BraillePlace Braille Embosser User's Manual Enabling Technologies 1601 Northeast Braille Place Jensen Beach, Florida 34957 USA Toll-Free Phone USA Only (800) 777 3687 Toll-Free Fax USA Only (800) 950 3687 Phone (772) 225 3687 Fax (772) 225 3299 E-Mail: info@brailler.com Web: http://www.brailler.com Copyright 1986-2005 by Enabling Technologies Company All Rights Reserved. Revised August, 2005 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, without the express written permission of Enabling Technologies Company. Every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the information it contains. Even so, Enabling Technologies Company assumes no responsibility for such errors or omissions that may occur. Neither do we assume any liability for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. Brand names, company names, or product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective companies. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Glossary SETTING UP BRAILLEPLACE Moving and Stabilizing BraillePlace Installing Paper The Keypad Setting Top-of-Form Changing (and Restoring) Menu Settings Connecting To Your Computer YOUR FIRST BRAILLE DOCUMENT Margins and Line Length MULTI-COPY ET SPEAKS ET Speaks and Your Embosser PROBLEMS? With the Embosser TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Special Features QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Keys Tones To Stop Embossing Top-of-Form Reset Menus Multi-Copy SERVICE MENU For Factory-Trained Technicians Only Loading Updated Firmware WARRANTY, SUPPORT & SERVICE INTRODUCTION Even if you're experienced with Braille and computers, our embossers have lots of handy features that take only a few minutes to learn but make your work much easier and faster. That's why we hope to persuade everyone to read the short section called "Setting Up Your Embosser." If you're new to Braille desktop publishing, "Your First Braille Document" describes the basic process of creating Braille in less than two pages. To help you get the most out of your embosser both now and in the future, we've enclosed a CD-ROM that includes: MANUAL.TXT--A text file version of the BraillePlace User's Manual suitable for use with most screen readers. MANUAL.PDF--An accessible Adobe Acrobat version of the BraillePlace User's Manual. USERMAN.BRF--A formatted grade 2 Braille file of the BraillePlace User's Manual 40 characters by 25 lines. And (sometimes) README.TXT--Where we add things at the last minute that were too late for the manual! Glossary Buffer: Memory reserved to store data entered into the embosser. One page uses about 1K or 1000 characters of the buffer. Configuration: A collection of settings for a computer connection. Default: What you get if you don't change anything. Emboss Head: Mechanical element that makes the Braille dots. Flash ROM: Contains the embosser "firmware" (permanent programming) of its features and functions. Interface: Connection. Interpoint: Braille characters on both the front and back sides of a single sheet of paper. Menu: A stored collection of settings in the embosser's memory. Multi-Copy: Built-in function copies stored text up to 99 times. NOV-RAM: Nonvolatile memory. Stores menu settings while the power is off. On-Line: Ready to receive data from a computer USB, serial or parallel port. Off-Line: Ready to receive commands. Not ready to receive data from computer. Parallel Port: Connects the embosser to a computer with a Centronics type interface. Parameters: Settings. Sequence: A series of key strokes, usually followed by the Enter Key. Serial Port: Connects the embosser to a computer with a serial RS-232C Interface. Top-of-Form Offset: Top margin of Braille paper during embossing. Tractor: Moves the paper through the machine while printing. USB Port: Universal Serial Bus - Connects the embosser to a computer with this high speed connection. SETTING UP BRAILLEPLACE Moving and Stabilizing BraillePlace The BraillePlace must be located on a solid floor with adequate room on all sides of the machine to allow for proper cooling and access to critical areas. The front and rear doors should be able to be opened fully and be removed if necessary to facilitate repairs to the machine. Because of BraillePlace’s size and weight, we included special roll-and-set casters that will allow the embosser to move easily when required yet maintain complete stability while embossing. These roll-and-set casters can be easily adjusted because they contain a hidden pad that can be either raised for easy movement or lowered for complete stability. Explore the casters carefully, and you’ll see that about an inch below the plate attaching the caster to the base of the BraillePlace, and parallel to the ground, is an orange wheel-like gear with notches all around the edge. Turning this gear on each individual caster raises and lowers the hidden stabilizing pad behind the caster’s wheel that allows BraillePlace to either roll freely or stay absolutely still. Use a lever or pry bar to lift each corner of BraillePlace slightly when adjusting these casters (this requires two people). The caster pad must lower until the caster’s weight-bearing wheel is at least 1/16th of an inch (2 mm) above the floor for the pad to fully stabilize the wheel. The caster wheels should spin freely when BraillePlace’s weight is resting on the pads for maximum stability. Do not lower the pads more than 1/8th inch (3 mm) past the bottom of the wheel. Also, use caution when rolling BraillePlace over high thresholds or other obstructions on the floor so as not to damage the casters. Installing Paper Open the front door of the embosser. Remove the Braille paper from its box by turning the box upside down, and set the stack of paper neatly on the floor of BraillePlace’s cabinet. Inside BraillePlace’s cabinet, towards the back, you will encounter two sets of paper tractors designed to firmly grip the holes on both sides of the paper; one set will be at the height of the door opening and the other set lower. Open these tractors by lifting on the inside edge. They will stay open until closed by hand. Thread the paper upwards from the top of the stack of paper into the embossing unit. Insert the paper well into the embossing unit so that the paper extends out the top, so you can get a sense of how the paper needs to flow in use. Make sure the tractor holes are aligned with both sets of tractors, then secure the paper in both the top and bottom sets of tractors. A smooth and unobstructed paper path is very important. Make sure the paper has a clear path to travel out the top of the BraillePlace to the collection tray hanging on the back of the embosser. When you turn the power switch on, there is an approximate 16 – 30 second delay before the BraillePlace initializes and plays a tune that tells you it is ready to run. In addition, ET Speaks comes up talking automatically and tells you that the embosser is ready to run. Also, a visual display on the front panel will display the same messages as ET Speaks vocalizes them. The Keypad The keypad is a small 16-key keyboard in the top right front corner of the embosser’s case. The keypad is how you tell the embosser what to do. The keys are spaced 4 columns down by 4 rows across. The top three rows are laid out in calculator format with 7, 8 and 9 running from left to right on the top row, 4, 5 and 6 just below them, and 1, 2 and 3 next to the bottom. The key at the left of the very bottom row is 0. To the right of zero is the decimal point, and to the right of that, a key labeled E. The keys in the far right column are, from top to bottom, the OL, LF, FF and V key. OL (On-Line/Off-Line) The embosser must be on-line to receive and print data from a computer, and it (usually) must be off-line to receive commands from you. Press OL to take the embosser from on-line (ready to receive and print data) to off-line (ready to respond to your commands). Press it again to return on-line. Note the audible difference in the on-line and off-line tones. If you press OL while embossing, the embosser will pause. Any data left in the buffer remains, and embossing will resume as soon as you press OL again. LF (Line-Feed) Not used. FF (Form-Feed) Off-line, FF advances the paper to the top of the next page. V (View) Advances the page, allowing you to read the line just embossed. Pressing V once more returns the paper to its original position. This feature is handy when you wish to verify the contents of a document that is currently being embossed. E (Enter) E is similar to the "enter" key on your computer keyboard and is used to finish and transmit commands. Setting Top-of-Form Top-of-form tells the embosser where the paper starts and where to begin the Braille. You need to tell the embosser to reset top-of-form whenever you change paper or adjust the top margin, which we call the top-of-form offset. The distance from the edge of the paper to where the Braille begins is adjustable in 0.1 inch increments by using the top-of-form offset setting (parameter 30.NNE) found in each of the machine's 16 menus. For 25 lines embossed on 11 inch paper we generally recommend a top-of-form offset of 3 or 0.3 inches. The default setting is 0. To change it to 3 enter the following: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.1E--Enter menu number 1. If you are using a different menu, substitute the alternate menu number for the 1 in the sequence 30.3E--This will set a top-of-form offset value of 3 or 0.3 inches. This setting will remain until you change it, even after power is turned off 1.1E--This will install the change and reset the embosser If you have paper loaded in the embosser, check to be sure the tractors are securely holding the paper and that the paper can flow smoothly into, through, and out of the embosser with no obstructions. Turn on the embosser and listen for the musical tune that signifies the embosser is ready to run. To set top-of-form, enter the following on the embosser's keypad: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 2E--Set top-of-form An automatic sensor inside the embosser seeks the edge of the paper, so the paper should begin to move up and down until the sensor fixes the location of the paper's edge in the embosser's memory. After setting top-of-form, the embosser returns on-line automatically, signified by the two-note on-line tune. IMPORTANT! The embosser's sensor must find the paper's edge to set top-of-form, which makes pages break in the right places. When you reset top-of-form in the middle of a printing session, remove any finished pages before issuing the 2E command. Every time you install a new batch of paper or clear a paper jam, remember to reset top-of-form with the OL, 2E sequence. The embosser will remember the top-of-form setting when you move the paper with FF or V. Changing (and Restoring) Menu Settings Because Braille embossers need to work with many different kinds of software and computer operating systems, the embosser has a built-in feature that remembers sixteen different groups of settings, exactly as if you were going to use sixteen different computers with one embosser. Each group of settings is called a "menu." All the menus stay set and ready to use even when the power is off. Eight of the menus are preset at the factory with settings many of our customers have requested. The other eight are yours to create as you need them. You can change, create and save settings in all the menus, even the ones preset at the factory. When you turn on your embosser for the first time, Menu 1 is the default (which means it has control until you change it). Menu 1 is for a parallel connection to an IBM-compatible computer. One additional menu, the Service Menu, contains utilities for testing and resetting the embosser. Each of the sixteen menus has the same features, many of which will be familiar to most computer users (like right and left margins, word wrap, and page length), while others are unique to Braille environments. When the embosser is OFF-LINE and in one of the menus, you can make ET Speaks tell you what the menu parameter is without changing anything. For example: Should you change the right margin? You think you set it for 40 characters wide yesterday but you're not sure. Enter on the embosser's keypad: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.1E--Enter Menu 1 14E--ET Speaks will read the current right margin setting, because 14 is the parameter assigned to the right margin E--Press the E key if you do not wish to change the current setting. If you do wish to change the setting, enter the new right margin value now then press the E key. Each menu entry will be announced when the “E” key is pressed When you have finished making all of your changes to the menu enter: 1.1E--Exit the menu How to Change Menu Settings Because each menu contains over thirty different settings, sooner or later you'll want to make some changes when you need to use different paper, Braille formats or port connections. For example, let's say you're using Menu 1 because you have an IBM PC-compatible. You want to adjust the right margin for narrower Braille paper. Enter the following on the embosser's keypad: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.1E--Enter Menu 1 14.32E--Set the right margin at 32 Braille characters 1.1E--Return on-line and use this menu as the current configuration A complete list of the thirty-plus individual menu items is also in the Quick Reference Guide in the back of this manual. Restoring Factory Settings If you change too many menu parameters to keep track of, or if you're not the only person to use the embosser, you might want to reset the embosser back to the original factory settings. Although you will lose all changes you've made to the menus, you'll also be starting fresh. OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.0E--Enter the Service Menu 95E--Restore the factory default settings 1E--Reset the embosser Connecting To Your Computer Through the Parallel Port Connect the parallel cable we supplied (or one you already have) from one of the parallel ports on your computer to the parallel port on your embosser. If you have been using a print printer, it is likely to be already connected to your computer's first parallel port, so look for the second parallel port to connect to the embosser. It doesn't matter which parallel port you use, so long as you remember which one it is. Turn on the computer and the embosser. Please proceed to the section titled Installing Drivers in Microsoft Windows. Through the Serial Port If you need to set up a serial connection, first connect a serial cable (preferably the one we sent with the embosser) to the embosser's serial port and to one of the serial ports on your computer. Since computers usually have more than one serial port, make a note of which one the embosser is using. You'll need this information to set up your translation software and adjust your computer's settings, if necessary. If you are connecting via a serial port to your computer, use Menu 2: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.2E--Enter Menu 2 3.9600E--Set the embosser to 9600 baud 1.0E--Make this the power-on default 1.1E--Exit menu and reset embosser Set your computer for: 9600 baud, no parity, eight data bits, one stop bit and hardware handshaking. If you are connecting via the serial port to a Notetaker, first set your Notetaker for: 9600 baud, no parity, eight data bits, one stop bit and hardware handshaking. Then change the embosser settings to match: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.2E--Enter Menu 2 3.9600E--Set the embosser to 9600 baud 1.1E--Exit Menu 2 and reset embosser Try sending a short file using whatever copy, transmit or print command your computer or software requires to test the connection. For the IBM PC, from the DOS prompt, the command to send the file to the first serial port is: copy mydoc.brf com1: [Return] Assuming you have connected the computer and the embosser as described above, and fully installed your translation software, you can expect to get Braille out immediately. Please proceed to the section titled Installing Drivers in Microsoft Windows. Installing Drivers in Microsoft Windows Installing the Generic Text Only printer driver is required for many Windows applications. Select START, CONTROL PANEL, PRINTERS AND FAXES from the Windows desktop. Select Add Printer from the open window. Scroll through the list of available printers and select Generic Text Only. Follow the prompts displayed for your specific version of Windows. Please note that each version of the Microsoft Windows operating system has a slightly different format for installing printers. Select Local Printer attached to this specific computer. When prompted select the port your embosser is connected to on this computer. Typically lpt1 for parallel connections and com1 or com2 for serial connections. If you plan to use the embosser with MS-DOS applications tell Windows to make this the Default Printer. When the wizard closes select NO to the Print Test Page question. If you are using newer translation or transcription software such as DBT from Duxbury Systems to emboss your work, install the translation software package on your computer. Then open the program and select Global, Embosser Setup and select your embosser. Then select the port your embosser is connected to on your computer. For parallel connections this is usually lpt1; for serial connections com1 or com2. DBT will automatically send your finished Braille work directly to the embosser. If you are using any other port with Duxbury DBT, select Windows Device from the menu and using the scroll down bar select the Generic Text Only printer. If you have older transcription or translation software that creates files without sending them to the embosser, you have to copy the final, formatted Braille files to the embosser yourself. Before you can do this in the Windows operating system, you must first install the Generic Text Only printer driver in the printers folder of Windows. Simply select the Add Printer icon found in the Printers folder, select Generic Text Only and follow the default prompts to install the driver for the parallel port that has the embosser attached. Right click or select the properties for the Generic Text Only printer driver and set it as the Default Printer. From the DOS prompt you may now send your Braille files to the embosser. The command to send files to the first parallel port is: copy mydoc.brf lpt1: [Return] If you're connected to the second parallel port, the command is: copy mydoc.brf lpt2: [Return] Menu 1 is already set to work with the embosser's parallel port and IBM PC- compatible computers. Assuming you have connected the computer and the embosser as described above, and fully installed your translation software, you can expect to get Braille out immediately. If not, check to make sure the cables are tightly attached, the software (or DOS commands) are transmitting to the correct port, and the embosser is on- line. IMPORTANT! When downloading a file or during embossing, DO NOT TURN THE POWER OFF to stop BraillePlace if you change your mind! INSTEAD, ONCE EMBOSSING BEGINS, PRESS THE E KEY TWO TIMES. Pressing the E key two times empties the BraillePlace’s memory and terminates the print job in a way that clears the memory of any file fragments from the previous job. Advancing Paper If the test of your parallel or serial port above was successful, you now have some Brailled pages to remove from the embosser. Enter the following commands on the embosser's keypad to remove the finished document and prepare for the next: OL--Takes the embosser off-line FF--Advance a full page. The embosser may finish the last fraction of a page. Tear off the finished pages. Then: 2E--Reset top-of-form and send the embosser back on-line, ready for the next job If embossing did not start as you expected, first rule out the obvious: Is everything plugged in, turned on, and directed to the port connected to the embosser? Is the embosser on-line? If these all check out, scan the section entitled "Problems?" later in the manual. We've included solutions to the most frequent complications our customers encounter. YOUR FIRST BRAILLE DOCUMENT Many people think that a Braille embosser automatically prints "in Braille" from your computer files by substituting Braille letters for print ones. Although publishing in Braille gets easier all the time, it's not quite that simple yet. The Braille alphabet evolved from a French military code designed for night reading and is based on a six-dot "cell." One "cell" stands for one letter, as you might expect, but not all the time. More often, words have been shortened and punctuated according to rules unique to Braille. The rule systems are called "grades". Grade 1 Braille uses official Braille punctuation and capitalization but spells out every text letter of every word. Grade 2 Braille uses official Braille punctuation, capitalization, and nearly 200 contractions to save space. Most documents for adult readers, as well as most signs in public buildings, are in grade 2 Braille. The grade 2 contractions are understood by Braille readers everywhere and are abbreviations of common words and letter combinations. For example, "you" in grade 2 is the letter "Y". Unless you're a Braille reader or a certified Braille transcriber, there is no way you could possibly know these rules. That's why you need a software package called a "translator." Translation software reads your computer files and literally "translates" them into correctly contracted, punctuated, and formatted Braille pages, ready to "print" on your Braille embosser. Newer translators even contain their own word processors so you can create, edit, spell check, print, translate, and emboss your documents inside the translator, just as you would in Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. Others produce Braille by reading common types of word processing files, typically in ASCII text format, and creating new ready-to-emboss Braille files. Translators are very easy to use and typically create the finished Braille computer files (even long ones) in seconds. Once you're ready to emboss the Braille you've created, you can roughly estimate the finished size of most Braille projects if you keep in mind that even with grade 2 contractions AND the larger dimensions of standard Braille paper, 1 print page usually equals 2 to 3 Braille pages. Margins and Line Length One of the first things to check out in your translator is how to adjust the line length. Today’s translators make it easy to format the Braille correctly in whatever dimensions you select, but first you have to know what your constraints are. First, BraillePlace has a 45 character maximum line width. Thus, the lines of your documents cannot exceed 45 characters. Braille lines usually contain 40 characters. Next, standard Braille paper is 11.5 inches wide; Braille (using standard Library of Congress spacing) is approximately 4 cells per inch wide. Narrower paper needs a narrower line, so adjust your translator accordingly if you are using smaller paper, such as letter size or A4, which can fit about 30 Braille characters on a line. Then, set the embosser’s margins – manually, on the keypad – to match the line length you’ve used in your translator. Unlike Windows printer drivers, translators transmit finished documents to the embosser but do not usually change very many things about the embosser’s internal settings. For example, your translator controls how long the lines are, but NOT where they line up front-to-back on an interpoint page…that’s the embosser’s job. If you told the translator to use a 40 character line, remember to set the embosser for a 40 character line as well. That makes the front and back of each interpoint page line up perfectly. Here are some common embosser settings: 40 character line width on 11.5 inch wide paper (standard Braille paper dimensions): left margin at space 1 (15.1E), right margin at space 40 (14.40E). 30 character line width on 8.5 inch wide paper (narrower Braille paper): left margin at space 1 (15.1E), right margin at space 30 (14.30E). To allow binding room, you can also move the entire Braille page to the right. The interpoint still lines up and a few characters worth of blank binding space will run down the left side of each page. For maximum binding space on BraillePlace, standard Braille paper requires a left margin at space 6 (15.6E), and a right margin at space 45 (14.45E). Narrower paper (8.5 by 11 inches) requires a left margin at space 5 (15.5E), and a right margin space at 34 (14.34E). MULTI-COPY Multi-Copy allows you to download up to 4 megabytes of text (about 4,000 single-sided or 2,000 double-sided Braille pages) from your computer into a reserved portion of memory, the Multi-Copy buffer. The embosser will copy whatever is in the Multi-Copy buffer from 1 to 99 times without reloading the text from the computer. IMPORTANT! Stay ON-LINE while using Multi-Copy. Run a single test copy of your file first, to be sure margins, paper size, page breaks, etc., are correct. Whatever menu is active when you start Multi-Copy is the one that continues to control the embosser once you start making multiple copies, so make any necessary adjustments to the menu before starting Multi-Copy. When your file is ready for multiple copies, remain on-line, and enter the following on the embosser's keypad: 4.NNE--“NN” stands for any number from 1 to 99 For example, if you want 10 copies, you would enter 4.10E on the keypad, while on-line. If you want 99 copies you would enter 4.99E, while on-line. You enter the 4.NNE command on the BraillePlace keypad BEFORE you send the document from the computer. BraillePlace is always ready to run multiple copies using the last file it receives after 4.NNE is entered on the keypad. Other Controls in Multi-Copy 3.2E--Reset/cancel Multi-Copy after this page embosses 3.3E--Reset/cancel Multi-Copy after this document embosses 3.4E--Suspend Multi-Copy after current document embosses. If you allow the document to finish completely, you can even turn the power off and resume the same Multi-Copy job the next time you turn the power back on 3.5E--Resume Multi-Copy with next copy after 3.4E entry (above) OL stops printing temporarily in Multi-Copy. Printing continues when OL is pressed again. V stops printing and advances the paper out of the embosser, so the Braille which was just printed can be read. Press V again to move the paper back and resume printing. ET Speaks will count off copies as they emboss so you can monitor how the job is progressing. You can also view the number of copies on the visual display. If you'd rather not hear ET Speaks count off copies, you can turn this feature off within the menu you're using with 25.3E. ET SPEAKS ET Speaks and Your Embosser As you've noticed if your embosser is equipped with ET Speaks, your embosser automatically voices all the keypad entries you make and all its own status messages with no intervention necessary from you. Change Speech Settings in the Embosser Menus For embossers equipped with ET Speaks, all sixteen menus have the following additional settings to modify the speech: 25.0E--Turns the speech OFF 25.1E--Turns the speech ON (the default) 25.3E--Speech ON but without counting the copies as they emboss in Multi-Copy Example: You use an IBM-compatible computer and have your embosser connected to one of the computer’s parallel ports. You want to turn the speech off. To do this, turn on the embosser. Then, on the embosser's keypad, enter: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.1E--Enter Menu 1. (Menu 1 is the factory menu preset for the IBM PC connected to the parallel port. This is probably the menu you have been using) 25.0E--Turn speech off 1.1E--Save these menu changes and exit to go on-line The embosser will now work with "speech off" in Menu 1, unless (or until) you change it. To turn the speech back on, do all the steps above, except instead of 25.0E (which turned the speech off) enter 25.1E to turn speech on. Change Speech Characteristics in the Service Menu All our embossers come with a special Service Menu that contains various testing and maintenance functions, like restoring factory defaults, running dot test patterns, and so forth. Embossers equipped with ET Speaks have additional functions in the Service Menu to enable you to change some of the speech features. The Service Menu's keypad code is OL then 0.0E. 50E--Set ET Speaks' volume (0E lowest to 9E highest) 51E--Set ET Speaks' speed (0E slowest to 9E fastest) 52E--Set ET Speaks' tone (0E bass, 1E mid-range, 2E treble) 53E--Set ET Speaks' frequency (0E lowest to 9E highest) 54E--Set ET Speaks' pitch (0E lowest to 99E highest) 55E--Set ET Speaks' intonation, which is how much expression should be implied by punctuation (0E least to 9E most) 56E--Set ET Speaks' articulation, which is the amount of distinctive separation between words (0E least to 9E most) 57E--Set ET Speaks' reverb (0E none to 9E most) 58E--Set ET Speaks' pause between words (0E shortest to 9E longest) 62E--Set touch tone volume (1E to 9E) 63E--Set sound effects volume (1E to 9E) 64E--Reset speech to original factory settings 1E--Exits the Service Menu Example: You want to maximize the "reverb" to see what it sounds like. Enter these commands on the embosser's keypad: OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.0E--Enter the Service Menu 57E--Select Reverb as the setting to change 9E--Set Reverb to the maximum 1E--Exit the Service Menu Back to normal? Repeat all commands above EXCEPT replace 9E with 0E. PROBLEMS? Quality Braille desktop publishing requires harmony between your word processor, translator, computer and embosser. Enabling Technologies has been helping people learn to use Braille embossers and translators for nearly thirty-five years, so we've observed many times that formatting and transmission problems can arise even when the embosser is working perfectly. Also, many of the common-sense preparations that ensure good results with any computer system apply in Braille production as well. Productivity improves dramatically when people using the system get enough practice to become comfortable with their computers, keep important manuals handy in case of questions, and plan sufficient time for a little trial-and-error with complex projects. If possible, more than one person in the office or agency should know how to perform important computer tasks. We get some of the same questions repeatedly, so we've included them below. If you have a problem not covered here, call our toll free Customer Support phone number at 1 (800) 777 3687 or 1 (772) 225 3687 for international customers. We will be equally pleased to help you OR to learn from your experience. With the Embosser Q. Could I have a bad parallel cable? The embosser makes the right tones, the computer sends data--but nothing happens! A. First, check the integrity of the cable connection by trying an exact replacement if you have one. If you have a print printer nearby with a parallel cable attached, borrow it temporarily, and attach it between the computer and the embosser. If the cable was at fault, the borrowed cable will fix the problem. If nothing still happens, eliminate the cable from your list of suspects, since it is unlikely that you have two "bad" cables. Make sure your parallel port hasn't been redirected via a DOS mode command buried somewhere in your autoexec file. Also, be sure that you aren't inadvertently connected to a second parallel port. Q. Could I have the wrong serial cable connected between embosser and computer, or are all serial cables the same? A. You could easily have the wrong cable connected, although we try to find out what type of serial connection you require when preparing your order to avoid this very problem. If you have followed our earlier directions for matching serial parameters, and the embosser is not responding to a transmit or print command, make sure the cable involved is the one that came with the embosser. Then check to be sure it is connected to the computer serial port where the data is being routed. Many systems have more than one serial port. Also, take a careful look at the serial port settings on your computer, because if any of these are different than you expect, this could be the source of trouble. But if everything checks out as it should and you are unable to get data with the cable we supplied, call us; one way or another, we will help you puzzle out the problem. Q. I get characters from the embosser all right, but they are mostly the letter x and they don't seem to have many spaces. Could the Braille translator be messing up my document? A. This sounds more like a baud rate error. The embosser and your computer are probably set to different baud rates. Change the one which is easier to adjust. Since the baud rate or speed of data transfer cannot be set or changed in a parallel interface, the most likely cure for "garbage" characters in a parallel printout is to try a different parallel interface cable. Q. Could it be that this Braille embosser doesn't understand grade 2 Braille? The words have no contractions, and the punctuation doesn't look right. A. The embosser prints exactly what the computer sends. In order to produce well formatted grade 2 Braille, your files must pass through a translator program, which creates an entirely new file in Braille. If you have translation software on your computer, there may be some reason why it is being bypassed. If you do not have Braille translation software installed on your computer, call us at ETC for information about prices and features. (We have worked with most of the translators currently on the market.) Q. Is there a way I can turn the Braille down? Sometimes, it tears through the paper when we use the thin paper designed for the standard printer in the office. A. Due to the wide variations in paper styles, switching from heavy to light paper or just changing from one variety of paper to another, may involve several changes to the embosser's settings. Therefore, we recommend that you contact our Customer Support Group for specific suggestions related to your particular application. All of the examples apply equally to programs such as Edgar, MicroBraille and PokaDots, which are designed to receive grade 2 Braille entered by a skilled transcriber, and transmit the finished product to a disk file or an embosser. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Printing Speed: 300 characters per second. Line width: 45 maximum. Lines per page: 27 maximum. Printing method: Impact. Paper feed: Sprocket. Character matrix: 6 dot. Character set: USA. Printing direction: Bidirectional. Paper width: Adjustable (1.5 to 13.25 inches). Page length: Selectable (1.0 to 12 inches). Paper weight: 20 lb. to 100 lb. Text buffer: 4 megabytes. Default spacing (Library of Congress): Dot spacing: Alpha 0.090 inch. Dot height: 0.020 inch. Character spacing: 0.240 inch. Line spacing: 6 dot 0.400 inch. Other spacing formats selectable: Regular (Library of Congress), California sign, Jumbo, Regular with relaxed line spacing, Petite (Japanese), and Petite with relaxed line spacing for interline printing. Actual printing speeds may vary based on paper grade setting, page layout and data format. Physical Description Width: 39 inches (99.1 cm). Depth: 30 inches (76.2 cm). Height: 58 inches (147.3 cm). Shipping weight: 950 pounds (431.30 kg). Environmental Temperature: Operating or Storage 35 F to 100 F (2 C to 37.8 C). Humidity: Operating or Storage 10% to 95% (noncondensing). Electrical Line voltage: 220-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, single-phase, 20A. Fuse rating: 10A slow blow (2). Interface Port 1: Centronics compatible parallel. Port 2: Asynchronous Serial EIA RS-232D,DTE. Port 3: ET Speaks, Serial. Service MTBF (excluding print head): 50,000,000 characters. Print head life: 100,000,000 characters. Accessories Standard: Line cord, 3 wire (USA). Parallel interface cable. Optional: Special interface cables. Special line cords. Special Features 1. Fully configurable print format 2. Fully configurable communications 3. Sixteen independently selectable configuration menus plus a special service menu 4. Configuration stored in nonvolatile RAM 5. Computer Braille 6. Six dot Braille code 7. 4 megabyte text buffer 8. Multi-Copy makes up to 99 copies in a single command sequence 9. Paper-out detector 10. Special view feature allows reading the current page 11. Word wrap formatting 12. All modular construction 13. Dynamic Braille Scaling allows size adjustment in Braille cell size and spacing from Regular Library of Congress (default) to California Sign, Jumbo, Regular with Relaxed Line Spacing, Petite (Japanese) and Petite Relaxed (Japanese Interline) Braille sizes QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Keys OL--On-Line/Off-Line (toggle) LF--Not used FF--Form-Feed V--View (toggle) 0-9--Numeric entry Decimal--Numeric entry E--Enter Tones Various sounds indicate the status of the embosser. Try out the tones (it won't hurt anything) by typing the sequences below on the embosser's keypad while off-line: 1.0E--Power on self test OK 1.1E--Funeral Dirge--Power on self test failed 1.2E--Good sequence tone 1.3E--Bad sequence tone 1.4E--Buffer over-run tone (serial data) 1.5E--Low to high tone (on-line) 1.6E--High to low tone (off-line) 1.7E--Console bell tone 1.8E--Paper-out tone 1.9E--Enter key tone 1.10E--Internal sensor tone (currently not implemented) 1.11E--Multi-Copy buffer over-run tone To Stop Embossing DO NOT TURN THE POWER OFF! Instead, once the embossing begins, press the OL key to take the embosser off-line and pause embossing at the current location in the document. To resume embossing at the current location in the document press the OL key again. OR, to delete the current document in memory press the E key. Top-of-Form Reset Do this after you change menu settings or add paper. OL--Takes the embosser off-line 2E--Set top-of-form. Embosser resets automatically Menus Enter a Menu OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.NE--Go to menu N (1 through 16) Menu Settings & What They Do 1.0E--Make this menu the power-on default 1.1E--Exit and make this menu current 2.0E--Selects serial port 2.1E--Selects parallel port 3E--Selects baud rate. From the keypad, the 8 key increases the setting, the 2 key decreases the setting, and the E key stores the displayed value as current. Also, you can key in baud rates directly (3.57600E = 57,600, 3.38400E = 38,400, 3.19200E = 19,200) 10.NE--Word wrap (0 = off, 1 = on) 12.NE--Paper-out detector (0 = off, 1 = on) 14.NNE--Set right margin to N (range: 2 – 45) 15.NNE--Set left margin to N (range: 1 – 44) 17.NNE--Set lines per page to N (range: 1 – 27) 18.NNE--Set page length in inches (range: 1 - 12) 25.NE--ET Speaks (0 = off, 1 = on, 3 = on, but without the copy countdown in Multi-Copy) Default is ON 30.NNE--Top-of-form off-set, in tenths of an inch (range: 0 - 99; typical setting is 2 or 3) 33.NE--Interpoint on and off (0 = interpoint on, 1 = single-sided {bank 1 only}, 2 = single-sided {bank 2 only}) 35.NE--Dynamic Braille Scaling: 0=Regular (Library of Congress), 1=California sign, 2=Jumbo size, 3=Regular size, relaxed line spacing, 4=Petite (Japanese), 5=Petite with relaxed line spacing for interline printing 37.NNE--Set page width in inches (range: 1 – 11) 38.NE--Vertical page centering (0 = off, 1 = on) 45.NE--Carriage return and line feed ignore mode 0 = Allow carriage returns and line feeds 1 = Ignore carriage returns 2 = Ignore line feeds 3 = Ignore both carriage returns and line feeds Exit a Menu E--Exits but remains off-line 1.1E--Exits and makes this menu current Restore Menus to Factory Defaults OL--Takes the embosser off-line 0.0E--Go to the Service Menu 95E--Restore the factory default settings 1E--Reset the embosser Multi-Copy Reminder: Stay on-line while using Multi-Copy. First, enter on the keypad: 4.NNE. “NN” (1 to 99) means the number of copies you want to emboss. Then, download your document from your computer. Other Controls in Multi-Copy 3.2E--Reset/cancel Multi-Copy after this page embosses 3.3E--Reset/cancel Multi-Copy after this document embosses 3.4E--Suspend Multi-Copy after current document embosses. If you allow the document to finish completely, you can even turn the power off and resume the same Multi-Copy job the next time you turn the power on 3.5E--Resume Multi-Copy with next copy after 3.4E entry (above) SERVICE MENU This menu contains special functions often used in the testing, aligning, and troubleshooting of the embosser by service personnel. You enter the service menu by going off-line with the OL key, then typing 0.0E. Some of the functions exit automatically when they are completed, and these are labeled "Auto" in the right most column. The others will remain active until you press any key to stop them. Leave the Service Menu by pressing the E key, which brings you back to the off-line level. SEQUENCE--FUNCTION--EXIT 1E--System reset--AUTO 2E--Print checkerboard test pattern--AUTO 3E--Print 6 dot pattern (equal signs)--E KEY 0E Embosses one page interpoint equal signs 1E Embosses one page of bank 1 equal signs 2E Embosses one page of bank 2 equal signs 4E--Carriage motor on high power--E KEY 5E--Paper motor on high power--E KEY 6E--Top-of-form sensor test--AUTO 7E--Paper-out sensor test--AUTO 8E--Home sensor test--AUTO 9E--Print 1 copy BraillePlace brochure--AUTO 15E--Speak and display BraillePlace firmware version--AUTO 19E--Print 10 copies BraillePlace brochure--AUTO 29E--Print 20 copies BraillePlace brochure--AUTO 39E--Print BraillePlace brochure continuously--E KEY 49E--Embosser simulated exercise test (carriage moves, no embossing). Embosses 50 copies of one each of the following tests: 2E, 3E (bank 1), 3E (bank 2), 9E and a blank page for a total of 50 pages of simulated embossing--AUTO 73E--Anti-skew test mode (technicians only)--E KEY 77E--Update BraillePlace firmware (technicians only)--E KEY (abort) 85E--Display and speak total pages embossed--AUTO 86E--Emboss pin delay (0E – 99E) (technicians only)--AUTO 87E--Paper motor delay (0E – 10E) (technicians only)--AUTO 88E--Carriage motor delay (0E – 10E) (technicians only)--AUTO 89E--Variable solenoid on time (technicians only)--AUTO 90E--Set horizontal emboss delay (technicians only)--AUTO 91E--Carriage motor global delay (0E – 99E) (technicians only)--AUTO 92E--Set vertical emboss delay (technicians only)--AUTO 93E--Carriage jog mode (0 = off, 1 = on. On jogs the carriage to move the embossed Braille out of the way of the die cups when the paper is advanced after embossing) (technicians only)--AUTO 95E--System reset for factory defaults--AUTO Parameters 50 through 64 refer to ET Speaks: 50E--Set ET Speaks' volume (0E lowest to 9E highest) 51E--Set ET Speaks' speed (0E slowest to 9E fastest) 52E--Set ET Speaks' tone (0E bass, 1E mid-range, 2E treble) 53E--Set ET Speaks' frequency (0E lowest to 9E highest) 54E--Set ET Speaks' pitch (0E lowest to 99E highest) 55E--Set ET Speaks' intonation, which is how much expression should be implied by punctuation (0E least to 9E most) 56E--Set ET Speaks' articulation, which is the amount of distinctive separation between words (0E least to 9E most) 57E--Set ET Speaks' reverb (0E none to 9E most) 58E--Set ET Speaks' pause between words (0E shortest to 9E longest) 62E--Set touch tone volume (0E lowest to 9E highest) 63E--Set sound effects volume (0E lowest to 9E highest) 64E--Reset speech to original factory settings For Factory-Trained Technicians Only The Service Menu routines below are specifically for the use of factory- trained technicians in adjusting the performance of BraillePlace at the production site. IMPORTANT! These functions should only be performed by factory- trained technicians. They make substantial changes to the performance of BraillePlace. 73E--Anti-skew test mode prints pages of equal signs (full cells) with gradually increasing settings. Starts by setting parameter 92 (below) to a value of 0, prints a page, and repeats up to a value of 72 to show the results of all possible settings. During the test, if one of the pages appears optimal, abort the balance of the test by holding down the E key until embossing stops. Following this test, reset parameter 92 to a value corresponding to the test page with the best results, from 0 to 72 77E--Update BraillePlace firmware. Use this routine to install updates to BraillePlace’s internal firmware from your computer 89E--Variable solenoid on time (20 = 2.0 ms to 40 = 4.0 ms; default is 36 or 3.6 ms) 20 = 2.0 21 = 2.1 22 = 2.2 23 = 2.3 24 = 2.4 25 = 2.5 26 = 2.6 27 = 2.7 28 = 2.8 29 = 2.9 30 = 3.0 31 = 3.1 32 = 3.2 33 = 3.3 34 = 3.4 35 = 3.5 36 = 3.6 37 = 3.7 38 = 3.8 39 = 3.9 40 = 4.0 The functions below increase the emboss paper delay (90E) and carriage delay (92E) which slows the embosser down. Finish direct numerical entries with the E key. 90E--Paper anti-skew (range 0 fastest to 72 slowest) 92E--Carriage anti-skew (range 0 fastest to 72 slowest) IMPORTANT! Use extra care when adjusting these settings, as 86E, 87E, 88E, 89E, 90E, 91E and 92E are the only parameters that DO NOT RESET to factory defaults with 95E. Loading Updated Firmware The internal command software (or firmware) can be updated without the need to replace any hardware chips or components. You can install the newest version into BraillePlace’s permanent memory via the same interface port used to send Braille documents to the machine. Prior to attempting any firmware update, the BraillePlace must be connected to your computer system and be capable of receiving and embossing a Braille file in its entirety with no errors. Contact Enabling Technologies’ Customer Support Group to obtain the latest installation instructions and firmware for your specific embosser. WARRANTY, SUPPORT & SERVICE Enabling Technologies Company warrants all parts and workmanship of the BraillePlace to be free of defects for a period of 90 days and parts for a period of one year (365 days) from date of delivery. This warranty is extended only to the original purchaser who must return such defective part(s) to Enabling Technologies Company immediately upon customer's discovery of the defect in question. Return shipment of such defective part(s) must be prepaid by customer. This warranty does not extend to defects resulting from improper use or unauthorized service by purchaser. Also, the warranty is invalid if any of the instructions accompanying the product are not carefully followed. This limited warranty is made in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, and is limited to the repair or replacement of the product. No warranty, expressed or implied, is extended concerning the completeness, correctness, or suitability of the Enabling Technologies Company equipment for any particular application. There are no warranties which extend beyond those expressly stated herein. For support and service within the United States, contact our Customer Support Group toll free at 1 (800) 777 3687 or 1 (772) 225 3687. For customers outside the United States contact your local Enabling Technologies distributor. You may also contact us via email at: support@brailler.com.