HP 7475A plotter installation

Hello,

I cannot establish a connection nor print to my plotter using Autodesk. I have an IBM 7372 plotter (which is a rebranded HP 7475A plotter) and a copy of Autodesk 2004 student edition. The plotter is connected to my computer’s serial COM 1 port with a 9 pin to a 25 pin cable. The cable is wired (as per the manual) as follows:

PC | Plotter
1 | 8
2 | 3
3 | 2
4 | 20
5 | 7
6 | 6
7 | 4
8 | 5
9 | 22
Case | 1

I verified that each pin on the cable made a solid connection.

The dip switches on the plotter are set as follows:

Parity 0 S2
0 S1
D 0 Y
Met 1 US
A4 1 A3
Baud 0 B3
1 B2
0 B1

The parity, D/Y, and baud switches have been set according to the manual for using a serial cable. The manual isn’t specific to how the dip switches relate to parity, D/Y, or baud. I am plotting with 11 x 17 inch paper, so the Met/US and A4/A3 dip switches have been set according to the manual.

I am using the Autodesk Heidi plotter drivers to connect with the plotter. I am not using the Windows drivers at all with this plotter. I tried installing the plotter using the Autodesk Add Plotter Wizard. The settings that I used are as follows:

Driver: My Computer (Heidi drivers)
Plotter Model: Hewlett-Packard 7475A
Import File: None
Ports: Plot to a port
COM1 (Local port)
Settings: Baud Rate: 9600
Protocol: 7E1
Flow Control: Hardware
Input Timeout: 5000 milliseconds
Output Timeout: 30000 milliseconds
Plotter Name: 7475A

When I select ‘Calibrate Plotter’, here are the settings that I use:
Paper Type: ANSI B (11.00 x 17.00 inches)
Height: 13
Width: 8
Unit: Inches

When I try to start the calibration, I get an error dialog box that says “Error Opening Output Streamâ€.

The plotter prints the self test fine, so I know the plotter works. Any ideas of what configuration changes I can try?

Thanks,
Graham Best

 

Hi Graham,

Can you copy an ascii text file to the plotter? If not then your setup is
wrong or the pen out is still not right. BTW I used to have 3 of these
things back in the DOS days ;-)... Great plotter in there day.

But now for the hard question. Why not must use a newer printer. It will
be faster, the quality will be better and you can get actual support for the
device. The 7475 has been dead for many years now.

You can check the HP Support Site to see if you can find anything at all on
the cable configuration, but that may be the best we can do here.

Good luck.

Bud Schroeder
AutoCAD Test Development
Autodesk Inc.

have an IBM 7372 plotter (which is a rebranded HP 7475A plotter) and a copy
of Autodesk 2004 student edition. The plotter is connected to my computer's
serial COM 1 port with a 9 pin to a 25 pin cable. The cable is wired (as
per the manual) as follows:

for using a serial cable. The manual isn't specific to how the dip switches
relate to parity, D/Y, or baud. I am plotting with 11 x 17 inch paper, so
the Met/US and A4/A3 dip switches have been set according to the manual.

I am not using the Windows drivers at all with this plotter. I tried
installing the plotter using the Autodesk Add Plotter Wizard. The settings
that I used are as follows:

ideas of what configuration changes I can try?