away from the front of my computer lol

[CCGraphics 0]

did the 20 ft serial work?

Has anyone tried a longer usb, ?

Is this a special usb, of some kind? yeah mine is real short .I would love a longer one,, to push the cutter away from the front of my computer lol

The 20 ft serial cable works just fine. I haven't had problems with it.

I had used a 10 ft usb cable for awhile but was getting too many cutting errors with the USB. I switched to a shorter one but still wasn't having any luck. For my cutter the serial cable is the way to go.

[BannerJohn 1,324]

Before I switched to Flexi on my refine and started using a serial cable, I had the refine connected via usb...one regualr usb and one usb extension cable that I picked up at the Dollar Tree for $1. It worked fine like that for almost a year. Occasionally I had to unplug the cable at the cutter and plug it back in again but this was because the connection on the cutter itself wasn't tight. A bit if duct tape fixed that once I figured it out. TOtal of usb,with the cheap extension..11 feet.

[stormy 5]

I use the USB cable that came with the refine, plus a 15ft extension making it 21ft total assuming the other is 6ft. Never had a problem, have used this setup for the last 6 months.

[MonkeyMeMe 8]

thanks guys to the am gonna get a extension too then,, that will make it much better,,