Calcomp 563 software options

[DougIngraham]

Are you running using vintage pens or have you found a modern source? Same question for paper?

I love these old plotters. They are some of the most interesting demonstrations.

 

[gnupublic]

I have some vintage Calcomp pens. Some of them work. I also have old felt-tip pen, but they are dry. I tryed to reanimate them, but without success. Then there are those ink pens, but they need spezial paper and I only have some rolls of it. I remember this was always pain to use.
I bougt some rolls of modern plotter paper. Cut it with my lathe to nearly 30", without the wholes.. Then I put some non slip coating on the plotter drum and after drying I put in my paper roll. I did this yesterday, so not much experience, but it seems to work.
Maybe next week I know better...
And yes, this plotter is fun to work with. We are used to get all kind of pictures in super quality from the modern laserjets, but if you hear the sound and see the pen moving, it's still fascinating.

 

[DougIngraham]

I understand what you are doing. What did you use for a non slip coating?

The highest quality plots were done on mylar which was taped to the drum. I saw these but never did any myself. I think the pens they used were essentially a tube with a wire down the center of the tube. A small vial of ink was on the top. the ink would flow off the wire. Most plots were done with what looked like a pretty standard ball point pen cartridge. Several colors were available. The IBM branded CalComp was unfortunately not attached to the Straight 8, it was on the CDC 3400. My Straight 8 does have the plotter controller wired up but was not populated. I have populated it and someday I will find a plotter (or finish making my replica).

My plan has been to just tape sheets of paper to the drum since the real rolls of paper are very difficult to come by.

 

[Bitly]

It might be possible to 3d print an adapter that fits in the calcomp holder to a modern ballpoint pin cartridge.

We bodged a couple of the old stubby HP plotter pins to hold ink cartridges a couple of decades ago. If memory serves, it took a drill press and some epoxy to make it work, but it was a better solution than replacing the pins every time we wanted to plot something.

CW

 

[gnupublic]

What did you use for a non slip coating?

I take different water solvent products from the sewing area. So this doues no harm to the drum. It feels like a gum. The coating is quite thin, not a problem with the paper.

A small vial of ink was on the top. the ink would flow off the wire. Most plots were done with what looked like a pretty standard ball point pen cartridge. Several colors were available.

Exactly. When you work with it, you always have more color on your fingers than on the paper.... Or you have blobs on the paper, the lines do not draw or the pen tears the paper....

So the pen ball cadridges are much easier to use. I have some working in green, blue and black.

My plan has been to just tape sheets of paper to the drum

That is possible for small plots. It's not too easy to position the plot, the exaples I converted from the TEK format sometimes move the drum and head bevor starting to plot.
If you are turning the drum more than one round and then back, you have to secure the paper, that the pen does not tear it away.
That is somehow limiting.

So to plot bigger plots, I first have to find a pen that draws a broader line. The normal pen is to fine. So I'm searching for some modern felt-tip pen, that fits, or can be made suitable.
There is a lot to test and I have to make my experiences. Much fun for the winter to come.

It might be possible to 3d print an adapter that fits in the calcomp holder to a modern ballpoint pin cartridge.

The holder is very narrow. Will not be too easy. But yes, possible. The main part may be the correct position to have the pen up/down working.

 

[djg]

Are you running using vintage pens or have you found a modern source? Same question for paper?

There were options for ball point, ink as shown above, pressurized ink (space pen) and felt tip.
Ball point you can cut down a modern cartridge. Some challenge finding ones with the older small tip. Need to remove some ink after the cut otherwise it makes a mess. Cutting is also somewhat messy.
Can still get NOS nibs for the liquid ink and ink.
Pressurized ink I found someone with cartridges. Last I looked he didn't seem to be selling stuff on ebay. I had link to these which may be correct but expensive. https://rfsupply.com/fisher-pm30bk-plotter-pen-price-per-package-of-10-pens/. Just doing a search found reasonable price in Netherlands https://ppg2.com/en/pm30bk-30-black-ink-fisher-plotter-pen/. May be others selling also. The current space pen cartridges are taller. You could make a new taller top to use them.
I did revive a green felt tip pen. I have also found modern felt tip pens that fit and put some latex tubing on as substitute for the metal stop on the original felt tip pens. Some of them the tip isn't ideal so some blobbing or other issues.

For paper I've been using wide printer paper since I have a lot.

I assume the non slip coating is something like this? This page shows special solvent for removal but other pages seem to say water will remove it.
https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/p...oKK5M4KscHDzyWAQbnkbo6EWFni-G1SxoCrTEQAvD_BwE

 

[gnupublic]

As non slip liquid I use this:

Product at amazon

This product is water solvent. It's just a liquid, not a spray. So you have to bring it on the drum. Dub it with some foam or paint brush. This avoids the spray mist.

It is similar to the one David linked above. I have ordered that also, but not used yet. It is not water solvent.