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Ioline
GLOSSARY
A
Acceleration - The rate that a plotter changes the velocity of the carriage or
the paper. Acceleration is measured in units of g (1 g = 32.2 ft/s
2
). Higher
acceleration can increase throughput but may degrade plot quality.
Arc - A segment of a circle, also called a curve.
Axis - The geometric guidelines used to place a coordinate. Used to deter-
mine pen paths for plotters.
B
Bottom Cover - Metal housing that protects the underside of the plotter.
C
Control Panel - Panel on the right side of the machine where primary plotter
functions are accessible. Also called the Keypad.
Coordinate - A point that is referenced by its position on the X or Y axes of a
plotter. The use of line or arc segments to connect coordinates creates paths
for pens to follow when plotting.
Carriage - The component that holds the pen and frame sensor (model 600Ae
only). It travels along the Y-axis on the traverse.
Chart Tape - Slick white tape located under the pen to cushion and protect
the platen and pen.
Chart Wheel - See pinchwheel.
Chart Wheel Lever - See pinchwheel lever.
D
Dancer Bar - Rod that holds the feed loop and take-up loop taut during
plotting.
DM/PL - Digital Microprocessor/Plotting Language. An instruction set used
to send vector information to a machine that can represent data as a plot. DM/
PL is used in software drivers for some design programs.
Drive Shaft - The motor driven shaft that moves material through a friction
feed plotter. The drive shaft has a rough surface that grips the material.
F
Feed Loop - Slack material between the feed roll and the plotter. The rear
dancer bar holds the feed loop taut during plotting.
Feed Shaft - Metal rod that holds the paper roll parallel to the plotter and
allows it to turn during feeding.
File Name Extensions - In DOS and Windows based programs, the three
letters after the period in a file name. With graphics files the three letters
denote a file type such as the vector and bitmap based Encapsulated Post-
script (EPS) and the vector based Hewlett Packard Graphics Language (PLT).
Flange - A projecting rim around the circumference of a pen that locates it in
the pen holder on the tool carriage.
Font - Refers to the style and width of letters, numbers, and symbols. Ex-
amples are Helvetica Bold or Times Roman.
Force - The downward pressure exerted on a pen tip. The force range avail-
able with the force knob on the keypad is adjustable with the Control Center.
Increasing the pressure can produce a darker line. Too much force can damage
some pens and tear media.
Frame - Segment of a plot established by the design software. Frames can be
any size up to 46” (X axis) by 72” (Y axis). Markers are generally plotted as a
series of frames.
Frame Size - The X axis length of each part of the plot as established by the
design software. Frame size is also called tile size, page size, etc.
Frame Sensor - The electronic eye that reads frame position and adjusts
plotting parameters so that the frames are aligned properly (on the model
600Ae only).
Friction feed - Process where the material is fed through a plotter by placing
it between a motor-driven drive shaft and tensioned pinchwheels.
H
HPGL - Hewlett Packard Graphics Language. Instruction set used to send
vector information to a machine that can represent data as a plot. HPGL 7475
is the most common plot language used for communication between a plotter
and design software.
HPGL Setting - Ioline plotters support three industry standard plotter lan-
guages: HPGL 7475, HPGL 7596, and DM/PL. Most design software uses
DM/PL or HPGL 7475 which have a lower left origin. DM/PL cannot be
selected in the Control Center because the plotter will automatically recog-
nize it. HPGL 7596 uses a center origin so plotting begins at the center of the
intended plotting area.
K
Keypad - Panel on the right side of the plotter where the user controls simple
plotter functions. Carriage and paper motion is accessible from here during
Stop mode. Also called the control panel.
M
Mil - Thousandths of an inch or milliinches. For example; 75 mils is the same
as .075 inches. 1 mil is equal to .025mm.
