chrise@gonzo.eta.com (Chris Elmquist) (11/10/88)
I hope this is an appropriate newsgroup...I couldn't find a comp.plotters ! I'm looking for the following gee-whiz hardware/software gizmo: We want to install a Versatec 3000 series color plotter (44") and make it generally available to several different systems in the company. The first and most important 'system' is a VLSI cad system that outputs GDSII (Calma stream) format polygon definition language. We want to plot the chip layouts on this plotter. A second 'system' is a Cyber mainframe running Uniplot software that can control the Versatec directly (ie, the plot data is already rasterized). A third system is a PC running PCB layout software that outputs HPGL and GERBER photoplotter data. What I think I need is a server with some translation software that can accept all of the above formats. Connectivity isn't an issue since all of the above can be made to communicate over an Ethernet connection. So, does anyone know of such a server/translator 'box'. I'm awaiting info on something from Valid called EDSIII. This 'hardware/software solution' runs on a Sun 3/260 and connects to the Versatec via their 37 pin parallel channel. I don't know if this EDSIII can translate all of these formats...does anyone? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Chrise@gonzo.eta.com ETA Systems, Inc. (612)642-3061