This is topic Gerber 4B - Gerber Spooler problems in forum Old Archives at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
 
Hi there!

Can anyone tell me why the spooler keeps showing that I have a problem cutting? This happens in the middle of a job, and this time it cut a border in the wrong place, cutting through my job. Sometimes it stops in the middle of a job. The LMK is hooked up tightly I believe, and it only happens occasionally, but more lately.
just wondered before I call the company, and never had a problem in 9 years that I had it.
thank you, Deb

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Deb
Creative Signs
"All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath. So what does that make today worth?" Og Mandino
 

Posted by Henry Barker (Member # 174) on :
 
Hi there Deb!

I have experienced the same type of thing very occasionally with my Sprint 2. If you open the hatch where you change or used to change fonts, and after grounding yourself (static risk) remove the LMK link module and replace it, do the same with the card that supports the plotter i the Sprint its ACC 2 right above the font slots I also have cables in J10 and J11 at the back as mine is conected to a Switchbox to control the 15" and 30" plotters, I was advised to just carefully lift them out and put them back again to make better contacts. Try it and see, the same with the mains plug.

That seems to cure the plot spooler from flashing "communication error" I have had the plotter miscut or seem like it stops mid way in a job before now....this can be a centre thats fallen down into the motors from the sprocket punches, it doesn't take much but its amazing what an effect it has on the performance. If you move the knife away from its parked position on the front end of the plotter you have a metal box with one screw facing the knife guide remove that and then you can open the box to expose the motors, I unplug and unscrew my motors one at a time and carefully check all the teeth running a pin between each tooth, and then simply reassemble.

Do you all the guide bars on the plotter from time to time? Sewing machine oil. You should also take out the knifeholder from the cutterhead and clean it with methylated spirits (is that denatured alcohol?). So there is no friction with its up and down movement, never oil this part.

Try these things and I hope it improves for you....it seems to have worked for me...toady my machines are not used as much as I bought a Summa Sign Pro T750, but I wouldn't get rid of them either!

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Henry Barker #1924
akaKaftan
SignCraft AB
Stockholm, Sweden.
A little bit of England in a corner of Stockholm
www.signcraft.se
info@signcraft.se


 

Posted by Leo Offerson (Member # 423) on :
 
I have owned a Gerber 4-B for many many years. I bought one of the first ones when they went from the 3-C to the 4-B That machine is the best workhorse ever made and I will always keep mine set up with a spare computer just in case.
Although they are truly a great machine, like all other things they do need a bit of TLC from time to time. (Other than just talking to it) What I found worked the best for me especially as I used my machine all day long. About once every six months, I would take a Sunday morning off, and while having coffee I would take the 4-B apart. I would remove the two end pieces, remove the top cutter bar and roller and cable from the main box, and then take out all the modules. Then I would clean them very good, use air on the roller insides and the belt area to remove any debree. Then I would use a LIGHT air on the inside of the machine and blow all that crap away. Depending on how dirty it is, you can use light air at one end and a vacuum at the other to suck up the debree. Then after I was sure it was all very clean, I would use some alcohol and clean out all the inside slots where the cards set into. Then I would also clean the male end of all the cards and then when I was happy, I would then insert the cards back into the slots, making sure they were tight and straight. Then I would put the machine back together. The only thing I have found over the years with all my Gerber machines, is using a light oil seems to suck up the dirt more, so i have been using a product called WD-40. Its a spray and I like it better than oil. I spray some on a rag and then wipe down the area, like the bars. Then when I am a happy camper once again, I plug the good old 4-B in and it works just like new. I have owned a 4-B for more than 16 years and have done this more times than I can remember and it works for me every time.
It only takes about 2 hours out of your morning and then you are good for six months, if you use it pretty heavy. Hope this will help, lots of luck.

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Leo Offerson
The Sign Shop
Dawson Creek, BC
leosign@pris.bc.ca
 

Posted by Bill Biggs (Member # 18) on :
 
Deb, I had that happe once with my sprint 3
I had bookoos(a bunch) of temp files evidently the power had gone off or something, once I deleted them it worked fine.
I even called gerber tech support, sent them the file, they said there was nothing wrong with it.
so check your temps do a search of your whole hd
for *.tmp
and you might be surprised what you find.
dont delete any that dont have the ~in front of them and if you delete the wrong thing
restore from the trash if something don't work.Or if it tells you that is a program
don't delete it.
Most of the time they are in the windows temp directory.
Bill

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Bill & Barbara Biggs
Art's Sign Service, Inc.
Clute, Texas, USA
Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival
Proud Third year Supporter of the Letterheads Website
MailTo:twobeesusa@netscape.net


 

Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
 
THANKS GUYS!

I have been meaning to do one or two of those maintenance things and now I am amazed at all of the ideas. I really treasure my Gerber 4B; it is a trustworthy friend when the computers go down. At least it does some fonts. And trustworthy friends are hard to come by!
Thanks for coming through for me; I just had a feeling I would be more satisfied to hear from regular users than Gerber tech. Not knocking the tech people, but have been truly impressed with your knowledge. I am really grateful and will write these lessons and instructions down.
As for the WD-40, I am a WD-40 nut! I spray all the hinges around my house and think it is one of the best lubricants out there.
hope your week goes great and you get a lot of new work! Deb

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Deb
Creative Signs
"All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath. So what does that make today worth?" Og Mandino
 



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