®
User's Guide
SIGNWarehouse
Warehouse
com
pan_man_rev1_0504
Table of Contents
1. – Your Sign Cutting Plotter
1.1 Checking Supplied Items 1-1
1.2 Front View of Panther II 1-2
1.3 Back View of Panther II 1-3
1.4 Whole View of Panther II 1-3
1.5 Left Hand Side of Panther II 1-4
1.6 Right Hand Side of Panther II 1-4
1.7 Control Panel 1-5
2. – Installation
2.1 Installation 2-1
2.2 Stand & Flexible Media Support System Installation 2-2
2.3 Desktop Flexible Media Support System Installation 2-4
2.4 Blade Installation 2-6
3. – Connecting Cutting Plotters
3.1 Parallel Transmission 3-1
3.2 Serial Transmission 3-1
3.3 Transmitting Data to Plotter 3-2
3.4 Interface for Macintosh Computer 3-2
3.5 USB Port 3-3
4. – Operation Procedure
4.1 Setting up Menu—Panther II in On-line mode 4-1
4.2 Setting up Menu—Panther II in Off-line mode 4-2
4.3 Description of Menu Items 4-3
4.4 Loading the Sheet Media 4-6
4.5 Loading the Roll Media 4-8
4.6 Tracking Performance 4-11
4.7 Adjusting the Cutting Force and Offset 4-12
4.8 Adjusting the Blade Depth 4-13
5. – Maintenance
5.1 Cleaning the Cutting Plotter 5-1
5.2 Cleaning the Grid Drum 5-2
5.3 Cleaning the Pinch Rollers 5-2
6. – Trouble Shooting
6.1 Non Operational Problems 6-1
6.2 Operational Problems 6-2
6.3 Cutting Plotter Computer Communication Problems 6-3
6.4 Software Problem 6-4
6.5 Cutting Quality Problem 6-5
Appendix – Specifi cation A
Quick Menu I
Advanced Troubleshooting II
Optional Items VI
Equipment Specifi cation VII
Table of Contents
1.1 Checking supplied items
Please check carefully whether you have received all the items listed below. If you
found any item missing, please consult your local dealer.
Standard Item Quantity
Cutting Plotter 1
Stand Set (Only for Panther PII -132S/101S/76S
• 1 Piece of H-shape stand
• 2 Pieces of stands
• 1 piece of stand beam
1
Flexible Media Support System & Accessory Box 1
Items 132S/101S/76S 61
1 set of Roll Media Flange (2 pieces) • •
1 set of Roll Holder (2 pieces) • •
1 set of Roll Holder Guide Bushes (4 pieces) • •
1 set of Roll Holder Support (2 pieces) • •
24 pieces of M6 screws •
1 piece of M5 L-shape hexagon screw driver • •
1 piece of M6 L-shape hexagon screw driver • •
4 pieces of Hold Plugs •
1 set of Desktop Support Brackets (2 pieces) •
4 pieces of Plastic Foot •
4 pieces of M4 screws •
12 pieces of M6 screws •
1 piece of M4 L-shape hexagon screw driver •
Accessory Bag 1
• 1 piece of User’s compact Disk
• 1 piece of AC power cord
• 2 data cables (1) RS232 Serial (1) Centronics printer cable
• 1 set of Blade Holder Assembly
• 1 piece of Blade
• 1 piece of Paper Slitter
• 1 piece of Cutting Pad for Vinyl cutting
• 1 Coil of Cutting Pad for paper cutting
• 1 piece of Tweezers
• 1piece of Water-based Fiber-tip Pen
• 1 exacto knife
1. Your Sign Cutting Plotter
1. Your Sign Cutting Plotter 1-1
1.2 Front View of Panther (Figure 1-1)
Pinch Rollers – Holds the
media during cutting.
Grid Drums – move the media
back and forth during operation.
Tool Carriage –
performs the cutting
with the installed
blade and pen.
Control panel – consists of 14
control keys and 1 LED and 1
LCM showing messages and
menus.
Slitter Groove – sheets
off the extra media eas-
ily along this groove.
Platen – provides the
surface for holding and
supporting media while
performing cutting.
Tefl on Cutting Strip – provides
the protection of blade when the
blade is cutting.
Figure 1-1
1. Your Sign Cutting Plotter 1-2
1.3 Back View of Panther (Figure 1-2)
Lever – Raises or lowers the
pinch rollers.
Figure 1-2
Figure 1-3
1.4 Whole View of Panther (Figure 1-3)
Roll Holder – Holds and
supplies the roll media
for cutting.
Roll Holder Guide Bushes –
Keeps the roll media in place when
media is pulled from the roll.
Roll Holder Support–
Supports roll holders.
Stand– Supports the
cutting plotter body.
H-shape Stand – Supports
the cutting plotter body.
1. Your Sign Cutting Plotter 1-3
Stand Beam – Stabilizes
the body for larger cutters.
1.5 Left Hand Side of Panther (Figure 1-4)
1.6 Right Hand Side of Panther (Figure 1-5)
Figure 1-4
Figure 1-5
Power Switch – On when switches to [I]; Off to [O]
Fuse – 3 Amp.
AC Power Connector – used to insert the AC power
cord.
Serial Interface Connector (RS232C) – used to connect
the cutting plotter to a computer through a serial interface
cable.
USB Connector – used to connect the cutting plotter
to a computer through a USB cable. (Only available
with windows drivers)
Parallel Interface Connector – used to connect the
cutting plotter to a computer through a parallel interface
cable.
1. Your Sign Cutting Plotter 1-4
1.7 Control Panel (Figure 1-6)
Please refer to the Chapter4 – the description of operation for detailed explanation.
Figure 1-6
LCD Display Screen: various functional and error messages are displayed here.
Power LED: it lights up when the power is on.
4 Arrow Keys: used to move the carriage or sheet or changing setting.
Enter Key: used to set item, registers the immediately preceding input value.
Pause/Resume Key: temporarily halts cutting in process or continues.
ON/OFF LINE Key: used to stop the cutting job or aborting the change of the setting.
Cut Test Key: executes a cutting test for verifying the blade force and offset are correct.
Data Clear Key: used to abort the data being received.
Tool Select Key: used to select tools and set the conditions.
Misc. Key: used to selecting items mentioned in Chapter 4.
Speed Key: used to selecting the cutting speed, up-speed, and cutting quality.
Force Key: used to select the cutting force.
Offset Key: used to adjust the setting value of the blade offs.
1. Your Sign Cutting Plotter 1-5
2. Installation
2.1 Installation
Caution 1
• Make sure the power switch is off and power cord is unplugged before installing the cutting plotter.
• Carefully handle the cutter to prevent any injuries or damage to the cutter.
Caution 2 Choosing a proper place before setting up the cutting plotter
Before installing your cutting plotter, select a suitable location, which meets the following conditions.
• The machine can be approached easily from any direction.
• Keep enough space for the machine, accessories and supplies.
• Keep the working area stable, avoiding severe vibration.
• Keep the temperature between 5 and 40 (41-104oF) in the workshop.
• Keep the relative humidity between 30% and 70% in the workshop.
• Protect the machine from dust and strong air current.
• Prevent the machine from direct sunlight or extremely bright lighting.
• The machine is on a level surface.
Caution 3 Connecting the Power Supply
Check the plug of the power cord to see if it mates with the wall outlet. If not, please contact your dealer.
• Insert the plug (male) into a grounded power outlet.
• Insert the other end (female) of power cord into the AC connector of the cutting plotter.
2. Installation 2-1
2.2 Stand & Flexible Media Support System Installation
Step 1
Please examine supplied items in the accessory box of stand carton:
• 1 piece of M6 L-shape hexagon screw driver
• 1 piece of M5 L-shape hexagon screw driver
• 24 pieces of M6 screws
• 4 pieces of hold plugs
Step 2
• Remove the plotter body and the accessories from the shipped carton.
• Place the stands upright on the H-stand and follow the number 1,2,3 to assemble.
(See Figure 2-1 & 2-2)
Step 3
Then, connect Part 2 and 1. Insert 4 screws into the holes on H-stand and fasten them as shown in Figure 2-2.
1 H-stand (part 1)
2 Stand beam (part 2)
3 Side (part 3)
2. Installation 2-2
Step 4
Position the stand beam perpendicularly to part 2 and put the screws into the holes and tighten them as Figure
2-3. Then the complete picture of stand will be like Figure 2-4.
Screws
1 H-stand
3 Stand
2 Stand
Figure 2-4
Figure 2-3
Step 5
Remove the cutting plotter from the carton. Position your stand under the plotter, and then insert the screws into
the holes on plotter’s bottom and tighten them up
as shown in Figure 2-5.
Screw
Figure 2-5
Note: The serial number for your cutting plotter is on the
underside of the machine. Record this serial number on
the front of this manual or other secure location for future
reference.
Step 6
Insert the roll holder support with the screws into the holes of the
stand, then tighten them up as shown in Figure 2-6. You could decide
roll holder support’s position by inserting into different holes.
Figure 2-6
6 Screws holes
Roll holder support
4 Screws
2. Installation 2-3
Step 7
Place two roll holders into the holes in the roll holder support (Figure 2-7)
Figure 2-7
Roll holder support
Roll holders
***Installation Complete***
2.3 Desktop Flexible Media Support System Installation (Panther II)
Step 1
Please examine the following items in stand carton’s accessory box:
• 1 set of Roll Media Flange (2 pieces)
• 1 set of Roll Holder (2 pieces)
• 1 set of Roll Holder Guide Bushes (4 pieces)
• 1 set of Roll Holder Support (2 pieces)
• 1 set of Desktop Support Bracket (2 pieces)
• 4 pieces of Plastic Foot
• 4 pieces of M4 screws
• 12 pieces of M6 screws
• 1 piece of M4 L-shape hexagon screw driver
• 1 piece of M5 L-shape hexagon screw driver
• 1 piece of M6 L-shape hexagon screw driver (for adjusting the screws of Roll Holders)
Step 2
Put the 4 Plastic Foot under the Roll Holder Support
and insert the M4 screw into the hole of Plastic Foot
and tighten them with the M4 L-shape screw driver.
(Figure 2-3-1)
Roll Holder Support
M4 Screw
Plastic Foot
M4 screws
Figure 2-3-1
2. Installation 2-4
Step 3
Position the Desktop Support Brackets beside the Roll
Holder Support and insert M6 screws into the Roll
Holder Support and tighten them with M5 L-shape
screw driver. (Refer to Figure 2-3-2 at the left).
Step 4
Put the bottom of machine in lateral, and position the Roll
Holder Assembly beside the bottom of the machine. Then,
insert the M6 screws into the holes of Roll Holder support
assembly and tighten them with M5 L-shape screwdriver.
Like Figure 2-3-3.
Step 5
Place the 2 roll holders into the holes of Roll Holder Support (See Figure 2-3-4).
M6 screws
Desktop Support Brackets
Roll Holder Support
M6 screws
Roll Holder Assembly
Screw holes
M6 screws
Figure 2-3-2
Figure 2-3-3
Figure 2-3-4
Roll Holders
2. Installation 2-5
Step 6
The complete Desktop Media Support System will be shown as in Figure 2-3-5.
Figure 2-3-5
2.4 Blade Installation
Figure 2-10 is the illustration of the blade holder. Insert a blade into the bottom of the blade holder and remove
the blade by pushing the pin. Make sure that your fi ngers are away from the blade tip.
Step 1
Install blade (Figure 2-11).
Figure 2-11
2. Installation 2-6
Figure 2-10
Adjustment depth knob
Pin
Outward ring
Step 2
Push the blade to the bottom of the blade holder. (Figure 2-12).
Step 3
Adjust the blade tip to suitable length by screwing “Blade tip adjustment screw” clockwise or count-clockwise.
(Figure 2-13).
Tips:
“The proper length” means the blade’s
length is adjusted 0.1mm more than
fi lm’s thickness. That is, if the thickness
of fi lm is 0.5mm, then blade’s length
is properly adjusted 0.6mm and it can
completely cut through the fi lm layer
yet avoid penetrating the backing.
Step 4
Insert the blade holder into tool carriage. Please note the outward ring of the holder must be placed into the
grooves of carriage fi rmly (see Figure 2-14), then fasten the case (Figure 2-15)
2. Installation 2-7
Figure 2-12
Figure 2-15
Figure 2-13
Figure 2-14
Step 5
Use the reversing steps to remove the blade holder.
Step 6
Eject the blade. Push “Blade eject pin” to eject blade when the blade needs to be replaced.
Caution
The blade will lose its sharpness after a period of usage, and the cutting quality might be affected. Increasing the
cutting force, might do the trick. However, once the blade is worn out and no longer provides a reliable cutting,
you should replace with a new blade. The blade is a consumable and must be replaced as often as necessary
to maintain the cutting quality. The quality of the blade affects cutting quality. So be sure to use a high quality
blade to ensure good cutting results.
2. Installation 2-8
3. Connecting Cutting Plotters
The cutting plotter communicates with a computer through a USB (Universal Serial Bus), Parallel port
(Centronics) or a Serial port (RS-232C). This chapter shows you how to connect the cutting plotter to a host
computer and how to set up the computer/cutting plotter interconnection.
!!Notice: When USB connection is enabled, both parallel port and serial port will be disabled automatically.
3.1 Parallel Transmission
Connecting to the Parallel Port (Centronics)
1. Connect a parallel cable to the cutting plotter and the host computer (Figure 3-1)
2. Set up the output port LPT1 or LPT2 from your software package
3.2 Serial Transmission
Connecting to the Serial Port (RS-232C)
1. For IBM PC, PS/2 users or compatibles, connect the RS-232C cable to the serial connector of the
assigned serial port (COM1 or COM2) of your host computer.
2. Set up the communication parameters (Baud Rate and Data Bits/Parity) to match the setting of software
package, refer to chapter 3 – “Misc” key description.
Parallel port Serial port
Figure 3-1
3. Connecting Cutting Plotters 3-1
3.3 Transmitting the Data to Plotter
There are two options to transmit the data from the computer to the cutting plotter:
Option 1 - Recommended
With proper interface settings, the data can be transmitted from your application software package to the cutting
plotters directly.
Option 2
Most cutting software packages are able to emulate HP-GL or HP-GL/2 commands, therefore, Use DOS com-
mands like TYPE or PRINT to output your fi le. As long as the fi le is HP-GL or HP-GL/2 format, the cutting
plotter can output the data precisely.
3.4 Interface of Macintosh Computer
In order to operate the cutting plotter with a Macintosh computer (e.g. Power Mac), you need a MAC serial
cable and a key span OR USB PIA cable, please refer to Fig 3-2.
The cable is an optional item, which could be ordered through your dealer.
Figure 3-2
3. Connecting Cutting Plotters 3-2
3.5 USB Port
The USB port can only be used in conjunction with windows drivers. The windows drivers are available at
http://techsupport.signwarehouse.com/HTML/Cutters/index.html
***DISCLAIMER***
This is a vinyl cutter! It is not intended to be used with windows drivers or as a printer. SignWarehouse.com
does not recommend that you use these drivers.
Mac Serial Cables /
Mac KeySpan Adapter
Mac USB PIA Cable
PC Serial Cable
PC Parallel Cable
Back of PC
Serial Port
(COM 1)
Parallel Port
(LPT 1)
Back of laptop computer Figure 3-3
3. Connecting Cutting Plotters 3-3
Monitor Connection
This chapter describes the button operation with the LCM menu fl owcharts of Panther II. When the cutting
plotter is ready for use as described in Chapter 1 & 2, all functions are under default parameters.
4.1 Setting up Menu—Panther II in on line mode
4. Operation Procedure
Power On
Firmware V-.--
Copyright 2002
Initializing ---cm
Cutter please wait
Place Media and Lower down the
lever
Roll Edge Single
Key Key Key
Sizing Media Width
Lever Up to Abort
Sizing Media Length
Lever Up to Abort
S---.- F ---.- O -.-- M
L :-----.-- W : ----.--
Top Menu
Sending data
Data in Processing Pause
Setup Resume
Force: 80 gf
OK: Enter
Speed: 72 cm/s
Select: OK:Enter
Up Speed: 72 cm /s
Select: OK: Enter
Quality: Normal
Select: OK: Enter
[ Force Key]
[Speed Key]
[Offset Key]
[Data Clear]
[Tool Select]
Use to select;
Panther II in processing
Use to select
[Pause]
Media Check
Offset: 0.275 mm
OK: Enter
Clear data memory
N: Cancel OK: Enter
1S:72 F:80 O:0.276 M
Select OK: Enter
Set Smoothing Cut
Select: OK: Enter
Over Cut: 0.00mm
Select: OK: Enter
Set Tangetial Mode
Select: OK: Enter
Pouncing 0.00mm
Select: OK: Enter
Panel Setup
Select: OK: Enter
Restore default?
Select: OK: Enter
Save parameter?
Select: OK: Enter
4. Operation Procedure 4-1
[Enter] to
enable the
setting
4.2 Setting up Menu—Panther II in off line mode
Set Smoothing Cut
Select: OK: Enter
Over Cut: 0.00mm
Select: OK: Enter
Set Tangetial Mode
Select: OK: Enter
Pouncing 0.00mm
Select: OK: Enter
Panel Setup
Select: OK: Enter
Restore default?
Select: OK: Enter
Save parameter?
Select: OK: Enter
Speed: 72 cm/s
Select: OK:Enter
Up Speed: 72 cm /s
Select: OK: Enter
Quality: Normal
Select: OK: Enter
Square Cut
Select: OK: Enter
Repeat Last Plot
Select: OK: Enter
Mark Positions
Select: OK: Enter
Press [ON/OFF LINE] switch to offl ine mode
Offl ine For System Setup
Clear Data Memory
N: Cancel OK: Enter
Force: 80 gf
i OK: Enter
Offset 0.275 mm
OK: Enter
Move Origin
X: Y:
1S: 72 F:80 O: 0.275 M
Select: OK:Enter
Auto Unrolled Media
Select: OK: Enter
Media Back & Forth
Select: OK: Enter
Paper Saving Mode
Select: OK: Enter
Set Communication
Select: OK: Enter
Select Language
Select: OK: Enter
Select Units
Select: OK: Enter
Scale Length
Select: OK: Enter
Firmware: x.x.xx
FPGA: Vx.x mm/dd/yy
Scale Width
Select: OK: Enter
[Force Key]
[OFFSET KEY]
[Data Clear]
[Speed Key]
[Cut Test]
[Misc]
[Tool Select]
[ ]
0-600 gram with an increment of 5 gf
0.000-1.000mm with an increment of 0.025mm
Speed: 3-153cm/s with an increment of 3cm/s
Upspeed: 3-153cm/s with an increment of 3cm/s
Draft, Fair, Normal, Fine, Small Letter
OverCut: 0.00-1.00 mm with an
increment of 0.05 mm
Pouncing: 0-200 mm with an
increment of 1mm
Both Expanded Mode, Length Expanded Mode, Width
Expanded Mode, Both Unexpanded Mode
English, Spanish, Italian, Deutsch, Japanese, Portuguese,
Polish, Turkish, French
Metric (cm/gf) or English measurement (feet/ounce)
4. Operation Procedure 4-2
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