Homebrew PCBs

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 22:15:14 +0100, Lez <lez.briddon@...> wrote:

> Well I have won a new plotter on ebay, its a HP7475A, I have seen
> conversions on the web which just consist of cutting a slot in the
> plastic so a taller etch resist pen can be put into the pen carosel.
> Hopefully this will allow me to make quick and dirty lo-res pcb's for
> small circuits that just use to92 transistors 0.1''inch chips in DIP
> package etc.
> Hopefully printer drivers etc wont be such an issue, never had a
> plotter working so dont know how I am supposed to send a BMP to it to
> be plotted, do I need some form of conversion software?
> All being well by Thursday it should be with me, maybe the cable it
> somes with will work the calcomp...(which I think is by far the better
> machine by being a true x/y flatbed not a paper shuffler)


That's the very plotter i tried.
You can find the pinout somewhere on the web, i believe HP.
Just remove the plastic flip cover, no need to cut anything.

Software is a PITA since there are no drivers, you need your graphics in a  
vector format, HPGL is used etc..
You can copy them files to the port in a dos box once you have set up the  
parameters right.

Do have fun wasting your time ;-)

ST